The highly anticipated release of The Paper is officially here, and in the build-up to the show streaming on Peacock, there’s been plenty of intrigue, curiosity and excitement. While the show is a follow-up to the hit NBC series The Office, which ran for nine seasons, The Paper gives fans several small and fun moments of nostalgia, including the same documentary crew that followed Michael Scott and Jim Halpert.
However, The Paper is ready to stand on its own two feet, a phrase star Domhnall Gleeson used to describe one piece of what drew him to the role of Ned Sampson. Gleeson’s character takes on the lofty goal of turning the tides of a struggling Midwestern newspaper, the Toledo Truth-Teller, stepping in as its new editor-in-chief.
During a recent sitdown with Men’s Journal, Gleeson opened up about several topics, but specifically highlighted a few key things that excited him about playing the role of Ned Sampson in The Paper.
Domhnall Gleeson Praises ‘The Paper’ Creators, Greg Daniels and Michael Koman
When asked what ultimately drew him to the role of Ned Sampson and The Paper in general, Gleeson didn’t need much time to answer. The factors that excited him most about joining the show were more than enough to convince any actor about a role—the creators, the script and the character.
More specifically, to start with the creators, Gleeson had high praise for Greg Daniels and Michael Koman.
“Greg Daniels was making it. What a draw that was,” Gleeson told Men’s Journal. “Look at the comedy he’s made, look at the shows he’s made, look how happy he’s made so many people … same with Michael Koman, an incredible track record.”
It’s hard to argue with Gleeson’s point, as Daniels not only adapted The Office for the United States version, but also wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. If that’s not impressive enough, Daniels also co-created Parks and Recreation and King of the Hill.
Koman was a writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and also a co-creator, writer and executive producer for Nathan for You, which ran for four seasons.
Domhnall Gleeson Says ‘The Paper’ Script, Approach to Creating His Character Drew Him In
As appealing as the creators were, Gleeson also praised the script and loved the fact that they created his character as one who “stood on his own two feet” and didn’t try to replicate The Office stars Michael Scott or David Brent.
“The script was really funny, and what you’re talking about is true,” Gleeson told Men’s Journal. “It was clear to me that this wasn’t like, you know, they can’t get Steve Carell, so we’re going to try to get somebody who can do the same thing that’s similar. We’re going to lose if we try and do that.”
“They had built a totally new, separate character, who stood on his own two feet. He seemed like a little bit more of a straight [forward] man. But he also was able to be funny in the show, and he’s sort of inspiring to a few people in the office in a slightly different way than Michael had been, and that David Brent was in the UK The Office.”
From the sound of it, Gleeson’s boxes were checked, and the aspects of The Paper that he loved are also significant components that could lead to the show’s success in the immediate and long-term future. If the early returns are any indication, things are getting off on the right foot, as The Paper was renewed for Season 2 just one day before it initially debuted.
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