Favorite 'Parks and Rec' Memories

What I want to do is not to get a lot of students.

The semester-by-tark laptop is often held in the internet.

So it's a master's choice.

“I'm saying, you can say that you're a hero.”

You're a hero, right? But you don't understand. Egal, it's a very famous job. Do you just do it with this story? And if you then work, you'll be able to do it.

- That's right? - Save. This story is called "Holy Dangle". Now, let's try it out. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hanging.

We are continuing our clip package episodes. And this is the second of three. So we will be back with new episodes and guests in just two weeks.

But this week, we are putting together an amazing episode of all of the people from Parks and Recreation,

who have come into the studio and sat and talked to us. And it is a great list. It is Mike Scherer, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Catherine Han, Paul Rudd, Arbery Plaza, Adam Scott, and please know there are more coming. In fact, a little teaser, we do have Nick Offerman joining us in season two of this podcast.

If there are seasons in podcasts, we are insisting there are. And so you're going to hear from all of these people today. And the reason why we're doing these clip shows is because I... I am finishing up shooting a new show for a peacock called Dig with my buddy Mike Scherer, who, as we all know, created Parks and Rec.

So let's kick off this episode by hearing from Mike Scherer first. This episode of Good Hanging is presented by Subaru. Some cars go the extra mile. The long range Subaru hybrids take that to a whole new level,

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Actual mileage and range may vary. In the very, very beginning, the idea for the spin-off of the office, or was it even an idea for spin-off was what? Well, so Ben Silverman. Ben Silverman was running NBC and they asked he asked Greg to do a spin-off.

And so Greg's response typically thoughtful and considered was, "I would love to do another show." If the best idea that I have for a show is a spin-off, then I will do a spin-off. If the best idea I have is something else, I'll do something else.

Greg is a real one of the main things that he gave me in terms of like, how to do this job is best idea wins. Doesn't matter who it comes from. If it's staff writer or a 25-year veteran co-EP, or a person who works in costumes or whatever,

best idea wins. That's it. And there is no corollary to that. In every situation that you're incredibly best idea wins,

“and so that's what he said basically to Ben.”

And he was like, "It's very important to me that you understand that if the best idea I have is not a spin-off of the office, then we're going to do something else in Ben." I was like, "Totally hear you, buddy." And the next day in the variety was like, "Off is spin-off is coming."

Then just totally ignored him and just announced an office spin-off. Yeah. So Greg and I started meeting, Greg asked me to do with him. So we started meeting, we would go to norms a diner in the valley, like twice a week for a breakfast,

and we would just think of ideas, and we would talk about what interested us, and what was going on, and we would inch down a little path and then hit a dead end, and then an inch back, and we would just met constantly

over showing your work. We met all the time forever. And eventually came up with the idea of like, you know, and by the way, just to say it, some of the ideas we talked about were office spin-offs.

They were like Craig Robinson and Rain Wilson, and all these people on the show who could clearly be in their own show. So we talked about family shows with them,

“or whatever Greg was, I think, wary of taking assets away from a show”

that was very successful in part because of its large rich cast. We stumbled upon this idea of like, okay, dunder, mifflin, on the office is a fake company and it's a way to satirize the private sector. What if we create a whole fake town and satirize the public sector? And as we're having that idea, the world economy goes kablui,

and they're talking about like massive government bailouts, and we start to realize it like the government, obviously federal, really, but also state and local,

Was like going to be very present in people's lives.

And people were going to be like looking to the government for help.

So we started getting excited about that. I had this idea for an abandoned lot that would be turned into a park over the course of the entire run of the show, very wire-e idea of what was obsessed with the wire as real. Yeah, we share that.

And I thought like the way that the wire portrayed like calcified systems and how slow gears grind and stuff was fascinated to me. And I thought it would be really funny. If you did a show that ideally lasts for a long time, and in the pilot it's like we're going to do this,

and that it literally doesn't get done until the very end of like nine years later. So that was the idea that I really like Greg, then was like what if it's not a lot? What if there's like a giant hole in the ground? What if it's a pit?

And I was like that's so much better. And so that idea of all the 73 ideas we had started to like, fizzy, fizzy up.

And it obviously is not as spinoff of the office,

Greg, true to his word. It was like this is what we want to do at some point we called you because we heard you are leaving. And you were like, I'm theoretically interested in this. Let me know.

The show was given the guaranteed 13 episode order, which now is very commonplace at the time was like, the insane. And the office was going to be on after the Super Bowl that year. And this show was going to launch after the office.

Then you call this back and said actually sorry, prego. That's exactly what you said. You said prego. You said prego.

I sent you a telegraph. It's a prego stop. It was off stop. And it was like, well, you're going to give birth like the week. We have to shoot this so no go.

“And then like I remember very clearly two weeks later,”

I went into Greg's office and I was like, you know, there's no like we were working on the show at that point. Pretty. Strangely, and I was just like, I just don't think there's anyone about Polar who can do this.

And he was like, I had the same thought last night. And very quickly, we made a phone call to NBC. And so if we can get any for this, we will give up seven of the 13 guaranteed episodes. Because we'd only be able to make six.

