'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAIhAAAQMCBgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEDBAARBQcSEyFhBiJB/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAiH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMKzmU74xFNuZDGZPk+7coLBtj9HTyi86eOqgO5uYq66bhGSEaqSptNrZV7UbrSlEDCK2XZ//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Paper was promoted as a new piece of writing that inherited the spirit of The Office.
Fans soon noticed it shared the same mockumentary style and perspective on everyday life. Some were more difficult to locate, while others were explicit. The makers of The Paper added lines, objects, and one face (read: Oscar Martinez) that reminded people of the Scranton branch.
These served as subtle reminders that the new show wasn't too different than the OG. The Paper left several clues for fans of The Office while also introducing its viewers to new characters and problems. The clues were used to bridge the gap between the past and the present.
Let's discuss 7 The Office references in the latest The Paper spin-off that you might have missed.
Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.
Here is the list of 7 The Office references in the latest The Paper spin-off that you might have missed:
7. Wayne Gretzky's iconic quote returns in The Paper
In the final episode of Season 1 of The Paper, Oscar tells Ned Samson.
"You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."
This is a reference to Michael Scott's whiteboard scene in The Office. This Wayne Gretzky quote call-back appears in one of the final scenes of the season. It is easy to miss, but die-hard fans will notice the callback.
6. A Sudoku puzzle callback to Stanley
In The Paper episode 2, viewers might have missed a prop that acted as a callback to the hit sitcom. Oscar Martinez submits a Sudoku puzzle. He initially conceals his identity as the submitter. Afterwards, he confesses that he created it. The scene shows him on the phone with someone. He says,
"Maybe it is too easy for you, Stanley."
In The Office, Stanley reveled in his puzzles. He did crosswords during meetings and did not want to be bothered. This reference mirrors that. It reminds viewers of Stanley and his obsession with riddles and also gives fans a glimpse of Oscar and Stanley's friendship.
5. Dunder Mifflin boxes and Michael's gift in the background
The Paper incorporates several props that are easy to miss. There are Dunder Mifflin boxes placed in the background. There is also a small gift that seems to be the same one Michael once gave Oscar in The Office. These props make fans smile when they spot them and act as fun easter eggs.
These props also bring a sense of familiarity. Fans who watch closely feel rewarded. They realize that the creators are thinking of old fans while telling a new story.
4. Bob Vance refrigeration makes an appearance
Even though the trailer for The Paper led us to believe that Oscar Martinez was the only one from The Office cast to appear in the new show, Bob Vance made an appearance in the pilot episode, taking fans by surprise. He informed the staff that Dunder Mifflin had gone out of business and explained that his Vance Refrigeration Company is still thriving downstairs.
He also shared that Phyllis and Stanley are still in contact, and revealed that the location of the Scranton Branch is now a laser hair removal salon. This scene provides a direct link to The Office. The moment is realistic and grounded. Casual viewers of The Office might have missed the familiar voice in The Paper. This cameo makes it clearer that the spin-off exists in the same universe.
3. Dunder Mifflin mentioned
In The Paper, the show describes what became of Dunder Mifflin. Viewers may have missed the sequence in which Bob Vance informed the cameras that Enervate purchased Dunder Mifflin in 2019. That corporate parent also now controls paper products and the Toledo newspaper, The Truth Teller. The newspaper is located in the same tower or building that once occupied Dunder Mifflin.
This makes it quite obvious that the two shows are in the same universe. It provides fans with a tangible connection between the old and the new story. Enervate, as the new parent firm, helps to explain why the paper industry shifted from selling office supplies to printing local news. It makes the plot of The Paper more realistic. It offers The Paper a credible storyline that ties it directly to The Office universe.
2. It's literally the same documentary crew
The Paper picks up with the same documentary staff that trailed Dunder Mifflin in The Office. That documentary crew is still filming 20 years later. They have traveled to Toledo to capture the embattled community newspaper. The consistency maintains the mockumentary format that fans recognize. Cameras do not simply serve as a style element; they become story characters.
The show makes a conscious effort to have the same crew members return. This gives the spin-off the impression of belonging to the same universe. It allows the new show to be an extension of the old one, albeit a very natural one that follows directly on the heels of the old one. The camera team still captures embarrassing situations and genuine emotion. This allows fans who adored The Office to have a sense of belonging from the onset of the very first episode of this new show.
1. Allan Harvey - Henry Bruegger to Marv Putnam
Another reference from The Office is an appearance by longtime comedian Allan Havey in The Paper. In The Office, he appeared as an interviewer called Mr Bruegger in two episodes. As the CEO of Enervate, he reappears in The Paper as Marv Putnam. Marv appears in the pilot episode when he comes to the offices of the Toledo Truth Teller to examine the deserted offices of Dunder Mifflin. He reappears later in episode 7, when he climbs up the building stairs to speak with Ned Samson directly.
His role provides the link between the two series, revealing that the new show takes place in the same universe. Viewers might have missed this cameo in The Paper because it is shot in a crowded scene centered on Ned and Mare. The shots surrounding him highlight Oscar and the rapid speed of the newsroom.
Trending
The Paper turned out to be evidence that the world of The Office was not forgotten. The narrative also introduced a new workplace and new issues without ignoring the past.
Fans enjoyed how the show's creators honored classic gags and situations while also giving it a fresh voice. The Paper created a bridge between two shows, without losing their own story. Eventually, it seemed like a natural extension of the same world that had made The Office so popular.
Reply
