S01E10 - The Ohio Journalism Awards

No: 10 | Season: 1 Episode: 10 | Air Date: 4-Sep-2025 | Runtime: 30:04 mins

And a fresh-faced new upstart, Oscar Martinez, for the Mr. Digit Puzzle. Best New Game.

I cut the leg off my childhood stuffed animal so that I can rub it whenever I want.

Adam: Summer and I really needed this. Oscar gave me his plus one and all I had to do was promise to match his purchase orders to invoices for the entire month of July. July's weeks away, and look at that woman go.

Ken: Wowee. Making it look like we're at the kids' table. Esmeralda: Maybe because I look so young. Ken: It's not that.

Barry: Have you two met my father? Ken: Oh, Jesus wept.

Do I think Ned is a little jealous? I don't know.

Oscar now has the ear of Marv and that is a dangerous thing. Accountants have a nasty habit of getting rid of dead weight, which was my nickname at school, and before. Nannies can be very cruel.

Oh, my God, no. Marv's choking and I'm not there. I'm supposed to be the back-patter!

Oh yes, the Putnam's have very narrow esophagi. The Oregon branch of the family was completely wiped out after their wagon train passed through a cherry farm.

I want to dedicate this win to a group that doesn't get enough attention. The documentary film crew that's been following me around for the better part of 20 years.

Ned: I think it would be ridiculous if you didn't win.

Five months ago, I was pulling articles off a wire, ranking the arches on Love Islanders' feet.

All you need to do to make a dream come true is chase it. Don't stop chasing.

It's hard to believe how hopeful I feel right now. I feel like anything could happen.

My name is Esmeralda Grand, and I'm so very sad for all these dead people.

(singing) Oh, sad, dead journalist. You made your final deadline. You are gone, sad dead journalist. You are gone, and no one will read you anymore. R.I.P.!

We had a good thing, and then you acted like a dog, all loyal.

Anne: Both the Putnam brothers are choking! They're choking!

Oscar: Did we both not see the same thing tonight? Marv is in love with Ann.

Oscar: A great man once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Also an idiot I used to know.

Esmeralda: I would like to make a toast to this beautiful, beautiful couple. My love, you are much shorter, right? Oh, my God. Well, how does this work?

Esmeralda: I mean, who is in charge between you guys? Probably you, right? Because of the dimensions, maybe?

Summary

Ned stifles his desire to win at the Ohio Journalism Awards; Nicole uncovers Detrick's monogamy and becomes furious; Oscar comes to terms with the documentary; Mare brings a famous date; Esmeralda sings and Ken plots an emergency to play the hero.

Director and Writers

Director: Jeffrey Blitz
Writers: Paul Lieberstein

Reviews

Review: Review: The Paper - Season 1, Episode 10: "The Ohio Journalism Awards"

Transcript

Script: S01E10 - The Ohio Journalism Awards

Quotes

Oscar: The Truth Teller was nominated in this year's Ohio Journalism Awards. You heard right. The Truth Teller. Three times, in fact. Mare for her great story on the Softees clog, Ned for The Truth Teller itself, and a fresh-faced new upstart, heh, named Oscar Martinez for the Mr. Digit Puzzle. Best New Game.

Ken: Wowee. Making it look like we're at the kids' table.
Esmeralda: Maybe because I look so young.
Ken: It's not that.

Ken: I need to distance myself from Esmeralda. I'm getting swept away in her mediocrity. A prestige shift is happening. Oscar now has the ear of Marv and that is a dangerous thing. Accountants have a nasty habit of getting rid of dead weight, which was my nickname at school, and before.

Ken: Oh, my God, no. Marv's choking and I'm not there. I'm supposed to be the back-patter!

Ann: Oh yes, the Putnam's have very narrow esophagi. The Oregon branch of the family was completely wiped out after their wagon train passed through a cherry farm.

Oscar: (accepting his award) You know what? I want to dedicate... this win to a group that doesn't get enough attention, the documentary film crew that's been following me around for the better part of 20 years. I'm sorry I pushed you guys away before. I think you guys are the only ones who really see me. And, um... I guess I was put on earth to be a documentary subject.

