Adam Scott

Summary

Podcast Summary: Good Hang with Amy Poehler – Episode Featuring Adam Scott

Release Date: August 12, 2025

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Introduction

In this vibrant episode of "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," Amy welcomes Adam Scott, renowned for his iconic role as Ben Wyatt on "Parks and Recreation." The conversation is enriched by interjections from fellow actor Nick Offerman, adding layers of camaraderie and humor to the discussion.

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Early Career and Meeting Nick Offerman

Amy begins by reminiscing about her friendship with Nick Offerman, highlighting his admiration for Adam Scott's versatility as an actor.

Nick Offerman [02:44]: "He has literally done everything."

Amy expresses her anticipation for the conversation, setting a warm and engaging tone for the episode.

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Joining "Parks and Recreation"

The dialogue transitions to Adam Scott's journey into "Parks and Recreation." Nick shares his excitement about Adam joining the already dynamic cast, emphasizing Adam's natural charm and authenticity.

Adam Scott [37:12]: "It was so weird, but immediately fun."

Adam discusses the challenges and rewards of joining a show that was already in motion, reflecting on the warm and welcoming environment fostered by the cast and crew.

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Auditioning for "Six Feet Under"

A poignant moment arises when Adam recounts his experience auditioning for "Six Feet Under", a role ultimately secured by Michael C. Hall. He reflects on the emotional impact of narrowly missing out on such a significant role.

Adam Scott [27:15]: "That show was everything. It just kind of eclipsed all other shows."

Amy empathizes with Adam, acknowledging the difficulty of watching a close auditionee excel in a role he had vied for.

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Experiences on Set and Working with Amy

The conversation delves into the dynamics of working with Amy Poehler and the ensemble cast of "Parks and Recreation." Adam praises Amy's leadership and the supportive atmosphere she cultivated on set.

Adam Scott [39:42]: "I always kind of direct specifically is like. Because you're looking at a monitor all day."

He highlights how Amy's approach to production and acting set a high standard, fostering creativity and a sense of community among the cast.

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Improv and Acting Techniques

Adam shares insights into his transition from scripted roles to the more improvisational style of "Parks and Recreation." He credits the show's environment for enhancing his ability to blend serious acting with playful improvisation.

Adam Scott [24:30]: "It's so funny. Everyone cares about each other, and it's super fun."

This section underscores the importance of flexibility and playfulness in acting, traits that Amy and Adam both embody.

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Personal Anecdotes and Hobbies

The duo engages in light-hearted banter about everyday topics, including Adam's quirky habit of driving barefoot and their shared disdain for flip-flops. These personal stories add depth to their professional relationship, showcasing their genuine friendship.

Adam Scott [14:03]: "I have my arms locked like this."

Amy and Adam also touch upon their mutual interests outside of acting, though both admit to having hobbies that haven't quite taken root.

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Discussion on "Severance"

Transitioning to current projects, Amy broaches the subject of Adam's involvement in the acclaimed series "Severance." She humorously admits her confusion over the show's complex ending, prompting Adam to share his experiences working on its intricate narratives.

Amy Poehler [35:48]: "What is happening on it? What is it? And what happened?"

Adam provides insight into the demanding production schedule of "Severance," detailing the rigorous process of juggling multiple characters and maintaining continuity.

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Podcasting and Personal Growth

Adam discusses his venture into podcasting, inspired by the need to connect with audiences and fellow creatives. He reflects on the balance between deep analytical discussions and light-hearted banter, highlighting the therapeutic aspect of the medium.

Adam Scott [48:09]: "It's so fun to just go back and really be able to watch the episodes as finished things."

This segment emphasizes Adam's commitment to his craft and his desire to engage with content in meaningful ways.

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Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Amy and Adam share heartfelt reflections on their time together on "Parks and Recreation." They celebrate the show's legacy and its impact on fans, expressing gratitude for the enduring friendships formed through their collaborative efforts.

Adam Scott [69:50]: "I love you, Amy. Thank you for having me. This is so fun."

Amy echoes these sentiments, underscoring the joy and fulfillment derived from creating such beloved television together.

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Notable Quotes

• Adam Scott [27:15]: "That show was everything. It just kind of eclipsed all other shows."
• Adam Scott [24:30]: "It's so funny. Everyone cares about each other, and it's super fun."
• Adam Scott [48:09]: "It's so fun to just go back and really be able to watch the episodes as finished things."

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of "Good Hang with Amy Poehler" offers an intimate glimpse into Adam Scott's career, his relationships within the acting community, and his personal experiences on set. The interplay between professional insights and personal anecdotes makes for a rich and engaging listen, perfectly aligning with the podcast's ethos of having a good time rather than dispensing advice.

Listeners who enjoy behind-the-scenes stories, heartfelt conversations, and the camaraderie of beloved actors will find this episode particularly rewarding.

