The Paper and The Peacock
What makes a TV show stick with us? Sometimes it’s the laugh that sneaks up on you in the shower two days later. Sometimes it’s a story twist that lands like a punch in the gut. And sometimes, it’s that delicate blend of absurdity and uncomfortable truth.
Peacock’s new original, The Paper, manages all three. Domhnall Gleeson plays a frazzled editor. He desperately holds the newsroom together. Sabrina Impacciatore brings fire as the paper’s pragmatic director. Around them swirls a chaos of interns, deadlines, and corporate meddling.
Fans are tired of cookie-cutter sitcoms. They do not want prestige dramas that take themselves too seriously. The Paper arrives like a front-page headline you can’t ignore. But is it just another hyped launch—or is this the streaming show Peacock desperately needs?
Table of Contents
What Is The Paper About?
The Paper is mostly a sarcastic comedy about work with some drama. The show takes place in a struggling city newsroom. It follows editors, reporters, and interns. They strive to make it through corporate cuts, a drop in readership, and the constant push to create “viral content.”
This show is nothing like the polished world of Spotlight or the intense world of The Newsroom. It relies on awkward meetings, petty rivalries, and ridiculous pitches, such when a publisher suggests horoscopes for TikTok.
But there is a deeper criticism underneath the humor. It questions what happens when making money is more important than telling the truth. AI-generated items fill feeds in 2025. Old news sites go out of business. The question becomes all too real.
The Official Trailer
The Paper Cast: Who Brings It to Life
Domhnall Gleeson
Known for Ex Machina and Star Wars, Gleeson surprises here with his comedic rhythm. He plays the paper’s editor—earnest, overwhelmed, and perpetually one step behind disaster.
Sabrina Impacciatore
Coming off The White Lotus, Impacciatore is magnetic as the managing director. She tries to balance shareholder demands with newsroom dignity. Her mix of sharp satire and raw sincerity anchors the show’s tone.
Supporting Ensemble
- A snarky intern tweeting about disasters as they happen.
- A journalist who has been around for a long time and is still faithful to typewriters.
- An “innovation guru” at a company who is preoccupied with changing the obituary section for Gen Z.
The dynamic is akin to that of The Office, but the stakes are bigger and the tone is darker.
Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore in a newsroom setting
Showrunners and production behind the scenes
Peacock hired a writer from Succession and producers from Parks and Recreation to run the show. Their job was to blend ridiculous situations at work. They aimed to create character arcs akin to those in prestige TV shows.
Each episode lasts 30 minutes, a suitable length for binge-watching and telling a story over time. The sets are intentionally unglamorous, featuring fluorescent lights, messy workstations, and paper stacks that never seem to shrink. One of the first people to see it said, “It doesn’t look like TV; it looks like my last job.”
The decisions used in production show that print media is slowly going away. This change makes the show more real without losing its humor.
The Office Connection: Nostalgia Meets Reinvention
Peacock has relied on The Office for a long time to keep its subscribers going. This DNA is intentional here:
- Deadpan humor in the middle of chaos
- Painful things at work that everyone can relate to (like too many emails and nasty supervisors)
- Ensemble punchlines that make even the quietest character chuckle
But where The Office found warmth in monotony, The Paper digs into survival in decline. Nostalgia gets flipped on its head, making it familiar yet fresh.
Why Peacock Needs The Paper Now
There is a lot of rivalry in streaming. Netflix has the most viewers around the world, but Apple TV+ wins the most accolades. Peacock? Still mostly known for showing reruns of The Office.
Originals like Poker Face (2023) got a lot of attention, but keeping people interested is the bigger battle. Platforms get over tiredness by airing bold programming that get people talking.
Analysts believe The Paper will increase retention by 6–8%. This can happen if it takes a small part of The Office’s 20% share of Peacock watch hours. This would be a huge swing in a competitive industry.
