This post lists spoiler information for Parks and Recreation’s second season. To view season one spoilers, please click here.
UPDATED: May 10, 2010
More news about Rob Lowe and Adam Scott. Also: One Parks and Recreation character begins a new relationship this week. Click the jump!
May 10, 2010: Watch with Kristin:
Hugh in New York City: What’s the word on Adam Scott and Rob Lowe heading to Parks and Recreation? It starts this week, right?
The guys pop up in Pawnee this Thursday, and both performances more than exceed expectations—especially Ron Swanson’s. “Adam and Rob’s characters show up from the state government. They’ve come to slash our budget, so a lot of tumult occurs in the department,” Nick Offerman explains. “Rob Swanson is over the moon that the budget is being slashed, it’s his dream scenario.” Of course, it’s not Leslie’s Knope’s, and she will fight it.
Brady in Nebraska: I want Tom to get some loving on Parks and Recreation. Any hope?
Yes, yes, yes! Aziz Ansari’s Tom is finally getting a serious ladylove, and we’ll actually meet her this week. “Tom gets a girlfriend named Lucy,” Aziz just told us. “And we see this relationship and what Tom is like when he has a girlfriend. It’s for a few episodes.” Lucy just so happens to be a classy, sassy bartender at Tom’s stomping grounds, the Snake Hole.
April 30, 2010: Ausiello Files:
The exiting Brothers & Sisters actor joins the NBC comedy next month as one of two state employees (the other being Party Down‘s Adam Scott) brought in to fix Pawnee’s budgetary crisis. Executive producer Michael Schur likens it to “an action movie where the FBI shows up and the local cops say, ‘This is our jurisdiction! And the FBI says, ‘Not anymore!’” But Lowe’s character, Chris Traeger, wins everyone over with his “very optimistic, positive, forward-thinking” attitude, explains Schur, who hints that he “very quickly falls into a romantic entanglement” with one of the locals. “I don’t want to spoil who it is because it’s kind of a surprise.”
April 28, 2010: Ausiello Files:
Question: Longtime reader. First-time writer-inner. I am loving Parks and Recreation this year! Will there be any big developments regarding my favorite bizarro Sam-and-Diane-ish couple, Andy and April (whom I lovingly call A-squared)? Or will their age gap get in the way? —Phil
Ausiello: April will poke a pretty huge hole in Andy’s cradle-robbing argument when she turns 21 in this season’s second-to-last episode. “April feels that 21 is the legal definition of an adult,” explains executive producer Michael Schur. “So her attitude is ‘He can’t feel that way anymore,’ and she makes a move.” Hmm…I wonder if I reserved a spot on my May Sweeps Scorecard for said move.
Do you have any new details on Rob Lowe’s ‘Parks and Recreation‘ character? – Denise
For starters, he’s playing an auditor named Chris who soon arrives on the scene to save Pawnee from bankruptcy. Also, remember how there was talk of him being a possible love interest for Leslie? Well, by the start of Season 3 Chris is an actual love interest for someone else.
Synopsis for the May 20 episode, “Freddy Spaghetti“:
Leslie decides to take matters into her own hands when Ben (Adam Scott) stops her from holding a children’s concert; Mark faces some big decisions; Andy is surprised by some romantic attention.
Note: “Freddy Spaghetti” is Parks and Recreation’s season two finale.
April 22, 2010: The Futon Critic:
Synopsis for the May 13 episode, “The Master Plan“:
LESLIE’S MASTER PLAN IS SCUTTLED – ADAM SCOTT (”PARTY DOWN”) AND ROB LOWE (”BROTHERS AND SISTERS”) STAR – Leslie (Amy Poehler) is disappointed when her new park plans are put on hold by a visit from two state auditors (guest stars Adam Scott and Rob Lowe). April (Aubrey Plaza) has plans for Andy (Chris Pratt) at her birthday party, and Ann (Rashida Jones) tries to piece together a romantic mystery. Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari and Nick Offerman also star.
Will Tammy be back on Parks and Recreation? I loved seeing Ron Swanson with his ex-wife. — Susanthony
It sounds like love won’t be in the air at Parks and Rec until this fall at the earliest. Nick Offerman tells us there are no plans to bring back Tammy (who’s played by Offerman’s real-life wife, Megan Mullally), until Season 3. At about the same time, Andy (Chris Pratt) will finally notice that April (Aubrey Plaza) is monkey-crazy in love with him. For now, though, Ron may be setting his sights on an entirely different ex-wife.
In a Q&A with TV Squad, new Parks and Recreation series regular Adam Scott mostly talks about the second season of Party Down, which premieres this Friday on Starz. However, in addition to Party Down, TV Squad had him answer a few Parks questions as well.
Here’s what he had to say:
Did ‘Parks and Recreation’ steal you away?
No, they didn’t steal me away. Starz wasn’t picking it (’Party Down’) up so there was nothing to steal me away from. Every time I had an inkling of another job coming I would let them know in case they wanted to pick ‘Party Down’ up. As is their right they want to see how it does so we’re all waiting to see and we’re hoping that it continues because it’s everyone’s favorite show to do.