Transcript

[Amy Poehler]

This episode is brought to you by J.C. penney. You know, I love surprising people. There's nothing like changing someone's day by saying something that they don't expect. And JCPenney brings that same wow. You know, that moment when someone's like, oh, my God, where'd you get that outfit? And then you just get to proudly smile and go, J.C. penney. And enjoy the stunned silence. JCPenney is giving main character energy. Okay. Every trip feels like you've stumbled into a secret style club packed with hidden gems, legit fashion, and prices that make you say, hold on, this is JCPenney scoring deals like that. Yep, it's the last great humble brag. So, yeah, I'm waking up anyone who's been sleeping on JCPenney. Shop jcpenney.com yes, JCPenney. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. I am so excited to talk to my TV husband, the father of my triplets, Adam Scott, AKA Ben Wyatt, Leslie Knope's dream come true. Adam Scott, incredible actor. And he just. I just loved talking to him today. And we really get into it. We talk about his love of U2. We talk about how he weirdly likes to drive barefoot. We talk about Parks and Rec, of course, and we give you a lot of juicy stuff there. And I try to figure out the crazy ending of Severance. And honestly, I don't know what's going on. So I try to have him help me understand that incredible show. But before we start, we always like to talk to people who know our guests and who want to give us a question. And we're going to keep this Parks and Rec reunion going today by talking to the one, the only, Nick Offerman. Nick, are you there? This episode of Good Hang is presented by Walmart. Now, everyone's talking about back to school outfits, and we all know how expensive that can be to get the shoes and the pants and the whole thing and the shirts and all the things that you need. But Walmart has the latest back to school styles for boys and girls starting at just $4. Who knew? So they've got graphic tees and joggers and colorful backpacks, Spider man hoodies, keychain charms, flannel shirts, flared jeans, Crocs. Flared jeans are back. I love it. Who knew? Shop Walmart.com to score their favorite back to school styles starting at just $4. Hi, Nick. Hello, Nick. You know what I love? Every time I see you, I never know what kind of hair situation I'm gonna get with you and you. And our guest Today, Adam Scott, Great heads of hair.

[Nick Offerman]

That's the main thing we have in common. Super, super cute guy in. In one instance. And donkey with great heads of hair.

[Amy Poehler]

Stop it. You are so handsome. I love to see you. Since I've seen you last in person, it's been a minute. And one of the best things about this podcast is getting to, like, talk to everybody again and spend time with everybody. And today I'm spending time with the great Adam Scott.

[Nick Offerman]

The greatest.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, you know, we're gonna talk about this when we're in person someday together. But I think that, you know, I know that the character of Ron Swanson is iconic, and it is in no small part to the way that you transform yourself and the way you approach your work. Because I met you in Chicago back in the day and you were coming to this work and in a much more. For lack of a better term, like, more prepared, actory space. And you're such a fine actor, and I can't wait to talk to you about it. And Adam, very similarly kind of came into the biz from that space, too.

[Nick Offerman]

He did. Thank you, by the way. I did not expect compliments today, but I.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, your people emailed me and said I needed to start with them, so.

[Nick Offerman]

So I thank you. And please thank them for me as well. Yeah, I love that about Adam. I love his. They hilariously asked me to write a little thing for Time magazine for, like, the hundred cool people right now. And it was so funny because they asked me to, like, sum up his thing, and they gave me like 650 words or something so brief that. And then they even cut paragraphs where I was like, come on, you guys. Like, this guy's career is hilariously varied and astonishing. And also risible. Like, he has literally done everything.

[Amy Poehler]

I'm just going to look up risible real quick.

[Nick Offerman]

It's a. It's you. You'll love risible. R, I, S, I, B, L, E. You love words.

[Amy Poehler]

You are. You've taught me a lot of words, risible, such as to provoke laughter. I should know that word.

[Nick Offerman]

You know, I love about him that he. He has done, like, Piranha 3D. Just wonderful. Like, B movie, schlot kind of stuff. Also crazy. What was that HBO show where he had. Apparently it was in his contract that he had to show his balls every episode.

[Amy Poehler]

Tell me you love me. He had a prosthetic penis. It was the first thing I saw of him.

[Nick Offerman]

Oh, my God. And he carried it off.

[Amy Poehler]

He sure did. Literally carried it off.

[Nick Offerman]

I guess you could have to say he pulled it off. He really pulled it off. I've known him for a long time. We did play workshops together like 20 plus years ago. And he was just this cool, funny guy. Like, if you get to step aside with Adam anywhere, he's just immediately the cool kid where he's. Whatever he says to you, you're like, oh, I just want to hang out with you, whatever this event is. I mean, getting to work with him finally on Parks and Rec, I always said. And to this day, I still feel like he's my favorite leading man that I've worked with because he's so authentic. He lets the dorky parts of himself shine. Even in severance, Adam's pure sort of youthful, juvenile otter like Persona comes out, even though he's like our romantic leading man. And I agree. It's so gorgeous to see him leading this massive artistic achievement.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I'm going to talk to him today about obviously when he joined our show and how what that felt like to jump onto a train that was already moving. But I realized I never talked to you. Look, you and I, I think, had such similar first day goals for the show, and it was to make good work and have a good time. And I feel like we, you know, you more than anyone at times really were my partner in that every day, and I'm so grateful for it. But was there when you remember him and Rob joining the show, what do you remember feeling about that at the time?

