The Workplace is a kind of reveals you possibly can watch time and again, and when it ended, followers felt a loss. However now, Dunder Mifflin is again… nicely, kind of. Enter The Paper, an offshoot of NBC’s beloved sequence, swapping paper gross sales for newspaper deadlines. This time, we’re within the chaotic workplaces of the Toledo Fact Teller, a struggling Midwestern paper that simply occurs to make use of one acquainted face: Oscar Martinez, performed as soon as once more by Oscar Nuñez.
The mockumentary comedy, co-created by The Workplace’s Greg Daniels and Nathan for You’s Michael Koman, premieres Sept. 4 on Peacock with 4 episodes. Within the trailer, bold new editor-in-chief Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) sweeps in, armed with large concepts to revive the paper — concepts that should survive each brutal price range cuts and a ragtag newsroom employees. The reporters share workplace house with… a bathroom paper firm. Sure, actually. The ensemble consists of Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Younger, Tim Key, and Nuñez, with visitor spots from Eric Rahill, Tracy Letts, Molly Ephraim, Mo Welch, Allan Havey, Duane Shepard Sr., Nate Jackson, and Nancy Lenehan.
Netizens react
However the trailer’s launch lit up social media, and never solely in the way in which one might need hoped. One long-time fan warned: “Somebody who has watched The Workplace ten occasions and mainly has it memorised — should you guys smash the present, there will likely be riots led by yours really. That being mentioned, it’s good to see Oscar once more, and I hope that this present is admittedly humorous.” Others have been much less optimistic. “Whoever put the trailer collectively needs to be ashamed,” one publish learn. “The clip of the assembly has some promise, and Oscar is sweet after all, however nothing else is admittedly standing out.”
Surprisingly, that sentiment saved popping up. “It feels prefer it takes place in the identical constructing..? Prefer it seems like the identical units. Extra boring than anticipated!” wrote one other, whereas one individual flatly declared, “This seems to be horrible. Please don’t launch it.” A couple of felt the tone was off from the beginning, with one evaluating it to a special NBC comedy solely: “Actually feels extra within the vein of Parks & Rec than The Workplace. Instantly paints itself as ‘have a look at this ragtag group that may do something they set their thoughts to.’ Want it wasn’t set in The Workplace universe as a result of it’s going to be nothing like The Workplace.”
Different feedback adopted the identical path. “Oscar being so anti-the whole premise of this was the one good bit on this trailer. Would possibly simply carry the present,” one admitted. One other quipped, “The one time I laughed was the final six seconds… oof, this seems to be dangerous.” Others went even darker: “I laughed extra at my grandmother’s funeral,” one mentioned. And one more minimize proper to the chase: “Better part was seeing Oscar, aside from that it felt extra like Parks & Rec than The Workplace.” Maybe probably the most brutally assured evaluation got here from a fan who predicted the sequence’ destiny earlier than it even airs: “I’ll be right here for the ‘NBC has cancelled The Paper after 1 season.’”
Whether or not The Paper proves them flawed stays to be seen — however one factor’s for certain: within the eyes of The Workplace’s fiercely protecting fanbase, reviving that universe is a danger that comes with paper-thin persistence.