Favorite 'Parks and Rec' Memories on Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Hello everyone. Welcome to another

episode of Good Hang. 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 uh 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 Sher, Rashidita Jones, Aziz

Ansari, Katherine Han, Paul Rudd, Aubrey

Plaza, Adam Scott, and please know there

are more coming. In fact, a little

teaser, we do have Nick Offererman

joining us in season two of this

podcast. If there are seasons and

podcasts, we are insisting there are.

And so, um, you're going to hear from

all of these people today. And the

reason why we're doing these um these

clip shows is because I am finishing up

shooting a new show for Peacock called

Dig with my buddy Mike Sher who uh as we

all know um created Parks and Rex. So

let's kick off this episode by hearing

from Mike Sher first.

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>> All I ever wanted was a really good

>> 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 Bencame Parks and Ben Silverman

was running NBC and they asked he asked

Greg to like 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 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-y

year veteran co-P or a person who works

in costumes or whatever, best idea wins.

That's it. No. And there is no uh

correlary to that. In every situation

that you're in creatively, 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, uh, then we're

going to do something else." And Ben was

like, "Totally hear you, buddy." And the

next day in the variety, he was like,

"Office spin-off is coming." Then just

totally ignored him and just announced

an office spin-off.

>> Sure.

>> So, uh, so Greg and I started meeting.

Greg asked me to do it with him. So, we

started meeting. We would go to Norm's

Diner in the Valley

>> uh like twice a week for 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 inch back and we would um we

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 and by the way, just to say it, some

of the ideas we talked about were office

spin-offs. There were like Craig

Robinson and Rain Wilson and all these

people on the show who could clearly be

on 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 saterize the private

sector. What if we create a whole fake

town and sadderize the public sector?

And as we're having that idea, the world

economy goes kabooy and they're talking

about like massive government bailouts

and we start to realize that like the

government, obviously federal really,

but also state and local was like going

to be very present in people's lives.

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 wirey idea. I was obsessed

with the wire as were you.

>> Yeah, we're we share that. We um

>> um and I thought like the the way that

The Wire portrayed like calcified

systems and how slow gears grind and

stuff was fascinating to me and I

thought it would be really funny where

in the p if it 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 then it literally doesn't get done

till the very end of like 9 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

a spin-off of The Office. And

>> Greg, true to his word, was like, "This

is what we want to do." At some point,

we called you because we heard you were

leaving. And you were like, "I'm

theoretically interested in this. Let me

know." The show was given a guaranteed

13 episode order, which now is very

common place at the time was like

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 called us back and said,

"Actually, sorry, PGO." That's exactly

what you said. You saidgo, I I sent you

a telegraph.

>> Stop.

>> Shows 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 had we were

working on the show at that point pretty

strenuously and I was just like I just

don't think there's anyone but 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 said if

we can get Amy for this we will give up

seven of the 13 guaranteed episodes cuz

we'd only be able to make six.

>> Dang.

>> And give up the Super Bowl slot. Boy,

you guys were I'm so appreciative you

did that.

>> I mean, it the thing was it was actually

a very simple decision because we were

like, you know, getting Amy Polar on

your show is a long-term decision. Like

that's a decision you make for like this

what you hope will be a very long chunk

of time. Like the Super Bowl slot is a

short-term decision. It's like yeah,

you'll get this like fisson of 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 like

>> more than this podcast.

>> No, this is my number one.

>> Number two, it's number two.

>> Yeah. This is I mean besides this now

one of the ways like very concrete ways

to 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 um 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 Nope,

the character I played on Parks Rec.

Like you gave me like bunch of different

alternative names,

>> 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, Monty Python. MontiPython

experts at silly stupid names like

hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of

them. You can go look them up and their

sketches.

>> But the actual 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 in the

early days of the show and you would see

like woman number two or like man in

crowd or guy with sandwich. And it

really bummed me out. That person like

auditioned for this and booked 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. Yeah.

>> And so I decided at that moment, this is

early in season one I think of Parks

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 it doesn't

really count as an acting gig." But if

you see Marv Vavma, which is a name I

gave a character once, you're like, who

the hell is Marv Vavma? What was Marva

up to? So I and it has been that was it

started with that intention and has

become one of the great truly one of the

great joys of my life is 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 um Jack Smith

>> 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 Coopers in

the state that you're setting the show

in and then the legal comes back and

says you can't name your character that.

>> A lot of people don't know that you have

to get names cleared

>> be 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. Uh we

had a character recently on the show on

a man on the inside named Aphilio

Pepipe. There's no Ailia Pipa Pepes

anywhere in the continental United

States. So, you get to use that name.

That has been my goal is to have none

have 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 that you have

invented?

>> Yeah.

>> Like just a few here on the bottom of

this page.

>> Okay.

>> Uh Mona Lisa Sapperstein. Yes.

