TCA: Amy Poehler's departure from 'Saturday Night Live' will be 'a big loss'

Amy Poehler's departure from "Saturday Night Live" sometime this fall "will be a big loss," executive producer Lorne Michaels told television critics today.

Poehler, who is pregnant, has signed on to do a new comedy on NBC from the executive producer of "The Office." She plans to remain on the late-night variety show through the November election or until her baby is born, "which will hopefully be right after the election," Michaels said. Poehler has done the show's sharp impersonation of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Michaels said he will likely hire two or three new cast members this year and is holding formal auditions in August to consider new talent.

"Saturday Night Live" will have a heavy on-air presence this season, with 22 live shows instead of the usual 20. To take advantage of the material generated by the presidential campaign, seven original shows will air before Election Day.

In addition, the writers are producing three half-hour shows for prime time that will feature live editions of "Weekend Update." And on Nov. 3, SNL will do a 90-minute prime-time special spotlighting its political satire.

Michaels said he relishes the challenge, adding that it was "unbelievably frustrating" to have been sidelined by the writers strike during the bulk of the presidential primary season.

"It made me realize how precious it was to have this job," he said.

By the fall, he added, he's confident the public's impression of Sen. Barack Obama will have solidified enough to make him easier to parody.

"I think he's still defining himself and he's primarily cast as heroic," Michaels said. "But sooner or later, everyone does something to irritate us."

Michaels is also the executive producer of "Late Night with Conan O’Brien," which SNL alum Jimmy Fallon is taking over next year. Michaels said he plans to launch Fallon's show online before he takes over the time slot.

"I think beginning it on the Internet for five or six months before it goes on will be an exciting process and will allow us to find a voice," he said.

-- Matea Gold

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