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'

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - 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.