>> Jenny Slate's character.

>> Yes.

>> Uh

>> do you remember all these? Amazing.

>> Trod Frankenstein.

>> Okay, tell us about

>> Trod. So Trod Frankenstein was a local

reporter or he had a like almost like a

little show like this in Pawane where he

would interview political people like

Leslie Nope.

>> A 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. Trod

and then Frankenstein is just

Frankenstein with a P at the end. Uh

Tyrion Fonzerelli. Tyrion Fonzerelli.

Obviously a combination of two

characters from TV history. Tyrion

Lannister and Arthur Fonerelli. This

name goes to Matt Murray. Matt Murray

did this.

>> Ah, Panther.

>> Yeah, Panther. Matt Tyrion Fonerelli was

right around Parks and Wreck among other

things.

>> Was a guy in a jewelry store who was

buying a um an engagement ring for his

to be betrothed when an and Chris Trager

were shopping for rings.

>> Great. Uh Leslie, nope. We know who that

is. Gretzky Susan Pellegrino. Okay, this

so

>> Gretzky Susan Pelgrino was like the

fourth in a series of names that that

for some reason all involve the last

name of the greatest hockey player who

ever lived, Wayne Gretzky. I don't

offhand remember who Gretzky Susan

Pellegrino is. Also, it should be noted

hyphens huge part of my naming process.

>> Yeah. So exciting.

>> It's a way to get another name in there.

>> Another name. And also, there's no way

that someone's going to have this name.

>> No one's first name is Gretzky Susan.

Gretzky hyphen Susan.

>> Typhoon Montelbond.

>> Oh, I love Typhoon.

>> Typhoon was uh was Don's hairdresser.

>> Yep.

>> Uh Ty Typhoon also Matt Murray, I

believe, named gave Typhoon the first

name Typhoon. We needed a last name.

Where do you go for the last name?

Ricardo Monttobon. Typhoon. Monttobond.

Cassandra Sassnanorp. Okay. Cassandra

Sassnorp was I believe I could have this

wrong. was just Sandra. It was like

Sandra Snorp.

>> Okay.

>> And then the legal was like doesn't

didn't clear. We found a Sandra Snorp.

So guess what you do? You add five more

S's. Now you're good.

>> Sandra

>> Sandra Sassnorp.

>> Summer Ole Kraken Frogfrong. Okay. This

is a MontiPython ripoff straight up.

>> Okay.

>> Um Olay O E with an accent. And uh and I

guess just that part in there's a

there's a MontiPython sketch called I

think election night special where

they're just going through election

election results and local elections all

over the country. And there's a there's

a 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 uh it'll it'll sate

you. Summer, Olay, Krak, and Frog Frog.

That's a good one. Frog Frog is a great

last one.

>> Yeah.

>> Okay. So, do you think some of your best

acting was in Parks and Wreck when you

had to pretend that you didn't know who

Genuine 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 one's gonna buy it because I

don't buy it." Okay, pick anybody else

on this cast to 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 genuine? You were married.

>> Um 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 and for the

most part, 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 have had some hard

ass laughs. And I was trying to think

the other day like places that we've

laughed a deep laughs and it's it really

does add years to my life. I know that.

And I I wonder if you could tell the

story about um when we were on um Parks

and it was because we talked about it,

we've talked about it before. when we

were in parks and it was the first

season. It was the hunting episode

>> and just kind of set up uh 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

Offerman and that I think about it

sometimes the way that laugh came. It

was like it was giggle giggle orgasm

city. But um but but uh don't worry,

we'll cut that. But

but um what do you remember about it?

What do you want?

>> Well, I remember we were he maybe ate

something weird and we were trying to

give him Ipac.

>> So Nick Offererman playing Ron Swanson

ate something. Yeah. I don't remember

actually what happened in the show.

>> I was like determined as a nurse that I

was like you have to throw up. Like you

can't right you're gonna get sick. And

he's like I'm fine, right? And I we were

trying to get this like liquid in his

mouth and you know it's Hollywood so um

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 cuz I think both of us

like I'm always like I'm like a tall

person right? Like I ask people if if I

feel tall, but I'm not.

>> And I'm not. And I'm And I'm

>> How tall are you?

>> 53 and a half.

>> Yeah. Yeah. I'm 5'2.

>> And And And Nick is solid.

>> Yeah.

>> He's a solid dude.

>> Yeah. He's like a Midwestern cornfed

dude.

>> Dense and like and 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 beep and we would

just fly off the bed in each direction.

We could not stop.

>> One of us, we each had one arm.

>> Yeah.

>> And he would, it felt like just the

flick of a wrist.

He was being gentle.

>> Yeah. He wasn't doing He wasn't fighting

for his life.

>> Yeah. No. No.

>> And we could not get him to stay down.

>> Could not. Could not.