[Nick Offerman]

There was an excitement for sure. Adam was just coming off Party down, which Megan had worked on with him.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Nick Offerman]

And I was a really big fan.

[Amy Poehler]

Of your great wife, Megan Mullally. People should know your Tammy wife in life and on the show Tammy 2.

[Nick Offerman]

Plus, I remember being excited at the talent, but also having a little bit where we had maybe eight series regulars at the time. We were like, do we need two? Can we service two new hunks?

[Amy Poehler]

Do we have enough? Do we have enough hunk room? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I hear you. Okay, so I'm asking my zoomers to give me a question to ask my guest. So I was wondering if there's any question you think I should ask Adam today.

[Nick Offerman]

If I was just hanging with Adam, this is what I would ask him is. He's, he's. He's one of those guys who has a few dozen stories that I've never heard, even though I've heard dozens of just like luminaries that he's, you know, Scorsese. Put him in a Leo movie. Like he's done so much and casually and quietly been in so many great arenas. I would just say tell me a story about somebody who you would be starstruck with that I haven't heard that you've worked with.

[Amy Poehler]

That's a great question, Nick. I love that question. And you're right. There's a quiet experience that Adam doesn't brag about, certainly. But that like a lot. He's been on a lot of different sets with. Very interesting. To your point Luminaries.

[Nick Offerman]

He's been. He's been everywhere.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, friend, I hope I. I can't wait to get you in this seat. And it's a hot seat, man. And. And when we get. When you get here, I do want to talk more about facial hair. Cause I do think you've had to switcheroo so much in your life and your Ron's mustache is. I'm gonna put it up there in the Mount Rushmore of mustaches. And I miss you very much and love you and so appreciate you doing this.

[Nick Offerman]

Well, I miss you and love you as well and give my best to the gang and we'll be in touch.

[Amy Poehler]

All right, buddy. See you soon.

[Nick Offerman]

Cheers.

[Adam Scott]

Woo hoo hoo.

[Amy Poehler]

This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need from your sunny days delivered by Uber Eats. What do I mean by almost? Well, you can't get a summer blockbuster delivered, but you can get a block of cheese. A cabana, that's a no. But a banana, that's a yes. You know what I like to order from Uber Eats. Batteries. Don't eat batteries. But I often need batteries. And you can get batteries from Uber Eats. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Or order now. For alcohol, you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region. See app for details.

[Adam Scott]

Woo hoo hoo.

[Amy Poehler]

People haven't seen this feel. You can't. You can't hear it, but you can. Listeners, this is a heavy peach. You could kill someone with that peach. That's why I like it.

[Adam Scott]

Why is it. Is it a paperweight?

[Amy Poehler]

I guess it probably is. Doesn't smell.

[Adam Scott]

Does not. You know what it doesn't smell like is a peach.

[Amy Poehler]

Nope. Listeners, Adam Scott's just come into the studio and he's checking out all of the fake food. I knew you would love it.

[Adam Scott]

Peach still looks like a butt no matter what.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, peach is a butt. I mean, that's why you give send someone a peach emoji. You're like, you're like, hey, I like your butt. These are the miniature.

[Adam Scott]

I love it.

[Amy Poehler]

This doesn't get enough. Play this you might like. This is a felt sandwich. But guess what? You can take it apart.

[Adam Scott]

You can also take a bite if you want. I love a. You know. You know what we don't talk about enough is how great a good sandwich is.

[Amy Poehler]

What is your favorite sandwich? I like if you were to build a sandwich.

[Adam Scott]

Okay. First of all, it would need to be felt.

[Nick Offerman]

All of it.

[Adam Scott]

I just like if sandwich feels good in your hands.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

Two different cheeses. I mean, this is.

[Amy Poehler]

I don't know. This might be too much information, but I have a little bit of tmj. You do? Yeah. So it's hard. It's hard for me to open my mouth to eat a sandwich. I get nervous that I'm gonna get locked.

[Adam Scott]

Sure. Like this. And your arms too. Locked like this.

[Amy Poehler]

So a giant sandwich.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

But check this out. Bread.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. Tomato, tomato, some onion.

[Amy Poehler]

What the heck? What are we in California?

[Adam Scott]

I don't like AVO on a sandwich.

[Amy Poehler]

I don't either. Let's talk about it, because I feel like AVO makes it soggy.

[Adam Scott]

It also slides out.

[Amy Poehler]

That's what she said.

[Adam Scott]

It doesn't cooperate with the rest of the sandwich.

[Amy Poehler]

Speaking of avo.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Adam Scott is here, and he's a California kid. You're a California kid?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

You grew up in California.

[Adam Scott]

You love giving me shit about being a California person.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, you grew up in Santa Cruz and tell people how you used to drive.

