Posted at 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 22

Will she or won’t she … be in “The Office” spinoff?

Is Amy Poehler starring in the spinoff of “The Office,” as she has said? That was the big question that NBC execs apparently answered Monday at the Television Critics’ Association meeting in L.A.

And the answer is no. But she will star in a new comedy series from “The Office” exec producers Greg Daniels and Mike Schur. According to NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman, the Poehler show will have the sensibilities of “The Office,” but is “not set up to emanate directly from 'The Office,’” Mo Ryan reports.

Daniels and Schur are indeed working on an “Office” spinoff, but the Poehler project is the network's first priority, the executives said.

NBC also announced that Conan O'Brien will take over as "Tonight Show" host from Jay Leno on Monday, June 1, 2009. Jimmy Fallon will begin hosting "Late Night" in Spring 2009.

Monday's NBC press release regarding Amy Poehler:

EMMY NOMINEE AMY POEHLER TO STAR IN NBC'S NEW COMEDY SERIES FROM GREG DANIELS AND MIKE SCHUR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS OF NBC'S 'THE OFFICE'

BURBANK -- July 21, 2008 – Emmy Award nominee Amy Poehler (NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "Baby Mama") will star in NBC's new comedy series from Greg Daniels and Mike Schur -- executive producers of NBC's "The Office" -- it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

"Amy is the ideal comedic talent to star in this new series from the executive producers of 'The Office," said Silverman. "We've been hotly pursuing her for some time to make the transition to primetime. She is at the top of her game as her starring role in "Baby Mama" and her recent Emmy nomination show."

"This show suddenly got a hundred percent easier," said Daniels. "Amy shines in everything she does. She can make even bad material funny, and I know we can write bad material."

"I worked with Amy at 'Saturday Night Live,'" said Schur, "and she's one of the funniest, most talented people I've ever met. She is a terrible human being, but I am more than willing to overlook her many, many character flaws for the chance to work with her again."

Howard Klein also is an executive producer of the series.

Poehler was nominated last week for her performance on "Saturday Night Live" as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She just finished her seventh season on "SNL" and her fourth in the co-anchor seat of "Weekend Update."

Renowned as "a brilliantly inventive sketch comedian," (Entertainment Weekly, November 19, 2005), Poehler boasts an impressive arsenal of outrageous characters from the hyperactive Caitlin and Amber, the one-legged reality show contestant, to the manic host of "Good Morning Meth." Poehler has also contributed memorable impressions of Kelly Ripa, Avril Lavigne, Sharon Osbourne, Paula Abdul, Senator Hillary Clinton, Sharon Stone and Michael Jackson.

Poehler joined the "SNL" cast from the Upright Citizens Brigade, a sketch/improv troupe originally formed in Chicago. Poehler and the U.C.B. relocated to New York where they had a sketch show on Comedy Central for three seasons on which she was both a writer and performer. In addition, they opened a theater currently regarded as the premier sketch/improv comedy venue in New York City. Poehler and the U.C.B. was featured in "A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: Improv," an improvised comedy special on Bravo.

Recently, Poehler appeared in the feature film "Baby Mama" with "SNL" alum Tina Fey (NBC's "30 Rock") and in "Blades of Glory," alongside another "SNL" alum, Will Ferrell, as well as Will Arnett (her real-life husband) of "Arrested Development" and Jon Heder of "Napoleon Dynamite." In addition, she appeared on the big screen in "Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny'" with Jack Black; "Mr Woodcock" opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Seann William Scott; "Fast Track" with Zach Braff, Jason Bateman and Amanda Peet; and "Southland Tales" for director Richard Kelly ("Donnie Darko"). She also voiced "Snow White" in the hit "Shrek the Third."

Poehler could be seen in the hit comedy "Mean Girls" opposite Lindsay Lohan and Fey. Her other credits include "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo," "Wet Hot American Summer" and "Envy." Her upcoming film is "Spring Breakdown."

Poehler has made memorable appearances on television, ranging from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (as recurring character Stacey, Andy Richter's little sister) to "Arrested Development" (playing the wife to Arnett), "Wonder Showzen" and "Undeclared." She also was a voice on "O'Grady" and "The Simpsons."

The new series is a production of Universal Media Studios and Deedle-Dee Productions.

Monday's NBC press release regarding Conan O'Brien:

CONAN O'BRIEN SUCCEEDS JAY LENO AS HOST OF LATE-NIGHT TELEVISION'S PREEMINENT SERIES, NBC’S "THE TONIGHT SHOW," IN JUNE 2009

Jimmy Fallon Takes Over the "Late Night" Hosting Duties from O'Brien in Spring 2009

BURBANK – July 21, 2008 – Conan O'Brien, the dominant late-night host at 12:35 a.m. (ET) for the past 14 seasons, will succeed Jay Leno as host of the preeminent series on late-night television, NBC's "The Tonight Show," in June of 2009. Beginning in Spring 2009, Jimmy Fallon will step in as the "Late Night" host. The announcement was made today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" will begin on Monday, June 1, 2009 (11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET) with Leno's last "Tonight Show" telecast airing Friday, May 29, 2009.

"'The Tonight Show' has a remarkable history rich in tradition. We're proud of each and every show Jay has shared with America as we look forward to Conan carrying on that outstanding tradition next year," said Rick Ludwin, Executive Vice President, Late Night and Primetime Series, NBC Entertainment. "We also can't wait for Jimmy to showcase his winning style following Conan. Jay has left his personal stamp on 'The Tonight Show' for what will be 17 years. He is enormously creative, generous and professional."

"The Tonight Show" continues to be the most dominant late-night institution in television history. Since it first premiered on September 27, 1954 with Steve Allen, "The Tonight Show" has had just four permanent hosts, including Leno. Allen, host of the then titled "Tonight," eventually left late night to start his own primetime variety series on NBC. Jack Paar premiered on July 29, 1957. On October 1, 1962, Johnny Carson stepped on stage for day one of his tenure as host of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." Leno, who began guest-hosting "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in September 1987, became host of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on May 25, 1992. O'Brien joined NBC as a writer on "Saturday Night Live" in 1988 and premiered as host of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on September 13, 1993.

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