We’re just one day away from the highly-anticipated premiere of The Office spin-off, The Paper, and ahead of its release, critics on Rotten Tomatoes have chimed in to give their verdict on whether the new comedy manages to capture the same magic as the flagship series. Starring Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore, The Paper was created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, and is set to debut on Peacock on Sept. 4, 2025. Thus far, the series has been receiving high praise from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who have propelled the spin-off to a Certified Fresh rating of 87% at the time of this writing. Called a “smart, breezy, good-natured sitcom” by Richard Roeper from RogerEbert.com, critic Eddie Harrison adds:
“The Paper manages to be for 2025 what The Office was to 2008; it captures the zeitgeist of the time and allows the audience to share in an relishable, eccentric workplace environment, creating the kind of communal frisson that we may well come to love.”
Taking place in the Midwest, The Paper sees the same documentary crew that filmed the gang at Dunder Mifflin now turning their focus to the Toledo Truth-Teller, a historic but declining newspaper trying to resurrect itself with volunteer reporters. While it does feature a slew of new faces, there’s at least one alum from The Office making his presence known in the new series: Oscar Nunez, who played Oscar Martinez in the original series.
‘The Paper’ Has Already Been Renewed for a Second Season

As we await the premiere of The Paper tomorrow on Peacock, those who quickly fall in love with the new comedy can take comfort in knowing it won’t be a one and done series. Word came today that it’s already been renewed for Season 2, signifying that Peacock has a lot of faith that it will be a success. Based on the reviews, they have no reason to think otherwise, as MovieWeb’s own Julian Roman writes in his review:
“The Paper isn’t a nonstop laugh riot and has its share of lulls, but there’s good cast chemistry and a promise of something better. The Office took years to hit its stride. The Paper has a solid foundation for future greatness.”
Critic Nagier Chambers adds to the praise, calling The Paper “addictive, hilarious, and smarter than you think,” while Aramide Tinubu from Variety notes that “the series takes a moment to work out its kinks, but by the season finale, it has all the makings of being as witty and iconic as its predecessor.” With Season 1 of The Paper spanning 10 episodes, this sounds like one to stick with that only gets better as it goes on. While it may not grab you right from the start, it’s best to keep watching to see the series’ full potential unfold before your eyes. Look for the entire first season of The Paper to hit Peacock tomorrow, Sept. 4, 2025. We’ll have more news on Season 2 as it becomes available, including which faces will be returning or being added to what promises to be your new favorite comedy.