Now you have an ‘in’ at ‘Saturday Night Live’ after working with Amy Poehler.
I play a state auditor who comes in to cut the budget of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation department and kind of scares everyone. Amy Poehler is just incredible. She’s so hilarious and so sweet. Everyone was very welcoming. Of course I have a lifelong dream of hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ but I don’t see that happening any time soon.
April 18, 2010: The Futon Critic:
Synopsis for the May 6 episode, “Telethon”:
LESLIE HOSTS A TELETHON – Leslie (Amy Poehler) hosts a late-night shift for a local telethon, and lands former Indiana Pacer Detlef Schrempf as a celebrity guest. Meanwhile, Mark (Paul Schneider) has big plans for his relationship with Ann (Rashida Jones). Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza also star.
The May 6 episode is titled, “Telethon.” It was written by Amy Poehler!
Abbreviated synopsis for the April 29 episode, “94 Meetings”:
Leslie becomes upset when a former beauty queen and the CEO of Sweetums try to make alterations to a historic town mansion.
Is there any chance Rob could stay on the show permanently?
Michael Schur: There’s certainly a chance — he’s an actor in very high demand, and the part was conceived of (long before he signed on) as a multi-episode arc. But we’re all trying to keep our options open.
With Mark out of the picture, is there any chance April and Ann will wrestle in a wading tub filled with canola oil to win Andy’s heart?
Schur: Probably not. Canola oil is expensive, as are wading tubs. But the April-Andy-Ann triangle does come to a boiling point in the last two episodes.
Will Adam Scott’s character be a bastard? Because he’s great at playing bastards.
Schur: He’s pretty great at playing anything, which is why we were so excited to get him. His character is sort of the pragmatic yin to Leslie Knope’s thoroughly optimistic yang — they butt heads a lot in the first few episodes he’s in. But he’s not a bastard. He has a really funny backstory that is revealed in his first episode and explains exactly why he is the way he is.
Both Lowe and Scott will appear on the show before the season is over. Hopefully, Lowe won’t purchase the show and then sell it off to Noah’s Arcade.
I am sad to hear that Paul Schneider is leaving ‘Parks and Recreation.’ Please tell me I don’t have to worry about losing Chris Pratt, too. – Lori
I must tell you that you will be seeing less of Pratt – but in a good way. “Chris has been working out and losing weight, and you’ll see in the last few episodes of the season that he looks super-hunky,” ‘Parks & Rec’ boss Michael Schur told me. As a result, “You will see why April is so into him, but in a more obvious way.”
March 16, 2010: The Ausiello Files:
Natalie Morales, whose stint on [White Collar] concluded on March 9 with the show’s season finale, is joining NBC’s Parks and Recreation for a multi-episode arc, sources confirm to me semi-exclusively.
Morales will play Lucy, a smart and funny busgirl at a local Pawnee bar.
What will happen to Mark between now and the end of the season?
Michael Schur: He’s going to remain in the world of the show in a way that not only allows but hopefully demands that he’ll reenter it. He’s not going to be killed in some weird accident.
Maybe an obvious question, but where does that leave Ann and Mark’s relationship? Post-Valentine’s Day, things seem to be up in the air between them…
Mark’s relationship with Ann comes to a crossroads toward the end of the year. It’s something we’re building toward. Most of the beats in that story haven’t aired yet, ironically, because we let Rashida Jones (Ann) out of two episodes because she was shooting a David Fincher movie. Two episodes from now begins that arc.
When the Adam Scott news broke, some begun speculating that he might be a replacement for Paul — true?
He’s really not. The story that Adam Scott and Rob Lowe are coming in for … they’re not new city planners sitting across the hall. It’s not like the government is firing Mark and replacing him with Adam’s character. Adam is from a different world. It’s not the same thing.
Variety said Adam would be a love interest for Leslie…
It’s not wrong. But it’s funny to say he’s a love interest for Amy’s character when he hasn’t shot a scene yet. It’s kind of silly. It’s not right or wrong, if that makes any sense?
Adam’s character is entering the world, he’s about Amy’s age, he’s a man and he’s single? I think that’s where that came from? Look, no one ever conceived April and Andy would be romantically involved until we shot this one episode and said, “Hey, they have chemistry!” So we taste it, that’s more the way we do things here. We like to get actors we think are good and just throw them into a big stew and mix it up and see what happens.
Can you tease anything else about Rob Lowe? We heard he’s in for two episodes this season, and six more — at least — next season. He’s been tweeting his excitement all day.
That’s correct. He was super funny in the table read. He and Adam both were fantastic. It was very exciting. He and Adam come in as part of a team sent in from a distant land to try to help the town of Pawnee through a rough patch. There are all these stories in the news now like Kansas City is closing half of their public schools now, and, I don’t know if this actually happened, but the entire state of Idaho was threatening to shut down the Parks department…and Idaho is essentially just one large park. Most cities and towns in the country right now are going through these rough patches involving plummeting tax revenue and layoffs. So we’re doing a torn-from-the-headlines thing about Pawnee and Adam and Rob’s characters come in to help them fix their budget problems.