Dang. And give up the Super Bowl slot. Well, you guys were, and I'm so appreciative you did. I mean, the thing was it was actually a very simple decision. Because we were like, you know,

getting any Polar on your show is a long term. Like that's a decision you make for like this. What you hope will be a very long chunk of time. Like this Super Bowl slot is a short term decision. It's like, yeah, you'll get this like,

frisson of energy, but like it doesn't last. Like no one ever, like very rarely does that determine the fate of a TV show. And so we then called you back and said, what if you could start shooting three months after you give birth

and then we made the show? And it proved to be the most satisfying creative experience I've ever had. And I-- More than this podcast.

No, this is my number one. Number two. Yeah, this is, I mean, besides this. Now, one of the ways like very concrete ways that is, I feel like an example of what I'm talking about,

which is like the joy in the details is the way you like to name characters. Yeah.

“And I think you gave me, I think you allowed me to use this”

in my book, actually. But you gave me like a list of possible names instead of Leslie, no, the character I played in a parks wreck. Like you gave me like a bunch of different alternative names. Yeah.

But you also love to name characters left and right. What is it? What is fun about names for you and naming? Okay, so it's two things. The first is growing up first major comedic influence

Money Python. Money Python experts at silly stupid names. Like hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them. You can go look them up in their sketches. But the actual thing that's going on here is different.

So I would go to actors, IMDB pages to see what they had been in when we were casting them in the early days of the show. And you would see like woman number two or like man and crowd or a guy with sandwich. And it really bummed me out.

That person, like audition for this and book this gig and drove all the way across town. And like put on fake clothes and put on makeup and whatever and had to stand in a certain place.

Follow a million instructions.

Say a line or two. And then they yelled cut and then that person drove all the way home. And they got paid like $600 for like a week's worth of work. And they should be, there should be something better than man number two or man and crowd.

And so I decided at that moment. This is early in season one.

“I think of Park's wreck that every character who appeared on the show”

was going to have a first and last name. So when you saw instead of if it says man and crowd, you're like, oh, well, that doesn't really count as an acting gig. But if you see Marvavma, which is a name I gave a character once, you're like, well, the hell is Marvavma?

What was Marvavavna up to?

So I, and it has been,

“that started with that intention and has become”

one of the great, truly one of the great joys of my life.

It's to give every, because here's the other thing. Sorry, you can cut all this out. But the other thing is if you name a character Jack Smith. Yeah. You can get away with it because there are 10 trillion Jack Smiths.

But if you name a character anything even mildly interesting, like Winona Cooper, there's going to be like four Winona Cooper's in the state that you're setting the show in. And then legal comes back and says you can't name a character that. A lot of people don't know that.

You have to get names cleared. And there have to be either none. Or so many that not any one of them could be. Could think that you're saying anything about them. So I go for none.

None. Yeah. I go for the weirdest names. We had a character recently on the show on a man on the inside named. A failure, a pip-a-peppy.

There's no a failure, a pip-a-peppy.

Anywhere in the Continental United States.

So you get to use that name. That has been my goal is to have none. Have the Google search come up empty with every name of every character. Okay, with that in mind, will you please read some of these names it. Sure.

You have invented. Yeah. Like just a few here on the bottom of this page. Okay. Mona Lisa Saperstein.

Yes. Johnny Slate's character. Yes. Do you remember all these things? Yeah.

Trot Franken's type. Okay. Tell us about that. So Trot Franken's type was a local reporter. He had a like almost like a little show like this in Pani, where he would interview political people like leshing.

A great way to come up with a name that doesn't exist is to take a normal name like Todd and then just stick another letter in there somewhere. Trot and then Franken's type is just Franken's time with a pithian. Tyrion Fanzarelli. Tyrion Fanzarelli. Obviously a combination of two characters from TV history.

Tyrion Latterster and Arthur Fanzarelli. This name goes to Matt Murray. Matt Murray did this. Oh, and there. Yeah, panther.

Matt. Tyrion Fanzarelli was right or apart and wreck among other things. Was a guy in a jewelry store who was buying a an engagement ring for his to be betrothed when Anne and Chris Trager were shopping for rings. Great. Lesley nope.

Yep. Gretsky Susan Pellegrino. Okay. This. So.

Gretsky Susan Pellegrino was like the fourth in a series of names. That for some reason. All involved the last name of the greatest hockey player who ever lived Wayne Gretsky. Yep.

“I don't offhand remember who Gretsky Susan Pellegrino is.”

Also, it should be noted. Hifens. Huge part of my naming process. Yeah. So excited.

It's just a way to get another name in there. Another name and also there's no way this is going to have this name.

No one's first name is Gretsky Susan.

Gretsky Hifens Susan. Typhoon Montelbond. Oh, I love Typhoon. Typhoon was with Dawn's hairdresser. Yep.

Typhoon. Also Matt Murray. I believe named. Gave Typhoon the first name Typhoon. We need a last name.

Where do you go for the last name? Ricardo Montelbond. Typhoon Montelbond. Sassandra Sassnor. Okay.

