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The Paper… a new sitcom where the first thing I thought of when this began was, “It feels like The Office“…
Then I read that it’s set in the same universe as that. Yes, because urban offices need to be specified as being within this universe…
I’m not hugely familiar with the US version, bar the odd clip, but I wasn’t swayed when early on, the female receptionist tells us she moved to work there because her sister had gone missing in the area. Erm… when do I laugh?
The Paper is also, apparently, filmed in the same building as the US version of The Office, since all companies under the roof are those making paper in some form – including a toilet paper company – we have Tim Key talking about what paper can be used for, same as Martin Freeman did in the UK original version of The Office… over 20 years ago!
Alas, despite being briefly much better in The Ballad Of Wallis Island, here, Tim Key just acts as he usually does.
For other members of staff, their “intrepid reporter” is asleep in the background, and while the staff try to say to the camera that they’re effectively on top of the news, a reflection in a mirror shows a building nearby which is on fire, yet they’re completely unaware.
Meanwhile, Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson – Echo Valley) is here for his first day, because he’s come to run the paper, but there’s rumours that he was “Me Too”‘d at a previous job, which feels a bit outdated these days.
Overall, this diversion from reality is about as funny as the recent The Naked Gun movie. Which was shit.
Didn’t the cast realise how UNFUNNY this was when they made it?!
The Paper begins tomorrow on Sky. It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but when it is, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
Cert: 
Running time: 25 minutes per episode (10 episodes)
Release date: September 5th 2025
Studio: Sky Max/HBO
Format: 2.00:1
Series Directors: Jeffrey Blitz, Jennifer Celotta, Tazbah Chavez, Greg Daniels, Yana Gorskaya, Ken Kwapis, Paul Lieberstein, Dave Rogers, Matt Sohn, Jason Woliner, Matt Cohn
Producers: Erica Djafroodi, Matthew Nodella, Banijay Americas
Creators: Greg Daniels, Michael Koman
Writers: Greg Daniels, Michael Koman, Eric Rahill, Patrick Kang, Michael Levin, Alex Edelman
Cast:
Ned Sampson: Domhnall Gleeson
Ann Putnam: Nancy Lenehan
Adam Cooper: Alex Edelman
Esmeralda Grand: Sabrina Impacciatore
Detrick Moore: Melvin Gregg
Adelola Olofin: Gbemisola Ikumelo
Nicole Lee: Ramona Young
Ken Davies: Tim Key
Mare Pritti: Chelsea Frei
Oscar Martinez: Oscar Nuñez
Marv Putnam: Allan Havey
Travis: Eric Rahill
Barry: Duane R. Shepard Sr
John Stack: Tracy Letts
Harper Brewster: Tawny Newsome
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.