Amy Poehler is staying put at NBC.
The multihyphenate and her company, Paper Kite Productions, have inked a new deal at Universal Television and its newly formed unscripted sibling Universal TV Alternative Studio. The multiyear pact will encompass both scripted and unscripted programming from Poehler’s company, which is co-headed by Comedy Central vet Brooke Posch.
Paper Kite’s first project under the new deal will be a scripted comedy titled The Baby, which has already been granted a pilot production commitment by NBC. Seann William Scott, best known as Stifler from American Pie, will star as the youngest male in an organized crime family made up entirely of women. Though he’s tough at work, his mother and seven older sisters mercilessly push him around at home. Craig DiGregorio (Workaholics) is attached to write and executive produce with Scott, Poehler, Posch, Dave Becky and Nick Frenkel joining him as exec producers. The show will be produced by Universal Television, Paper Kite and 3 Arts Entertainment.
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“Amy has been at the very top of our roster of producers at Universal Television for some time now and we’re so happy to renew and expand our relationship with her for our two studios,” NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt noted Wednesday in a statement announcing the news. “For many years she’s been part of the NBCU family, first with Saturday Night Live and then, of course, with the stellar Parks and Recreation, so it only seems fitting that she remain with the company. We look forward to a variety of projects from her for NBC and other networks as she extends her creative vision into more producing and directing.”
Added NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke, who has been candid about the network’s desire to improve its lot in comedy: “Amy is one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking voices in comedy and we’re very excited to work with her on The Baby and turn it into a great comedy for NBC.”
In recent years, Poehler, who picked up a Golden Globe for her beloved role on Parks and Rec in 2014, has successfully expanded her brand beyond simply acting on the small screen. Via Paper Kite, she serves as a producer on Comedy Central cult-hit Broad City and Hulu’s Billy Eichner vehicle Difficult People. Poehler, who co-founded the comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, has been integral in the development and production process on both comedies.
On the film front, the actress co-starred opposite longtime pal and frequent collaborator Tina Fey in the Universal Pictures comedy Sisters and lent her voice to 2015 Disney animated hit Inside Out. Like Fey, Poehler has found success in the world of books as well. She released her first, Yes Please, in 2014; after debuting at No. 1 on the New York Times best-sellers list, it remained on that list for 23 weeks.
News of Poehler’s new deal comes mere weeks after a change in leadership at Universal Television, with longtime chief Bela Bajaria replaced by NBC drama executive Pearlina Igbokwe. In the weeks since, Uni has announced it has inked or reupped with Master of None co-creator Alan Yang and The Mindy Project creator/star Mindy Kaling, among others. The formation of NBC’s in-house reality studio, which is being headed by alternative chief Paul Telegdy, was announced in early June.
Poehler is repped by WME, 3 Arts and Warren Dern.