Sassandra Sassnor was. I believe I could have this wrong. Was just Sandra. It was like Sandra snorpe. Okay.

And then the legal is like doesn't didn't clear. We found a sandwich. We found a sandwich. So guess what you do. And then more Ss.

Now you're good. Sassandra Sassnor. Summer. Oli Kraken. Frog.

Okay. This is a money path on rip off straight up. Okay. Oli with an accent. And I guess just that part.

In there's a there's a money path on sketch called. I think election night special. Where they're just going through election results and local elections all over the country. And there's a there's a silly party and a sensible party. So all the people in the sensible party have names like John Smith and all the people in the silly party have very crazy names.

And there's also a very silly party and a slightly silly party. It's if you want names go watch that sketch. It'll it'll it'll it'll it'll say to you. Summer Ola Kraken Frog Frog. That's a good one.

Frog Frog is a great last name. Yeah. Okay.

“So do you think some of your best acting was in parks and rack when you had to pretend that you didn't know Jenny wine was?”

You know it's it's still one of my biggest complaints. I remember we did the table read for that. And I was like no no no no one's going to buy it because I don't buy it. Okay. Pick anybody else on this cast to try to play that in an honest way.

It is so unfair that you're making me do this. It really yeah it still hurts because how how how familiar are you with Jenny wine. We were married. I mean you know I live in 90s R&B.

That's where my heart is.

It's not here. I mean it is with you. But for the most point it's part it's not present. It's in 90s R&B. So he's a very important figure.

Yeah. I feel like we've had some hard ass laughs. And I was trying to think the other day. Like places that we've laughed. Did you deep laughs?

And it really does add years to my life. I know that. And I wonder if you could tell the story about when we were on parks. And it was because we talked about it. I've talked about it before.

When we were on parks and it was the first season.

It was the hunting episode. And just kind of set up. We were shooting that whole week way far away somewhere in California. You know I don't even remember where. And we had to do a scene with Nick off from it.

“And that I think about it sometimes the way that laugh came.”

It was like, it was a gigal or a gigal orgasm city. But but don't worry we'll cut that. But. But what do you remember about it? What do you remember about it?

What do you like? Well I remember we were he maybe ate something weird. And we were trying to give him Ipaca. So Nick offering playing Ron Swanson ate something. Yeah.

I don't remember actually what happened in the show. I was like determined as a nurse. I was like, you have to throw up. You're like, you can't. Right.

You're going to get sick. And he's like, I'm fine. Right. And we were trying to get this like liquid in his mouth. And you know, it's Hollywood.

So things that happen like on camera don't actually happen in real life. So it was written that we like hold him down. And he's resisting us and we give him this this thing. But. Like you don't know.

You don't know how small you are because I think both of us like I'm always like,

I'm like a tall person, right? Like I asked people. Yeah. I feel like a tall person. Yeah.

And I'm not. And I'm not. And I'm not. I'm fine too. And and Nick is solid.

Yeah. It's a solid dude. Yeah. He's like a Midwestern corn fed dude. Dense and like a muscular and he.

We were trying to hold him down. And he was whipping us around with such ease. Like we couldn't. We actually the both of us could not hold him down. And he was like literally just go.

We just fly off the bed in each direction. We could not stop. One of us. What we each had one arm. Yeah.

And he would. It felt like just the flick of the wrist. Because he was. He was very tall. He was being gentle.

Yeah. He wasn't. He wasn't fighting for his life. Yeah. No.

And we could not get him to stay down. Could not. And I remember that feeling.

“Also, I think there's something fun about wrestling.”

Like there is. It's so good. It's so good. And being thrown around is so fun. Yes.

And he was throwing us around. And I feel like I just like if I was to picture it in my mind, you were just like, "Whoa!" Like I could just see going past me in your hair going. Why?

And then your legs going. And me. And I just remember like, "Where's he now?"

I never see you flying by.

Which can't be true. But I feel like we were tumbling all over the floor. Like every time we got back on the bed, we were like, and we were kind of like in each. We were both trying to be like on top of him.

And then like just flipping over really quickly. And I think see because Nick is such a lovely gentle guy in general. We knew there was something about us at new. We weren't going to get hurt. It was safe.

But he was making like grunting. Yeah, sounds. It was really, really, really fun. That was a really, I mean, I'm trying to think like, there's so many good crack up moments.

Crack up moments. I'm 100 years old. What a crack up. But I'm just like, I was like that spot in Andy.

“And April's house remember where we could never go to see him done.”

Just that one that losing their spot. Yeah. It was haunted. Yeah. And then I remember there was one time you were like,

"Well, she got, because I could not get through it." But I really, it felt like haunted. It did not feel like it was my fault. Yeah. I'm sorry.

I said that. There was, I know. A couple of things I was seeing. Blueprints for the show and it'd be like Amy. No, but those days were so long.

They were. They were long. And it was fun until it wasn't. You're like, "Oh, my God. It's that beer we just want to go."

I know. And there was a scene for people that care. There was, there was a spot in that set where anyone who stood there couldn't get their lines. And then of course it became self-fulfilling prophecy in many ways. Yeah.

