A few weeks ago, as bitter Arctic cold entered much of the U.S. under the name “polar vortex,” the Internet had a bit of fun with a meme that made the rounds, featuring a picture of Amy Poehler superimposed on a map of the country, with the caption: “Poehler Vortex.”
But, unlike the polar vortex, the Poehler Vortex is here to stay, and has really been felt in recent weeks, during which time Amy Poehler won her first Golden Globe for Best Actress, Musical or Comedy Series (in a ceremony that she very successfully again co-hosted with Tina Fey). Poehler is also an executive producer of the new Comedy Central series Broad City (she also guest-stars in an episode), which debuts this week.
And at the NBC executive session during the Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour yesterday, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt announced more good news for Amy Poehler. Greenblatt said that the network has ordered an untitled comedy co-created by Poehler, who will also executive-produce. The working title of the show is Old Soul, and it will star Natasha Lyonne as a young woman working with the elderly.
At the session, Greenblatt also announced that NBC has closed a three-year overall producing deal with Amy Poehler, to develop and produce new shows for the network. The above-mentioned pilot is a script she delivered under the deal.
“I also have say to that we love Amy Poehler,” Greenblatt told reporters. “We’re so happy that she won the Golden Globe last week for her great work on Parks and Rec. We feel she’s a part of the NBC family. She grew up here on SNL. We’re so proud of Parks and Rec, … We are really happy to find new ways to grow our relationship with her as she remains as the star and the centerpiece of Parks and Rec.”
Although NBC may be proud of Parks and Recreation, Greenblatt initially hedged around the subject of the show’s renewal until, pushed by a reporter, finally said, “I’ll go out on a limb: Parks and Rec is going to have a seventh season.”
And the day of Amy Poehler-related announcements from NBC wasn’t over yet. During the last panel of the day, for Late Night With Seth Meyers, new Late Night host Meyers told reporters that his former “Weekend Update” co-host Amy Poehler will be the first guest when his show debuts Feb. 24.
“Amy Poehler is the first guest,” Meyers said during the panel. “I’m looking forward to that. … and she’s basically Bono’s common-law wife now.”
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Amy Poehler at Golden Globes: Paul Drinkwater/NBC
