Paul Lieberstein worried he’d ruin The Office with The Paper spinoff, says NY Post

Paul Lieberstein, the actor who played Toby Flenderson and, during seasons five through eight, the showrunner for The Office, says he feared a spinoff named The Paper could undermine the franchise. He told The Post that fans still approach him with the moment they claim to shout: No! when Michael Scott sees Toby. The Paley Center for Media in Manhattan is hosting an exhibition dedicated to The Office, featuring costumes and other props from the mockumentary, with the display running through Sunday, November 16, 2025.

Lieberstein traveled to New York this month to participate in the Paley exhibit, which includes Michael Scott's office suit, Meredith Palmer's Casual Friday dress, Dwight Schrute's wedding suit, and Pam Beesly's copy of the Threat Level: Midnight screenplay. There is also a replica of Michael's desk for fans to photograph with. The showpiece collection sits within a broader celebration of the 2005-2013 series that starred Carell, Lieberstein, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and Jenna Fischer. The Paley Center display underscores the enduring fondness for the series, now more than a decade removed from its finale.

The Paper recently debuted on Peacock and is slated to air on NBC in November, introducing a new cast working at a newspaper in Ohio. One holdover from The Office, Oscar Nunez, has returned in a potential nod to franchise fans, and he told The Post that Toby could fit in if The Paper expands to include more alumni. Nunez described Toby as a flexible HR presence who could plausibly slot into the new workplace.

Lieberstein, who serves as a consulting producer and part-time writer on The Paper, helped shape the project from its earliest days. He said the impulse felt familiar, likening it to the moment when the original Office team fell in love with the British version and worried about the American adaptation. He recalled a moment of doubt with the spinoff: 'Oh, God, what are we doing? We're going to ruin it and be a laughing stock.' That sense of trepidation, he noted, also accompanied early discussions about The Paper, though the team pressed ahead in hopes the spinoff would find its own tone and audience.

Lieberstein has long been part of The Office’s extended orbit and remains involved with The Paper as a consulting producer and writer. He said the project’s early energy reminded him of how The Office began, with a respect for the source material and a fear of tame imitation. The Paper has to stand apart, he suggested, even as it nods to the legacy of its predecessor. 'We did it before the show ended. They tested it,' he recalled of the earlier spinoff conversations. 'Comments came back like, We want more Jim and Pam!' The dynamic shift toward a new setting — a newsroom — was part of the deliberate choice to forge a distinct path.

The Office’s backstory includes a broader spinoff that never came to fruition. The Farm, a Dwight Schrute-focused project, was tested via a backdoor pilot in The Office but stalled when NBC’s leadership changed and new management did not fully align with the concept. Lieberstein acknowledged timing as a key factor: if the network had waited two years for The Office to end, executives might have understood the demand for a Dwight-led series; instead, the environment shifted and the show did not progress. He stressed that the decision was not solely his to make, but he believes the idea was sound in principle even if it would have required more sustained audience appetite. 'We did it before the end of The Office,' he said in reference to the earlier testing, adding that the reception for a Dwight-centric show would have depended on how it evolved in the wake of a long-running finale.

Despite the cautionary memories, Lieberstein remains optimistic about the future of The Paper and the role his castmates might play in it. He said he would jump at the chance to appear if asked, given the long history of collaboration among The Office alumni. The Paper’s trajectory remains in flux as producers balance fresh storytelling with the desire to honor the beloved mockumentary that ran from 2005 to 2013. The Paley Center exhibit continues to draw fans and industry observers who are eager to see how the spinoff universe expands while acknowledging the franchise’s legacy.