‘Parks and Recreation’ Golden Rule Cut One Actor’s Role Short for Being an A-Hole
Nick Offerman has plenty of fond memories from his time as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, but one story from the set has fans curious.
While speaking with Deadline about his recent Emmy nominations, Offerman opened up about the advice he has carried with him throughout his career, saying one of the biggest lessons he learned from Parks and Recreation was the importance of creating a positive work environment.
“When we realized you can choose putting together a team of people to do anything, you can choose no a–holes,” Offerman said.
The actor explained that even if someone brings star power, money, or other benefits to a project, it is not worth sacrificing a healthy workplace.
“Even if that good-looking person or that person could get you more budget, or bring something lucrative to the project, it’s never worth it if they’re an a–hole,” he added.
“It’s never worth it”
Offerman revealed that Parks and Recreation once planned to keep a guest actor around for a longer storyline before the show ultimately cut their role short.
“That cast and group of writers and the whole company, we just had so much fun,” Offerman said. “We laughed so much for 125 episodes. Offerman explained that the show planned a longer storyline for one guest actor but ultimately decided not to continue working with them.
The actor did not share the guest star’s identity, leaving fans to speculate about who the mystery guest star could have been.
Some fans have pointed toward actors who appeared briefly on the series, including Jason Schwartzman, who played video store owner Dennis Lerpiss in two episodes. Other short-lived guest roles have also entered the conversation, including appearances from Kristen Bell, Tatiana Maslany, and Patricia Clarkson.
However, Offerman hasn’t named the actor, and no one has identified any of these guest stars as the person he described. Despite the mystery, Offerman made it clear that his overall experience on Parks and Recreation was overwhelmingly positive.
When asked about the most fun he has had on set, the actor immediately pointed to the NBC comedy, praising the cast, writers, and crew for the environment they created over seven seasons. “That cast, we’re just making each other laugh for seven years,” Offerman said. “I mean, there’s no getting around that.”
Offerman may not have revealed the actor’s identity, but he did offer a look at the kind of workplace culture that helped make Parks and Recreation such a beloved series. As for the mystery guest star? Fans will have to keep guessing.
(feature image: NBC)
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