Assuming the mantle of a classic is a thankless task, and while The Paper is, in narrative terms, only a very loose spin-off of The Office, it operates in its enormous shadow.

Twelve years after the conclusion of Greg Daniels’ hit series (itself a remake of Ricky Gervais’ short-lived British original), the creator returns with another comedic mockumentary about a collection of misfits toiling away at a small-town business on the verge of irrelevance. In virtually every formal respect, it takes its cues from its beloved predecessor.

Playing it safe and familiar, however, is a recipe for mediocrity, as Daniels’ latest is a likeable enough half-hour affair that, at least in its maiden season, which launches Sept. 4 on Peacock, fails to find its own voice.

Just as Scranton, Pennsylvania’s

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