THE LANTERN
The independent student voice of Ohio State University since 1881.
Domhnall Gleeson channels his inner journalist with the help of Ohio State professors in “The Paper” Antonia Campbell Arts & Life Editor
“Funny, heartfelt, chaotic and character hasn’t been an editor funny again” are the adjectives since he was in college — he Irish actor Domhnall Gleehasn’t been involved in papers son offers to describe his new since he was at a school paper. show, “The Paper,” premierSo I talked to a few people at ing Thursday Sept. 4 on the OSU as sort of an example streaming service Peacock. of the kind of place he might A spin-off of the critically-achave gone to college, and they claimed series, “The Office,” were very helpful. I got to walk “The Paper” follows the same around The Lantern and stuff mockumentary style of the like that.” original series but focuses on Gleeson said to play an a struggling newspaper rather American as someone from than a paper company. Ireland, it was important to Known for his roles in the find commonalities between “Harry Potter” series, “Ex him and his character on his Machina” and “About Time,” own, but also create commonGleeson will star as Ned Sampalities by exploring where his son, the new editor-in-chief at character is from. sinking Ohio newspaper, the “Oftentimes with the charToledo Truth-Teller. acter, you’re looking for the Gleeson said when the things you have in common, creators of “The Paper” – Greg but you also want to have Daniels, known for creating the some sort of, almost made up AARON EPSTEIN/PEACOCK | TNS PHOTO U.S. version of “The Office” memories,” Gleeson said. “You Domhnall Gleeson (standing) as Ned, the new editor-in-chief on “The Paper.” The Peacock and Michael Koman – sent want to join your history with original premieres Thursday. him the script, taking on the the character’s history, in some role was a no-brainer. ways. So just traveling around, “Greg Daniels has done an incredible amount of insanely brilliant work makseeing the size of the different cities, like the size of Cincinnati versus Toledo, ing funny American things, and Michael Koman has also done some incredible for example, all that sort of stuff helps you mix your history with the character’s stuff like ‘Nathan for You,’” Gleeson said. “So yeah, they sent me the script in some way.” and asked to have a chat. I thought the script was really funny. I really enjoyed Focusing on commonalities between Gleeson and Ned Sampson, Gleeson said talking to them. I talked to some people who had worked with them before and Ned is more optimistic than he is, but they still share similar traits. all those people said, ‘They’re amazing. You have to work with them if you can,’ “I think what [Ned] and most people have in common is that he wants the and that was it.” world to be a better place,” Gleeson said. “He wants to rally the troops. He In preparation for the role, Gleeson traveled to the Midwest to speak to local wants everyone to work together really well. He wants a happy work envijournalists as part of his training. Specifically, Gleeson visited Ohio State and ronment. And [he is] even romantic. I do think I have aspects of being overly spoke with Spencer Hunt, director of student media at The Lantern, and Nicole romantic at times in my real life, not necessarily always in my actions, but in Kraft, professor of journalism practice. my outlook.” “I’d never spent much time in the Midwest, so I just went to Ohio, went to a few cities and talked to a few reporters,” Gleeson said. “The idea is that my “THE PAPER” continues on page 4.