[Adam Scott]

If you're wearing. This is a universal thing.

[Amy Poehler]

It definitely is.

[Adam Scott]

If you're wearing flip flops.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. Yeah. That's already. 80% of the world is already not.

[Adam Scott]

If you have to drive a car, it is unsafe to keep the flip flops on. You have to kick them off and drive barefoot.

[Amy Poehler]

People in Santa Cruz drive barefoot.

[Adam Scott]

Ridiculous.

[Amy Poehler]

And Adam one time casually was like, you know when you're, like, driving barefoot, I said, is your house on fire?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you forget your shoes?

[Amy Poehler]

But Santa Cruz people drive barefoot.

[Adam Scott]

If you keep your flip flops on, they can easily get, like, caught under the gas or the brake and then you're, you know.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I. That has happened to me when I'm driving a golf cart on vacation. I don't wear flip flops in life.

[Adam Scott]

Oh, so you've never entered a car with flip flops on?

[Amy Poehler]

I don't know if I ever have because, like, I feel like I'm going.

[Adam Scott]

To call bullshit on that right now.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, first of all, I don't like flip flops that have the thing. You probably. You know what? Santa Cruz probably loves this. The thing between the. The big toe and the.

[Adam Scott]

How else does a flip flop function? What kind of flip flops are you wearing?

[Amy Poehler]

I like a flip flop that. Well, I guess it's not a flip flop that has the thing over the foot.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, that's a sandal.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. I like a sandal.

[Adam Scott]

I don't like a flip flop. All right, all right. Agree to disagree.

[Amy Poehler]

Santa Cruz. It feels like you guys walked around flip flops all day and all these people.

[Adam Scott]

I remember I sent you a photo from Hawaii once. That's why I thought of Hawaii where I. I sent you a photo of my barefoot on a gas pedal and you were just like, nuh.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. So gr. Also truly like bare feet in general. Like, I'm a. I don't know.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Listen, how do you feel about bare feet?

[Adam Scott]

Okay. I'm. I don't, like, love bare bare feet and I don't wear flip flop flop. Like, I feel like in my 20s, I was fine with like, jeans and flip flops.

[Amy Poehler]

Sure.

[Adam Scott]

Which now I feel like nightmare should be illegal.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, we spent a lot of. Both of us spent a lot of time in New York City. Like, flip flops in New York City is.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, I know. It doesn't work. Doesn't work. It's gross.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, I guess Santa Cruz is nice, but how can you run away from those vampires?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. In flip flops. You can't do it.

[Amy Poehler]

My first introduction to Santa Cruz was the movie Lost Boys where there were hot vampires.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. Jason Patrick in 1987.

[Amy Poehler]

So how old were you? How old were you then when that movie came out?

[Adam Scott]

When they filmed it? I was 13. And my next door neighbor, Joe Ferrara, he owned the comic book store that they use in the movie. So I got to go on the set of Lost boys as a 13 year old and I met Joel Schumacher and I stood outside Corey Haim and Corey Feldman's trailers and watched them walk to their trailers and it was super exciting.

[Amy Poehler]

Wow.

[Adam Scott]

That's pretty much. But it was my comic book store. It was the comic book store I go to all the time. So I saw, like, how they made it look different for the movie. It was just. It was cool.

[Amy Poehler]

What comics were you into when you were a kid?

[Adam Scott]

I was into. I was into like the Freak Brothers and Fat Freddy's cat. Do you know what these.

[Amy Poehler]

Nope.

[Adam Scott]

So do you think I just made those up?

[Amy Poehler]

Fat Freddy's Cat.

[Adam Scott]

Fat Freddy's Cat. And the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. They were like stoner. They were comic books about stoners.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, interesting. So it wasn't more. It wasn't like the Marvel Universe, was it?

[Adam Scott]

I did that for. I dabbled in that. But I was kind of more into the weird, like Zippy the Pinhead and do you know who that is?

[Amy Poehler]

I think I remember that a little bit. Like, when I was older.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

There was. It was like alternative comic.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. And I don't know why I was into it, but I loved the Freak Brothers. And I wasn't smoking pot when I was like a little kid or anything. I just loved these comic books. I know you weren't.

[Amy Poehler]

You heard it here first, guys. Adam was not smoking.

[Adam Scott]

I mean, Santa Cruz. I guess it's kind of a toss up.

[Amy Poehler]

You just blow it in your car.

[Adam Scott]

They blow it into your car and make you take your shoes off. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

You just. Flip flops are made out of weed. I'm sure that's right.

[Adam Scott]

You have to smoke your flip flops.

[Amy Poehler]

I have now interviewed Rudd and Ham. Ham. I haven't gotten into the studio yet, but I did. He did. He, he.

[Adam Scott]

Oh, he did Rudd's thing.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. He zoomed in from a hot air balloon.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

[Amy Poehler]

But we talked a little bit about you guys all meeting and being like, you know, young bucks at the same time, which is really wild.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Where. And they've talked about you. Where did you see yourself in that trio? What. How would you describe. Because you're. What would you. How would you describe yourself? If you, like, which angel are you?

