'Parks and Recreation': The Spinoff Series
When we visited the set of Parks and Recreation, the cast had just begun filming the series finale. The end was looming, but the reality of the show being over hadn’t quite sunk in. We asked them about the future in hopes of uncovering possible spinoff series so we wouldn’t have to say goodbye to Pawnee. Here are three pitches that we think would make stellar replacements. NBC, are you listening?
Welcome to Indiana
Like his character, Nick Offerman was shy about revealing the near-future activities of Ron Swanson. But he did reveal some long-term goals. “Most likely, Ron will continue to grow in height and breadth and end up becoming a Midwestern Paul Bunyan-esque character.” Thirty years from now, he says, “statues will be erected to him holding a carving gouge over his shoulder.”
Since Ron doesn’t like to leave his home state of Indiana, the gargantu-Ron will most likely “grace the gates of Gary as you drive into the state from Chicago.” Who wouldn’t want to see a show about that?
America used to stand for something. Truth. Justice. The gold standard. Breakfast foods. Is there anyone left who is man enough to reclaim those heartland values and restore Lady Liberty to her rightful place? Just one. Ron Swanson. Welcome to Indiana.
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Fab and Flab
Jim O’Heir and Retta already have their show pitch ready. “Fab and Flab,” says O’Heir laughing. “Your character’s fabulous and I’m kind of flabulous.”
It sounds like a buddy cop show, but Retta immediately leaps in. “No, I’m not doing buddy cop with you.” “Plus,” adds Jim, “I don’t like jumping fences.” They would both be up for “sitting in a car for hours on end doing bits all day,” according to Retta, and Jim agrees. “Yeah, I just want to sit at a desk and say funny things that other people wrote.”
They’re two state employees who became rogue cops and then got busted back down to desk duty. But just because they’ve lost their guns doesn’t mean they can’t still shoot their mouths off. Retta and Jim O’Heir are: Fab and Flab!
Related: Aubrey Plaza Reveals What She Stole From the ‘Parks and Rec’ Set
Knope and Pope
Between Aubrey Plaza’s film projects and Aziz Ansari’s touring, their characters may not have the time to do a series, but Aziz would love to see a Perd Hapley show, and Aubrey says, “I’d want an hourlong Joan Callamezzo show.” “I’m about that whole network,” says Aziz.
At that point, everyone realizes a strange Perd connection: The actor, Jay Jackson, has also appeared as a reporter at the beginning of Fast 5 and as a reporter on Shonda Rhimes’s Scandal over on ABC.”How can anyone take him seriously as a news reporter?” asks Aubrey. “It’s funny that he’s been on Scandal, because I think that means the universes are the same. Maybe Olivia Pope is in Washington right now.”
If that’s the case, then it’s only a matter of time before the twin hurricanes of Leslie Knope and Olivia Pope meet up. Would the two of them annihilate each other like matter and antimatter? Or would something much more terrifying and wonderful happen?
What happens when unstoppable force meets unstoppable force? They run for office as the first co-presidents of the United States of America. It’s the unbeatable ticket of Glad meets Gladiator! When you call Knope and Pope, it’s handled.
The hourlong series finale of Parks and Recreation airs Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