March 11, 2010: TV Guide Magazine:
Word is [Adam Scott] will be romancing Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope. “Yes, I think I’m going to be getting a lot of screen time with Amy, which is great,” says the actor, 36. “When I start, I’m not a part of the government agency. I’m an outsider. But I think there’s potential for that to change.”
Synopsis for the March 25 episode, “Summer Catalog”:
LESLIE SEEKS INSPIRATION FROM THE PAST-Preparing the Summer Events Catalog, Leslie (Amy Poehler) decides to take Ron (Nick Offerman) and the past directors of the Parks Department out for a picnic lunch. Tom (Aziz Ansari) enlists the help of Ann (Rashida Jones) and Mark (Paul Schneider) to pose for the cover photo. Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza also star.
Party Down star Adam Scott is joining the cast of Parks and Recreation, TVGuide.com has confirmed.
Scott will make his first appearance in this season’s last two episodes and return for Season 3 as a series regular. NBC renewed the Thursday night comedy in January.
The 36-year-old actor will play a love interest for parks and rec department head Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), according to Variety. “Adam is one of the funniest and most versatile performers around,” series executive producer Michael Schur told the trade paper. “When we designed the character he is going to play, we used him as the dream scenario of who we could get.”
March 3, 2010: The Ausiello Files:
Sources confirm to me exclusively that Rob Lowe is nearing a deal to join the cast of TV’s best new comedy, Parks and Recreation.
I’m told that Lowe, who, as you know, is leaving Brothers & Sisters at season’s end, would appear in multiple episodes of Parks and Rec beginning later this season and extending into next. (NBC wisely went ahead and renewed the comedy for a third season.)
Details about Lowe’s character are being kept under the tightest of wraps. I should know more as soon as his deal becomes official.
Aziz Ansari slays me on ‘Parks and Recreation.’ Is anything good coming up for Tom? – Lucy
Aziz recently told me, “I think it’d be cool for Tom to have a recurring new girlfriend, now that’s he’s single” – and indeed he shall. In an upcoming episode, Tom will stumble across a new romantic interest in the most unlikely of places. [Pause] OK, fine, it’s a somewhat likely place – a strip club.
March 1, 2010: Watch with Kristin:
Penelope in Michigan: So excited that Parks and Recreation is back this week. Scoop, please!
All you Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) fans are going to swoon when he stands up for Leslie against some idiosyncratic feminists. Who knew that Ron would be key to fulfilling the girl-power premise of the show!?
February 27, 2010: The Futon Critic:
Synopsis for the March 18 episode, “Park Safety”:
LESLIE LEAPS INTO ACTION WHEN JERRY IS MUGGED IN A PARK-ANDY SAMBERG (”SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”) GUEST STARS-After Jerry (Jim O’Heir) gets mugged by a bunch of kids, Leslie (Amy Poehler) meets with the head park ranger (guest star Andy Samberg) in hopes of improving park safety. Meanwhile, everyone tries to be nicer to Jerry once he returns to the office. Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt also star.
February 22, 2010: Watch with Kristin:
Caroline in Detroit: Any news on Parks and Recreation?
We’re going to meet April the intern’s (Aubrey Plaza) mom, and she’s totally different than her daughter. Mom is described as “supercheery and upbeat,” while April is…April.
February 20, 2010: Spoiler TV:
Synopsis for the March 11 episode, “The Possum”:
A PESKY POSSUM REEKS HAVOC ON A LOCAL GOLF COURSE-When a possum bites the mayor’s dog on a golf course, Leslie (Amy Poehler) is asked to form a task force to catch the pesky animal. Meanwhile, Ron (Nick Offerman) is upset when Mark (Paul Schneider) refuses to bend the rules for him. Aziz Ansari, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and Rashida Jones also star.
In an interview with Digital Spy, Megan Mullally reveals that the good folks behind Parks and Recreation are planning to bring her character, Ron’s ex-wife Tammy, back to the show! She talks about it at 5:43.
Thanks, @MM_Alejandra!
February 12, 2010: The Futon Critic:
Synopsis for the March 4 episode, “Woman of the Year”:
RON SWANSON WINS “WOMAN OF THE YEAR”Leslie (Amy Poehler) is outraged when Ron (Nick Offerman) wins a “Woman of the Year” award for a project she started. Meanwhile, Tom (Aziz Ansari) is desperate to find some money to invest in a local Pawnee club. Paul Schneider, Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza also star.
February 8, 2010: Watch with Kristin:
Max in Tempe, Ariz.: I really love what Parks and Recreation has going on with Andy and April. Are they going to become official anytime soon?
Parks and Recreation isn’t making these two official just yet, but Andy’s band does score a gig this week, so we’re guessing their No. 1 fan, April, will get involved somehow. Elsewhere in Pawnee, Leslie and her new boyfriend, Justin (Justin Theroux), spend Valentine’s Day playing cupid as they try and set up Leslie’s mom (Pamela Reed) and her crush, guest star John Larroquette.