[Adam Scott]

That's so funny. It's true. I always kind of feel like sort of the little brother in that trio a little bit because I'm quite a bit younger than both of them. Obviously. That's like rumors, but pretty good. No, I feel like Rudd. I knew Paul. I knew first because we met. I met him at my graduation from acting school. He was. He was a speaker at the graduation and I'm.

[Amy Poehler]

He was.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Talking about acting?

[Adam Scott]

No, he was giving out an award and I was wearing, like this polyester red suit just because I. You know, you're just kind of looking for attention wherever you can get it, I guess, if you're graduating from theater school.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, that's so. That hit me really hard.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

That's so true. You're just like, I'm gonna wear. I'm gonna dress like a cowgirl or something.

[Adam Scott]

Oh, yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And you're like, I'm really. I'm really out there.

[Adam Scott]

Everyone's gonna just cheer for me just because I'm wearing this thing. But yeah, we. We. I remember we hung out afterwards and he was like, nice suit.

[Amy Poehler]

So it worked.

[Adam Scott]

It totally worked. But, yeah, so, so. So that was like 1993. So I've known Paul, and then we did a play together, which I think he brought up on your show in the fall of 1993. And I remember I got my first acting job while I was rehearsing that play. And my beeper kept going off while we were rehearsing. And the other guy in the scene kept turning it off passive aggressive. And it was. Yeah, yeah, turning, like, turning off that acting job for me.

[Amy Poehler]

He's like, no, yeah, exactly. She's like, we need you to be here.

[Adam Scott]

Trying to stand in front of that acting job.

[Amy Poehler]

Exactly.

[Adam Scott]

That guest spot on dead at 21, he didn't want anyone. He wanted to get that.

[Amy Poehler]

And that guy was Leonardo DiCaprio.

[Adam Scott]

That's right. That's right. And was never heard from again.

[Amy Poehler]

Nope, never worked again.

[Adam Scott]

So, yeah, so I knew Paul then, and then I met him, like, a few years later.

[Amy Poehler]

But, I mean, that is. That's a very. That's a very, like, Outsiders, Young Gun kind of vibe that you guys were all acting to get, like, trying to audition.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, and in. In the world. And in the world, you're very different. But I imagine, like, there was. I don't know, you could have done a lot of similar parts and probably auditioned for similar things.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. And I remember once, John and I were each doing a different csi. He was doing regular csi, I was doing CSI Miami, and we were shooting, like, near each other in Culver City or something and, like, met up to go get a beer afterwards. And I remember just kind of sitting there and just being like, how much longer do you think we're going to need to be, like, doing csi? Because it was years and years for both of us.

[Amy Poehler]

I know. I think it's super satisfying to talk to you about this stage of your career because, like, a lot of people I know, frankly, you had so much experience before a lot of America knew you. Like, and I was talking to, like, Nick about this earlier. Oh, I talked to Nick Offerman about it.

[Adam Scott]

Oh, you did?

[Amy Poehler]

I'm surprised. But he wanted to know, like, when. In that part of your career before we all met. And I think he was specifically talking about when you worked with Martin Scorsese. But, like, what. What was. When were you really starstruck during that time?

[Adam Scott]

I was always starstruck and never felt Comfortable partially because. And maybe it's similar for you, like, not growing up in Los Angeles or in show business at all. Like, having zero contact with it. Being on a TV show or being in a movie felt like going to the moon. So once you're there, it's just so crazy that there's a camera and there are lights and a famous person sitting next to you that I sort of. It took me a really long time, and I think probably hindered me. It's probably one of the reasons that I. That it took me a while, as I just never was able to relax because I was so freaked out by all of it.

[Amy Poehler]

Really?

[Adam Scott]

I think so.

[Amy Poehler]

Were you really anxious?

[Adam Scott]

Really anxious, but really nervous.

[Amy Poehler]

Nervous. And how did it manifest? Did it manifest?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, it manifested in me not being. And I think a part of it is. And it's something that I saw you doing pretty immediately when we started working together is you were like, you were good with all of it and comfortable with all of it, and you were able to share yourself with the camera, which is something that took me a long time to even realize was something you needed to do beyond figuring out what the scene was or the characters or anything like that. You just have to be able to open up and share yourself with it. Does that make sense?

[Amy Poehler]

It doesn't. It's so interesting because it's kind of like what we talked about, like, the way into. Like, when you. In any job, the way you enter can be kind of the thing that you identify with forever. Like, I'm this kind of person. I'm this kind of professional. And I always found, like, when I was in Chicago, and it's funny, like, Nick is a good example. Nick was in, like, the, like, serious theater scene. And there were the improvisers and, you know, people that came the comedy road. There were the serious actors who studied acting.

[Adam Scott]

Right.

[Amy Poehler]

And I used to find that they were so trained and so good, and I felt a little inferior in terms of skill, but I also thought they took things very seriously.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And because of it, they were missing that, like, play totally.

