Paul Lieberstein feared 'The Paper' would ruin 'The Office' franchise, now open to cameo

Paul Lieberstein, Toby on The Office and a showrunner for Seasons 5 through 8, says he once feared that The Paper, the spinoff about a Midwestern newspaper, could ruin the franchise. In an interview with The Post, he recalled the anxiety that surrounded the early development of the project and said he would jump at the chance to appear on The Paper if asked, provided it fit the show. The Paper recently debuted on Peacock and will air on NBC in November.

The Paley Center for Media in Manhattan opened a public exhibit celebrating The Office, along with its spinoff ambitions, and runs through Sunday, November 16. The display features Michael Scott’s office suit, Meredith’s Casual Friday dress, Dwight Schrute’s wedding suit and Pam Beesly’s copy of the Threat Level: Midnight screenplay, among other props. A replica of Michael’s desk invites visitors to take photos. The exhibit, which celebrates The Office and its forthcoming spinoff, includes props and costumes from the mockumentary, which ran from 2005 to 2013.

The Paper recently debuted on Peacock and will air on NBC in November, featuring a new newsroom set in Ohio. Oscar Nunez, who played Oscar Martinez on The Office, has returned for The Paper and told The Post that Toby could fit if the show added more familiar faces, noting that Toby works in HR, a role that could be versatile for many companies. Lieberstein, who is a consulting producer and part-time writer on The Paper, said he would enjoy the idea but that it must serve the story and not distract from the new ensemble. He added that the project is choosing its own path and that moving ahead is important.

Lieberstein said the anxiety about The Paper echoed the early doubts about The Office itself. He recalled thinking, during the Office years, that they were worried about turning a beloved British concept into American TV and whether it would work. He said that the team thought they might be laughed at, but they pressed on. He said there is a similar tension with The Paper but that the producers want the spinoff to stand on its own. He added that there was also a spinoff concept in the works called The Farm that would have focused on Dwight Schrute; NBC never moved forward with that project.

Originally, there was also a spinoff to The Office in the works called The Farm, which would have focused on Dwight Schrute. It had a backdoor pilot in The Office, but NBC never moved forward with that series. Lieberstein explained that timing and new management at NBC affected the decision, and that audiences might have needed more time to mourn the end of The Office before embracing a Dwight-centric project.

Today, Lieberstein emphasizes that The Paper should go its own way and not feel like a continuation; he said if asked to appear, he would, but the show would need to stand on its own. The Paley Center exhibit runs through November 16, offering fans a chance to revisit the beloved show’s legacy as The Paper forges ahead.