Greg Daniels, a author, director, and producer, is aware of a factor or two about making hit TV.
Daniels, who tailored the British model of The Workplace for American TV, additionally co-created Parks and Recreation with Michael Schur, developed King of the Hill with Mike Decide, and created the sci-fi comedy Add for Amazon Prime.
The Paper is an upcoming American mockumentary sitcom collection created by Daniels and Michael Koman, and can premiere on Peacock on Sept. 4, 2025. It stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore and is ready in Toledo, Ohio, the place a documentary crew focuses on the Toledo Reality-Teller, a declining Midwestern newspaper making an attempt to resurrect itself.
He mentioned his writing and the brand new present on a latest episode of the podcast Conan O’Brien Wants a Pal.
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At one level, the podcast workforce was discussing how they work together with folks within the vast world.
O’Brien stated, “My dad at all times stated folks do not change. They develop into extra so. And I feel that is the case.”
“I feel that is what I like about character comedy,” Daniels stated. “Simply to speak about that style. I feel that is what folks like about it, is that you just really feel that manner about your personal mates. After which to see anyone on TV, you get to know what their character is like. And to see them act in character again and again makes you are feeling like, ‘Oh, I do know them.'”
What ought to we be taught from this?
Sturdy, well-developed characters drive comedy longevity. Profitable comedies set up clear traits early and mine them repeatedly. And audiences bond with characters who act predictably inside their established patterns.
As Daniels stated, it creates the consolation of familiarity that mirrors “actual” friendships.
“Longevity” in TV as we speak means constructing exhibits that may maintain a number of seasons and discover worthwhile second lives throughout completely different platforms. Within the streaming period, character-driven comedies like The Workplace stay on via worldwide licensing, merchandise, social media engagement, and multi-generational discovery on platforms like Netflix and Peacock.
Exhibits with memorable characters develop into cultural touchstones that generate income lengthy after their authentic run ends.
So, begin diving into find out how to create sturdy characters in your personal pilot.
And for individuals who are questioning how The Paper connects to the world of The Workplace? It is the identical documentary crew.
Daniels stated, “It begins with [the crew] looking for out what’s up with Dunder Mifflin, and so they discover out some stuff, and it leads them in a brand new course to a unique metropolis. And within the completely different metropolis, they come across this historic newspaper, which has form of become a ghost newspaper. That is when another firm buys a neighborhood newspaper and fires all of the reporters and retains it going, promoting adverts, however they only print wire tales. In order that they see this, and so they go, ‘Oh, that is an fascinating topic for a documentary.'”
Are you excited to see how these characters face their new challenges?
