One of the most beloved shows ever gets fun new spin-off streaming this week

Ahead of its release, the series has already been renewed for a season two.

Coming to NOW and Sky, the comedy show sees the same documentary crew that followed Steve Carell's foolish manager at the paper company Dunder Mifflin turn their attention to a different type of paper business: a newspaper publisher.

This is as Ned Sampson (an easy-to-like Domhnall Gleeson, Echo Valley), a man with a lifelong love of journalism, takes a job as editor-in-chief at The Toledo Truth Teller - a historic Midwestern news outlet that has fallen on hard times.

Ned's goal of reviving the publisher to its former glory will not be easy, however. For one thing, Enervate - the parent company that owns the Truth Teller - sees more value in toilet paper than news.

But also the Truth Teller's managing editor, Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore, The White Lotus), is threatened by the arrival of the new editor-in-chief and goes out of her way to sabotage him.

Can Ned transform his understaffed and inexperienced newsroom into a crack team of reporters?

Last May, JOE had the pleasure of speaking to Tim Key, who plays Ken, Enervate's head of strategy, in The Paper.

At the time, we asked him about his upcoming US Office spin-off, to which he said:

“I’ve done some ADR on it recently and seen some of the scenes. It looks pretty funny. I’ve no idea, though.

“It’s a very intimidating job to take because you’re sort of on the shoulders of giants. The Office was always my favourite show. I keep going back to it.

“And then this is sort of removed from that because it’s the American Office, and then a spin-off again from that. But still, you’re in an office [he said laughing] and you’re making The Office and it’s quite high pressure.

“I don’t know. I think it will be pretty good.”

Having seen the first two episodes of The Paper, JOE can now confirm that it makes for an addictively fun watch.

In particular, the way creators Greg Daniels (who made the original US Office) and Michael Koman (Nathan For You) depict just how far traditional media has fallen should provoke some big laughs from viewers (even as some journalists amongst its audience may be left wincing at the show's thoughtful depiction of the field).

That said, the sitcom is also an oddly effective and emotional argument for the importance of local news, and it's very satisfying to watch Ned's editorial team slowly come together and garner the requisite skills.

It is worth noting too that there are several fun easter eggs within the mockumentary for fans of The US Office.

Holding an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score, you can read a sample of some other positive reactions to The Paper below:

Boston Globe: "As I remove my journalism hat -- or at least retreat into a thicker skin -- I must report that The Paper is quite funny, in much the same way as its predecessor."

Consequence: "The end result is a show that doesn’t just inspire laughs — it can actually feel pretty inspiring. Because yeah, everyone’s gotta work for a living. It’s nice, though, to see people living for work they believe in."

RogerEbert.com: "It's a smart, breezy, good-natured sitcom, and something of a love letter to the noblest aspects of the [journalism] profession."

Sydney Morning Herald: "The digs at declining print journalism are pointed and sharp, but tonally there's a little more joy in this workplace. The Paper is a paean to local news journalism, and a classic underdog tale."

The Paper has already been renewed for a season two ahead of its release.

The show's 10-episode first season, meanwhile, will be available to stream in Ireland and the UK on the service NOW from Friday, 5 September.

Its first two episodes will also air on Sky Max and Sky Showcase on Friday from 9pm.