Rashida Jones joins Amy Poehler for Non-Spinoff to "The Office"......

As you can tell,The Spielster loves anything having to do with Ms. Amy Poehler. I mean the lady rapped and danced around on national TV at Midnight, six days before popping out a kid. So I have been waiting on pins and needles for any more information on the new mysterious Amy Poehler project on NBC.



















So far the cast seems like comedic gold, with Poehler and Aziz Ansari, from Human Giant fame, starring in the comedy produced by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur from “The Office”. While originally it was expected to be a full on “The Office” spin-off, the newest cast announcement confirms that this is NOT true. Michael Schur, has announced that the one time “Office” star, Rashida Jones, will be joining the cast. He has also confirmed that her character will NOT be Karen Fillipelli, the jilted girlfriend of Jim and manager of another Dunder Mifflin branch after her departure from the Scranton office. When discussing the upcoming non-spinoff spinoff, Schur had this to say about his newest addition to the cast, “"She is perfect for this new show, which -- just to remind everyone -- is not a spinoff of 'The Office. It is a spinoff of 'MASH' called 'Seinfeld II.' "

The show is said to be in production as we speak, which I find a bit hard to believe considering they are still casting, no plot points are known and their main star just had a baby two weeks ago, but who knows. Jones will be seen next will two of my Hollywood crushes, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel in ”I Love You Man”, which will be released in theaters early next year.

Image courtesy of Watch with Kristin on E!

Is Amy Poehler bringing her schtick to "The Office"?

As you know, we here at The Spielster have been keeping our eyes peeled for any new developments on the highly anticipated, as least by me, spin off of “The Office”. Last month, we learned that Aziz Ansari was the first principal star cast in the project and that Greg Daniels was not definite on the track of the spin-off. Would it be a direct spin-off where a character moves to another office and the show is focused on that or would it be a spin off in just tone and name? Well yesterday we got some interesting news as it is now reported that Amy Poehler is “in negotiations” to star in the spin-off. The actresses’ profile has sky rocketed since her roles in “Blades of Glory” and “Baby Mama, which was number one at the Box Office this past Spring. and her presence as one of the funniest cast members on Saturday Night Live is not lost on anyone. Poehler will join the ranks of her good friend Tina Fey as a prime time star with NBC, if she does take the lead role on the program. And with the upcoming birth of her first baby, a sitcom schedule is much easier to become accustomed to than the crazy, up all night schedule that Saturday Night Live demands from a writer and performer. This could be the thing that cements Poehler’s success in Hollywood, but it could also be another nail in the coffin that is SNL, which has been losing its most successful performers for the past few years.

NBC is also banking on another lady from Saturday Night Live to bring the funny back to prime time. Molly Shannon, along with Selma Blair, are starring in a remake of an Australian comedy classic “Kath and Kim”, which is reminiscent of my favorite Absolutely Fabulous. The comedy, which was given 13 episodes starting this Fall, is about a very dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship. Personally, I love both Shannon and Blair and think this could be hysterically funny. And what I have seen from the limited clips up on NBC.com and YouTube, it looks like Kath & Kim has already secured a spot on my DVR lineup this fall.
Here’s is a preview of the comedy:


What do you think of Amy moving to prime time?

Sources:
PopCandy
Hollywood Reporter
Variety

Who Will Take Over for Tim Russert?

Since this is an election year, the internet and news industry are all hard at work trying to figure out whom, if anyone, can fill Tim’s shoes on “Meet The Press”. Tom Brokaw, who took over the duty this past Sunday is a natural choice for this election cycle until a permanent replacement can be chosen. Other MSNBC/NBC News regulars whose names have been floated around are David Gregory, Chuck Todd and possibly my political girlcrush Rachel Maddow. I think all three are wonderful choices because they have the earnest interest in politics and what surrounds it like Russert, but they also do not wear their political agendas on their sleeves like other NBC anchors/ correspondents do. Gregory would be the smartest choice, with his political pedigree and his ability to disarm others in a debate. I believe Todd and Maddow would be wonderful sideline players and hope these two take bigger stakes in the network as the election cycle gets more intense.