But there was just a lot of deep laughs. And deep, and deep laughs off camera. Like one of the things, one of the things I treasure. And there's so many things I treasure about my friendship with you. Was that we would be talking like this and maybe just talking and talking and just like talking about our day and talking about life.

Then they would just go action.

And then we would just talk like this. And we'd do our scene and be like, we kind of, I'll speak for myself. Kind of knew it, kind of didn't. And then they'd then they'd cut, they'd work on it. And we would just go back to talk like it was like a dream job.

We filmed in between our conversations.

“And also I think I remember very clearly in the pilot because we had already been friends for years when we shot the pilot.”

And they were doing one of those spy shots and we were in your office and we were talking. And it was like, you know, other people were like, oh, this is great. Like this is a thing that really works. Their friendship were really going to be able to sell it. And we're like, duh, duh, no kidding.

I mean, I mean, they really did base the entire show at the end of the day on the fact that Leslie and Anne were, you know, each other's number one. Yeah, yeah, not hard to do. No.

And what I mean, we've talked about this before, but when we first started the show, I think it was like, it was kind of like, we were trying to figure out who was going to play what part.

And who was going to come on board. And kind of like the beginnings of that show were. I'll say a little clunky crunchy crunchy. Can we talk about it? Yeah, I would love to.

Oh my god. Yeah, it was because I think for I don't think a lot of people know this for the beginning. I think we both were worried that we had taken each other's part. Like, yes. So I had been on hold for this untitled thing that was going to that Greg and Mike were going to write.

Right. And I had done a year on the office and they let me go, which made sense. It made sense. I was like, you had such a tough job there because everybody wanted Jim and Pam. And then guess who shows up a very likable, cool.

And everyone was like, oh, no way. That's right. It did not feel that way. People did not like me. Like fans were not about it.

But they had to create attention to the leadership to be earned later.

So I was the third point in the triangle as fine.

I like accepted. But anyway, so Mike was like, we're working on this other show. I'll put you on hold. We don't know what it is yet.

“Remember, people thought it was like a spin-off of the office for a second.”

But anyway, so they kept like kind of deciding like changing the carrot, the main character of the show. When they pitched it to me, the boss was a guy. And they didn't know if they were going to cast me or not. But I remember you were extremely pregnant. Yeah.

We just gotten back from Italy. You and I were in Italy. Yeah. That's right. And it was very hot.

That's right. You were like, let's go to lunch. And you talked about it. Do you remember where we went? Pasties.

Yes. I do. I do. Oh, God.

And I said, let's talk about something.

Yeah. And you said, yeah. No, no, no. And I was like, I want you to raise this baby with me. It's yours.

This baby has to accept it. But you know, I actually hold this moment as like a gold standard of friendship and being able to take care of yourself and the person that you love at the same time. I really do, Polos, because it was what you did and how you did it was very hard. Because you took me to lunch and said, I'm so sorry, but they offered me the part.

Both of us thinking it was the same part. I was on hold for it. Look at being created by a friend of ours. And so I immediately started. Fantastic.

And you held my hand. And you were so warm. And you were so. There was something about it where you were like, I know, I'm sorry, buddy. But you also, you didn't like do the thing that I sometimes do where I'm codependent, where I'm like,

I know, I suck. I'm the worst person. I don't even deserve it. Like whatever I would say to try to make the other person feel better, which doesn't work. You didn't do that.

You like held your space. And you also comforted me at the same time, which was like a very beautiful thing. I wonder what shares version of this is. Let me tell you. Okay.

I'm a message. Almost immediately because I'm not shy. I was and I was like, oh, I'm such an idiot for thinking I could even be on the show. Like anybody wants me on the show. Of course I didn't get this like Amy is like a, you know, my god.

What I mean part of yourself. It's very mean. It's very mean. That's a, that's a person we're trying to. To not invite to the dinner party anymore.

But so I called and I was like, hey, would love to talk to you. He was on a plane. And he landed and he was like, uh,

“I was like, you want to, you want to tell me what's going on?”

Because it would have been really nice for you to tell me and not Amy to tell me that I wasn't getting this job. And you're like, no, no, no, back up. We changed the boss. It's a woman. And Amy is playing the boss.

I was like, you. Oh my god. Like, we might be working together. Yes. It kind of went from, oh no, to.

Oh my god. We might be the two women on the show. Yes. And I still wasn't cast because I still had to do a bunch of chemistry readings after that. But, but that became, you know, this huge possibility of like my life being the best.

From the worst of the best.

God, I'm sweating, even thinking about that. I wasn't, they had, they just hadn't decided things. Yeah. And they, they were trying to build around you. I think is what happened around that character.

So I think they'd just done that. And I think you wanted to tell me as soon as possible because we were so close. Yeah. Which was the right instinct. And Mike decided to get on a plane.

Which was his instinct. And he'd just flew for hours. He just went to do it.

And he never got on a plane.

And that's what execs do. That's what a powerful person does. Is they get on a plane? Just get on with many planes of possible. My phone was off.

