This fall, The Office universe will officially expand with The Paper -- a similar series focused on the staff of a newsroom rather than the office of a paper company. The two shows share the same creator, which means audiences can expect a familiar style in this spinoff compared to the original show.
There are plenty of reasons I need to see this show immediately. For one, it's set in the Midwest -- where I was unapologetically born and raised -- and I'm begging the show's writers to stuff the show with as many Midwest-specific jokes as possible into every episode. I'll never get tired of it, I promise.
I'm also an unapologetic Domhnall Gleeson fan -- have I ranted enough about About Time yet? And of course, Star Wars. The mockumentary sitcom feels like the perfect place for him at the moment, especially because his comic relief in a galaxy far, far away is pure delight and I will not argue this point further, thank you very much.
More than anything, though, journalism could use a little humor. Especially those of us still treading water in this chaotic career. Additionally, working in a newsroom isn't all that bad, and those "if you know you know" moments we're bound to get in the show alone are enough to give it more than enough hype for me. Let's go. I'm ready.
One of the best things about The Office was its standout characters and how they interacted with each other throughout the series, and I have no doubt The Paper will follow suit. Workplace sitcoms have really had their moments to shine over the past decade, following in the footsteps of The Office but building upon it mostly in good ways. This one has good potential, both for fans of the original show and those who always meant to get around to watching it but haven't yet, or never will.