[Adam Scott]

Like, it was. All their work was done. When they got to set, I said.

[Amy Poehler]

This about you and Katherine Hahn, two very skilled actors who. Who. Who studied you. First of all, you knew your lines, which is important. Okay. That doesn't.

[Adam Scott]

Knew your lines.

[Amy Poehler]

I did, but I mean. I just mean. But I mean, you. You would both prepare in a way that was an, you know, part of the process of you working. And the preparation was really impressive.

[Adam Scott]

And.

[Amy Poehler]

And what I really loved about working with you and still do is you are one of those rare people that you. Maybe it was learned, maybe it didn't come right away, but you do have a big sense of play. You do not come in with some preconceived notion of how things should go. And you can straddle that, like, really good deep acting and really dumb fun.

[Adam Scott]

Right. But that's because. Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Go.

[Amy Poehler]

No. Why. Why do you think that's because.

[Adam Scott]

Well, I think that's because I was doing it with you.

[Amy Poehler]

But you were doing it before then, too.

[Adam Scott]

Not really.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, really Party Down.

[Adam Scott]

Right? But.

[Amy Poehler]

Party Step Brothers.

[Adam Scott]

But Party down was more scripted. I mean, we didn't have the, like, fun runs and stuff like we did on Parks. I think Martin Starr would improvise more than anybody. And stepbrothers, I was just, like, trying to keep my head above water. I'd never really improvised before, so I was like. It was one of the reasons, looking back, I once started really doing parks, and it's like, this is the way to do it. This is so fun. And it's no less satisfying than some serious thing. It's. It's all in there. The characters are bone deep. It's so funny. Everyone cares about each other, and it's super fun. So it made me kind of think, like, all those years I was wasting trying to, like, get three lines on NYPD Blue, I could have been trying to do something at Improv Olympic or. It just. It's just. You look back and you never know.

[Amy Poehler]

I can remember all the those years that we all did those movies, big and small parts in them, where improv was so important to make those movies come alive. But I remember there was, like, a tipping point for me one time in a movie that I did where, like, there was just, like, 10 people, like, shouting jokes at me about, like, do this. And. And I remember going like, oh, I don't even know what my character's name is. I don't. I don't even know what my character is.

[Adam Scott]

Right.

[Amy Poehler]

Like. And so I kind of.

[Adam Scott]

It's so interesting you say that because, like, it's around that time from, like, 2005 through, like, 2013, that was. The overwhelming culture on comedy sets was just a bunch of people screaming jokes at you and you just being like, yeah, okay.

[Amy Poehler]

Which one of us says. And they're like, either one.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, who cares?

[Amy Poehler]

Cool. Yeah. I've done a good job with my character. If either one of us can say this, Joe. No, I know. And I feel it's It's. And you, like, your career is so interesting. You have done so many different things. I think it's. What is. I know, for me, like, so exciting about this moment for you is that it's just. There's just really nothing you can't do, Adam.

[Adam Scott]

Oh, stop that.

[Amy Poehler]

It's so true, dude.

[Adam Scott]

It's so ridiculous.

[Amy Poehler]

But I think people like to know these things. Was there ever a part you auditioned for that you got close on that you didn't get?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, Six Feet Under. Yeah, that. That was the one that I didn't get.

[Amy Poehler]

And it's good for Michael C. Hall's.

[Adam Scott]

Michael C. Hall's role. And it's good that I didn't get it, because it wouldn't be nearly as good if I had done it, because he was perfect and incredible. He's incredible. And I wasn't ready, but.

[Amy Poehler]

You mean, like, it was between you and two other guys.

[Adam Scott]

He and I tested for it, and I believe that hurts. I. It was. It was the one where I was like, I might stop doing this. I think that it's time for me to, like, read the tea leaves and walk away.

[Amy Poehler]

People understand that enough. When you. We all have. When you lose a part and it's so close, and then the show is this hit, and you watch really is like.

[Adam Scott]

It's painful.

[Amy Poehler]

Someone. Your girlfriend in front of you.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. 100.

[Amy Poehler]

Just like, oh, my God, this show is so good. And he's so good at it.

[Adam Scott]

That show and that show was everything. Like, it just kind of, like, eclipsed all other shows. It was the show. I went and did a couple episodes as Michael's boyfriend. That's really, like, in season two, and.

[Amy Poehler]

And Michael was like, you want to see the trailer? You could have.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, yeah. Exactly. Everything he showed me is his bank account. No, he. He was lovely, of course. And. And it was fun and stuff, but, yeah, that was a blow. That was hard. But, you know, that's. It's also important that you have those. Those experiences.

[Amy Poehler]

Are you good in auditions, do you think?

[Adam Scott]

No, no, no, no. Terrible.

[Amy Poehler]

Me, too.

[Adam Scott]

I hated it so much. I was so nervous.

[Amy Poehler]

You were nervous?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. What about you?

