The new comedy series "Parks and Recreation" premieres tonight on NBC sandwiched between two episodes of "The Office." While such a time slot might seem to make for a sure-fire hit, this new laffer -- created by "Office" execs Greg Daniels and Mike Schur -- is said to pale in comparison with that Emmy winner. Most of the critics cut this new show little slack, bemoaning the mockumentary format and chiding the premise for wasting the talents of "Saturday Night Live" alum Amy Poehler. 

Amy Poehler spent seven years on that late-night sketch show. Following a rejigging of Emmy rules, Poehler  was the first cast member to land a nod as a supporting performer in a comedy series. She lost that race last season to Jean Smart of "Samantha Who?" While she performed a variety of roles to perfection on "SNL," on "Parks and Recreation" Poehler plays just one part -- Leslie Knope, an ambitious local politico.

Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune notes that, "Though NBC is trying to make it clear that 'Parks' is not an 'Office' spin-off, Leslie is a lot like Dunder Mifflin's Michael Scott: She's a clueless, would-be do-gooder without much self-awareness. It's unfortunate that Leslie fails to display even a smidgen of the steely intelligence and suppressed ferocity that made Poehler's impression of Hillary Clinton so hilarious. Still, like all politicians, Leslie wants more turf — in her case, literally. But in the pilot episode, the character's combination of neediness and ambition doesn't quite gel. Is the world really ready for a dorkier version of Tracy Flick, the relentless striver from 'Election'?"

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun thought, "The problem with the pilot is in tone. Self-important and silly but optimistic and sweet is a hard mark to hit week after week. If anyone can do it, Poehler would be my candidate. But if she and the producers miss by just a little in the first few weeks, it is going to be hard to find the kind of mass audience needed for success on network TV." And, he adds, "There is also the question of how funny the foibles of government are going to seem to millions of viewers when so many of us realize how desperately dependent we are on government to try and pull us out of the nosedive in which this nation finds itself."