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AppleCard issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch, are from a not be available elsewhere. Terms and limitations apply. Your little ZZ is all grown up. I know, my ZZ is just an old man now.

I know. If you watch, whatever I see old parks things, I was like, I didn't know that me and Aubrey did a show. And we're a little kids. Like, it's really...

How old were you when you started on the show? I was 13. And then when we finish, I just turned 18. I got my driver's license. Like, the middle of the road.

A lot of people don't know that you're 18. When you're saying Tom, I'm happy for it. I'm parts of the road. Yeah. It is true, though.

It is you. You look like a baby. You were a baby. I didn't know anything. Yeah.

The first season. I didn't know how to act or anything. I should not have been on television. NBC should be like, we got to get. Is there any, any guy that's done more acting?

A lot of people don't know.

You were the first person hired for parks.

Yeah. I met with them.

“What was that meeting like, do you remember that?”

Well, it was so mysterious what they're up to. Yeah. I met with them and I told them, I don't know what you're doing. But whatever it is, that would be a dream job. And you know, this was like, when the office was on and Mike and Greg were both involved

in that and that was, you know, my favorite show like that on. Yeah. And so I told them whatever you're up to. Let me know. And then of course, you know, when it all came together with you and Rashida and everything.

Well, I'm kind of learning. Okay, I was talking to Plaza when Plaza was here. She was talking about like her meeting with them too. Yeah. Very famous stories.

Yeah. I know it is kind of funny. I kind of forgot the Avengers assemble feeling of those guys going out and getting people and bringing them in and talking about like, we're going to do something very cool. I mean, it didn't even feel like there was a ton of auditioning.

It was more just them picking people that they thought was funny. Not only funny and I feel like all of us, whenever we see each other, do interviews kind of say this kind of stuff at nausea, but it's so true. But also just the best people I've ever met in my life. Yeah.

Like really I cannot believe it because we've all done other stuff and, you know, not everybody's, you know, look, we've all done all this stuff. I don't talk about everything the way I talk about parts. You know, you do something. Some people will tell you different areas.

You know, you're not necessarily being a bad guy, but there's something like we all just clicked and there was a vibe that worked with all of us. And and and just to pay respect to you and Mike, you know, when I did master none with Alan and as I've become a director, I, you know, what I learned from you and Mike in terms of how to lead. I mean, I can't thank you enough. It was the best role model I could ever had.

Sees. Let me see if you can guess how many times how many episodes of parks you did. Do you, do you, would you know to guess? I would say. Between seven and 13.

10. 10. Okay. It's kind of right between. That's what it's saying.

But it was such a huge impact on my life. Like, it's still the thing I get most recognized for. Really? Yes.

I just remember, well, first of all, you were the most incredible number one I'll call she because you had dance parties at lunch every day.

And anybody that walked on that like set just was filled with such confidence and such joy, which is I had the greatest time on that show. I have such. I don't have the greatest. We kind of fell in love.

“That is that's really a pattern where we, I think, actually met my first kind of like real memory is in the trailer of Parks and Rec.”

And we used to Catherine is talking about dance parties and we used to do a thing where just like after lunch we wouldn't play three songs.

The great autumn butler or makeup artist had great taste in music.

And we would just kind of dance around for two or three songs.

Yeah. The best.

“I think for me, a way to honestly just keep my energy up.”

Yeah. But it became a way to meet people in the trailer. And I remember two things I love about you right away. I love how much you love to laugh. People that know you know that.

Thank you. You don't know. If someone's gonna break and a scene. It's this professional over here. You don't know.

I don't do break. I have to be really serious in my mind. Like if I have because if it starts to happen, it is tears. Yeah. And Lucas.

But you, I have seen you in bloopers. And you're hanging in. Yeah. I do hang in. You hang in.

I do. Yeah.

Go in harder. I think when people are going to have to.

I know it's a survival technique. I just have to dig in a little bit. I do. I go harder. I feel like every time I've done a scene with you, you are so good in improvising.

In fact, a lot of your character in person,

“like Jen Barkley's moments were improvised.”

Were they really? Well, one of the favorites. One of one of TikTok and memes and gifts. And Jen. His punch. So let's talk about her. I'm very serious.

I've never seen that. What is it? What tell us what that scene was? Well, I went to Ben and Leslie's house. I'm speaking to Jen Barkley. My character.

I'm first person. Well, for people that I'm watching, she just transformed her. I just transformed her. I just transformed her. I just transformed her.

I just transformed her. She's completely different. A lot more hairspray. I went to their house. They have children.

I am not into children at all. I wore a plastic poncho. So that I wouldn't get any sticky fingers or crap all over me. And at some point, the kids rush by with pain. Nail me with the pain.

And it's some take. Just to make you guys laugh. I don't even did that. Any idea was going to be any. I just swung my arm.

So when I went, poncho. Poncho. And that really has to be cut. It's like Batman's cape. I mean, that was the best.

Like I'm just wanting to make you guys laugh. And just having. So the energy is so loose. So I like. It's when you say they're improvising.

