Despite positive reviews, the new Peacock series based on The Office, called The Paper, suggests that traditional sitcoms aren’t as popular anymore because of streaming. Streaming services have actually been great for TV viewers, creating more competition and pushing creators to be innovative in order to attract an audience.
Shows like Pluribus, Stranger Things, and The Boys probably wouldn’t exist without streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and Prime Video – these platforms are willing to take risks on big-budget, ambitious projects. While streaming has generally been positive for the entertainment industry, it hasn’t benefited everyone equally. The sci-fi genre, in particular, has thrived; complex shows with intricate stories and detailed worlds, like Foundation on Apple TV+, now have a place to succeed.
While some TV genres have thrived, others haven’t adapted well to changes in the television industry. This is especially noticeable with traditional sitcoms. Shows like MASH were incredibly popular back in the 1970s alongside Happy Days, and even more recently, Friends (in 2004) and The Big Bang Theory (in 2019) drew huge audiences – comparable to hits like Game of Thrones. However, the lukewarm reception to The Office’s sequel, The Paper, demonstrates that times have changed permanently.
The Paper’s Format Proves The Office’s Success Can’t Be Replicated
Released in September 2025, The Paper received positive feedback from critics (85% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (70%). This new comedy is a spin-off of The Office, created by Greg Daniels—a co-creator of the original series—and Michael Koman of Nathan For You. Instead of following employees at a paper company in Scranton, The Paper centers around the staff of a financially troubled newspaper called The Toledo Truth Teller in Ohio.
Featuring a talented cast including Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Ramona Young, and Oscar Nunez (known from The Office), The Paper clearly aimed to recapture the feel of a hugely popular classic sitcom. While it seemed like a sure hit, the show unfortunately proves to be a surprisingly disappointing example of where sitcoms stand today.
Shows like this are popular because of the success older sitcoms have found on streaming platforms. For example, The Office did incredibly well on Netflix, which led to a spinoff for The Big Bang Theory called Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. While classic shows can find new audiences on streaming, it’s proven surprisingly difficult for new sitcoms to succeed on these same platforms.
Streaming Services Rely On Classic Sitcoms But Can’t Create New Ones
Unlike The Office US, which had time to develop its characters and find its footing over many seasons – similar to shows like The Simpsons, American Dad!, and Parks and Recreation – The Paper, with just 10 episodes released all at once, didn’t give viewers the same opportunity to become invested. Most people agree that The Office US’s first season wasn’t its strongest, but it had the chance to improve and connect with its audience.
Although the first season of The Paper was decent—and perhaps even stronger than the debut of The Office US—it’s difficult for this show to simply recreate the original when so much has changed in television. Both The Office US and Parks and Recreation had rough beginnings, but they were given 22 and 24 episodes respectively in their second seasons to improve and find their footing.
However, recent shows like Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the How I Met Your Mother sequel How I Met Your Father, and Netflix’s revival of That ‘70s Show (That ‘90s Show) all have much shorter seasons – typically between 10 and 16 episodes. This limited amount of time makes it hard for audiences to connect with the characters and their relationships, which often hinders these streaming sitcoms from gaining a strong following.
The Paper’s Struggles Reflect The Bigger Issue With 2020s Sitcoms
I’ve always loved The Office – it felt like one of the last truly classic sitcoms, you know? People often say it was special because it didn’t try to reinvent the wheel like shows that were coming out around the same time, such as Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Community. But honestly, even after The Office ended in 2013, there were still plenty of really successful, traditional sitcoms! I think about shows like New Girl, The Big Bang Theory, Superstore, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine – they all did incredibly well by sticking to that classic formula for years after.
It wasn’t self-aware sitcoms that caused the genre to decline, but rather the shift to streaming services becoming the main way TV shows were made around 2020. The unsuccessful reboot of Frasier on Paramount+ demonstrated that even hugely popular sitcoms struggle to find an audience when they move to streaming. It’s ironic because those same classic shows – like Frasier and That ‘70s Show – actually helped make streaming successful with their original episodes, yet their new versions haven’t been well-received.
I grew up loving sitcoms, and I think they thrived back when TV was all about familiar faces and storylines you could always count on. But things are so different now with streaming! It feels like those services are always chasing the next big thing, needing constant buzz. That just doesn’t leave much space for the kind of shows that used to let you really settle in with characters and enjoy their everyday quirks over a long period of time. It’s a shame, really – that slow burn, getting to know people, just doesn’t seem to fit the current TV landscape.
It remains to be seen if bold new attempts like Stuart Fails to Save the Universe – which injects lots of special effects, celebrity guests, and a dramatic premise into the generally realistic world of The Big Bang Theory – can breathe new life into the sitcom format. Even if this spin-off and similar shows do well, it’s clear that a large-scale, futuristic, action-packed thriller isn’t a typical sitcom.
It’s discouraging that The Paper hasn’t gained much attention. Shows hoping to follow in the footsteps of hits like Seinfeld, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation, or The Office are facing an uphill battle. Despite the success of shows like The Office on streaming platforms, it seems this type of sitcom isn’t making a comeback anytime soon, and The Paper‘s performance suggests that’s likely to continue.
2026-07-28 20:58