Remember that time when everyone was freaking out about Parks and Recreation’s unannounced hiatus because it made it look like NBC’s perpetual critical success/ratings-not-so-success was probably going to be cancelled? We lucked out that time, ‘cause it turned out there wasn’t really a hiatus after all. But this time it’s a bit of a good news-bad news situation. The good news! Parks and Rec is getting a seventh season. The bad news! No more after that.
NBC president Jennifer Salke snuck the news into the peacock network’s announcement of its midseason schedule, saying “We have several of our strongest comedies by some of our best auspices being held for midseason, including the final season of Parks and Recreation.”
This is something that the Parks and Rec Powers That Be have been, if not actively planning, at least keeping in the back of their minds. The fact that there were probably going to end soon played into their decision to do a three-year time jump in their season six finale. “I’d say that the finish line is in sight at this point,” said showrunner Mike Schur to The Hollywood Reporter after the finale:
“I don’t want to say definitively but we’ve had a lot of internal discussions about it; we’ve talked to NBC a lot about it. The idea that we’re nearing the end is part of what gave us the courage to do something like jumping ahead in time. We know we don’t have to sustain it for five years. It’s a move you do when you know that the show is nearing the end of its run.”
I’ll be sad not to see any more scenes like Ben freaking out over the Iron Throne, but it pleases my heart that there’s a creative impetus for the show ending when it will. I hate to see a show drag on too long, and presumably we’ll get some good closure at the end of season seven. And, hey, we get that new season! Unlike, say, Community.
And unlike NBC’s Jonathan Rhys-Meyers-starring Dracula, which is also getting the axe—or, well, the stake. It started out with good numbers and buzz, but then it died quicker than a vampire eating a plate of garlic bread. At least fans of co-star Katie McGrath (Morganaaaa!) will still be able to see her in Jurassic World.
(via: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline)
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