‘The Paper’ Just Referenced ‘Parks & Rec,’ but Most People Didn’t Notice

The Office is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, so it’s no surprise that the new spinoff coming to Peacock is highly anticipated. The series, titled The Paper, will have The Office‘s iconic documentary crew filming a struggling newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. Peacock recently dropped a trailer for The Paper, which shows Domhnall Gleeson’s editor-in-chief character recruiting volunteer reporters for the paper. The preview reveals the return of Óscar Núñez’s Office character Oscar Martinez, as well as a reference to another sitcom.

The Paper‘s trailer is set to the song “M79” by Vampire Weekend. If the song sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the inspiration for another famous sitcom’s theme song. “M79” shares a lot in common musically with the Parks and Recreation theme, and was actually used as the theme song for a brief moment. This isn’t the first time The Paper has done something that Parks and Recreation didn’t either.

“M79” Sounds Like the ‘Parks & Rec’ Theme

The Parks and Recreation theme song is iconic, and for good reason. On the podcast Time Crisis with Ezra Koenig, Vampire Weekend member Ezra Koenig revealed that during Parks and Recreation‘s production, the band was notified that “M79” was being used as placeholder music in the intro.

“We get this email … [which read,] ‘We mocked [the Parks and Recreation intro] up to this Vampire Weekend song, and we want something that kind of has this similar flavor,’ or something. And we were like, ‘Maybe they should just ask to use our song. That would be cool.'”

Koenig said the producers wanted something instrumental instead, which is why they passed on “M79.” The producers hired a company to send a mass email to composers, looking for a song that matched the vibe. Koenig said, “I think in the end, we submitted something, which they didn’t choose.” On the podcast, Ezra Koenig played both “M79” and the winning theme, which was written by Gabby Moreno and Vincent Jones. He called the theme song “indebted” for having a similar style to “M79,” but also said, “I’m not mad at it. I don’t think you should be able to copyright a vague rhythm.”

Even though “M79” and Vampire Weekend’s official theme submission were both passed over for the Parks and Recreation theme, the band clearly isn’t bitter — which would be awkward considering Koenig is married to the show’s star, Rashida Jones. In 2019, the band actually performed the Parks and Recreation theme song at a concert in Indiana, which is where the show takes place. “M79” finally got used for a sitcom show with The Paper trailer, and perhaps it will even be used as the show’s theme when The Paper makes its Peacock debut.

‘The Paper’ Gets To Be What ‘Parks and Rec’ Couldn’t

Using “M79” isn’t the only thing The Paper does that Parks and Recreation couldn’t. The Paper is a direct spinoff from The Office, mainly connected by Oscar Martinez and the same documentary crew. When The Office creator Greg Daniels was first asked to make a spinoff of The Office, he intended for Parks and Recreation to be just that. However, he and co-creator Michael Schur couldn’t get the premise to work as a spinoff. Parks and Recreation still shares the mockumentary format as well as cast member Rashida Jones with The Office, but it’s completely separate from The Office universe.

The Paper will be a true spinoff of The Office. However, the series has a completely different focus, as it follows the editor-in-chief of a small-town newspaper trying to save the publication with the help of volunteer reporters. The show will still connect to The Office in a few different ways, though. The documentary crew that filmed the workers in-universe in The Office will be filming the newsroom in The Paper. Óscar Núñez, who played Oscar Martinez in The Office, will return as his character. Other actors from the original series, such as John Krasinski, have also said they’d be willing to return for The Paper if creator Greg Daniels wants them to.

The Paper actually seems like it will be a blend of The Office and Parks and Recreation. The big newsroom will make the show feel like The Office, while the moments outside the newsroom covering the world of small-town politics and events will feel more like Parks and Recreation. The new trailer also reveals that The Paper will follow in the footsteps of The Office‘s iconic awkward humor. Whether it feels more like The Office or Parks and Recreation, The Paper is certainly in the right hands with showrunner Greg Daniels, as he has already brought both classic sitcoms to life.

Where To Watch ‘The Paper’

The Paper will start streaming on September 4 on Peacock. The first season will have 10 episodes, with a four-episode premiere followed by two episodes released each Thursday. The final two episodes of the season will be released on September 25. Audiences can watch The Paper with Peacock’s premium or premium plus plans, but not the select plan. Conveniently, both Parks and Recreation and The Office are also available exclusively on Peacock.