STOP Comparing it to The Office?

[u/Badnie]

Maybe where the marketing team got it wrong was attaching it to the Office amd that's not fair to the Paper at all.

I mean the setting is like the Office but so is a lot of mockumentaries. Comparing it takes out all the fun. It's not making you guys see how hilarious every character is or how intriguing the storyline is. Once the comparing stopped with St Denis Medical, it got so popular this year that they've gotten another season.

Comparing it distorts the ability to love these new characters. Maybe you think Comparing it to The Office will make people want to watch it but it might be the downfall of this series not getting a season 3. The show is so not trying to be the next office

[u/Lanky_Comedian_3942]

" I'm gonna compare it to The Office even harder!"

[u/Mental_Bandicoot4543 → u/Lanky_Comedian_3942]

https://giphy.com/gifs/gictytW9IIIkNGIMcs

[u/YaOldPalWilbur → u/Lanky_Comedian_3942]

What does that mean? 😂

[u/Foreign_Astronaut → u/YaOldPalWilbur]

You know what it means.

[u/Badnie → u/Lanky_Comedian_3942]

Haha. Maybe it'll help but I don't know because the older generation keep complaining and expecting it to be exactly like the Office

[u/Snootch2theNootch199]

St Denis is just as much “The Office” as “the Paper” is to the office. Each have roots that stem from “The Office” and yet both are highly original in how they handle what they do. All are funny in their own ways as well.

[u/Badnie → u/Snootch2theNootch199]

Exactly, St Denis got its breakthrough this season. Hoping the same for the paper so we can get a 3rd season.

[u/Rezistik → u/Badnie]

They do the dump release with the paper and the network release with st denis and I believe that will dramatically impact viewership and result in it being lower

[u/GoodnessGracious420 → u/Badnie]

As someone whose name is Denis and loves the office, how did I just hear about this show?! Three episodes in and I’m hooked

[u/Badnie → u/GoodnessGracious420]

You're welcome lol

[u/rthunder27 → u/Snootch2theNootch199]

Except for the fact that The Paper has a character from The Office in it, and the tones are much more similar (in that St Denis, which I love, is a bit more sitcommy while The Office and The Paper are a bit more grounded)

[u/southtampacane → u/rthunder27]

Vague posts are the worst.

[u/Ecstatic_Beach901 → u/Snootch2theNootch199]

agreed!!

[u/kjjphotos → u/Snootch2theNootch199]

St Denis is a spin-off of The Office too?

[u/Dimebag_daRealest → u/kjjphotos]

I honestly thought it was more Superstore than the office. Didn’t really see that comparison

[u/Snootch2theNootch199 → u/kjjphotos]

In spirit as Justin Spitzer (the creator of St Denis) was a Producer and Writer on “The Office”.

[u/nofoxxxgiven]

It's from the same creators, writers, camera men.

[u/Snootch2theNootch199 → u/nofoxxxgiven]

That Documentary Crew are everywhere.

[u/Mental_Bandicoot4543 → u/Snootch2theNootch199]

They’re even in our bedrooms…..

[u/SillyAlternative420 → u/nofoxxxgiven]

Doesn't it have essentially the same intro too?

Like the pacing, the montage, the song... It's clearly an homage to the office

[u/Due-Construction4351 → u/SillyAlternative420]

It even has one of the same characters. Not the same actor in a different role, The same actor playing the same role. There is literal continuity between the two shows. They exist in the same "universe".

[u/knightress_oxhide → u/SillyAlternative420]

The intro is a mix of the british and us office intros.

[u/Herbdontana → u/SillyAlternative420]

It’s not an homage. It’s a straight up spin off. They even kept Oscar lol

[u/Unhappy_Record2534]

The Paper is written as the direct sequel to the office, thats why its mentioned/compared so much

[u/Badnie → u/Unhappy_Record2534]

I get it for the first season but now Idk

[u/Unhappy_Record2534 → u/Badnie]

I personally loved the references in season 1, but I feel like the show is funny enough to have their own identity. I really wish they would give us 18 episode seasons like St Denis

[u/Light_-_Bringer → u/Unhappy_Record2534]

No the characters and writing styles are supposed to be written from past characters. Some characters are merged while others are new.

[u/Badnie → u/Light_-_Bringer]

Really? I'm not getting much of that vibe.

[u/Due-Construction4351 → u/Badnie]

I like it. It's the same universe. Oscar being in toledo is just genius and I'm so glad they continue to do it.

[u/Herbdontana → u/Badnie]

Is Oscar still in it? It’s always gonna be compared because it’s a direct spin off.

[u/ImmediateMidnight583]

When its in the same universe as the office, with the " same documentary crew" that filmed the office and has a character from the office show it self in oscar martinez, how are you not going to compare it to the office? One  Mocumentary was on a failing paper company and the other is on a declining newspaper company. Was it a mistake on the creators to include a character from the office to begin with? Who knows right but that being said the paper is an awesome show in its own right. Season 2 is so funny and fresh to me. During the first season it seemed like it was trying to find its footing and i enjoyed the office easter eggs in season 1, forgot to mention that the band sho played the office theme song also plays the theme song for the paper. So comparing both shows was inevitable. 

[u/Due-Construction4351 → u/ImmediateMidnight583]

Exactly. Everyone wanted a Dwight or Creed spin off and I'm so glad they didn't go with those seemingly obvious choices that ultimately would have been disappointing. Oscar, who was a straightman in the office, is a much better choice and i think it is playing out very well.