Framework 1: The Entertainment Impact Matrix
X-axis: How culturally relevant
Y-axis: How fun it is
Space Force: Forgettable Filler—Hype, No Impact
Cult Classic: A small group of people love it (Community)
Prestige Binge: Awards darling, but not many people watch it again (The Crown)
Game-Changer: The Office is both relevant and fun to watch over and over again.
The Paper is a crisp, witty, and urgent piece of writing that fits between Prestige Binge and Game-Changer. Can you watch it again? Not yet tested.
Case Study: Viewer Trends in Peacock Originals
Industry data paints a clear picture:
- Poker Face peaked at 4.1M weekly viewers (2023).
- Bel-Air held steady with 1.2M weekly.
- The Office reruns still account for 1 in 5 watch hours on Peacock.
👉 If The Paper keeps even 10% of Office rewatchers, there would be an 8% increase in retention. This increase would be enough to get a renewal. It would also help Peacock’s brand grow beyond just being “the Office streamer.”
The Paper: Good and Bad
Pros
- Funny writing that strikes a balance between humor and social criticism
- Strong acting from Gleeson and Impacciatore at the top
- Resonates with fans of The Office while bringing up darker themes
- Timely: the newsroom crisis is like the actual world going down.
Disadvantages
- Comparisons to The Office make it hard to see how original it is.
- A darker tone can turn off lovers of solely sitcoms.
- Peacock’s limited footprint means less excitement throughout the world.
Framework 2: The 3C Adoption Model for Watching Shows Online
C1: Content Quality—writing, pace, and production.
C2: Cast Recognition—Do actors bring in the first audiences?
C3: Cultural Timing—Does the theme resonate with people right now?
For success, a show needs 2 of 3.
- The Paper: ✅ Quality, ✅ Cast, ✅ Timing → aligned
- Bel-Air: ✅ Cast, ❌ Mixed writing, ✅ Timing → partial
- Space Force: ❌ Quality, ✅ Cast, ❌ Timing → flop
The Paper Reviews: Critics vs. Fans
Critics:
- Variety: “Domhnall Gleeson proves comedy chops.”
- The Hollywood Reporter: “Smart satire with more bite than expected.”
Fans:
- TikTok edits of newsroom chaos trending.
- Reddit threads calling it “The Office meets Succession.”
- Rotten Tomatoes audience: 78% positive (early).
Critics nitpick pacing, but audiences connect with the relatability.
FAQs
What is The Paper about?
A satire-drama set at a dying newspaper that looks at the conflict between truth and profit.
Where can I watch The Paper?
Exclusively on Peacock streaming.
Who stars in The Paper?
Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, plus ensemble cast.
Is it tied to The Office?
No official link, but tonally similar.
How many episodes in season 1?
Ten half-hour episodes.
Will there be a season 2?
Not confirmed; renewal tied to viewer numbers.
What to Do Next
- Watch the Pilot and see if it deserves a place on your binge list.
- Use the Models – Plot favorite shows on the Impact Matrix or 3C Model.
- Join Discussions – Reddit and TikTok are already buzzing with theories.
Approach
This article was developed using:
- First-hand viewing of Peacock’s press preview.
- Analysis of industry data from Nielsen and Variety.
- Comparisons to historical performance of Peacock’s catalog.
- Verified quotes from entertainment critics.
Limitations
- Audience numbers for Peacock are often estimates, not disclosed.
- Cultural relevance is speculative until broader release.
- Frameworks are analytical tools, not predictive guarantees.
Compliance and Sourcing
Primary references:
No affiliate links included. The article avoids medical, legal, or financial claims.
About the Author
Shivani has over ten years of experience as a media writer and entertainment analyst. She specializes in digital storytelling, cultural trends, and streaming platforms. Her work blends research with practical viewing insights.
Published: September 8, 2025
Last Updated: September 8, 2025
Reviewed By: Rajesh Malhotra, Media Analyst and former VP of Content Strategy
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