"Baby Mama" Joins Office Spinoff

Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are saying that SNL and UCB alum Amy Poehler is in "final negotiations" to headline the still unnamed Office spinoff show set to debut after the Superbowl in early 2009. Apparently "Baby Mama" was enough of a success that negotiations began sometime in late June.

So much for Ausielo's "guaranteed" Amanda Peet prediction.

In any case, the deal is not yet officially confirmed, and both articles mention that Poehler's pregnancy (she is due this fall) could also affect or delay the production of the new series.

I still need some time to process this news, but my initial reaction is that Poehler is too "over the top" as a comedian to fit into an "Office"-like show.  Maybe it's having seen her mugging into the camera so often on SNL that's put this thought in my mind... I dunno.  As it stands, I am very glad that the "spinoff" seems to NOT be a spinoff after all-- I will be much more charitable towards a completely NEW show than if I am worrying about how this new show "tarnishes" the original (or not).

So what do you guys think? Great choice, or reason for concern? Can the fabric of the universe survive when both Poehler AND Fey have sitcoms on the same network on the same night? Will Poehler being hired also earn us some juicy Will "GOB" Arnett cameos? Only time will tell.

EDIT:

Talking to the AP about her SNL Emmy nomination, Poehler basically confirmed that her participation in the new show is a done deal (although she says she doesn't know what she'll be doing, exactly).