>> And I remember that feeling. Also, I

think there's something fun about

wrestling. Like there is so 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

like I could just see you going past me

and your hair going and then your legs

going and

me and I just remember like I remember

seeing 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 t and we were 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 too because Nick is such a

lovely gentle guy in general, we knew

there was something about us that knew

we weren't going to get hurt and but he

was making like grunting bear sounds.

>> It was really really really fun.

>> That was a really I mean I'm trying to

think of like there was so many good

crackup moments. Crackup moments. I'm

100 years old.

>> What a crackup. But I'm just like I was

like

>> there's that spot in in uh Andy and

April's house. Remember where we could

never get a scene done? Just that one

that living room

>> spot. Yeah. It was haunted.

>> Yeah. And then I remember there was one

time you were like Rashida cuz 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

a couple times I would see bloopers for

the show and I'd be like Amy.

>> No, but those days were so long. They

were long and it was fun until it

wasn't. You're like, "Oh my god, it's 10

p.m. We just want to go home."

>> I know. And the And there was a scene

for people that um care. There was there

was a a spot in that on 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 um deep

laughs and deep um and deep laughs off

camera. Like one of the thing 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 we'd be just talking and

talking and just like talking about our

day and talking about life and then they

would just go or action and then we

would just talk like Leslie and we'd do

our scene and be like we kind 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

talking 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 we're really going to

be able to sell it and we're like uh duh

>> duh no kidding

>> what do you mean

>> I mean they really did base the entire

show at the end of the day on the fact

that Leslie and an 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 we 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 um

and kind of like the beginnings of that

show were

I'll say a little clumy,

>> crunchy, crunchy. crunchy. Can we talk

about it? Yeah, I'd love to. Oh my god.

>> Yeah, it was crunchy

>> because I think for I 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, 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 was it made sense. I was

>> You had such a tough job there because

Yeah.

>> Everybody wanted Jim and Pam and then

guess who shows up? A very likable cool

and everyone was like, "Oh no, wait. I

love Karen."

>> It did not feel that way. People did not

like me. Like fans were not about it.

But they had to create tension for the

relationship to be earned later. So I

was the third point in the triangle.

It's fine. I like accept it. 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

decide like changing the the car the

main characters of the show. When they

pitched it to me, the boss was a 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 had just gotten back from Italy.

>> You and I were in Italy. That's right.

>> We were in Italy and it was very hot.

>> That's right.

>> And a day later,

>> you were like, "Let's go to lunch. I

need to talk to you about something."

>> Do you remember where we went?

>> Past.

>> Yes, I do.

>> In New York City.

>> I do.

>> Oh, God. And I said, "Let's talk about

something

>> dear."

>> No, no, no. You

>> And I was like, I want you to raise this

baby with me.

>> It's yours.

>> This baby is yours. I know. And you need

to accept it. Um, but you no I actually

hold this this moment as like a gold

standard of friendship and being able to

take care of your oneself 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

>> being created by a friend of ours. And

so I immediately started crying in

besties 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 Sh's version of this is.

>> Let me tell you because I left him a

message almost immediately cuz 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 this

show." Of course, I didn't get this.

Like Amy is like a, you know,

>> what a mean part of yourself to be.

>> Very mean. Very mean. That's a that's a

person we're trying to um to not invite

to the dinner party anymore. But um so I

I called him. I was like, "Hey, would

love to talk to you." He was on a plane.

>> And he landed. He's like, "Uh" I was

like, "Mhm. You want to you want to tell

me what's going on cuz 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 he's like, "No, no, no.

Back up. We changed the boss. It's a

woman and Amy's playing the boss." And 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

reads after that. But but that became,

you know, this huge possibility of like

my life being the best from the worst to

the best.

>> God, I'm sweating even thinking about

that. He wasn't they had they just

hadn't decided things and and they they

were trying to build around you I think

is what happened around that character.

So I think they had just done that and I

think you wanted to tell me as soon as

possible because we were so close

>> which was the right instinct and Mike

decided to get on a plane which was his

instinct

>> and he just flew for hours. He just went

to different cities and he never got off

the plane. And that's what exacts do.

That's what a powerful person does is

they get on the plane.

>> They just get on as many planes as

possible. My phone was off.

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>> Your little Zezy is all grown up.

>> I know. My Zezy is just a He's an old

man now.

>> I know. If you watch if whenever I see

old parks things I was like I didn't

know that me and Aubrey did a show and

we were little kids like it's really

>> I know. How old were you when you

started on show?

>> I was 13 in season

and then when we finished I just turned

18. I I got my driver's license like in

the middle of the run.

>> A lot of people don't know that you were

18 when you were playing Tom Hammerford

on Parks and Rec.

>> Yeah.

>> It is true though. It is. You You look

like a baby. You were a baby.

