The Paper Creators Say if The Office Was The Beatles, the Spin-Off Is Wings
In an exclusive interview, creators Greg Daniels and Michael Koman explain how The Paper Season 2 pushes past its roots in The Office with wilder stunts.
Season 2 of The Paper, a Toledo, Ohio-set spin-off of the American version of The Office, is now streaming on Peacock. The sitcom quickly develops its own identity, moving past the Dunder Mifflin baggage that initially accompanied it. Key characters Ned (played by Domhnall Gleeson) and Mare (played by Chelsea Frei) build a relationship that moves forward more swiftly than in The Office, as their differences and the show's shorter seasons compel the creators to compress their romance.
The show's dialogue is more grounded in real-world conversations, allowing for humorous yet realistic exchanges. While some language remains restrained for a family-friendly rating, the creators feel the need to push boundaries to capture a more authentic tone. Season 2 further differentiates The Paper from The Office by adapting storylines to the characters currently in rotation, rather than blindly adhering to previous plotlines.
New additions like Lisa Gilroy's abrasive HR representative and Todd Lovitz's cynical colleague add further twists to the newsroom dynamics. The Paper aims to carve out its own unique space within the fictional universe of The Office, rather than merely echoing its predecessor.
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