NBC Slots One-Hour "Office" Episode for Post-Super Bowl

One of the big questions going into next season was the whiff of confusion emanating from NBC about just what they would do with their prime post-Super Bowl slot.

After all, it was originally intended to be the launch pad for that fabled spin-off of The Office. (You know, the one that had no concept or cast nailed down.) Since then, however, Greg Daniels and the writing staff of The Office have instead decided to develop, not a spin-off, but an entirely separate workplace comedy series starring Amy Poehler, which has no relationship to The Office whatsoever, though--like the untitled spin-off--doesn't seem to have a concept yet either.

With the Amy Poehler project sidelined somewhat with Poehler's pregnancy, I have been extremely curious to see just what NBC would do with that plum post-Super Bowl timeslot and figured that, whatever it might be, that slot would be given to something that Daniels and Co. are working on.

Cut to the here and now and it turns out that I'm right. NBC won't be airing the untitled Office spin-off or the untitled Amy Poehler workplace comedy, but it has scheduled a special one-hour Office installment for February 1st.

Whew.

As for what the episode is about, producers are keeping their cards extremely close to their vest, though Paul Lieberstein did offer one small clue about the Super Bowl storyline. "It lets us get deeper into some of the other characters that only have very small stories generally," Lieberstein told Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider. "So I always enjoy 'em. I think people like to see what's going on with some of the characters who only get grunts or reactions when Michael says something stupid."

Hmmm.

Seems like Lieberstein is talking about some of The Office's supporting characters, all of which have had their hands in some integral storylines over the past few seasons, save Creed and Stanley. Could this be the first major Stanley storyline seen on The Office? (And, no, I am not counting the atrocious "Did I Stutter?" fiasco from last season as "major.")

But I am curious to see who you think should be the focus of this special Office Super Bowl extravaganza? Should it be Angela and Andy? Oscar or Kevin? Phyllis, Creed, or the ever-chatty Kelly? Discuss.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: The Big Bang Theory/How I Met Your Mother (CBS); Summer Olympics (NBC); Gossip Girl (CW); High School Musical: Get in the Picture (ABC); Prison Break (FOX)

9 pm: Two and a Half Men/New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS); One Tree Hill (CW); Samantha Who?/Samantha Who? (ABC); Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)

10 pm: CSI Miami (CBS); The Mole (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Gossip Girl.

Looking to relive the freshman season of the teen soap? On tonight's repeat episode ("All About My Brother"): Georgina threatens Serena with information about Serena's scandalous past; Blair and Jenny spread rumors about one another through Gossip Girl; Dan spies Jenny's boyfriend cheating on her.

10 pm: Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on Travel Channel.

This week on No Reservations, Tony travels to Tokyo, where he explores the city's sushi, kendo, and, er, Japanese flower arranging, all while he searches for a special knife.

10 pm: Weeds on Showtime.

On this week's episode of Weeds ("Little Boat"), Nancy and Esteban try to accommodate each other into their busy schedules; Nancy must have a serious talk with her sons; Silas grows closer to Lisa; Celia finds herself even more desperate to feed her binge; Andy and Doug encounter El Coyote.