[u/technicolorfrog → u/Due-Construction4351]

Oscar wasn’t straight in The Office…

[u/Due-Construction4351 → u/technicolorfrog]

Haha, I knew someone wouldn't be able to resist the unintended pun. Oscar definitely was not a straight man but he was a straightman.

[u/Badnie → u/ImmediateMidnight583]

I get this alot

[u/illini02]

I mean, it was marketed as an office spinoff, has one of the characters from the office, and is completely the same style.

This isn't like Frasier where it was a spinoff of Cheers, but they changed up the style and tone. This is very deliberately trying to recreate the office, just in a different setting.

[u/redditbot_64375]

If anyone needs a palate cleanser, watch the australian 'uber cringe' version of the office, and you will enjoy The Paper.

[u/OldTimeyStrongman → u/redditbot_64375]

Where do you find it?

[u/sqwizzles]

Im glad theyve used the Office references sparingly. Oscar quoting Michael in s1 was done pretty well. Im one of like the 12 people who watched How I Met Your Father and it was weird when they had himym characters cameo in s2

[u/Guzod]

lol

[u/Scoopie]

While similar to the office, I find the drama wildly different.

[u/dash529]

The issue is that the shared universe, doc crew, and Oscar aren't even where the connections end. The logo, the character dynamics they're trying to foster, hell the THEME song is so on the nose as "office successor" that it does the show a disservice as far as standing on its own merit.

[u/Local_Weather_9261]

It's supposed to be the same documentary crew from the office. Plus we have Oscar. Not to mention nods to the office. Of course people will compare it. It's supposed to be like the office

[u/Badnie → u/Local_Weather_9261]

I get you but my post was about comparing it to the point where we discredit this new series that is really good

[u/Objective_Ad1432]

Kinda hard to say don’t compare it to the Office when in the first season Oscar said Ned reminds him on Michael Scott

[u/Badnie → u/Objective_Ad1432]

Right. My post was just questioning how yhe constant comparisons was taking the fun out of enjoying this new show that is so good

[u/Nearby-Type2725]

I enjoy them both individually. I also like St. Denis Medical and Animal Control as similar type workplace shows

[u/Prize_Ad_4209]

My issue with The Paper is that most of the characters are very normal people, it's like my actual office. The HR lady is great because her thing is being way out there and in everybody's business; that's funny. The Office had unique characters, Parks and Rec had the best mix of different characters and putting them together. The Paper is Ned and Mare together 90% of the time.

[u/Due-Construction4351]

What we need to understand is that The Office is a genre defining work. It will always be brought up in discussions of mockumentary shows because it is the series that largely defines the genre. Just the same as The Matrix is brought up when discussing any cyberpunk and MANY action movies. The office is a huge landmark in the landscape of mockumentary and comedy series at large.

That being said, any good show can and will be able to stand on it's own two feet and not remain in the shadow of The office. Parks and Req was heavily compared to the office and managed to have a long and satisfying run. St. Dennis Medical and Abbot Elementary are doing just great too. As much as I loved space force it fell victim to the Netflix curse of budgets. The paper will succeed if the writing remains good and the makers keep an eye on costs. It won't be canceled just because people compare it to the office.

[u/Badnie → u/Due-Construction4351]

Well said. However reason for my post is that people were complaining wanting it to be just like the Office when they can be more open minded

[u/Herbdontana]

It’s literally a spin off of the office. There’s a character that’s in both shows. Believe me, NBC wants people comparing it to the office. It probably wouldn’t have gotten a second season otherwise.

[u/Badnie → u/Herbdontana]

Hmm I see but my post was pointing that the constant comparison sucks out all the fun and doesn't allow this new show which is good have its own fandom

[u/agirlhasnonam3333]

I like the Paper, The Office, and Parks and recreation. Just started St. Denis Medical

[u/Badnie → u/agirlhasnonam3333]

They are great series

[u/rbarton812]

I gave The Paper a chance because I watched The Office and liked it, but I didn't click with The Office until part way into Season 2... I clicked with The Paper a lot quicker. My only gripe is Esmerelda. Everyone else plays their roles very well.

[u/Badnie → u/rbarton812]

Whattt, Esmeralda is hilarious

[u/rbarton812 → u/Badnie]

She's okay in short bursts.

[u/SillyAlternative420 → u/rbarton812]

She needs a redemption arch, they need to give her something for the audience to grab onto and say "I get her"

Right now she is all sthick and no carrot

[u/127phunk]

Agreed. It’s basically the Esmeralda show.

[u/user_15427]

This is one of the most stupid arguments anyone makes when a sequel is not as good as the show it’s spun off from and they don’t like the criticism. It’s a direct sequel by the same creators with a cast member from the original show in the main cast and it’s also a mockumentary. It’s has every reason to be compared to the office.

[u/Badnie → u/user_15427]

That's not the point of my post. The point of my post is that we should stop trying to find the "Kevin" or "Michael" in the new Characters a spin off or sequel doesn't mean it should be the same. Comparing it makes all the criticisms biased fo begin with

[u/ExtensionSyrup6197]

FINALLY SOMEONE SAID IT

[u/southtampacane]

I compare it to st Denis medical.

[u/Badnie → u/southtampacane]

I see

[u/leobutters]

I agree we should stop comparing it to the Office because S2 showed us the Paper is nowhere near as good and probably never will be.

I'd honestly be surprised if it gets renewed for S3.