Cincinnati may not be the primary setting of "The Paper," the spinoff of "The Office" that returns for season 2 Sept. 9, but the city is part of a major storyline throughout the second season.
The staff in the mockumentary-style comedy works for the Toledo Truth Teller, but the newspaper has a sister paper in Cincinnati, called the Cincinnati Chronicle.
While viewers only briefly heard of the Cincinnati publication in season 1, a significant amount of time is spent in the Queen City newsroom in season 2.
Here's what to know about the storyline and all the notable references we caught.
Caution: Season 2 spoilers ahead!
What is the Cincinnati storyline?
In episode 6, amid learning Marv (Allan Havey) knows of Mare (Chelsea Frei) and Ned's (Domhnall Gleeson) romantic relationship, Mare decides
to take a temporary position at the Cincinnati Chronicle, which has several reporters on maternity leave.
The remainder of the season then partially follows Mare's time in the Cincinnati newsroom.
Gleeson actually visited The Enquirer's newsroom before season 1 in 2024, shadowing former City Hall reporter Sherry Coolidge. I asked him if his time here inspired anything we see at the Chronicle.
"Ned actually doesn’t really cross over with the Cincinnati aspect of the storyline too much until right near the end," he said. "Mare has more interaction with that side of things. So, no, the guys went there and made those choices totally on their own."
Gleeson did, however, say he had a wonderful time in Cincinnati, and gave his thoughts on Skyline Chili, which he tried while in town.
"It was intense. Intense is the word I would use and I mean that in a positive way, but it was an intense experience and I enjoyed every minute. It was great," he said.
Co-creator Michael Koman added that, as part of their research, he read The Enquirer and other Ohio newspapers to "get a sense of the size of the city and what they’re covering." He also said he was able to impress people in the trivia league he recently joined, thanks to everything he's learned about Cincinnati.
"I was able to identify that Porkopolis had a very specific chili recipe that is not repeated in any other city," he said.
Co-creator Greg Daniels, the brain behind "The Office," said they filmed the Cincinnati Chronicle scenes in the LA Times newsroom and their goal was for the Chronicle to be "a level above Toledo in professionalism and resources."
Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati Art Museum and Roger Bacon High School all get mentions
Some local landmarks were mentioned throughout season 2.
In episode 7, the Chronicle staff, in a news meeting, discuss a story on redevelopment in Over-the-Rhine, and they later host a Q&A with the head of the Cincinnati Art Museum.
In episode 8, Mare learns the robotics team at Roger Bacon High School made a bionic hand for a disabled pitcher, who has a fastball as fast as 93 miles per hour.
A Joe Burrow storyline might be the funniest moment
The funniest Cincinnati mention is a joke about the Bengals quarterback.
No, Joe Burrow is not actually in the show. But a storyline about him in episode 9 is absolutely hilarious.
Mare and Ned attempt to hide their relationship and, in the process, dating rumors linking Mare with other people come out, including Marv, who is probably more than twice her age. Another rumor about her and the Burrow also surfaced.
"He threw 43 touchdowns last season," Travis (Eric Rahill) said when he heard the rumor. "You think Mare's pulling that?"
Toward the beginning of the next episode, No. 10, Mare said the rumors died down, except for the Burrow one.
"I don't really mind that," she said with a smile.
All of season 2 of "The Paper" is available on Peacock.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati, Joe Burrow part of major storyline in 'The Paper' season 2