I didn't know anything. I the first

seasons I I didn't know how to act or

anything. I should not have been on

television. NBC should have been like,

"We got to get Is there any Indian guy

that's done more acting?"

>> A lot of people don't know you were the

first person hired for Parks.

>> Uh yeah, I met with them. And

>> what was that meeting like? Do you

remember it?

>> Well, it was so mysterious what they

were up to. I had a meeting 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 um 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 the air and

and so I told him whatever you're up to

let me know. And then of course

>> you know when it all came together with

you and Rashidita and everything and and

>> well I'm kind of learning when I was

talking to Plaza when Plaza was here she

was uh talking about like her meeting

with them too and

>> yeah very famous stories. Yeah. Yeah.

>> I know. And it's kind of funny. I kind

of forgot the Avengers Assemble feeling

of those guys going out and and getting

people and bringing them in and and

talking about like we're going to do

something very cool. I mean, it it was

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 I feel like

all of us whenever we see each other do

interviews kind of say this kind of

stuff at nauseium 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 cuz

we've all done other stuff and you know

not everybody's you know look we've all

done other stuff. I don't talk about

everything the way I talk about parts.

you know, you do some things and some

people different energy, not necessarily

mean or bad, but just 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 Allan

and as I become a director, I I you

know, what I learned from you and Mike

in terms of how to lead um I mean, I

can't thank you enough. It was the the

best role model I could ever have. 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.

>> Yeah, 10.

>> 10. Okay. Between seven and 13. That was

my It's kind of right between That's

amazing.

But it was such a huge impact on my

life. Like it's still the thing I get

most recognized for.

>> Really?

>> Yes.

>> And I just remember Well, first of all,

you were the most incredible number one

on a call sheet 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 that's where we kind of fell in

love

>> but that is re that's really Katherine

where we I think actually met my first

kind of like real memory is in the

trailer of parks and wreck and

>> we used to Katherine is talking about

dance parties and we used to do a thing

where just like after lunch we would

play three songs best

>> the great Autumn Butler our 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

loved about you right away. How much you

love to laugh. People that know you know

that like you you laugh. If someone's

going to break in a scene, it's this

professional over here.

>> You know you I don't Do you think you

break a lot?

>> I have to be really serious in my mind.

Like if I have because if it starts to

happen it is tears.

>> Yeah.

>> And mucus.

>> But you I have seen you in bloopers and

you're hanging in.

>> Yeah. I do hang in.

>> You hang in.

>> I do. Yeah.

>> You in fact go in harder. I think when

people are

>> I 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 at

improvising. In fact, like a lot of your

character on Parks and Rec, Jen

Barkley's moments were improvised.

>> Were they really?

>> Well, my one of the favorites, one of

one of Tik Tok and memes and gifts and

show his poncho.

>> Poncho was

>> So, let's talk about what happened for

people that have never seen that. What

What is it? What? Tell us what that

scene was.

>> Well, I went to Ben and Leslie's house.

Um, I'm speaking as Jen Barkley, my

character. I'm the first person now.

>> Well, for people that aren't watching,

she just transformed. just transform.

>> Her eyes turned dark and she's a

completely different person.

>> A lot more hairspray.

I went to their house. They have

children. Uh 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 paint, nail me with the

paint. And it's some take just to make

you guys laugh. I DON'T EVEN DID NOT

HAVE ANY IDEA it was going to be any. I

just swung my arms open. I went poncho

poncho. And that really has become

>> it has it's like Batman's cape.

>> I mean,

>> oh that was the best. Like I just

wanting to make you guys laugh and just

having so the the energy is so loose. So

I like it's funny you say that

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

you'd stay really really loose and but

just right before the scene and I can

think of a couple scenes 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 in that scene. Oh my god, that

scene.

>> Mike Sher and the writers 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 just this like Gen X.

>> Yes.

>> Um 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 a real actor.

>> Oh god.

>> You were on Parks and Wreck. You only

did five episodes. Do you know that?

>> I know.

>> Um 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 a guy who wants to be

liked.

>> Yeah.

>> And who

>> I know. If only, right?

>> I mean Bobby at the time

>> means well just doesn't quite grasp any

of it.

>> He wants to go to the afterparty.

>> Yeah.

>> Bobby Newport played by you was the like

the rich son of the um Swedom's family.

the the family, the Newports that owned

the big factory in the fictional town of

Panee that Parks and Wreck took place

and Bobby Newport ran against Leslie and

it was like what Bobby had that Leslie

could never get was that

Gwiz 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

that's how Bobby feels about abortion,

isn't it?

>> Oh yeah, right. What did he say about

abortion? I guess my thoughts on

abortion are just like want everybody to

just have have a good time.

>> Just want everybody to have a good time.

I mean, come on, guys.

>> What?

>> And Bobby kept getting flustered by

Leslie wanting it cuz he wants it. Like

there's that great scene where he's

like, "Can you just drop out of the race

cuz I want it."

