Skip to main content

Parks and Recreation cast is reuniting for a shot-at-home scripted special

Leslie Knope and the gang from Parks and Recreation are back. NBC has announced that the cast for the sitcom will reunite for a half-hour scripted special, with the goal of raising money for the fight against coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.

A large majority of the original cast members of the show are set to be a part of the special, including Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, and Retta. According to NBC, other guest stars from the show will also be featured.

Recommended Videos

“Like a lot of other people, we were looking for ways to help and felt that bringing these characters back for a night could raise some money,” said Parks and Recreation co-creator Mike Schur in a statement. “I sent a hopeful email to the cast and they all got back to me within 45 minutes. Our old Parks and Rec team has put together one more 30-minute slice of (quarantined) Pawnee life and we hope everyone enjoys it. And donates!”

Leslie Knope wants to let you in on a secret… On April 30, #ParksAndRec is returning to NBC for “A Parks and Recreation Special”. Our workplace proximity associates, along with our neighbors at @StateFarm, are raising money for @FeedingAmerica. Join us! https://t.co/YuyWBTYmrH pic.twitter.com/ZId6Lq3rkJ

— Parks and Recreation (@parksandrec) April 23, 2020

It’s notable that this is a scripted special, and not just a reunion of the cast. Friends is also set to reunite for the launch of NBC’s Peacock streaming service, however, that special is unscripted, and as such likely won’t serve as a follow-up to the story. Instead, it’s likely that the cast will talk about their time on the show and offer behind-the-scenes insight.

The Parks and Recreation special, on the other hand, is scripted — and as such the cast will be playing their original characters. That said, it’s probably wise to not expect the show to look and feel exactly like the original. The story will reportedly follow Leslie Knope as she attempts to stay connected with her friends and family during a time of social distancing. In the video announcing the reunion, Amy Poehler noted that the special was entirely shot from the cast’s homes.

The Parks and Recreation special will air on April 30, and proceeds will be donated to Feeding America’s COVID-19 response fund.

While shot-at-home specials like this are becoming more common, networks, in general, are starting to face scheduling issues considering the fact that production schedules were cut short. As the summer begins and scripted shows start to end their seasons, it will be interesting to see how networks fill their schedules.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Why Prime Video may be getting more annoying for some folks
The Amazon Prime Video home screen.

If you're a paid-up member of Amazon Prime and watch stuff on Prime Video, have you noticed anything different lately, such as more ads interrupting your viewing experience?

The video streaming service is now showing up to six minutes of ads per hour, double what it was showing when it introduced ads in January 2024, according to a report by AdWeek.

Read more
Webb Telescope gets the star treatment in new NASA documentary
The Pillars of Creation, imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope

The pages of Digital Trends are filled with breathtaking images of deep space captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, including the beautiful Cosmic Tornado, the gorgeous Ring Nebula, the incredible Carina Nebula, and a stunning spiral galaxy. 

The Webb telescope -- the most powerful ever built -- launched in 2021 and has been scanning the far reaches of space ever since. Besides beaming back amazing infrared imagery, the telescope is also helping scientists to learn more about the universe’s first stars and galaxies, the formation of numerous stars and planetary systems, and the origins of life itself, by exploring distant places with unprecedented clarity. 

Read more
3 underrated HBO Max movies you should watch this weekend (June 13-15)
A woman stands over a railing in Parthenope.

One of the biggest box office flops of the year, Alto Knights, is now on HBO Max. In a dual role, Robert De Niro stars as Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, two mob bosses battling for control in 1950s New York. One seismic decision leads to a war between Vito and Frank, and only one man will be left standing.

A positive effect of streaming is that a failed movie like Alto Knights can still find an audience on streaming platforms. Other films with lesser profiles can also find audiences, including Parthenope, Paolo Sorrentino’s beautiful Italian drama. Watch Parthenope and two more underrated movies on HBO Max below.

Read more