On Thursday, NBC announced that Parks and Recreation sitcom would air a half-an-hour episode on April 30 in order to raise raise money for Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Five years after its seventh and final season, the audience will have the pleasure to see Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) as she is determined to stay connected with her Pawnee Parks Department team in times of social distancing.
All of the main characters will be played by original cast members Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, and Retta. In their press release, NBC even hinted at the possibility of additional guests in the reunion special. According to Pratt’s Instagram, the episode was entirely filmed in cast members’ homes to encourage people safe during the pandemic.
“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 executive producer Michael Schur for the press release. “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!”
Parks and Recreation ran from 2009 to 2015 where it became a seasonal Emmys and Golden Globes nominee. The hit show also received a Peabody Award for excellence in television programming, an AFI honor as one of the Top 10 Television Shows of the Year and several Emmy nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing. Schur, Greg Daniels, Howard Klein, David Miner, Morgan Sackett and Dean Holland serve as executive producers on the series.
Parks and Recreation Reunion Special is set for April 30 on NBC at 8:30 pm ET/PT.