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> 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 I love the

guy. He's great and he doesn't seem to

want it.

>> Yeah. And he doesn't know anything. But

that neither do I.

>> That's, you know,

>> you're Leslie No is 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 do What are your memories of doing

that character was such a funny

character. You were 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 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 great thing

that can happen if you are able to

sustain enough of a career

>> that you you can get to a point where

you work with your friends or you get to

work with 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 and the

show is so great and you're so great in

it. Um, it was it was it was just

>> it was a dream. It was a dream and you

know and I was

>> uh I loved it. I loved every second of

it. I loved

>> hanging out with all you guys.

>> So fun.

>> It was 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.

It's the stupidest stuff.

>> Yeah. Well, there's nothing um there's

nothing funnier to me than unearned

confidence.

>> Yeah.

>> Like just

>> somebody feels like they you know it's

like I've got it figured out and it's

like no you don't. Yeah.

>> Um but but if it's

>> and if it's

if it's like nice unear like if it's f

it's really funny if it's not nice

unearned confidence. But uh 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

though. But he's a nice he he was sweet.

>> He was sweet.

>> And that and and that was and that was a

fun that was kind of that's a fun thing

to get to play. It's a fun kind of

character to get to play.

>> Would you would we describe him as like

guess? Is that the word?

>> Yeah, I think that's a good way to do

it. Yeah, there's Yeah,

>> I know that word.

That's a really good, by the way. Of

course you do.

>> [ __ ] great word.

>> Anyway, is a [ __ ] great word.

>> [ __ ] great word.

>> God damn.

>> We meet on the set of Parks and Wreck.

And for people that don't know, like you

had a crazy week when you got hired.

>> You 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 part in funny people the

Jud Appatile 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 Wreck was called me

and was like all right like you made it

to the chemistry read stage so you have

to come out to LA and read with Seth and

see if you get the part basically. Um,

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 um 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 yeah, so one of them was

she wanted me to go meet Mike Sher and

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 um 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

>> will get me a job. I mean, I 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, definitely not that. I mean, if it

was an audition, obviously I know like

all right, I'm going to 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 starruck. I see in my horse eye BJ

Novak and and Mindy Kaling walked by and

I was like oh my god I was like they're

in the show or whatever and Mike Sher is

like hello

>> and he's like at his desk like and I'm

like what? And then I just met him for

like he describes it. He really

embellishes this story. I think

>> he loves this story.

>> He loves it but he's like and then I met

the weirdest person. I'm like,

>> there's no bigger fan of Aubrey Plaza

than Mike Sher.

>> 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 confidently

yourself and you don't have a vibe of

like you don't you are the opposite of a

pick me as the kids would say like you

you do not have that vibe and and that

draws people in and I think he was like

who is this person? Yeah.

>> Who seems mad at me while I try to give

her a job?

>> Yeah. Literally. And why are you wearing

jean shorts in 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 and they

were like, you're on a TV show. I'm

like, what? No. But then

>> which one? What? What? 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. It was just one person.

>> I think they just made me do it like for

the network or something. I think I

found out later. I mean, maybe not. I

don't know. It was probably like, you

know.

>> Yeah.

>> It was you, Sharon Stone, and Gina Gers.

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 longl lasting relationships is 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

>> April and April was supposed to be like

what am I doing here and Amy was

welcoming Aubrey and Aubrey was like

what am I doing here?

>> Truly. Yeah.

>> I mean I I remember when we first met

and it I think I told you this story. It

was um the promos that we shot.

>> That's right.

>> And which was weird because we hadn't

shot the show yet.

>> 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 another. Yeah. I don't think we

had Nick yet or

>> 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

>> and that's when I met you like

officially for the first time and I

think I was literally on a swing like a

child like and I was like and I was like

just don't make any sudden movements.

>> Um and swinging

>> except swinging and then you which is

kind of good cuz swinging is really good

sematically

>> for me like I like um but then yeah you

came over and we were both just swinging

like little babies. That's how we met

>> on a swing. We met on a playground which

is kind of nice.

>> Really nice. And it feels like the show

was that like it was it felt like a true

like playground space. It really was

like we 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 you as a

person. I love your

>> acting, Plazi. You know how good I think

you are.

>> I love playing with you. And I feel like

our dynamic, well, 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 a a 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. Like,

>> but um when you started that character,

when you started her, did you have any

idea where you thought it would go? Now,

did you have any,

you know, did you did you see 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. And like once I locked into that,

it was a 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 feel 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 is

she cared but she pretended she didn't.

And so when 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 uh

pray uh played by Chris Pratt. Um, and

you um, 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.

>> I don't know where you guys were.

>> We were doing something together. And

>> you were like camping or something.

>> Oh, maybe. Oh, yeah.

I don't know.

