Best Guests
The Pawnee tourism bureau obviously does something right. The list of visitors over seven seasons of “Parks and Recreation” reads like a who’s who of entertainment, politics and sports.
“For our wrap party we made a yearbook like a Pawnee High School Yearbook and put in [all the guest stars],” says Amy Poehler. “What other show has the First Lady, Sam Elliott, Ginuwine, Patricia Clarkson? We had so many cool people come our way.”
Variety asked the cast to reflect on a few favorite “Parks and Rec” guests.
Adam Scott on Kathryn Hahn and Paul Rudd
“In season four when Hahn and Rudd were both doing episodes at the same time, we’re all just hanging out at work doing that campaign storyline and it’s just like, ‘I can’t believe my luck. I’m sitting here with these friends who I just adore and admire and on top of all that we’re making this show. It was a perfect moment.’”
Amy Poehler on Joe Biden
“He was OK with me, as Leslie, leaning in for a kiss. [Laughs] I always appreciated that. He went along for the ride. I think we proved we did a good job of letting people score and be funny on the show. People liked to work on our show and I think that kinda gets around.”
Nick Offerman on Megan Mullally
“My life on the show has been such a sequence of skipping up the ladder of my dreams a couple rungs at a time. To be handed this episode where for the first time (my wife and I are) a comedy team … I felt like a kid in a candy store with an unlimited tab. I kept wanting to giggle at my good fortune that I was getting to make such nasty comedy with my hero.”
Adam Scott on JK Simmons
“JK’s the best — he deserves everything he’s getting and more. Every take is so good and funny, then he does something weird. We’ve butted heads a lot in stuff too, like (2009 indie) ‘The Vicious Kind.’ He cuts an intimidating figure, but he’s really just a sweetheart.”
Mike Schur on Patton Oswalt
“He is one of my favorite performers. I think his brain works unlike anybody else’s brain. We invented that character for him … (He did an improv for) 10 uninterrupted minutes about his crazy ‘Star Wars,’ Marvel crossover movie. It would have been almost exactly half the length of the show. We asked him for permission to put it online and he was like, ‘Sounds great!’ ”
Aubrey Plaza on Patricia Clarkson
“She was so hot and funny and terrifying. We made out, but it didn’t make it onto the show. Everyone was just staring at us and I said, ‘I couldn’t help it, she’s the sexiest person alive!’ That was a full-on and magical improv.”
Aziz Ansari on Ben Schwartz and Jenny Slate
“Those characters are so outrageous that they can just do anything. It’s always a battle to not lose it when those guys are together and just go insane. I’ve known both of them for years doing comedy and it was so cool to work with them.”
Nick Offerman on Sam Elliott
“He wasn’t totally sure-footed coming into our sloppy, half-improv comedy style because he’s such an accomplished film actor. We said, ‘Sam, as long as you talk with your voice and let us photograph your face and body I believe we’re golden.’”
Aubrey Plaza on Parker Posey
“What I remember is wanting so badly to have more interactions with her because she is such a big hero of mine. Just being around her is so fun because she’s such a lunatic in the best way.”
Amy Poehler on Louis C.K.
“Louis C.K. coming in and playing my boyfriend was a big deal. Louis’ show hadn’t even aired yet at that point and I don’t think he knew anything about our show. I remember a lot of late nights cracking up with him on set. He looks really natural in a police uniform and he felt really comfortable in it. He liked it a lot.”
Aziz Ansari on Ginuwine
“When I heard the idea that Ginuwine was Donna’s cousin I thought it was hilarious. And then when they said Ginuwine was actually gonna be on the show it was so funny to me. Then when we were shooting an episode later on and Ginuwine was there I was like, ‘Oh yeah, Ginuwine. That’s so strange that that’s not weird now.’ It was just like, ‘Oh, Ginuwine must be filming today.’”
Aziz Ansari on Tatiana Maslany
“We would have had her on [the show] more but there were issues with her and ‘Orphan Black’ scheduling — you know she plays 8 or 10 characters on that show. We were lucky to steal her away for a little bit. She’s such a cool person.”