The Office Star Hints Cameo in Spinoff After Oscar Nũnez’s Return

Among all the things The Paper season 1 had to offer, cameos and references to its predecessor, The Office, were kept to a minimum, with the only returning figure being Oscar Nuñez’s Oscar Martinez. For the following seasons, however, one OG cast member, Craig Robinson, has entertained the prospect of reprising the role of Darryl Philbin if Greg Daniels calls for it.

During his appearance on In Your Dreams‘ blue carpet, he said (via Movieweb):

With a second season already in the works following season 1’s positive reception amid some complaints from fans of the OG show, it’s safe to say cameos from the OG cast are likely on the cards for future seasons.

The Paper Season 2: When Will it Arrive?

Even before the spin-off premiered, NBCUniversal gave Daniels and co. the greenlit to proceed with season 2. And unlike prestige TV dramas, the follow-up to Season 1 is expected to arrive next year around the same time frame (via Variety).

This decision stemmed from the studio’s confidence in the spin-off, and on that front, the sitcom certainly didn’t disappoint. As for what’s next? Daniels previously shared with Variety that they were already brainstorming ideas, and the direction for season 2 will come down to the feedback from fans.

With both fans and Robinson on board with cameos, maybe they will lean a bit more toward fan service moving forward.

Holding Back on The Office Cameos Was the Right Move For Season 1

While it’d be cool to witness returning figures from its predecessors, especially given that we haven’t seen these characters in over a decade, holding back on that front was undoubtedly the right decision.

The Office | Credit: NBC

Considering The Office is regarded as one of the best sitcoms of the 21st century, the spin-off had a massive hill to climb, as comparisons with the parent show were almost inevitable. To the writers’ credit, instead of repeating the same formula, they opted to do their own thing, allowing the show to gain its own identity.

The lack of fan service, barring a few references to Oscar’s former Dunder Mifflin peers, gives the new ensemble cast the spotlight to shine and develop. If they were to include a plethora of returning faces, it would’ve undermined the new cast, robbing the spin-off of its own identity.

But with season 1 serving as a great launching pad for a prolonged adventure, hopefully, fan service will still be a thing that won’t compromise the sitcom’s own charm.

Share your thoughts on the spin-off below!

The Paper is currently streaming on Peacock (USA).