>> 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 for why they eventually became

like the the real romantic love story of

the show other than Leslie and Anne.

>> Yeah.

>> Cuz Anne doesn't deserve

>> Don't talk about Ann.

>> Sorry.

>> But what do you remember of that day? I

have a v well Greg Daniels directed the

episode which I 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

bull room or bullpen the bullpen.

>> Um the bull room the bullpen like became

a playground 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.

>> Um but we were under there 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 or

>> 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

um Andy's like saying something about

his band or he's like something about

like I think like this band name is cool

or 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 I do you remember that where where I

remember being like and then I remember

>> like knocking on Mike Shur's like door

and being like listen I was like April

loves Andy and April thinks Andy is 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

I was like, "You better listen to me."

Um,

>> no, you did. You knocked on.

>> It was like I Yeah, it was it was more

like just the little conversation.

that was it was like a 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 um you

know completely disaffected but she's

actually very fiercely loyal.

>> Yeah.

>> And very um and like sticks up for

people she believes in which I think is

a charact character trait of you too.

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 that he didn't see

in himself.

>> Mhm.

>> 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 love a wedding.

>> You c I remember you like cried in the

kitchen and then you were like crying

like off camera and I was like, "Stop."

>> You cried that much.

>> Yes, you did. You like literally cried

all day. It was so weird.

>> I was so happy you were in love.

>> You were like crying all day. There was

like I was like,

>> "I'm not crying all day."

>> I was like, "We're not even 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 idea.

>> I'm ordering a salad for lunch. Like,

this is my job."

>> I was crying cuz you were crying so hard

and I was worried that we weren't going

to get the shot. I was crying cuz I was

sad at how much you were crying.

>> I don't think so.

>> I think that you thought it was real and

>> Yeah. I I assumed it was legally

binding. Yeah.

>> But it was so good. And the And the And

the vows were so funny.

>> Yeah.

>> And the wedding was so stupid.

>> Okay. I mean, I guess like when do you

wa have you rewatched Parks and Wreck?

>> Nope.

>> What? I'm finding this out. Okay.

>> I wouldn't even know how.

>> Shut up.

>> Okay. Okay.

>> You ask me how

>> you've never wa the big giant screen

that you watch your movies on.

>> How does it workoop these days? I

wouldn't

>> and go to go to

>> go to what? Type in where the search is.

>> How? Someone tell me.

>> Peacock.

>> No.

>> Yes. Yes. Go there or go to iTunes.

>> I wish I knew how.

>> Just Just pick up your controller and

just wreck into it and it'll come up.

>> Okay. It's probably not the right one.

>> Go to your DVDs. You love your DVDs.

>> I wish I had one right now.

>> Um, but so you've never rewatched it?

>> No.

>> I don't know what's wrong with you guys.

I

>> if it comes on in a hotel room, I

literally throw something. I throw it.

>> Adam says I will literally break.

>> Adam says the watching the show makes

him sad.

>> Nick has told me he has not rewatched

it.

>> Liar. He jerks off to it every night.

>> You know, he sits there and like touches

himself.

>> You're so right. He's got it on right

now.

>> Nick. Nick.

>> Tammy.

>> You're right. He does watch it for

Tammy.

>> His real life Megan Mali.

>> They get off on that. They watch it

together.

>> They watch. You're so right. They watch

it together and they and then they just

slap each other in the face.

>> They're disgusting.

>> They're to so disgusting. Nick, I know

you're listening. You're not fooling

anybody. Two more things about parks. Uh

what? We had so many fun guest stars

come in and like you connected with some

of them in interesting ways.

>> I don't know if you remember this, but

do you remember when Chris Bosch was on

the show, the basketball player?

Chris Bosch. He was a Miami Heat player.

>> Oh, yes.

>> And he was in like had like different

beat basketball like Roy um

>> Yeah. We had Roy Yes. Yeah. Chris Bosch.

Yes. Chris He was with like Aziz and um

was he like John Ralph.

>> Yeah. Entertainment 720.

>> Yeah. But like I don't know if you know

the story. It was a really quick story

but it was so stupid. But I was a really

big Chris Bosch fan. So like I was like

oh my god like I can't believe he's

coming. like this is insane. I was like,

I want to play a prank on him.

>> Do you know this? No. And so he had to

go through hair and makeup, but you

know, he I think had very little hair

and you know, whatever. Um didn't need

makeup cuz he's a guy or whatever.

>> Um but you know how they always put them

through the works anyway. So I was like,

I'm going to pretend to be the hair

stylist

>> and I think it was it Terry maybe was in

there and you know how she had those

glasses or whatever. So I was like,

Terry, give me your glasses or I can't

remember whatever. And I'm thinking like

this is gonna be hilarious because it's

gonna be me and he'll be like, "Haha,

it's you." Um, so I like pretend to be

Terry. I'm like at her station

>> and then he goes through like makeup

first and they're like, "You look good."

