Amy Poehler's new series is from the creators of The Office, but it's not an Office spin-off, OK? The show's executives are really hammering that home. So, what's the best way to distinguish the two? Correct: Cast ex-Dunder Mifflin employee Rashida Jones to star on the new show!

Here's the part that's the same: The show is a documentary-style sitcom by Greg Daniels.

Here's the part that's different: Jones will not play paper saleswoman Karen Filippelli; she will play a nurse named Ann.

You might remember Jones from the puppy/kitten PSAs she did recently with Natalie Portman. Or the doomed series Unhitched. Or, she might be forever etched in your mind as the final stepping stone in the path of my most beloved television couple, Pam Beesly and Jim Halpert. … continue reading

Amy Poehler had me at, "I'm not like a regular mom; I'm a cool mom." And she claimed me forever with, "Shoot a mother-humpin' moose eight days of the week!"

This summer, I was so stoked when word leaked from the TCA press tour that Poehler was to headline the mythical Office spin-off. That turned out to be only a half-truth. While Poehler will be starring in a new NBC comedy produced by Greg Daniels and written by Mike Schur (both from The Office), it's an entirely new series that has nothing to do with staplers or paper clips.

Mum has been the word on Poehler's new comedy until just this week.

E! Online's Kristen Dos Santos busted up an event at the Paley Center for Media when the Office writing team was there on Wednesday. … continue reading

You've always known that just below the surface, Dwight Schrute is a madman. Well here's all the proof you need: Dwight has kidnapped Pam!

Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam Beesley on The Office, has a MySpace blog where she keeps in touch with The Office fans. Last week, her co-star Rainn Wilson hijacked the blog and posted this message:

Hey there Jenna’s MySpacers!

My name is Rainn Wilson and I’ve kidnapped the lovely Jenna, put her, bound, in the trunk of my firebird and logged onto her MySpace to send out this bulletin.

To free America’s sweetheart, Pam Beesley, one half of the magic which is "Jam," you must attend my new movie, The Rocker, which opens August 20.

As soon as the film grosses 18.7 mil, she will be released and given a peach smoothie.

Many of you have perhaps seen posters of me in my leopard briefs, or the trailers in which my balls get racked by a power strip. And, although the film WILL be adored by legions of teen-aged male Dwight fans, it will also be loved by the whole GD family, including Amish cousins.

...Please spend your $10.50 American on The Rocker, get yourself a popcorn and a Mountain Dew, bring 1,800 of your closest friends so that 1) Jenna gets a smoothie and 2) They let me be in another movie someday.

That is all.

Rainn Dietrich Wilson

… continue reading

There was so much exciting information spinning out of the TCA press tour last week that it was kind of like being on a 12-day sugar buzz — especially because so much of the news revolved around some of my favorite former Saturday Night Live ladies. Let me condense a week's worth of information for you: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Molly Shannon will be lining up side-by-side with their own NBC comedies this year.

Tina Fey will, of course, be back as Liz Lemon for the third season of 30 Rock. She'll return to the set with her TCA award for for individual achievement in comedy, and probably at least one more Emmy. In April Entertainment Weekly asked, "Is it hot in here or is just Tina Fey's career?"

It is hot in here, Entertainment Weekly, but it's not just her career.

Molly Shannon will be staring alongside Selma Blair in NBC's remake of the popular Australian comedy Kath and Kim about a dysfunctional mother-daughter team. NBC's hopes, it seems, are even higher than mine. They've slated Kath and Kim to anchor their legendary Thursday night of Must See TV. … continue reading

Ah, summer: time for swimming, frolicking, eating ice cream, sitting in a dark room and crying because all the good television shows are on hiatus until fall.

Kidding, of course! Summer is a time of great optimism for television addicts. You can catch up on any shows you missed, because last fall's shows will be hitting DVD any day now. You can watch the Television Critics Association's summer press tour, hoping to catch a glimpse of any fall shows that will feature strong, confident, beautiful women in leading rolls. (And maybe if we're lucky, even some lesbian subtext!) You can even take a look at the Television Critics Association's Summer poll and set your TiVo (or order your Netflix queue) accordingly.

According to the Television Critics Association's summer poll, here are the best and worst of shows of 2008:

Best:

I definitely agree with the first seven. I haven't seen Breaking Bad or In Treatments. I can say, however, that even as a history nut, watching Laura Linney make out with Paul Giamatti in John Adams is downright yucky. … continue reading

If you love the funny, have we got some good news for you: Amy Ryan has signed on for at least five episodes of The Office for next season.

While The Wire star is most famous for her dramatic roles, her portrayal of HR representative Holly Flax in The Office's season finale made her look like a comedy veteran — not an easy task among the seasoned Jenna Fischer, Steve Carell, and Rainn Wilson.

Ryan's chemistry with Steve Carell, and the charm and sweetness Holly Flax displayed with the other Dunder-Mifflin employees (especially Kevin) opens up a world of questions for season 5: Is there a Michael-Jan-Holly love triangle in the works? Will Holly catch on that Kevin is not really "slow"? And perhaps, the most pressing: What in the world will Michael put on that mix CD he promised Holly? (I mean besides REO Speedwagon.)

Ryan told Variety: "I don't know what they're going to do with the character, but as it was written, there's certainly a lot of potential. It's a funny thing to enter a show that you're a great fan of — and it's nice to tell lighter stories. I love the dark, grittier side of life, but it's nice to take a break from that, put a skirt on and brush your hair." … continue reading

Once a year the U.S. pauses and takes stock of the important role that the administrative assistant holds in our businesses. Their tireless and often thankless efforts are what really gets things done in this capitalist world. So in honor of them, I thought I'd take a moment to recognize this day by looking at a few of our favorite paper-pushing women in television and film:

Pam Beesly, The Office

Photo credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

Who wouldn't want to have someone like Pam Beesley (Jenna Fischer) working in his or her office? Pam is an adorable, cute-as-a-button receptionist with a high tolerance for her boss's awkward comments. I can only imagine all the work that I wouldn't get done trying to impress her with my office prank suggestions. … continue reading

The Writers Guild strike ended in mid-February, but original episodes of my favorite series have mostly been off the air since early January. That's why I am super excited about tonight, when two of my favorite comedies are coming back with new episodes: 30 Rock and The Office. Can I just say: Woo-freaking-hoo!

And I don't think we'll be disappointed. 30 Rock's return episode is titled "MILF Island" (reason enough to tune in, IMO). Here's the episode summary from NBC:

The TGS staff has been obsessing all season over the new reality hit MILF Island. While watching the riveting finale, pitting Debra vs. Deborah as the final two MILFs, Jack (Baldwin) who is riding high on this programming feat is blindsided by a blind item that ran in the New York Post. The “Page Six” column reveals a staffer referring to Jack as a “Class A Moron” and saying, “That guy can eat my poo.” This isn't the best timing since Jack is in the running for Chairman and had high hopes that the success of MILF Island would help him seal the deal. In an effort to identify the disloyal employee he forces Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy) to turn up the heat in the writers' room until one of them breaks.