The cast of Parks and Recreation gathered for a panel discussion at PaleyFest 2012 yesterday and made two things clear:
- The fate of Leslie Knope as candidate for City Council will be decided on the May season finale.
- Chris Pratt is an improvisational genius.
First, executive producer Mike Schur said his show actually shot “two endings” – one of Leslie winning the spot and one of her losing – “partly to hedge our bets in case we change our minds and partly to throw snoopers off.”
We’ll find out which the series goes with in a couple months, but will enjoy the return of opponent Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd) prior to that: he’ll be back to debate Leslie on episode 20. Other candidate involved in that debate?
A porn star, an animal rights lover and a gun advocate portrayed Brad Leland (Buddy Garrity, Friday Night Lights).
Now, back to Pratt:
The star said he has no plans to write an episode, but let’s hope he changes his mind because cast members said he’s responsible for some of the best made-up-on-the-spot lines, including one of my favorites of the season upon trying to diagnose an ill Leslie:
I typed your symptoms into the thing up here and it says you could have network connectivity problems.
Other notes from the Q&A:
- No Tammys are scheduled to appear again this season.
- Mike O’Malley (Glee) guest stars on the penultmate episode as the owner of a “crummy van rental place,” teased Schur.
- Schur has no plans to split up Ben and Leslie, saying it’s “silly” when shows think a happy couple equates to boredom.
- Chris will REALLY hit rock bottom later this season.
- If there is a season five – and Schur said he’s “cautiously optimistic” – Pratt told the audience, “you get my wife,” referring to an appearance by Anna Faris.