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I was nervous, too, but the way I masked my nervousness was. Which is not a great quality, is I would get kind of, like. I would seem kind of ambivalent.

[Adam Scott]

Huh.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, I would get kind of. You know, when you get nervous, you get sleepy.

[Adam Scott]

Yep. Yep.

[Amy Poehler]

So I would be very nervous and just, like, stomach in knots and. And. And really psyching myself out of, like, just Go in there. Just. Just, you know, just do what you can do. Yeah, but that would tip over into.

[Adam Scott]

I don't care.

[Amy Poehler]

I don't care.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And what was your audition like for Park? Did you audition for Parks and Rock?

[Adam Scott]

No. No, I was lucky.

[Amy Poehler]

You just got. They just gave it to you.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, because Mike. I remember the day that my phone had you and Mike's names on the voicemail thing, and I was like, whoa, is this. Is it finally, like, happening to me? Because I. And I showed someone, like, look, Mike, sh. Amy Poehler. And then there was someone else who was calling me. It was like, suddenly, for whatever reason people were, there were incoming calls asking me to do stuff. And that had never happened before. I don't remember why that started happening on one particular day, but you left me a voicemail, and that was a huge deal. I'm sure I still have it.

[Amy Poehler]

Really?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, I'm sure I do.

[Amy Poehler]

We should put, like, a techno beat to it.

[Adam Scott]

Totally put it out. No, that's what. When I first heard it, I was like, this would make a great song. This would be a hit. This is catchy. How is this voicemail catchy to me? So wait, just. Yes. I just want to interject so I don't forget. That's what I do. I always forget shit that I was going to say. Every single day, someone tells me Parks got them through the pandemic. And I heard you mention it on a previous episode as well.

[Amy Poehler]

Every single day. People say, I watched it during COVID I watch it with my kid. My kid's going through a hard time. I like to watch it at night because I get. I have a lot of anxiety. Like, I cannot believe the way that that show continues to be a medicine for people. It's.

[Adam Scott]

It's so nice. Isn't that nice?

[Amy Poehler]

And Ben and Leslie.

[Adam Scott]

I know, I know. We just. Do you remember we were texting just a couple months ago and just kind of commented on how nice they are?

[Amy Poehler]

They're so nice. They're so much nicer than us.

[Adam Scott]

So much nicer.

[Amy Poehler]

And they're so nice to each other.

[Adam Scott]

I know.

[Amy Poehler]

And every. Every woman deserves a Ben. Every woman deserves a partner like Ben, who roots for you and, like, looks at you and is just like, that's my gal. Like, everyone deserves that kind of relationship.

[Adam Scott]

Leslie, from the word go, loved Ben. Oh, beyond, like, now looking back, it's like they were just in love with each other immediately.

[Amy Poehler]

And their arc was such. So juicy. The writers, Mike and the writers they meet, and they're just like, well, what's your deal?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. It was like. And then they like each other, but then they can't.

[Amy Poehler]

They can't be together.

[Adam Scott]

They can't be together. And she's like, really?

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, they probably could have been together.

[Adam Scott]

I know it didn't matter, but.

[Amy Poehler]

And then they had to.

[Adam Scott]

And Mike was like, this is totally fake and whatever, but we just need to have Rob care about you two being together. And it worked. And it was like, made it even hotter.

[Amy Poehler]

And Ben was like, I want you. Like, Ben kept putting Leslie's. You know what it is? They kept putting each other's needs over their own. They cared about what the other one needed and they respected each other. Like, they really liked what the other one did. And it was the best thing about that relationship is how, you know, with the exception of Anne, who is, of course, Leslie's number one.

[Adam Scott]

Of course I've accepted that.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Is the way that they. They just rooted for each other. Yes. They really rooted for each other.

[Adam Scott]

I haven't seen a ton of it. Makes me sad to watch the show because I miss it.

[Amy Poehler]

Why did you say that? Yeah, why does it make you sad?

[Adam Scott]

Because I miss it. Like you were saying, we really appreciated being there every day, and it was so fun. And also just sort of walking in that building and then suddenly you're there. And the hallways and the. It was so fun and the people just loved everybody. But I guess maybe it just. That's a good question. Why does it actually make me sad?

[Amy Poehler]

I think I know is cuz you're stuck in that fucking weird white hallways. You're running. I told Adam I was like, too much running.

[Adam Scott]

Too much running. Yeah, I know. I was so tired.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, just exhaust. And there's. You don't even know where you're going. I mean, every hallway looks.

[Adam Scott]

I know. Get lost. Get lost every day.

[Amy Poehler]

That's why.

[Adam Scott]

Exhausting and confusing. Yes, I know. Pawnee hallways.

[Amy Poehler]

People are dying in your new workplace. Like they're getting killed.

[Adam Scott]

Pawnee. Everyone's nice. There's a graphic painting of a massacre on the wall, but it's covered up.

[Amy Poehler]

That's true.

[Adam Scott]

That's okay.

[Amy Poehler]

It was a terrible massacre.