Again, I can do it if I know who I am. And like the given circumstances. And like that, I feel like. I feel really free in that department. But just.

Well, you know how like we we were on set a lot. And I would watch you work. And I would say the same thing about Adam. And I wonder too if it's because of your both of your training. But I would watch the way you two worked.

And you would have a moment where we would say really, really loose. And put just right before the scene. And I can think of a couple scenes with the great scene. Where Jen Barkley is telling Leslie.

“No, basically, you know, you have to start.”

Oh, you have to start thinking bigger. Which is a huge moment in the show. I love the writing. Oh, my god. That's in.

Like sure. And the writer's like, I just love how they slowly took care of Leslie. And they sent people in to give her these messages. And Jen Barkley is this is like Jen X. Yes.

Ballbuster. Yes. Who. Who kind of sees something that Leslie doesn't. Anyway, in that moment when you're giving that speech,

I remember very clearly right before the scene. You just took a moment. And I think we joked about it later. Because I was like, it was like watching. It was watching a real act.

You were on Parks and Rec. You only did five episodes. Do you know that? I don't know. But you played a character that stood the test of time.

I mean, I mean, if only if only we had Bobby Newport. Just a guy who wants to be liked. Yeah. And you. I mean, Bobby at the time.

It means well. Just doesn't quite grasp any of it. He wants to go to the after party. Yeah. Bobby Newport played by you.

Was the like the rich son of the. Sweetams family. The family, the new ports that owned the big factory. And the fictional town of Pani. That Parks and Rec took place.

And Bobby Newport ran against Leslie.

And it was like, what Bobby had that Leslie could never get.

Was that. G was like, I can't believe I fell into this. Like, I just want to have a good time. You guys. Yeah.

I think that's even a line. That as how Bobby feels about abortion. Oh, you're right. What do you say? I'm sorry.

This is my thoughts on a abortion or just like. Everybody has to have a good time. Just don't everybody have a good time. I mean, come on, guys. What?

And Bobby kept getting flustered by Leslie wanting it. Because he wants it. Like, there's that great scene where he's like, can you just drop out of the race?

Because I want it.

Yeah. Yeah. So I want it. I want it. Come on.

Please, you could do it. Just do it. Come on.

And people are like, I don't know.

I love the guy. He's great. And he doesn't seem to want it. Yeah. And he doesn't know anything.

But I need to do it. I need to do it. That's, you know? You're. Lastly, no, it's capable.

And great for that job. Bobby Newport is not.

“No, and Bobby was, I think, was thinking, like, maybe I'll just get it.”

And then Leslie, you can do it. Yeah. How about that? That's a good compromise. What?

What are your memories of doing that character? Such a funny character. You're so great. Thank you, Amy. My memories of that were I can't believe I get to work with my favorite people in the world.

You and Adam and Catherine Rashida. And like, it was like, this is the dream. I mean, this is the dream.

I mean, this is the, you know, I remember when you were talking to Tina on the very first episode

you did where you were saying you feel like the, how the, the great thing that can happen if you were able to sustain enough of a career that you can get to a point where you work with your friends or people you really like. Because it's not work. It's just, it's, it's just the best.

And I mean, it was such a fun character obviously in the show. It's so great and you're so great in it. It was, it was just, it was a dream. Yeah. You know, and I was, I loved it.

I loved every second of it. I loved hanging out with all you guys. It was so fun. It really fun.

“It was, and that, and it was, those scenes were so funny.”

Like, he got, you got to do the stupidest talk about fun stupid. Yeah. Well, there's nothing, there's nothing funnier to me than unearned confidence. Yeah. Like, just, just somebody feels like they, you know what I've got it figured out.

And it's like, no, you don't. Yeah. But if it's, and if it's, if it's like nice unearned. Like, if it's fun is really funny if it's not nice unearned confidence. But that was the thing of like, he had a lot of kind of unearned confidence.

But he had, he was just dumb. Yeah. He wanted to have a good time. But he's, he, he was sweet. He was sweet.

And that, and that was, that was a, that was a fun, that was kind of, that's a fun thing to get to play. Yeah. That's a kind of character to get to play. What do you, would we describe him as like,

"Guiless, is that the word?" Yeah. I think that's a good way to do it. Yeah. Yeah.

I know that word. Yeah. Of course you do. I can great word. I can great word.

God damn. We meet on the set of Parks and Rec. And for people that don't know, like, you had a crazy week when you had hired. You've got like three jobs that same week. What happened that week?

You were hired on Parks.

So I, basically, I was like trying to get a,

like, part in funny people. A John Appetall movie with Seth Rogan and Adam Sandler. And I went through kind of this whole vetting process in New York. And then enough where Allison Jones, who cast that movie and Parks and Rec, was called me and was like, all right, like, you made it to the chemistry read stage.

So we have to come out to LA and read with Seth and see if you get the part, basically. And so, but I didn't really have an agent or anything. And I kind of had to like pay my way, you know, to go out there. So it was like a little bit janky, but I got myself out there to do that.

And then while I was out in LA for that week to do the funny people thing.

