'The Office' receptionist to star in NBC pilot 'Brenda Forever'

With the imminent demise of The Office, Ellie Kemper has been one of the most sought-after comedy actresses of the pilot season. She has chosen to remain with NBC to star in a single-camera comedy entitled Brenda Forever.

Best known for her role as receptionist Erin Hannon, Kemper will play Brenda Miller in the high-concept comedy that interweaves stories from her past and present to show how an awkward and chubby, yet confident, 13-year-old girl grew up to be a 31-year-old woman who still marches to the beat of her own drum.

Kemper is close friends with creators Andrew Leeds and David Lampson. She has been circling the project since it landed at NBC last week following a competitive situation between the Peacock network and FOX.

David Wain — the absurdist comedic genius behind MTV's The State and Adult Swim's Childrens Hospital as well as films like Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models, and The Ten — will direct the pilot.

The writing duo of Leeds and Lampson got their big break on the Bravo reality series Situation: Comedy and had a pilot produced by NBC in 2005 called Stephen's Life, directed by Fred Savage. They also created another pilot that NBC passed on in 2010 entitled Rex Is Not Your Lawyer.

Will the third time be the charm?