Delia in Grand Rapids, Mich.: Will Arnett was high-larious on Parks and Recreation as that MRI guy. Will Amy bring him her man back? And when are we going to get that Arrested Development movie?
To answer your first question, Will’s guest gig wasn’t even driven by his close personal relationship to Amy Poehler (her being his wife/baby mama and all that), but rather by his relationship with P-Rex boss Mike Schur. Will says, “Mike Schur who runs the show over there with Greg Daniels is a good friend of ours. Mike called me and said, ‘Hey, we’re writing this character right now that we think would be great for you.’ He said, ‘What do you think?’ and I said, ‘I’d love to do it.’” As for the A.D. movie, Will says, “We’re going to be making it later on. Depends on when the script gets finished. Hopefully that will be sometime soon. Because I’ve been working with Mitch [Hurwitz] for almost a year now [on the Fox pilot], my schedule is his schedule. I’m available when he’s available.”
Andy Samberg will visit Parks and Recreation for a March 18 episode in which he plays the head of security for Pawnee’s Parks who butts heads with Leslie (Poehler).
Synopsis for the February 11 episode, “Galentine’s Day”:
LESLIE AND JUSTIN REUNITE LONG LOST LOVE-JUSTIN THEROUX (”JOHN ADAMS,” “TROPIC THUNDER”) JOHN LARROQUETTE (”BOSTON LEGAL”) AND PAMELA REED (”JERICHO”) GUEST STAR-When Leslie (Amy Poehler) hears her mom’s (guest star Pamela Reed) story about an old flame (John Larroquette), she and her boyfriend Justin (guest star Justin Theroux) track him down and reunite them on Valentine’s Day. Meanwhile, Andy (Chris Pratt) and his band are nervous about playing a gig at the Senior Center. Leslie and Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza guest stars.
January 18, 2010: The Futon Critic:
Synopsis for the February 4 episode, “Sweetums”:
LESLIE FIGHTS FOR HEALTH– JUSTIN THEROUX (JOHN ADAMS, TROPIC THUNDER) GUEST STARS-The Parks Department forms a partnership with a local company to sell energy bars at the parks in Pawnee, but Leslie (Amy Poehler) tries to stop the deal when she discovers how unhealthy the snacks are. Mark (Paul Schneider) reluctantly agrees to help Tom (Aziz Ansari) move out of his house. Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt also star.
January 6, 2010: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the January 21 episode, “Leslie’s House”:
LESLIE HOSTS A DINNER PARTY– JUSTIN THEROUX (”JOHN ADAMS,” “TROPIC THUNDER”) GUEST STARS-After an amazing date with Justin (guest star Justin Theroux) in Indianapolis, Leslie (Amy Poehler) tries to impress him with a dinner party at her house. Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza also star.
Something on “Parks and Recreation” please. -Mike
With Dave Sanderson (Louis C.K.) shipped off to San Diego, Leslie’s now a free woman and will start dating a friend of Ann’s named Justin (Justin Theroux). Zap2it is already a huge fan of his, but April and her gay boyfriends will be way into him too. I’m told he’s an attorney.
In other “P&R” love news, Leslie will be throwing a “Galentine’s Day” party to celebrate her best gal pals in February and, even before that, a dinner soiree which she invites Tom’s ex Wendy to … ooh, awkward.
The January 21 episode is titled, “Leslie’s House.”
January 3, 2010: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the January 14 episode, “The Set Up”:
LESLIE GOES ON A BLIND DATE—WILL ARNETT (“30 ROCK,” “ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT”) AND JUSTIN THEROUX (“JOHN ADAMS,” “TROPIC THUNDER”)— Ann (Rashida Jones) sets Leslie (Amy Poehler) up on a blind date with a co-worker (guest star Will Arnett), which does not go as well as Leslie hoped. An old friend of Ann’s (guest star Justin Theroux) makes Mark (Paul Schneider) feel insecure. Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt also star.
December 16, 2009: Ask Ausiello:
Question: Parks and Recreation just keeps getting better this season. The “hunting expedition” episode was probably the funniest so far. My one complaint: the woefully underused Paul Schneider (Mark). Any chance we’ll be seeing more of him in upcoming shows? —Nicolaus
Ausiello: “We have some big shifts for Mark during the second half of the season, career-wise and romantically,” reveals exec producer Mike Schur, adding that fans shouldn’t assume that a Leslie/Mark romance is inevitable. “We don’t necessarily have specific places we’re going with every different relationship. We just follow what’s interesting. I don’t think that the final chapter has been written in the Mark and Leslie saga, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to get together. It might just mean that the feelings bubble up in one way or another at some point.”
November 18, 2009: TVGuide.com:
- “We have an episode in a couple of weeks about Tom getting divorced and him coming to terms with it,” said Aziz Ansari. “It’s pretty emotional stuff for Tom.” Unfortunately, sparks will continue to fly between Ron (Nick Offerman) and Tom’s soon-to-be ex-wife. “It doesn’t seem like Tom will take it too well,” Offerman said. “A little bit of information unfolds before the holidays, but no deals will be sealed.”