“Allison was like, how would I send you on some other things?”

Like, how do you feel about that? And so, yes, so one of them was, she wanted me to go meet Mike Sharon Greg Daniels, who at the time were shooting on the office. And they were shooting, they were on the set of the office. So she sent me to the set of the office.

And I, and I didn't even, I guess at that time I didn't realize like, I didn't think like, oh, I could these meetings. Yeah. We'll get me a job. I don't think it's one of the things about being young that's kind of nice is you're not really aware what you're actually.

Like, what's at stake? No. That's definitely not that. I mean, if it was an audition, obviously, I know like, I mean, get the part or not. But like, general meetings, I didn't really get the vibe of that.

How old were you then? I was 24, 23, 23, maybe? Um, but so then I went to the set of the office and I was so star struck. I see in my poor side, B. J. No. Yeah.

And Mindy Canning walk by and I was like, oh, my God. I was like, they're in the show. Or whatever. And Mike, sure, is like, hello. And he's like at his desk, like,

I'm like, what?

And then I just met him for like, he describes it. He really embellishes the story. I think he loves his story. He loves it. He's like, and then I met the weirdest person later.

I'm like, there's no big a fan of Bobby Plaza that Mike sure. Yeah, right. Um, he loves it though.

“Because I think like, I mean, it just speaks to,”

honestly, the fact that you've always been yourself,

you're yourself, confidently yourself. And you don't have a vibe of like, you know, you're the opposite of a pick me as the kids would say. Like, you do not have that vibe. And that draws people in.

And I think he was like, who is this person? Yeah. Who seems mad at me? Yeah. Try to give her a job.

Yeah. Literally. And why are you wearing jean shorts? Can a general meeting? Like, ripped jean shorts?

And you were like, I didn't know what this was. No. And then I got a phone call. So we were like, you're on a TV show. I'm like, what?

No. But then which one? I know. You're like the office? Yeah.

I literally probably said that I didn't know what was going on. And then they were like, um, actually you got the part,

“but actually you have to audition to play yourself.”

You don't have to name names, but I wonder who else was up to play you. I don't think that anyone. Oh, right. I just think one person. I think they just made me do it like for the network.

Yeah. I found out later. I mean, maybe not. I don't know. It's probably like, you know.

Yeah. It was you Sharon Stone and Gina Grishon. Yeah. So you get the part. We're on the set.

And then like, I mean, we could do a whole obviously. We could do a whole episode about our experiences there. And there are so, like, I mean, I don't the best thing about our relationship. I feel like is, I don't, like, all, like, a lot of,

I think long lasting relationships.

You don't always, like, remember how you met.

Like, I just remember, like, just, I just have this vision of you being next to me on the set of that show. And me being like, welcome, like, you know, Leslie was supposed to be like, welcoming. Mm-hmm.

April.

“And April was supposed to be like, what am I doing here?”

And Amy was welcoming, Aubrey. Yeah, Aubrey was like, what am I doing here? Truly, yeah. I mean, I remember when we first met. And I think I told you this story.

It was, um, the promos that we shot. That's right. And, right. Which was weird because we hadn't shot the show yet. Right.

And the rest of the cast hadn't even been cast yet. I think at that point it was just, like, Aziz, me, you, Yeah. Maybe, you know, Rashida. Yeah, I don't think you had Nick Yatter.

I don't think so. But they had me, and I was there, like, physically there. So they shot this promo of us on a swing set. Mm-hmm.

And that's when I met you, like, officially for the first time.

Yeah. And I think I was literally on a swing, like, a child. Like, and I was like, now I was like, just don't make any sudden movements. Um, and then swinging. Except swinging.

And then you, which is kind of good because swinging is really good, somatically. Yeah. For me, like, I liked. Um, but then, yeah, you came over.

And we were both just swinging, like, little babies. Yeah. That's how we met on a swing. We met on a playground, which was kind of nice. Really nice.

And it feels like the show was that, like, it was. It felt like a true, like, play ground space. It really was. Yeah. I mean, I loved and love working with you.

I love playing with you. I love acting with you. I love you as an actor. I love as a person. I love your acting plazzy.

You know, how good I think you are. I love playing with you. And I feel like, our dynamic will, like, the arc of of, um, in many ways, like, April had the biggest growth in the show. She goes from.

Truly not wanting to be where she is to, like, you know, ending the show, like, with some kind of. Purpose and love in her life and, like, some also, like, a. She kind of stands up for what she doesn't want to do, which is a big part of your 20s.

But, um, when you started that character, when you started her, did you have any idea where you thought it would go? And did you have any. You know, did you, did you, did you? No, yeah.

No, I just. No, I think I just once I realized, like, oh, what's so fun about this character is that, like, it's a game of not showing anyone that I really care. Yes.

Once I've locked into that, it was real, like, it felt like there was. No limit to, like, the growth or, like, what could happen, because if you hint that there's something else going on, it's like, you can kind of play with that,

and also in different ways with every different character. So I felt like maybe on an unconscious level, but I felt like, oh, there's so much to play with,

Even though it feels really subtle and simple.

