Saagar Kote
Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, Peacock’s mockumentary-style drama series ‘The Paper’ is a rib-tickling tale of the people working at a failing newspaper called “Toledo Truth-Teller.” It chronicles the lives of Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson), Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore), Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei), and others as they try to redeem themselves and their newspaper, while also being followed by a documentary crew that takes an interest in the workplace.
Based on ‘The Office (British Version),’ created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, it is set in the world of ‘The Office (American Version),’ and looks at ideas of workplace politics and chaotic group dynamics intricately. As the members of the newspaper try to deliver something good for their readers, they are challenged by hilarious circumstances. If the comedic elements, chemistry between the characters, tone, and the setting of the series intrigued you, these shows, similar to ‘The Paper,’ will keep you entertained.
8. The Newsroom (2012-2014)
HBO’s ‘The Newsroom’ chronicles the happenings around ACN, a news channel, and the dynamics between its employees. Created by Aaron Sorkin, it follows the journey of Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels), MacKenzie Morgan McHale (Emily Mortimer), and others at the news outlet as they confront unexpected challenges, changing morality, ethics, and work culture, while also dealing with their personal feelings. The drama series, akin to ‘The Paper,’ explores the workplace in all its complexities, while also dealing with the chaos of shared spaces and how differing views affect the lives of colleagues. The visual styles of the two stories also forge a deeper connection, despite the tonal differences, especially since they take place within similar settings related to journalism.
7. Sports Night (1998–2000)
‘Sports Night’ navigates the lives of two TV hosts named Dan Rydell (Josh Charles) and Casey McCall (Peter Krause), who cover sports issues. In the Aaron Sorkin creation, the nucleus lies in the attempts by the two men to keep themselves relevant in front of the camera, while they also deal with challenges related to making their titular show between. On this journey, they face consequential issues like relationship dynamics and ethical dilemmas. The comedy drama series, on the lines of ‘The Paper,’ deals with the inner workings of a media outlet, while also delivering rib-tickling scenes. Both shows have quirky characters that add to the flavor of the narrative, while also containing depictions of complex relationships within the workspace.
6. NewsRadio (1995–1999)
Created by Paul Simms, NBC’s ‘NewsRadio’ looks at the lives of the employees of a news and radio station called “WNYX,” and the hilarious situations they get into. Set in the hustle and bustle of New York City, the nucleus of the show follows the aftermath of the arrival of the new news director, Dave Nelson (Dave Foley), and the ways in which he attempts to run the place. However, he realizes that running a media outlet comes with its own set of challenges. The sitcom, due to its portrayal of workspace dynamics, chaotic relationships, and visual tone, shares similarities with the world of ‘The Paper’ and its quirky characters.
5. The IT Crowd (2006-2013)
‘The IT Crowd’ chronicles the journeys of an IT technician named Roy Trenneman (Chris O’Dowd), a new manager called Jen Barber (Katherine Parkinson), and others as they try to fit into the world of a huge corporate entity. Created by Graham Linehan, the British sitcom deals with the themes of friendship and workspace politics, while also exploring the challenges the characters face, especially due to Jen’s technological unawareness. The elements of chaotic office relationships, quirky characters, and comedic visual elements of the show connect it to ‘The Paper’ and its characters on a spiritual level.
4. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
NBC’s ‘Parks and Recreation’ follows the lives of the employees of the Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, which is led by Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). It chronicles her efforts to convert a site into a park for public use, along with the support of a woman named Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones). Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the political mockumentary sitcom deals with the elements of community issues and the chaotic relationships between the employees of the department. Like ‘The Paper,’ it features workspace dynamics between complex characters, an effort by the employees to improve the functioning of their offices, and similar visual elements. This forges a greater connection between the stories.
3. Superstore (2015-2021)
Created by Justin Spitzer, ‘Superstore’ deals with the lives of Jonah (Ben Feldman), Dina (Lauren Ash), and others who work at a “big box” store called “Cloud 9.” The NBC sitcom delves into the messy and intriguing lives of the employees, as they face the ups and downs of their unique jobs in St Louis, Missouri. The show features funny workspace dynamics, office relationships, misunderstandings, and a comedic tone that connects it to the world of ‘The Paper’ and its characters. Both shows feature characters that struggle to find the rhythm in their jobs, while also dealing with their chaotic feelings.
2. Corporate (2018-2020)
Comedy Central’s ‘Corporate’ chronicles the workings of a multinational company named “Hampton DeVille,” through the experiences of the leading characters, who are employees named Matt Engelbertson (Matt Ingebretson), and Jake Levinson (Jake Weisman). Created by the two leading actors along with Pat Bishop, the sitcom revolves around the challenges faced by the protagonists as they deal with the challenges posed by the CEO Christian DeVille (Lance Reddick), while also dealing with their personal experiences. On the lines of ‘The Paper,’ it talks about the dynamics between colleagues in a chaotic environment, while featuring rib-tickling visual elements, which connect the two stories on a greater level.
1. The Office (2005–2013)
Based on the eponymous British sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, NBC’s ‘The Office’ navigates the funny lives of the employees of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, headed by Michael Scott (Steve Carell). In the mockumentary-style sitcom, the employees are followed by a crew that intends to use their experiences to make a documentary on office life. ‘The Paper’ is set in the same world as the sitcom created by Greg Daniels. In both shows, the characters are followed by a documentary crew in their workspaces, and they get into hilarious situations that add to the flavor of the narrative. Not only are the two stories related, but they also have similar visual tones that connect them on a spiritual level.
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