Interview: Amy Poehler & Nick Offerman Talk Parks and Recreation

TVDaily is very pleased to announce that the hit US sitcom, Parks and Recreation, has a new home on UK TV.

Starting on Monday July 27th, seasons four to seven of the award-winning comedy series are coming to Dave, and we can’t wait for UK viewers to catch up with the antics of Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), and the rest of the gang at the Pawnee Parks department.

In anticipation of Parks and Recreation landing on British shores, we spoke to Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman about what to expect from season four.

Where did season three leave off for Leslie?
Amy Poehler: At the end of season three, we had a lot of cliff-hangers; Leslie is approached by this group of people who recommends she runs for office, and they start to see if she’s interested. What that means is if she does decide to run for office, everything has to come out in the open, and one of her secrets is that she’s sleeping with her boss Ben (played by Adam Scott). So we have to find out if she’s going to run, what she’s going to do if she does, will they stay together, will they break up, will there be a scandal..?!

And what’s in store for season four?
AP: Season four is going to be one of those seasons that if you’re a fan of the show I think you will be so pleased with what happens – a lot happens. And also I think if it’s your first time watching the show, you’ll really understand what the parks department is about.

Season four is kind of based around this idea of whether or not Leslie runs for office and if she does, what does that mean? Because we do such small town, low level politics here, unlike a big presidential campaign. This is a campaign for city council, which is a very different animal. It’s like the opposite of The West Wing.

What’s the best thing about Parks and Recreation?
AP: I love our cast; I think it’s the best cast on TV! The most talented, funny, interesting and smartest group of people. Well maybe not the smartest group, there are people who are probably smarter…

How did season three end for Ron?
Nick Offerman: At the end of season three Ron had his face blown off by a fire ball, which left him without eyebrows and not much of a moustache, and it was very sad for all involved. To add insult to injury, his horrible second ex-wife, Tammy, showed up to give him a hard time. And if that wasn’t bad enough, suddenly at the very end of the finale, his first ex-wife Tammy showed up in his office.

The Tammys are quite a handful, aren’t they?!
NO: Tammy One and Tammy Two could not be more different. Tammy Two, played by my wife Megan Mullally, is a raging hell cat who uses her sexual wiles to control Ron and make him do ridiculous things like get cornrows in his hair. Tammy One however is a much more efficient taskmaster; she rules with an iron fist and we’ll find out just how she does that, but she plays an authoritarian role in Ron’s early life that I think viewers will find quite amusing.

How much fun was Ron Swanson to play?
NO: I’m crazy about it, I could not have dreamed that I would end up with a role that was so much fun to do. I think I probably have some of the best writing in town.

What is your advice to Dave’s viewers?
NO: I would encourage viewers to indulge in more red meat. That’s a freedom that I think some people have been trying to take away from us. Embrace that freedom, it’s good for you. Protein is good.

Parks and Recreation comes to Dave on Monday July 27th, kicking off with a double bill from 8pm.