You know, a little powder and you're

good. And then he like went and he was

like, "Yeah, yeah, thanks a lot." And

then he sat down in my chair and I was

like "Well,"

and I looked and I was like, "What are

we going to do today?" And I was like

doing like a dumb thing and he didn't

make any eye contact with me. He was

just looking down and he was so sweet.

But he didn't make eye contact. He was

just like, "Yeah, whatever you think."

>> Oh no. And you were like,

>> and I was like, "Well, I think that

you're looking pretty good, sir." And

he'd be like, "Yeah, I'm so I'm good.

All right." And I'd be like, "Well,

you're not that good." And then it was

like I just kept it going. And someone

videotaped it. And it was

>> so awkward. didn't recognize me at all.

Didn't know who I was. Don't think he

ever knew who I was. Not once.

>> Chris Bosch isn't going to be watching

the show before he comes and does. He's

too busy.

>> I was. He thought I was uh

>> he thought you were a hair person

>> and like the PA are like, "We really

need him on set." I'm like, "WELL, HE'S

ALMOST DONE IN MY department of hair."

And then

basically it just died

>> and he never he never nope.

>> Well, Chris is probably listening so now

you know.

>> Never not once.

>> Did you even work with him on set that

day?

Never saw him again. Literally never saw

him again ever in my life.

>> Every single day someone tells me Parks

got them through the pandemic. And I

heard you mention it on a previous

episode.

>> Every single day people say, "I watched

it during co I watch it with my kid. My

kids going through a hard time. I like

to watch it at night because I get I

have a lot of anxiety." Like I I cannot

believe the way that that show continues

to be a a medicine for people. It's

>> It's so nice. Isn't that nice?

>> And Ben and Lesie.

>> I know. I know.

>> We just We Do you remember we were

texting just a couple months ago and

just kind of commented on how nice they

are?

>> They're so nice. They're so much nicer

than us.

>> So much nicer.

>> And they're so nice to each other.

>> I know. And every every woman deserves a

Ben. Every woman deserves a partner like

Ben who roots for you and like looks at

you and is just like that's my gal. Like

everyone deserves that kind of

relationship.

>> Lesie from the word go

loved Ben.

>> Oh beyond.

>> Like I now looking back it's like they

were just in love with each other

immediately. And their arc was such so

juicy. The writers, Mike and the

writers, because they meet and they're

just like,

>> "Well, what's your deal?"

>> Oh, yeah. It was like,

>> and then and then they like each other,

but then they can't

>> THEY CAN'T BE TOGETHER.

>> THEY CAN'T BE TOGETHER. She's like,

"Really?" I mean, they probably could

have been together.

>> I know. It didn't matter, but

>> And then they was like, "This is totally

fake and whatever, but we just need to

have Rob care about you two being

together." And it worked. And it was

like made it even hotter.

>> Ben was like, "I want you." Like Ben

kept putting Leslie's, you know what it

is?

>> They kept putting each other's needs

over their own. They cared about what

the other one needed and they respected

each other. Like they really liked what

the other one did.

>> And it was the best thing about that

relationship is how um you know, with

the exception of Ann, who is

>> of course

>> Leslie's number one. Um

>> of course,

>> uh

>> I've accepted that.

>> Yeah. uh is the way that they um they

just rooted for each other.

>> Yes,

>> they really rooted for each other.

>> I I haven't seen a ton of It makes me

sad to watch the show cuz I miss it.

>> Why did you say that? Why does it make

you sad?

>> Because I I miss it. I like you were

saying like we really appreciated being

there every day and it was so fun. And

also just sort of walking in that

building and then suddenly you're there

and the hallways and the

>> Yeah,

>> it was so fun. And the people I just

loved everybody.

>> I think one of the things that was so

fun about what we got to do is the

camera

helped us

at least it helped me have my feelings

about you know there I I tell people

like of course you of course we love

Ben. We got to like Ben, we watch Ben

watch Leslie and we love Leslie. So like

when people love Leslie, we love them.

And we got to watch Ben love her

>> because the camera w like we got to do

so much indirect stuff like we didn't

have to face to face all the time. We

had feelings, our characters had

feelings for each other because of the

camera. That's right.

>> The even though I mean and it's such a

beautiful uh genre that mockumentary

because it allows you to just even

create space and depth in the shot.

People are just not in the same room.

>> That's right. And like I remember we

always used to say we loved it when

there were spy shots through like blinds

because it made our acting better. Do

you remember that?