I meant to post this yesterday, but here is Luke Russert, son of Tim Russert, describing his relationship between him and his dad on the Today show. Honestly, I wish more families were like this and this video makes me appreciate Mr. Russert even more. While I expected Luke to be more broken down since losing his father the Friday before Father’s Days, he an incredibly positive attitude towards the sudden death of his father. Luke said to Matt Lauer that “there was not one day of my life that I did not feel loved by my father”. And this allowed him to properly mourn his father, who he felt would not want everyone to stop living their lives because of his passing.

This Sunday will be strange _ Tim Russert, host of "Meet the Press", dead at age 58

Tim Russert, NBC News' Washington bureau chief and host of the channels "Meet the Press" died earlier this afternoon after a sudden heart attack. Russert was at work at the time and had just returned from a family vacation in Italy. The journalist and integral moderator of this election cycle was 58 years old.

Russert’s sudden passing is definitely a blow to the NBC News family, the sentiment echoed by both Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams this afternoon when the breaking story hit airwaves. Tim was a great moderator and presented a somewhat fair and balanced look at politics in this extremely divided climate. A Buffalo, NY native, Russert worked on various Democratic campaigns, including that of Mario Cuomo’s gubernatorial race before joining the news division over at NBC. He was a powerhouse and important figure in Washington, DC and in the coverage of American politics. Just this year, TIME named him one of the 100 Most Influential People and his write was provided by one time boss, Mario Cuomo himself. He was the host of "Meet the Press", a news program that hit its 60th year in production in 2007. Russert would meet with figure heads, pundits, candidates and others highly involved in the election cycle and process on this weekly program, that began to welcome my Sunday mornings a few years back.

Tim Russert passing had an odd effect on me mainly because he signifies a very important part of my life. See Russert was the commencement speaker at my graduation in 2003 from Purchase College in Purchase, NY. And what I can remember, it was a very nice speech, with a lot of emphasis on the future, keeping your eyes open, to not be afraid of doing the unexpected and testing limits. He referenced his own life and where he started from and where he was then. He requested us, the graduates, to get out there and investigate things around us and to not just take things, people, news, etc. at face value. 2003 was a big year for me in more ways than just graduating. I moved to New York City, became highly involve in politics and philanthropy and was able to participate in things I never dreamed of. Don’t get me wrong, Russert’s speech was not the guiding force behind the change, but I do remember his words and their power. And not to get too cheesy, but it is an incredible shame that someone with as much passion and interest in his daily work is no longer able to assist us in seeking out truth and never taking things at face value. There are many things in this world that act as signs for us and I do hope that a few people can take away from this sad story that it is never too late to do what you want to do.

My deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. It is never easy losing someone you love, but it is even harder to lose them in the prime of their life, without notice. This Sunday will definitely be a bit strange.

It's finally coming together: The Office Spin-Off!

Ever since NBC confirmed that they are creating a spin-off of the ultra successful and criminally funny The Office, there has been much speculation on who would be part of the cast. While early rumors said that Rainn Wilson would actually be leaving the Scranton office to be the main cast member of the spin-off, there has been no confirmation on that as of yet and with his upstart film career, I am not sure if right now is the time to attempt to create a following for another TV show. While we are not sure if anyone from the original cast will be gracing the spin off with their presence, Variety has confirmed that Aziz Ansari, from MTV’s Human Giant has signed on to star in the program and a one year contract with Universal Media Studios, the company producing the program. The show is slated to premiere in the 2008-2009 Television season, in the prime spot of Thursday at 9:30 PM, right after “The Office”.

Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, executive producers of the program, are not exactly set on the full concept of the spin off, but they are excited about the ensemble they are putting together for the program. Schur will also not confirm if the series will be a straight spin-off of the original, but he has said that they are “focusing on making the best show we can make as a companion to "The Office”. So far the writing team is adding up nicely, with vets from “Everybody Loves Raymond”, “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “South Park”.

And since ex “Office” star Rashida Jones has signed a new talent deal with Universal Media Studios there have been plenty of rumors that the spin-off will be about her life at the Utica branch or possible elsewhere in the country. This has yet to be confirmed, but Jones (Karen Filippelli) was very well received character on the program and it would be interesting to watch a female lead a TV program situated in an office setting. As time will tell and production begins, I have to say I am excited about the prospect of another hilarious comedy on the Thursday night line up. There have been some great additions to the original “Office” as well, with “Freaks and Geeks” creator Paul Feig securing a writing gig on the program, as well as Aaron Shure and Charlie Grandy. Even though Summer just started, I am very psyched for the fall lineup.