- Leslie Knope will find herself in a possible love triangle. Will Arnett — Poehler’s real-life hubby — and Justin Theorux will guest-star in that January episode as her suitors.
- “You’re going to see more scenes with Andy and April,” said Aubrey Plaza. “There could be a love connection for them.”
- In Thursday’s episode, Parks takes a shot at a mystery episode. “They go on a hunting trip and they’re hunting quails at a secret park ranger station that Ron has, for years, used as his private hunting lodge,” executive producer Greg Daniels said. “Leslie insists on going when she finds out about it, bringing a lot of non-hunters. There are a lot of guns.” What’s the mystery? One of the parks department members takes a shot to the back of the head and the gang must figure out whose gun it came from.
November 17, 2009: Watch with Kristin:
NBC has just confirmed to us that Amy Poehler’s husband, the also hilarious Will Arnett, is coming to Parks and Recreation.
He’ll come on board for one episode that will air in January. (Most likely Jan. 14, according to NBC, but no firm date has been set.)
According to NBC, Will is playing an “MRI tech,” which means that either someone we know and love in Pawnee is headed for the hospital (our money’s on the always clutsy Andy, a k a Chris Pratt), or Will will have scenes with Ann (Rashida Jones) who works there.
Thanks for the tip, @Mullally_lovah!
November 17, 2009: The Ausiello Files:
Hey, what’s that smell? Oh, I know — it’s the ink drying on Will Arnett’s Parks and Recreation contract. An NBC spokesperson confirms that Will Arnett will guest star opposite real-life wife Amy Poehler on her creatively-resurgent comedy in early 2010. He’ll play a possible suitor for Poehler’s character, Leslie. Incidentally, Arnett appears in the same episode that marks the arrival of Justin Theroux, who also happens to be playing a love interest for Leslie. You know what I’m smelling now? Comedic fireworks!
Thanks for the tip, @Mullally_lovah!
November 16, 2009: The Ausiello Files:
Actor-producer-screenwriter-all-around Renaissance man Justin Theroux is joining Parks and Recreation (a.k.a. this fall’s most improved comedy) in a major recurring role, sources confirm to me exclusively.
Theroux, whose previous tube work includes stints on The District, Ally McBeal, and Sex and the City, has been cast as a friend of Ann’s (Rashida Jones) and a potential love interest for Leslie (Amy Poehler). His first episode is slated to air in early 2010.
November 16, 2009: Watch with Kristin:
John in Las Vegas: Please tell me Megan Mullally will be back on Parks and Recreation!
We just chatted with Megan’s real-life hubby Nick Offerman, Ron Swanson to you Parks and Recreation fans, and all signs are pointing to yes! “In my house there’s lots of talk about Megan returning. Both of our mothers are really excited about that idea,” Nick jokes. “I think we’ll try to get her back on if we can.”
Andy in Cincinnati: Anything else coming up on Parks and Recreation?
Do not miss Thursday’s episode when the P-Rex gang goes hunting. One city employee shoots another city employee and hilarity ensues. Aziz Ansari also tells us there’s some good stuff on the way involving Tom’s potential love triangle with his wife and Ron: “There’s an emotional episode coming up that deals with Tom, his green card marriage and his divorce.” As for Ron’s crush on the fake wifey, Mike Schur says: “A key moment involves Ron talking to Tom about his wife, Wendy, so yes, he’s unwittingly in the middle of a much more complicated situation than he thought.”
November 16, 2009: Watch with Kristin:
- At Saturday night’s Paley Center P-Rex celebration, Amy Poehler teased that hubby Will Arnett might soon be joining her on the small screen (yay!): “I hope, so I think you will,” she spilled with that signature Amy grin we know and love.
- We were also told that Amy’s adorably awkward Leslie Knope would be involved in a salacious sex scandal.
- Sadly, Will is not knocking boots with Amy on P-Rex right now (though we know he’s already on the NBC payroll, ahem, 30 Rock), but show runner Mike Schur (Mose!) did tell us that “some exciting potential guest stars, pretty big stars and comedians” are in the works and that names will emerge in the next few weeks.
- As for Leslie, the poor girl “accidentally gets involved with this big sex scandal, and it spirals out of control,” Aziz Ansari (Tom) told us of the P-Rex craziness. As Schur explained: “There are rumors swirling about another city councilman scandal—who was disgraced by cave sex in the ‘Practice Date’ episode—and Leslie ends up getting photographed with him at a bar late at night by a tabloid newspaper.”
- Of course, Leslie becomes the town leper, even though she only had the city’s best interest at heart. “Leslie has set up an elaborate and beautiful Santa’s Village on the lot; she’s just trying to do this nice thing and this derails it, and it gets to the point where the press is chasing her around.”
Sadly, Leslie’s headed for a split with Dave the Cop. “A lot of really heavy stuff happens in the next couple weeks. It’s really good!” Amy teased. “We were so lucky to get Louis C.K., but he’s starting his own show.” - At least a few P-Rexers are getting lucky in love. Aubrey Plaza gushed about an April-Andy (Chris Pratt) romance, and from what you’ll see in Thursday’s episode, it’s going to be uncomfortably fantastic.
