Pop Culture Happy Hour: "The Paper"

Date: September 8, 2025
Host: Linda Holmes (with Ronald Young Jr. and Priya Krishna)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into "The Paper," a mockumentary-style comedy series on Peacock, depicting a struggling local newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. The show functions as a loose spinoff of "The Office" and is co-created by Greg Daniels (developer of the US "The Office") and Michael Komen ("Nathan for You"). The hosts discuss how "The Paper" navigates legacy, workplace comedy tropes, and the challenges of breathing new life into a familiar format while wrestling with issues specific to local journalism.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Origins and Premise

• Greg Daniels and Michael Komen Collaboration:

  • The show leverages Daniels’ history with "The Office" and Komen's offbeat touch from "Nathan for You."
  • The Dunder Mifflin universe extends: the parent company now owns the fictional Toledo Truth Teller.

• Story Setup:

  • "The Paper" centers on Ned (Domhnall Gleeson), a new, idealistic editor trying to revitalize a fading paper beset by financial and cultural woes.
  • Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore), an entrenched, power-loving editor, continually sabotages Ned’s efforts.
  • Oscar Nunez reprises Oscar Martinez, now a weary accountant, tying this series back to "The Office."
  • Mare (Chelsea Frey) is an under-motivated, yet talented journalist, invested in real reporting.

Comparisons to Predecessors

• All hosts note the challenge of escaping the shadows of "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation," both of which struggled in their first seasons and improved by expanding ensemble casts and storylines.
• The mockumentary style, ensemble dynamics, recurring tropes (grumpy characters, eccentric caricatures, budding inter-staff romance), and lack of early ensemble focus are called out as both familiar and potentially stale.

"This is a mid show. This is very mid... Greg Daniels stumbles out of the gate."
— Ronald Young Jr. [04:51]

"People who are coming to this show are going to be expecting... the same type of cozy, all-enveloping comfort watch that a show like 'The Office' and 'Parks and Recreation' can be. And I would say it, like, sort of provides that."
— Priya Krishna [06:02]

Character and Performance Analysis

• Esmeralda's Polarizing Role:
  • Priya found Esmeralda a "scene stealer," especially in "Scam Alert" (the season's standout episode).
  • Linda and Ronald felt the character was overwritten and excessively broad, undermining the workplace reality and lacking redeeming qualities compared to classic 'chaos agents' like Dwight ("The Office") or Ava Coleman ("Abbott Elementary").

"With Esmeralda, she's a bad mom. She is sabotaging everybody at the paper. And she also... generally doesn't care about journalism."
— Ronald Young Jr. [11:10]

• Ned and the Rom-Com Thread:
  • Ned’s earnest, clumsy attempts at leadership resonated more with Linda.
  • The slow-burn romance with Mare is consciously developed, with the show acknowledging the sensitive power dynamics at play.

"[Ned] is both kind of a little bit buffoony, but he's also kind of your... leading man. He's very earnest. He clearly means very well and is not bad at his job. He's just kind of prone to bumbling kind of stuff."
— Linda Holmes [10:12]

• Supporting Cast:
  • Oscar Nunez’s return is warmly received but feels underused; references to "The Office" are rare, subtle, and appreciated.
  • Alex Edelman’s always-beleaguered family man gets a special mention as a supporting highlight.

Strengths, Weaknesses & Structure

• Strengths:

  • Potential for meaningful exploration of local journalism.
  • Glimpses of "heart" and personal investment distinguish it slightly from its predecessors.
  • Specific episodes, like "Scam Alert," show what the ensemble is capable of.

• Weaknesses:

  • Season one focuses too heavily on a few characters, neglecting the ensemble's full potential (parallels to early "The Office").
  • Attempts to replicate successful formulas (central romance, quirky supporting staff) sometimes feel forced or unoriginal.
  • "Binge-watching" the series feels repetitive; watching in shorter stints is recommended.

"I actually don't recommend binging it necessarily. I would watch it a little bit at a time. I'm not sure it's a binge-y show."
— Linda Holmes [16:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Esmeralda’s Sabotage

"Yeah, that was supposed to be a surprise, but, yes, I canceled it."
— Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore) [04:02]

Ned’s Journalistic Dream

"When I was a kid, I didn't want to be Superman. I wanted to be Clark Kent. Because to me, Clark is the real superhero. He's saving the world, too, by working at a newspaper. And that, to me, is much more noble and much more achievable."
— Ned (Donal Gleeson) [09:57]

Meta References to ‘The Office’

"Don't you guys have enough? After nine years, nobody wants this. You know what? You can't use my voice, my likeness, my face, nothing."
— Ned (Donal Gleeson) [16:37], (tongue-in-cheek reference to franchise fatigue)

Thoughts on Ensemble Neglect

"This show makes the mistake that season one of 'The Office' made, where it was like, we are really only going to invest in these few characters storylines at the expense of all of these other character storylines, even though we have an amazing ensemble cast."
— Priya Krishna [15:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:29 – Introduction of guests and premise
• 04:51 – Ronald Young Jr. critiques and "mid" assessment
• 06:02 – Priya Krishna on character dynamics and ensemble issues
• 08:34 – Debate over Esmeralda’s impact on the show
• 09:57 – Ned’s heartfelt moment and commentary on the “Clark Kent” ideal
• 10:44 – Mare and Ned’s developing dynamic
• 14:44 – Ensemble cast discussion and Alex Edelman’s role
• 15:00 – Ensemble neglect and potential for future growth
• 16:44 – Binge-worthiness and episodic recommendations
• 17:18 – Rethinking romance angles and series blueprint
• 18:18 – Reflections on the show’s future direction
• 18:50 – Final roundtable thoughts and takeaways

Tone and Conclusion

The discussion maintains the show’s classic blend of warmth, honesty, and wry humor. The hosts agree that "The Paper," while pleasant and brimming with potential, struggles under the pressure of its heritage and needs to carve its own identity—especially by developing its ensemble cast and refining its more outlandish elements.

Final Word

"We all landed somewhere in the middle, but for really different reasons... If they don't tone down Esmeralda, which they still might, then I'm going to eventually lose interest in this show because I can't do that this much."
— Linda Holmes [10:57]

Listener tip: If you’re expecting the instant comfort and cohesion of "The Office" or "Parks and Rec," adjust expectations for "The Paper." It’s not quite there yet, but it might find its footing as the newsroom—and its staff—settle in.

This summary skips ad breaks, introductory credits, and promotional content, focusing exclusively on the episode's main discussion.