The Paper on Peacock

[The Jokeman]

I'll admit I was a fan of the Office from the start and not sure of this. I saw the previews and was really concerned. I streamed episode 1 and was feeling ok about it but not rushing to see episode 2 but let it run. I'll have to rewatch it as still not sure. Maybe it feels like missing the heart of The Office or subtle jokes that got me laughing hard. Thoughts?

[Just Jack]

Have not watched it yet, but I've seen several internet comments complain about a character named Esmarelda? 

[Mike in Horseheads]

5 hours ago, Just Jack said:

Have not watched it yet, but I've seen several internet comments complain about a character named Esmarelda? 

She was Samantha's relation in Bewitched.

[Poleshifter]

The Office was very well done, as Steve Carrell's character Michael Scott would seem impossible to replicate.  I am sure psychology grad students could do a thesis on the complex dysfunctionalities in The Office.  

 

Of course, Dwight and Andy Bernard were nearly as f**ked up as Michael.

 

I do not have Peacock, but I would not expect much from an Office wannabe.

 

 

A shoutout here to our posters @Dr Krentist and the guy with the Prison Mike avatar.

[The Jokeman]

On 9/9/2025 at 7:39 PM, Just Jack said:

Have not watched it yet, but I've seen several internet comments complain about a character named Esmarelda? 

Esmeralda is an over dramatic woman who trying to get her boss fired. Think Jan with mix of Dwight and Michael. She's portrayed by the woman who played the hotel manager in the 2nd season of White Lotus. She is a tad annoying but I don't hate her yet as I'm only 4 episodes in. Many of the characters feel like a mix of characters from the Office and of course seem to going down same slippery slope we saw them take. The humor is really dry but got better as know the characters better. 

Edited September 11 by The Jokeman

[The Jokeman]

On 9/10/2025 at 1:21 AM, Poleshifter said:

The Office was very well done, as Steve Carrell's character Michael Scott would seem impossible to replicate.  I am sure psychology grad students could do a thesis on the complex dysfunctionalities in The Office.  

 

Of course, Dwight and Andy Bernard were nearly as f**ked up as Michael.

 

I do not have Peacock, but I would not expect much from an Office wannabe.

 

 

A shoutout here to our posters @Dr Krentist and the guy with the Prison Mike avatar.

Greg Daniels is on on this show so yes feels like The Office but not an exact wannabe but many similar elements. CBS is coming out with a show called DMV which might be more Office like but only saw a preview so far and waiting on a full episode.

[PromoTheRobot]

I only recently learned that Creed Bratton on the Office was the same Creed Bratton who was the lead singer of the Grassroots.

[thenorthremembers]

21 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I only recently learned that Creed Bratton on the Office was the same Creed Bratton who was the lead singer of the Grassroots.

Its weird to see him with hair. 

[Logic]

I was an enormous Office fan, and saw that this was by one of the makers of the original (Greg Daniels), and it exists in the same "universe" as the Office and has Oscar as an accountant again.

I gave the first episode a shot and did not find it funny. Like...at all.

I'm willing to watch another episode or two and see if it finds its footing, because I see that it's gotten good critical and audience scores and has already been renewed for season two.

But so far? Yeesh.

[Cash]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I was an enormous Office fan, and saw that this was by one of the makers of the original (Greg Daniels), and it exists in the same "universe" as the Office and has Oscar as an accountant again.

I gave the first episode a shot and did not find it funny. Like...at all.

I'm willing to watch another episode or two and see if it finds its footing, because I see that it's gotten good critical and audience scores and has already been renewed for season two.

But so far? Yeesh.

Season 1 of both The Office and Parks & Rec were both well below the overall show quality - both took huge leaps in season 2. So there’s a precedent here for a show like this needing a longer runway. 
 

The downside? I don’t think The Paper has Mike Schur working on it, just Greg Daniels. I don’t know how good The Office would’ve been without Schur, but I suspect not nearly as good. 
 

I haven’t attempted to watch yet, but I’d rather it turn out to be good than bad. 

[The Jokeman]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I was an enormous Office fan, and saw that this was by one of the makers of the original (Greg Daniels), and it exists in the same "universe" as the Office and has Oscar as an accountant again.

I gave the first episode a shot and did not find it funny. Like...at all.

I'm willing to watch another episode or two and see if it finds its footing, because I see that it's gotten good critical and audience scores and has already been renewed for season two.

But so far? Yeesh.

It took me awhile to like it, like you first episode felt pretty meh. 

1 minute ago, Cash said:

Season 1 of both The Office and Parks & Rec were both well below the overall show quality - both took huge leaps in season 2. So there’s a precedent here for a show like this needing a longer runway. 
 

The downside? I don’t think The Paper has Mike Schur working on it, just Greg Daniels. I don’t know how good The Office would’ve been without Schur, but I suspect not nearly as good. 
 

I haven’t attempted to watch yet, but I’d rather it turn out to be good than bad. 

Agree to disagree The Office S1E2 (Diversity Day) was one of funniest things I had seen in ages. I can still hear Dwight's "Aw man, am I a woman?" in the back of my mind and makes me smile.

[Logic]

38 minutes ago, Cash said:

Season 1 of both The Office and Parks & Rec were both well below the overall show quality - both took huge leaps in season 2. So there’s a precedent here for a show like this needing a longer runway. 
 

The downside? I don’t think The Paper has Mike Schur working on it, just Greg Daniels. I don’t know how good The Office would’ve been without Schur, but I suspect not nearly as good. 
 

I haven’t attempted to watch yet, but I’d rather it turn out to be good than bad. 

This is exactly what I thought after watching it. I hard heard that it was from "the creators of the Office", but once I saw Mike Schur's name wasn't on it, I became less enthusiastic.

Greg Daniels is funny and a great creative mind in his own right, but I think a big part of what made The Office what it was is Mike Schur. I don't associate Greg Daniels nearly as much with that brand of comedy.

On the flip side, speaking of Greg Daniels... I HAVE been enjoying the King of the Hill reboot. Good stuff.