I Asked The Paper’s New Stars About The Secret To Doing The Office’s Famous On-Cam ‘Stare,’ And Their Responses Didn’t Disappoint

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After over a decade since The Office last aired, we’re preparing to revisit that zany and absurd world with Peacock’s upcoming spinoff titled The Paper. This fresh comedy series, set to debut on the 2025 TV schedule, employs the same documentary crew from Dunder Mifflin, this time focusing on a Toledo, Ohio newspaper. The show incorporates numerous references and familiar elements reminiscent of one of NBC’s most successful sitcoms, including the memorable Jim Halpert “stare.

Lately, I’ve had a chat with the fresh faces from The Paper, discussing the upcoming episodes. In our conversation, I inquired if they could share any tips for mastering the iconic “stare.” Chelsea Frei, playing Mare Pritti, the Toledo Truth Teller journalist, shared her insights. Despite being fearful of those stares, she discovered a method:

It initially took me, and perhaps everyone else, a moment to grasp how often your character should be looking directly at the camera. At first, I may have overdone it. As the season progressed, I learned when your character would interact with the crew and when she wouldn’t. This understanding evolved as I became more familiar with my character, deciding what she was comfortable sharing on camera and what she preferred to keep private.

When I praised her for her excellent timing, Frei modestly declined taking all the credit, instead crediting it as a collaborative effort from the team, implying that they worked together to create those memorable moments.

In simpler terms, I believe the focus is on what your co-star, Sabrina Impacciatore, does. For me, many times it seemed like after an unusual event, I was reacting with a stare towards the camera that was reminiscent of a joke or punchline. I’ve often noticed that her laughter follows, almost as if it were expected. It’s like she sets up the laugh, but it lands on my reaction. I think it works best when someone authentically portrays their character in a way that evokes a specific emotion from the audience.

Fortunately, Frei and many others with a Peacock subscription will soon be delighted to see Sabrina Impacciatore’s exceptional portrayal of Esmeralda Grand, the extravagant and fabulous managing editor of Toledo Truth Teller. In an interview, Impacciatore shared insights on how she and her character handled the documentary crew during the filming of White Lotus Season 2.

In my perspective, it seemed to me that Esmeralda harbored ambitions of stardom and intended to captivate potential spectators through her camera performances. This notion guided my approach when interacting with the camera, influencing how I framed Esmeralda’s hairstyle and delivery.

In moments when Domhnall Gleeson’s character Ned Sampson did something that Esmeralda found outrageous or intolerable, she would address the camera directly, expressing her disbelief with comments like “Can you believe what he said?” or questioning his actions with “What is he doing?” – essentially sharing her thoughts openly.

Throughout the course of the narrative, it becomes evident that Esmeralda poses challenges for Domhnall Gleeson’s character, who is the editor-in-chief of Toledo Truth Teller. Rest assured, I won’t spoil anything, but these encounters result in some of the most hilarious and absurd exchanges the show has to offer.

The Paper debuts on Peacock on September 4, 2025, with all 10 episodes dropping at once.

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2025-09-02 16:10