Maya Rudolph is coming back to NBC. Deadline reports that the network has ordered a pilot for an untitled variety show starring Rudolph and produced by Lorne Michaels, who worked with her on SNL and Up All Night. NBC will air the pilot in February as a primetime special following the Winter Olympics. Presumably, the network will order the pilot to series if the special does well. With Rudolph and Michaels working on this, the show should have no trouble landing well-known guests from both the music and comedy worlds.
After Up All Night was canceled last February, Maya Rudolph turned down five sitcom pilot offers and pitched a variety show to the networks instead. ABC, NBC, and Fox were all interested, but NBC ended up landing the project. The daughter of soul singer Minnie Riperton, Rudolph is a musician in addition to being an actress. Before joining SNL, she worked as a studio backing singer and was briefly keyboardist for the band The Rentals. She currently performs with Princess, the Prince cover band she formed with friend Gretchen Lieberum.