Mare: (accepting her award) Okay. Um... When I first started here at the Toledo Truth Teller, I wasn't even sure I would write an article I'd be proud of, let alone winning an award. Um... I mean, five months ago, I was pulling articles off a wire, ranking the arches on Love Islanders' feet. Sorry, my heart is racing so fast. Okay, I need to thank my first editor-in-chief, Sergeant Jones, the only editor who can make you drop and give you 50 pushups if you misuse the word "hopefully." My high school English teacher, shout out to Mr. Jenkins. And finally, I need to thank Ned Sampson... our editor-in-chief, my editor-in-chief. He gave me an opportunity that changed my life. And he tends to do that with people, so thank you. All you need to do to make a dream come true is chase it. Don't stop chasing. Thank you, Ned. I can't wait to celebrate with you tonight.

Emcee: This year, we have felt the loss of some of Ohio's most treasured journalists. Let us take a moment to honor them.
(Piano music plays)
Esmeralda: Good evening, my colleagues. (piano music stops) Keep playing, maestro. My name is Esmeralda Grand, and I'm so very sad for all these dead people. It's so sad to be dead. (sings) Oh, sad, dead journalist, you made your final deadline. You are gone. Sad dead journalist, you are gone. And no one will read you anymore. R.I.P.!

Detrick: Gloria and I, we just went... we went to go get drinks, right? I don't know how it happened. I was-- I don't know, one thing led to another, and we didn't have sex.
Nicole: You tricked me into a monogamous relationship.
Detrick: It won't happen again.
Nicole: Wow, that's great. I wish I could believe you, but how am I supposed to trust you? Am I supposed to, like, hire a detective and get a video of you sleeping with someone else? We had a good thing, and then you acted like a dog, all loyal.

Ned: (toward Wesley) Boo.
Mare: (laughs) You can't boo.
Ned: I'm saying "blue," like the cheese, 'cause he stinks.

Ned: Do I start with a joke?
Mare: What is the joke?
Ned: Being a good journalist runs in my blood. Literally. I cannot make mistakes, 'cause I'm 'typo' negative.

Oscar: Did we both not see the same thing tonight? Marv is in love with Ann. Probably has been for decades.
Ned: He's principled.
Oscar: Denying two people a lifetime of happiness is principled?
Ned: Ann works for him.
Oscar: So? He can get another job. Or he can stop being paralyzed by what other people think of him. A great man once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." ... Also an idiot I used to know.

Oscar: So what? So what, if you didn't win tonight? You made it to the stage a couple of times.
Esmeralda: Three.
Oscar: I counted two.
Esmeralda: I also made the toast at the wedding.

(Ned knocks on Mare's hotel room door. She opens the door...)
Ned: I didn't get to say my speech earlier on, and I thought that you might wanna hear it now.
Mare: You know, it's not really a good time.
Ned: I know. It's just... It's one part.
Mare: Okay.
Ned: Jokes aside, I did a joke. I want to thank one person, most of all. Someone that I consider my partner in this, and without whom, my days... Maybe you should read it.

Ned: Buddy and the Dude. We're making it work. We're making the paper work. This would be the classic, fastest way to mess everything up. We can't do that.
Mare: I don't know, maybe we just need to, like... get it out of our system. Just get it out of the way so we can go back to being pals again.

Esmeralda: (At the wedding) I would like to make a toast to this beautiful, beautiful couple. (to the Groom) My love, you are much shorter, right? Oh, my God. Well, how... How does this work? Uh... Oh, okay. No, but you look beautiful. You look beautiful, and I really wish you a long marriage. You just have to tolerate sometimes his affairs because... I mean, who is in charge between you guys? (to the Bride) Probably you, right? Because of the dimensions, maybe?

Notes and Trivia

Oscar makes reference to his old boss Michael Scott from "the Office," using the quote "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," by Wayne Gretzky/Michael Scott.

The flashback to the award ceremony in 1971 features a shot of a man laughing who is actually Patrick Moore the British Astronomer who presented 'The Sky at Night'.

Mid-credits scene: Esmeralda makes a toast at a stranger's wedding.

Goofs

None

Locations

Details about common locations, such as opening credits montage locations, can be found here.