Is Indiana the New Scranton? NBC Comedy Set in Hoosier State

"Saturday Night Live" star Amy Poehler’s new comedy series will be set in Indiana. Pretty cool. Although, I think I speak for all Hoosiers when I say, "Please don’t make fun of us." 

In the mockumentary-style comedy, Poehler plays a mid-level bureaucrat in an Indiana city parks and recreation department who’s looking to get ahead.

The still-untitled series debuts 8:30 p.m. EST April 9.

Poehler’s portrayal of Hillary Rodham Clinton opposite Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin on "SNL" was a highlight of the show last year.

The new series isn’t intended as a satire on national politics but instead offers a comedic take on how government works in an American town, said Michael Schur, who’s executive producer along with Greg Daniels (of "The Office," NBC’s other mockumentary-style comedy).

Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, finds her love of the democratic process tested as she faces defensive government workers, selfish residents and real estate developers.

 Bureaucracy? In Indiana? Well, I never…

Bigger Not Always Better

The popular saying is that everything is big in Texas, but try these facts about California and its government burden on for size:

* 38 million people, including 22 million in an eight-county region in the southern portion of the state
* 207 languages spoken
* 13% of the total U.S. gross domestic product
* $19 billion a year in highway funding, with local and state resources providing 38% each and the remaining 24% coming from the federal government 

A top official with the California Department of Transportation shared these numbers and more during a recent presentation.

We may not have the beaches of Malibu, the vast mountainous regions, or the legend of Kurt Rambis, but I think I’ll stick with the Hoosier state.