Yeah, that was her secret as she cared, but she pretended she didn't.

And so it would pop out, it was so satisfying. Yeah, it was so funny and good. And the ways in which she tried to keep those things hidden were so funny. Yeah.

“And then I think just the Andy April thing was such an organic,”

like I had no idea that was going to become a thing until that one episode. So let's talk about that. So Andy played by Chris Pratt. And you April and Andy had an episode where a bunch of us were off, like, doing the, like, a harvest.

We're at the harvest festival. We're at some festival. Where are you guys? We were doing something together. Yeah.

Or you were, like, camping or something. Oh, yeah. We're like the cabin. Yeah. And so they put you guys in the office and just said,

like, let's see what happens to these two characters when they hang out. Yeah. And basically, the chemistry that those characters had was the building block or why they eventually became like the real romantic love story of the show, other than Leslie and Ian.

Yeah. Cause Anne doesn't deserve. Don't talk about it. Sorry. But what do you remember of that day?

I have a, well, Greg Daniels directed the episode, which I will always remember

because he was so delighted. Like he had such a, like, little kid energy. And he was so, he just was, like, very willing to, like, let's just try things. And we had a whole day where we were just playing it. It was, like, kind of like what you said, like, the office, like the bullroom or bullpen.

Yeah. The bullpen. Yeah. The bullpen. The bullpen, like, became a playground.

Yeah. And I, I just remember, I have an image of, like, us sitting under the table. We were, like, under that main table for a while. Like, I don't even know what we were doing down there. But we were on it there.

Yeah. And I just remember, I don't know. It just felt, it was so fun.

“It just felt like, I remember before then there was, I think it was, like, the finale of the”

Maybe the first season. I don't remember what season. But there was a very subtle moment where we're all in a group. We're in a circle.

And Andy's, like, saying something about his band or he's, like, something about, like,

I think, like, this band name is cooler, whatever. And everyone else is like, no. And April's, and I was just like, I like it. And it was, like, an improvised thing. But do you remember that?

Where I remember being, like, and then I remember, like, knocking on mic sure's, like, door and being, like, listen. I was like, April loves Andy. And April thinks Andy's cool. Because he's so not cool that he's cool.

Do you understand? And Mike was like, get out of here. And I was like, you thought I was like, you better listen to me. Um, well, you did, you're not gonna do it. It was like, I mean, yeah, it was more, like, just like, little conversation.

But it was like, it was like a layer to that character because you become his advocate. Like, and that's the part of April that, like, is, like, another interesting layer is, like, again, she acts like nothing matters and she's, you know, completely disaffected. But she's actually very fiercely loyal. Yeah.

And very, um, and, like, sticks out for people she believes in, which I think is a character character trait of you too, Plasi. Like, you're very, you're a very loyal friend. Yeah. You're a really, really protective friend.

Um, and you really stick up for people who you love. And that side of it was so great. Because then we got to see her, like, manage him, care about the band, see potential for him. He didn't see in himself.

Mm-hmm. And he was just like, I can't believe how lucky I am. And I remember when the writers had, you guys get married. We were all like, what? Like, I know.

That was insane.

“That was, do you, what, do you remember of that day, shooting it?”

We, there was a lot of crying. You cried. I mean, I remember wedding. You cried. I remember you like cried in the kitchen.

And then you were like crying, like, off camera. And I was like, stop. I cried that much. Yes, you did. You like literally cried all day.

I was so weird. I was so happy you were in love. You were like crying all day. I was like, I was like, I was like, I'm crying all day. I was like, we're not even at the camera.

I was like, we're in my trailer. Like, why are you doing this? And you were like, how do you feel? I'm like, oh my God. No way.

I'm ordering a salad for lunch. Like, this is my job. I was crying because you were crying so hard. And I was worried that we weren't going to get the shot. I was crying because I was sad.

And how much are you crying? I don't think so. I think that you thought it was real. Yes. I, I've assumed it was legally binding.

Yes. But it was so good. It was, and the, and the vows were so funny. Yeah. And the wedding was so stupid.

It was so funny. Okay. I mean, I guess like, when do you watch, have you rewatched Parks and Rec? Nope. What?

I'm finding this out. Okay. I wouldn't even know how. Shut up.

Okay.

Okay. You asked me how. You've never, what?

“The big giant screen that you watch your movies on.”

How does it work? Oh, blueberries days. I wouldn't go to go to go to go to what? Type in where the search house. Someone tell me.

Peacock. No. Yes. Yes. Go there.

Or go to iTunes. I wish I knew how. With just pick up your controller and just watch one. Which one? Right into it.

In and it'll come up. Okay. It's probably not the right one. Go to your DVDs. You love your DVD.

I wish I had one right now.

But see, you've never re-watched it?

No. I don't know what's wrong with you guys. If it comes off, and I would tell room. I literally throw something. I throw it.

Adam. I literally break this. Adam says the, watching the show makes him sad. Nick has told me he is not re-watched it. Lire.

He jerks off to it every night. You know he sits there and like touches himself. He's so right. He's got it on right now. He's got it on right now.