The Paper, Church And State

In this wacky premiere of this mockumentary comedy, a documentary discovers a historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher who is trying to revive it.

Ned starts slowly with his volunteer crew until Esmeralda forces an accelerated scramble for stories.

Ned tags along on Mare's consumer sting story after Esmeralda tells him a bunch of things that get in his head. Oscar has to stick his neck out in a budget meeting.

After learning a snarky high schooler's blog has more readers than the paper, Ned and Esmeralda team up to embarrass the corner-cutting brat.

Ned chases a story about a local scammer operating through a dating app and realises he may already have the scoop when he learns Esmeralda was one of his victims. Nicole is full of vengeful glee.

Ned takes over Esmeralda's advertorials and assigns the staff to rigorously test products themselves. In retaliation, Esmeralda covers one of Ned's stories and finds a scandal.

With Marv camped out in the newsroom while his office is painted, Ned and the staff find their unresolved attitudes to authority bubbling up. Esmeralda and Ken plot a betrayal that leaks.

Mare uncovers a story that pits the Truth Teller against its corporate owner. Ned's past as a high-pressure toilet paper salesman comes back to haunt him.

Ned and Mare take a long road trip to interview a possible cult leader after Detrick chickens out. Ken drags Nicole into his corporate apology tour.

An emotional roller-coaster of a finale. Ned stifles his desire to win at the Ohio Journalism Awards. Nicole uncovers Detrick's monogamy and is furious.