Public Service, a new show about (obviously) a small-time local government official, will debut Thursday, April 9 at 8:30 on NBC. The show will star former Saturday Night Live regular Amy Poehler and The Office alum Rashida Jones.

There has been confusion in the past on whether the recently titled show (the working title had been The Amy Poehler Project) is a spin-off of The Office, since:

1. It's produced by the same people.
2. Rashida Jones and possibly other Office cast members will appear.
3. It borrows a few conventions originated by The Office, such as a cast of seemingly ordinary office workers in small-town America.

According to Office and Public Service creator Greg Daniels, the co-creator along with Michael Schur of the new show, Public Service is most definitely not a spin-off of The Office and will not cross over into the Dunder-Mifflin universe.

UPDATE: The show is actually called Parks and Recreation! Awesome.

Interestingly, the show was supposed to receive the post-Super Bowl slot on NBC, but Poehler's pregnancy made the two-month delay in the show's debut necessary - a special, guest-star laden episode of The Office will air Sunday night instead.

Much like Steve Carell's Office character, Amy will portray a mid-level local government official with big ambitions, yet modest abilities and accomplishments.

If she's half as funny as your average Michael Scott quotes, Public Service is destined to be a Thursday comedy hit for NBC along with The Office and 30 Rock.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.