November 14, 2009: Spoiler TV:
Synopsis for the December 3 episode, “The Fourth Floor”:
TOM’S GREENCARD MARRIAGE ENDS IN DIVORCE-Ron (Nick Offerman) sends Leslie (Amy Poehler) up to the DMV department and she happens to see Tom (Aziz Ansari) and Wendy at divorce court. Leslie enlists the help of everyone in the department to take Tom out on the town so he can forget his sadness. Meanwhile, Tom has an epiphany about his marriage. Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider and Aubrey Plaza also star.
November 12, 2009: The Futon Critic:
Synopsis for Parks and Recreation’s holiday-themed episode, airing on December 10:
LESLIE BECOMES THE CENTER OF A HOLIDAY SCANDAL– LOUIS C.K. (”LUCKY LOUIE”) GUEST STARS-Leslie (Amy Poehler) designs the Pawnee Winter Wonderland Festival, but has to hide from the press when a meeting with a disgraced Councilman lands her in the middle of a sex scandal. Meanwhile, Ron (Nick Offerman) offers to cover for Leslie for the day, and quickly discovers how much work she really does. Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt also star.
November 6, 2009: Aziz Ansari’s Twitter:
According to Aziz:
In the episode of Parks we’re filming, we all go to a restaurant called Jurassic Fork. Its DOPE!
November 4, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the November 19 episode, “Hunting Trip”:
A HUNTING WE WILL GO—Leslie (Amy Poehler) tries to prove she can hang with the guys so she invites herself on Ron’s (Nick Offerman) annual hunting trip, but things don’t go as planned. Meanwhile, April (Aubrey Plaza) and Andy (Chris Pratt) bond in the office while everyone is away. Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider and Aziz Ansari also star.
November 3, 2009: Aziz Ansari’s Twitter:
You remember the Glitter Factory, don’t you? Here’s a hint.
November 2, 2009: Watch with Kristin:
Marisa in Milwaukee: Is Andy a full-time City of Pawnee employee now?
Chris Pratt said that his Halloween security gig was just the beginning. “That’s the first step in the independence of Andy,” he told us. And Chris is looking forward to his new storyline, which means he’s finally out of the dreaded pit once and for all. He told us, “[The pit] is a real pit out in the Valley. It’s hot and dusty, and it stinks a little bit—I’m happy to have that chapter closed.”
October 31, 2009: NBC Media Village:
The November 19 episode is titled, “Hunting Trip”.
Here are some photos!
October 28, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the November 12 episode, “The Camel”:
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT GETS ARTISTIC—After one of the murals (”The Spirit of Pawnee”) in City Hall is defaced, Leslie (Amy Poehler) and the Parks Department compete to come up with a new design. Meanwhile, Andy (Chris Pratt) and Ron (Nick Offerman) share an uncomfortable moment at the shoeshine stand. Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari and Aubrey Plaza also star.
October 28, 2009: Ask Ausiello:
Question: I was so happy to see that you called Parks and Recreation one of the most improved shows of the season. I totally agree! Got any scoop? —Abby
Ausiello: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, according to showrunner Michael Schur. He says a November installment featuring a guest turn by Megan Mullally is “the best episode we’ve ever done.” Mullally plays Ron’s ex-wife, which is pretty funny since she’s married to his portrayer, Nick Offerman, in real life. But the laughs don’t end there. “She works for the library system, and they’re trying to take over the lot that Leslie is jealously guarding for her future park,” Schur explains. “So Ron has to get back involved with his ex-wife and fireworks ensue.”
Thanks for the tip, @Mullally_lovah!
October 21, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the November 5 episode, “Ron and Tammy”:
THE WAR OF THE EXES—MEGAN MULLALLY (“WILL & GRACE”) GUEST STARS—Leslie (Amy Poehler) is upset when she learns the library department wants to take over her lot. Making matters worse, the library is run by Ron’s (Nick Offerman) ex-wife Tammy (played by Offerman’s real-life wife Megan Mullally), who still has a powerful emotional hold on him. Meanwhile, Andy (Chris Pratt) gets a job in hopes of winning Ann (Rashida Jones) back. Aziz Ansari and Aubrey Plaza also star.
IGN: So are you ever getting out of The Pit? It looks like some things might get shaken up in the next episode ["Kaboom"].
Chris Pratt: The episode coming up this Thursday is sort of The Pit’s swan song. Through a certain series of events, Andy gets buried alive. It becomes his ticket, in his mind, to get Ann back. And to also get out of The Pit. This Thursday is the last time you’re going to see The Pit. They’re turning it into a lot. And with that, apparently, comes a whole new list of dilemmas.
October 14, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the October 29 episode, “Greg Pikitis”:
LESLIE IS TORMENTED BY A TEENAGE NEMESIS—SPECIAL HALLOWEEN EPISODE—Leslie (Amy Poehler) enlists the help of Dave (guest star Louis C.K.) and Andy (Chris Pratt) in order to catch a local teen vandal. Meanwhile, Ann (Rashida Jones) struggles to make her Halloween party fun, and gets help from an unlikely source. Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman and Aubrey Plaza also guest star.
