PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2014: PARKS AND RECREATION {PUBLIC SHORT VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's 31st William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This PALEYFEST 2014 seminar honors "Parks and Recreation," the mockumentary-style comedy series about the quirky staffers of Pawnee, Indiana's parks and recreation department.
Comedian Patton Oswalt (guest star Garth Blundin on "Parks") moderates the following panelists: executive producer and co-creator Mike Schur; and cast members Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope), Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer), Adam Scott (Ben Wyatt), Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson), Aubrey Plaza (April Ludgate), Retta (Donna Meagle), Jim O'Heir (Larry/Jerry Gergich), Ben Schwartz (Jean-Ralphio Saperstein), and Billy Eichner (Craig).
The panelists touch on such topics as: the talents of casting director Allison Jones; the decision to tailor roles around the cast members' unique talents; Pratt's memorable audition scene with Rashida Jones (Ann Perkins); Poehler's early days on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien"; her love for the show's strong fanbase; the genuinely sweet Ben-Leslie proposal scene; Retta's fears about impressing writer/co-creator/director Greg Daniels in the "Hunting Trip" episode; Retta and O'Heir's "eventual" addition to the opening credits; the use of Offerman's real-life woodshop and saxophone talents to help define his macho character; the addition of Eichner's "loud, explosive energy" to the show; Jean-Ralphio's cartoon-like habit of abruptly popping up in scenes; the challenge of cutting episodes down to twenty-one minutes; the use of jump cuts to showcase rapid-fire jokes; a memorable episode in which Andy reenacts various classic movies; the cast's talents for improvising while in character; Poehler's relief at the realistic nature of Ben and Leslie's romance and marriage; and Justin Theroux's role as an "emotional tourist" whom Leslie briefly dates.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: the fun of having Offerman's wife Megan Mullally (Ron's second ex-wife, Tammy Two) on set; Schur and the other writers' desire to add Eichner to the cast after seeing his comedy series "Billy on the Street"; whether the show accurately portrays the Midwest; Poehler's belief that there is "nothing cool about Leslie"; Poehler as a positive feminist role model; and how the characters' quirks and eccentricities inspire the actors.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: March 18, 2014 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 113918
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Patton Oswalt … Moderator
- Billy Eichner … Panelist
- Ben Schwartz … Panelist
- Jim O'Heir … Panelist
- Retta … Panelist
- Adam Scott … Panelist
- Amy Poehler … Panelist
- Nick Offerman … Panelist
- Aubrey Plaza … Panelist
- Chris Pratt … Panelist
- Mike Schur … Panelist
- Allison Jones
- Rashida Jones
- Greg Daniels
- Justin Theroux
- Megan Mullally