When creators Greg Daniels and Michael Koman announced their The Office spinoff, The Paper, it was clear they’d be walking a fine line. The new Peacock series had to honor its predecessor while building a world of its own.
Thankfully, they nailed the landing. The Paper doesn’t drown in fan service. Instead, it carefully places a few memorable references that feel less like a blatant callback and more like a warm hug for long-time fans. The show is about the new world of the Toledo Truth Teller, but these subtle nods remind us where it all began.
For those whose hearts are still in Scranton, here are the three best Office references you’ll find in The Paper.
Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration is Still Going Strong
The journey to Toledo begins right where the last one ended: the Scranton Business Park. A new documentary crew returns to find that Dunder Mifflin is long gone, replaced by a laser hair removal business. But not everything has changed. The beloved Bob Vance, of Vance Refrigeration, is still there, and he’s still a man of his word.
Bob (Robert Ray Shafer) is the only character from the original series, aside from Oscar, to make a cameo. He doesn’t just provide a quick dose of nostalgia; he’s the one who points the crew toward the Toledo Truth Teller, setting the entire story in motion.
In a charming bonus, Bob reveals that former Dunder Mifflin employees Phyllis and Stanley still keep in touch about their Schnoodle dogs. The cameo is sweet, crucial to the plot, and over before it wears out its welcome. That’s how you do a legacy character.
Stanley and Oscar’s Phone Call
Phyllis isn’t the only former Dunder Mifflin employee Stanley keeps in touch with. In a heart-warming reveal from Episode 2, we learn that the famously puzzle-obsessed Stanley is still a big part of Oscar’s life.
The scene takes place as Oscar proudly admires a sudoku puzzle he’s just published in the latest edition of the Toledo Truth Teller. He’s texted a picture of it to the one person he knows will appreciate it: Stanley Hudson. As they share a phone call, it’s clear that even across state lines, Stanley is still the same old, no-nonsense sudoku expert, judging the puzzle as “too easy.”
The simple phone call, without even hearing Stanley’s voice, is a perfect, heartfelt moment. It reminds us of their shared history and shows that even after the cameras left, some friendships were built to last.
Michael Scott’s “Wayne Gretzky” Quote Makes a Return
It’s one of the most iconic jokes in the show’s history: Michael Scott proudly taking credit for a famous Wayne Gretzky quote by writing it on a whiteboard and adding his name.
The Paper brilliantly resurrects this running gag in its Season 1 finale. As Oscar encourages editor-in-chief Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) to pursue a romance with reporter Mare (Chelsea Frei), he delivers a perfect line: “A great man once said, ‘You miss 100 percent of the jokes you don’t take.’ Also an idiot I used to know.”
The idiot, of course, is Michael Scott. This one-liner is pure comedic gold. Not only does it pay tribute to a classic joke, but it also uses that joke to move the plot forward. It’s a shout-out that feels organic to the new world, reminding us of the old one in the best way possible.