TVGuide.com: Ann and Mark (Paul Schneider) have been getting close. How is that going to progress?
Jones: It seems like Ann and Mark are spending more time together. She likes him more than she expected to. She’s going to give it a shot. In a way, anything is better than Andy [Chris Pratt].
TVGuide.com: Is that going to affect her relationship with Leslie?
Jones: There’s always going to be a tiny bit of that tension, but it is something that they discussed ad nauseum in the first couple of episodes to make sure it was not a big deal. Leslie is definitely going to be moving on in the next couple episodes. They’re decidedly more mature than I would ever be about something like that.
TVGuide.com: Do you think there’s a chance that Ann and Andy will get back together?
Jones: I do. Andy is having a tough time right now realizing what good care Ann took of him, maybe too good of care. The truth is that they do love each other, but I think there’s too much of a son-mother relationship with them right now. If they can somehow shift that, I think there’s still love with them. Definitely.
TVGuide.com: What’s going on with the pit?
Jones: We definitely get some progression when it comes with the pit. We get a little good news; we get more movement than we expected to get so quickly. We try to be a little proactive about it.
TVGuide.com: That park is never going to be built.
Jones: Maybe, maybe not. Based on the way things really happen, you’re probably right.
TVGuide.com: Have they talked about a crossover with The Office?
Jones: No, it would be so weird. It would be like the Twilight Zone with me involved. We’ve never talked about it. I think [executive producers] Mike Schur and Greg Daniels are so committed to the realistic element that I’m the red herring there. As long as I’m not involved, I feel like they could do a little crossing over.
TVGuide.com: Fred Armisen is guest-starring this season. Who does he play?
Jones: He’s one of the funniest people on the planet. He plays the head of a small Venezuelan town’s parks department, and he comes to visit. They’re like our sister city and we have total misconceptions about him and his department. We think they’re small-town-small-minded, and they turn out to be a lot more sophisticated than us.
October 6, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the October 22 episode, “Kaboom”:
NATIONAL SERVICE WEEK INSPIRES LESLIE—Leslie (Amy Poehler), Ann (Rashida Jones) and the rest of the Parks Department volunteer to help the organization KaBOOM! build a playground for a neighboring town. After building an entire playground in one day, Leslie gets frustrated at the (lack of) progress with the pit, and takes some advice from Mark (Paul Schneider) to cut through the red tape. Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt also star.
October 6, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Episode 2.07 is called “Greg Pikitis”.
Megan Mullally will guest star on Parks and Recreation, Rashida Jones tells TVGuide.com exclusively.
The Will & Grace star will play the ex-wife of Amy Poehler’s character’s boss.
“She’s married to Nick Offerman, who plays Ron Swanson, but they play exes on the show,” Jones said.
Mullally is currently shooting her episode, which will air on Oct. 29. In last week’s episode, Ron was incapacitated with a hernia. Could his ex-wife cause him similar pain?
September 23, 2009: Jim O’Heir’s Facebook:
Here’s a little casting scoop from Jim O’Heir, who plays Jerry on the show.
September 23, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the October 15 episode, “Sister City”:
LESLIE WELCOMES THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OF PAWNEE’S SISTER CITY—FRED ARMISEN (“SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”) GUEST STARS—Leslie (Amy Poehler) plays host to the Parks and Recreation department from Pawnee’s sister city, Boraqua, Venezuela, and is shocked at the cultural differences. Tom (Aziz Ansari) becomes an errand boy, and April (Aubrey Plaza) plays hard to get. Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider and Nick Offerman also star.
September 19, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the October 1 episode, “Beauty Pageant”:
LESLIE JUDGES A LOCAL BEAUTY PAGEANT—LOUIS C.K (“LUCKY LOUIE”) GUEST STARS—Leslie (Amy Poehler) looks forward to picking a new Miss Pawnee, but has to battle the other judges, who have a very different standard of “the ideal woman.” While on a date with Mark (Paul Schneider), Ann (Rashida Jones) learns that Andy (Chris Pratt) has been living in the pit. Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, and Nick Offerman also star.
Synopsis for the October 8 episode, “Practice Date”:
LESLIE PRACTICES FOR HER FIRST DATE WITH DAVE– LOUIS C.K. (”LUCKY LOUIE”) GUEST STARS– Leslie (Amy Poehler) is nervous about her first date with Dave (guest star Louis C.K.), so Ann (Rashida Jones) takes her on a practice date to help her prepare. Meanwhile, after a local councilman is caught up in a sex scandal, Tom (Aziz Ansari), Ron (Nick Offerman), April (Aubrey Plaza) and Mark (Paul Schneider) decide to see who can uncover the worst dirt on each other.
September 10, 2009: TVRage.com:
Episode 2.04 is called “Practice Date,” episode 2.05 is called “Sister City” and episode 2.06 is called “Kaboom”.