>> Yes. Do you also remember this thing we

used to do where sometimes we would be

doing a scene and we'd be like, "Okay, I

can't I'm not someone who can predict

the future 100%." But I will say it was

like a couple times a season. I will say

I can say with 100% certainty that

neither of us will ever win an award for

acting for this scene.

like totally

>> you would say it sometimes and sometimes

you know what let's just I mean and also

on the other side I would sometimes say

you know and I said this on the podcast

like I would say like Adam your acting

is so good you'd be like shut up we're

in the middle of the scene like because

it was like oh my god um I mean but oh

yeah I mean that's what I love about

working with you and I just feel like

before we end like I just want to feed

our fans a little bit more which is what

Um,

what do you think was the most romantic

scene between Ben and Lesie?

>> Oh, man.

It's so sweet.

>> I know. But what was the most

>> The most romantic? I think

>> I think Well,

>> there are a couple of nominees.

>> Okay.

>> But I think

>> I think maybe smallest park

>> cuz I just heard a little groan.

>> I hope it's a good groan. Yeah. Someone

just being like

I love smallest.

>> Me too.

>> Nicole Holiff Center the great

directseel wrote that

>> Chelsea Peretti wrote that episode

>> and I remember really

like feeling connected shooting that and

just being like this is kind of feeling

like how special

>> it was. Yes.

>> Making the show and that was

>> Yeah. That was But I don't know what

what do you think?

>> Well, I have a lot. I I mean, I feel

like that was such a big one. I feel

like some of the

>> I have such a affinity for the beginning

beginnings parts of Ben and Leslie

because I do think it also just reminded

me of like we were, you know, the show

was deciding that they were going to

love each other, too.

>> Yeah. And um I really love this tiny

moment when they realize they have they

like the same spot when they like to sit

under the sunflower mural.

>> Well,

>> I love that moment

>> when I ask you if you know where that

mural is and your response is really

it's a rewindable moment.

>> I love that moment between both of us

because and of course Parks then pays it

off years later. later

>> by sitting underneath it.

>> Yep.

>> Um I also, you know, when we shot Ben

and Leslie's wedding, it was so fun. It

was like we were all just sitting there

all day goofing around.

>> Um and it was so fun. And like

>> I think we had real champagne, too.

Maybe

>> we probably did.

>> Yeah,

>> we probably did. And then that probably

became a problem later in the day. Yeah,

probably champagne. Not something to

have when you're when you have like a

10-hour workday ahead of you.

>> Are you asked all the time if there'll

be a more arcs or a reboot or something?

>> I always feel like it's it's been it's

done. Like it was perfectly done. Like

how do you do that?

>> Perfectly. Maybe they should do like

Muppet Babies. They should do like Parks

and Wreck babies. That's right. Like

everyone has babies.

>> All of us as like that Instagram thing

where everyone's

>> Oh, yeah. Have you seen that? Yeah. AI

babies. They should do AI babies,

>> but like a whole series

>> Yeah.

>> of all of us just in a crib together.

>> Yeah. But they should do it like present

day where like the politics are really

dark. Yep.

>> And mean. And so it should be like tiny

babies fighting each other.

>> They hate each other. It's like

apocalyptic political babies.

>> And they all like are like, "Oh no, I

hate

>> I hate you so much.

>> I hate you so much. Yay." I mean,

>> yay. I hate you. because we made the

show in an era where public service was

encouraged and valued,

>> right?

>> And funded.

>> Yes.

>> It was or I mean, you know, I'm sure it

wasn't as funded as much as it should

have been, but it was funded at least.

>> Um it's an entirely different I know

>> tone to American life.

>> You know, when you have that feeling

sometimes like you wish you could go

back to high school and enjoy it,

>> right?

>> That's how it felt like we actually got

to do it in real time.

>> Yeah. because it was genuinely goofy and

funny.

>> Yeah.

>> Like the best jokes.

Uh

>> what is your what is your one of your

favorite what is one of the favorite

funny scenes you got to do? So many

>> so many. I mean I always think of you

guys on the on on the ice at the ice

skating rink with Gloria Stefon.

>> Yeah.

>> I mean that is I remember at the table

read that was we couldn't stop laughing

because it was so funny.

>> Yeah. Mike Scully wrote that episode and

>> on Mike Skully.

>> We got to uh walk across that ice and I

remember just thinking this is so fun.

Oh my god, what a fun job. I wasn't even

in that scene.

>> Yeah, that's right. That's right. Sorry.

We should probably just photoshop.

>> We should put me in that scene. That's

why I brought it up. I feel like it

would I I deserve it.

>> Okay, are you guys ready to watch it?

>> Yeah.

>> Okay, here we go.

>> Yes. really exciting.

>> Amy, are you gonna play it FROM

IT?

>> I'm supposed TO

GO.

>> You've been listening to Good Hang. The

executive producers for this show are

Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and

me, Amy Polar. The show is produced by

The Ringer and Paperkite. For the

ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Cat

Spalain, Kaia McMullen, and Alia

Xanerys. For Paperkite, production by

Sam Green, Joel Levelvel, and Jenna

Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy

Miles.

really good. Hey