'The Office' Universe Expands with Toledo-Set Spinoff ‘The Paper’, and Oscar Returns to Screen

TOLEDO, OH — A new chapter in the legacy of "The Office" is arriving this fall, and it’s shining a light on Toledo, Ohio. NBCUniversal has announced that the series spinoff, titled "The Paper," will premiere on Peacock in September, reviving the beloved mockumentary format with a fresh workplace setting: a struggling Midwestern newspaper.

Created by Greg Daniels, the mind behind the U.S. version of "The Office," and Michael Koman of "Nathan for You," "The Paper" trades the paper sales floor of Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin for the newsroom of The Truth Teller, a fictional Toledo publication battling irrelevance in the digital age.

"The documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch is in search of a new subject when they discover a dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters," Peacock said in a statement reported by USA TODAY.

Returning to the small screen is Oscar Nuñez, reprising his role as Oscar Martinez. Though his new role within the newsroom remains undisclosed, fans of "The Office" can expect his familiar, dry-witted presence. He joins a cast led by Domhnall Gleeson ("The Revenant," "About Time"), playing the newspaper’s hopeful new publisher.

The ensemble also includes Sabrina Impacciatore (“The White Lotus”), Chelsea Frei (“Shrill”), Melvin Gregg (“American Vandal”), Gbemisola Ikumelo (“A League of Their Own”), Alex Edelman, Ramona Young (“Never Have I Ever”), and Tim Key (“This Time with Alan Partridge”).

Local stakeholders have been involved in shaping the show's authenticity. Michael DeSanto, head of FilmToledo, told WTOL that NBC teams worked closely with him over the past year to reflect Toledo’s culture, businesses, and quirks. “They had a bunch of different departments reach out to me, getting the feel of Toledo’s culture, businesses, idiosyncrasies, even fashion,” he said.

The show has also integrated recognizable elements of the city. Viewers will spot nods to local institutions like the Toledo Walleye and Mud Hens, and apparel from hometown favorite Jupmode. “To be able to have our brand and our products seen nationwide is a really cool experience,” said Stephen Gullette, a marketing specialist for the clothing company.

Lori King, a longtime journalist and editor-in-chief of the Toledo Free Press, expressed cautious optimism about the portrayal of local journalism. “We’re the grassroots of journalism,” she said. “It’s our job to tell the community what’s happening in their town. Without local news, you wouldn’t know anything.”

While “The Paper” is fiction, its creators and local collaborators are hoping it underscores the real-life value and challenges of community journalism—albeit with a comedic twist.

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