September 10, 2009: Entertainment News International:
But the big question is what can fans expect in the series’ second season? Ansari says this season is all about learning more about the characters: “The characters you didn’t get to see much of in season one” will return in full force and greater numbers. Following Ansari and his role as the unlikeable Tom, fans will be excited to see a soft side to the man, according to Poehler, which is interesting for the actor playing him as Ansari has a blast playing “a douchebag.” While Ansari says he would never like to hang out with Tom, the character is fun to play. Fans will also learn more about Tom’s wife and see him judge a beauty contest. The series is also doing an episode where the group will be digging up dirt on each other and the interesting things that come up.
In Leslie’s world Poehler sums up her characters story this season, saying “We’re all just figuring out what Leslie’s motivations are. The upcoming season is a lot of enjoying the crazy world Leslie creates for herself and the crazy people in it.” Leslie will also be dealing with her unfortunate breakup with Mark and the conflict that arises when comic Louis C.K. arrives as a love interest. Poehler says, “Unfortunately her feelings for Mark…are not completely over” but the relationship with C.K. is seen as Leslie meeting a new guy and not understanding that he’s interested in her.
September 4, 2009: TV by the Numbers:
Synopsis for the September 24th episode, “The Stakeout”:
LESLIE HOLDS AN ALL-NIGHT STAKEOUT TO FIND OUT WHO PLANTED MARIJUANA IN THE PIT—LOUIS C.K. (”LUCKY LOUIE”) GUEST STARS—While tending to the new community garden, Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Tom (Aziz Ansari) discover someone has planted marijuana among the vegetables. In an effort to catch the people responsible, they pull an all-night stakeout. With Leslie’s permission, Ann (Rashida Jones) decides to go on a date with Mark (Paul Schneider). Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt also star.
August 31, 2009: Ausiello Files
In an episode that begins shooting this week, [Fred] Armisen will play Poehler’s counterpart from Pawneee’s sister city — but there’s a twist. “Leslie arranges for [Armisen and his colleagues] to come for a visit, but they’re from a city in Venezuela,” explains exec producer Michael Schur. “They’re very confused because in Venezuela the government is so powerful; their parks department travels with military escorts and motorcades and stuff. They have all the money in the world because of their oil and they [don't understand] why Pawnee’s parks department is so rinky-dink.”
Schur says Armisen and his fellow Venezuelans “take a real shine” to Nick Offerman’s Ron “because they value his mustache. They call him El Jefe the whole time. They revere him and they present him with all sorts of gifts and stuff.”
August 29, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Synopsis for the September 17th episode, “Pawnee Zoo”:
LESLIE’S PENGUIN MARRIAGE AT THE LOCAL ZOO CAUSES A STIR IN PAWNEE—When Leslie (Amy Poehler) decides to marry two penguins to promote the local zoo, she inadvertently causes an uproar when both penguins turn out to be male. Meanwhile, Mark (Paul Schneider) puts Ann (Rashida Jones) in an awkward situation when he asks her to go see a movie. Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt also star.
August 29, 2009: NBC Media Village:
Episode 2.02 is called “The Stakeout.”
August 26, 2009: NBC Media Village:
The season two premiere is called “Pawnee Zoo.”
August 24, 2009: Watch with Kristin
David in Bristol, Conn.: Any scoop on Parks & Recreation? Are they still working on the pit this season, or have they abandoned it for a new project?
Aubrey Plaza confirms that the pit is still a big part of this season: “The pit is still there. The pit is kind of our grounding place. I know that a lot of crazy things are going to happen in the pit, outside of the pit, with the pit and with people surrounding the pit.”
Season two’s third episode is titled “Beauty Pageant.”
Comedian Louis C.K. will join the cast of Parks and Recreation for a multi-episode arc as a Pawnee police officer and potential love interest for Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler).
C.K.’s character will first appear in the upcoming season’s second episode. He’ll then appear in several episodes thereafter.
As for Parks and Recreation, the show will be casting a cop who works at town hall and could be a comic foil and love interest for Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope.
The producers of the up-and-coming comedy, which takes place in fictional Pawnee, Ind., also [are] looking for a host for a local political talk show called Pawnee Today.
What about former Alaska governor Sarah Palin?
“Probably not,” says Greg Daniels of the soon-to-be-unemployed politician. “But we do have a beauty pageant episode coming up. She might be right for that.”
July 14, 2009: Michael Schur’s Twitter:
@KenTremendous: @GMMR Chris Pratt is a series regular this year — back and hunkier than ever.
July 14, 2009: Michael Schur’s Twitter:
@KenTremendous: About to have the first table read for Season 2 of Parks and Rec. The great Paul Feig will be directing.
@azizansari: Also congratulations to Human Giant’s own @jwoliner who will be directing episode 4!
For those who don’t know, @jwoliner is Jason Woliner.
Meanwhile, I did get to ask Silverman at the “Philanthropist” screening what was up for Amy Poehler in her “Parks and Recreation” series. He assured me that with the series returning this fall, the show would be “opened up” more to reflect Poehler’s comic gifts and move it away from being a spinoff from “The Office.”