[Adam Scott]

But something I saw recently is our very first scene in that bar when.

[Amy Poehler]

Love that scene.

[Adam Scott]

Me too.

[Amy Poehler]

So well written, that scene.

[Adam Scott]

Yes. And we're having a beer and I say, Ben says, yeah, but you want to. You're going to run Fraud. And like, immediately just knows that Leslie has the. These ambitions.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Adam Scott]

That it seemed that you'd never Even said out loud before, but is 100% what you planned on doing? It was just such a great little.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. What they saw, they saw in each other. The dream for the other.

[Adam Scott]

That's right.

[Amy Poehler]

They just. They kept, like. They assumed the best and they saw the potential in each other, basically. I know. It was so fun to play that. And I was saying, too, that I. For this interview, I rewatched your first scene, which it's so good because Nick and I are on the. You know, Ron and I never sat on this. We never even sat down next to each other.

[Adam Scott]

Right. Usually you were at loggerheads.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, we were across from each other. And so it's like you've got the kind of like, Pawnee side. And then you and Rob come in with suits.

[Adam Scott]

Right.

[Amy Poehler]

And it's like, who are these whippersnappers? And I can remember that day because it was our first day of work. I think that was the first scene that we did. And it played really well because it was like, who is this new person?

[Adam Scott]

Who are these guys? Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Do you remember when we were younger and there was the ice cream truck and we could hear the sound of it coming and we knew that the ice cream inside were so memorable. It was summertime, baby. If you know what I'm talking about here. Then get ready for your new summer obsession. Hint Water. You've gotta check out their limited edition summer Classics variety pack. It's water with fruit essences and delicious flavors like Orange Vanilla Swirl and Cherry Berry Burst. I am gonna choose Lemon Zest Freeze because it is a tasty twist on a familiar classic. Lemony, creamy, and bright. Somehow this actually tastes like your favorite childhood treats without any of the sugar, calories, or sweeteners. So if you want to feel good and actually enjoy drinking water this summer, check out Hint Summer Classics now while they last.

[Adam Scott]

Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without your knowing.

[Amy Poehler]

If anyone's ever said you snore loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability, and concentration issues.

[Adam Scott]

It may be due to osa.

[Amy Poehler]

OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation.

[Adam Scott]

Learn more@don'tsleeponosa.com this information is provided by Lilly USA, LLC.

[Amy Poehler]

What was it like to join a show that was in motion that you had watched already on tv?

[Adam Scott]

It was so weird, but immediately fun. Like, even the first table read, I remember, I was like. I got. I walked in the room, like, one minute after I was supposed to be there. So I was already, like, thrown. Like, I'm late to my first Jesus Christ. And. But it was immediately so warm and welcoming and super fun, people. Everybody's laughing at the incredible jokes in the script. But then when we started shooting, I mean, you. You know, it was. It was a welcoming place that immediately kind of fostered. Encouraged your best, but also to take swings and shots without any sort of fear of doing the wrong thing. That was just never really there.

[Amy Poehler]

And then that short season was kind of short when we started because I was preggers. And it's not always easy, like, getting chemistry going with a gal who's, like, hiding her stomach behind a box.

[Adam Scott]

It's so easy.

[Amy Poehler]

But it was so easy. I remember just being like, oh, bless your heart, Adam. The other thing I just like that I feel like I am proud of. During that is the way in which. And I said it before, but I feel like the way in which, in real time. It's a job that I felt the most present in SNL felt like a speeding train, an emergency room. And I learned really fast and hard lessons really fast. And everyone on Parks. I felt like we were all kind of in this tender bubble because we often thought we were going to get canceled, where we just kind of knew what we had. I don't know.

[Adam Scott]

I think that you guys did a really good job because all this stuff about us almost getting canceled, I think we all kind of sensed something, but I don't think any of us except you and I think you and Mike protected us from a lot of that, which is great producing and really taking care of all of us. I don't think we were ever quite. I've kind of heard all of it since, but it was pretty tenuous there at the end of the seasons.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

Which is scary.

[Amy Poehler]

You're a great producer. What do you like about producing?

[Adam Scott]

Speaking of producing, that's nice of you to say. I learned a lot watching you work and working with you, both as a producer, but also as the lead actor. Like, you really kind of set the template for me, truly how everyone should and deserves to be treated, cast and crew and all of that. I always kind of. Directing specifically is like. Because you're looking at a monitor all day, it's like getting to watch television, which is, like, one of my favorite things to do, except you get to go in and try to make it better. And producing is somewhat similar. In that you're spending all of your time just trying to nitpick and find all of the things that don't work and find solutions for all of them, or making sure everybody's happy and feeling good about what they're doing. That's another important component that I really learned from you and Mike, too. It's so important that everybody is feeling like they're a part of it, like a useful cog in the machine, and that it's a satisfying job for them.

[Amy Poehler]

Now, do you guys have for severance, which, by the way, congratulations.

[Adam Scott]

Thanks.

[Amy Poehler]

And get that Emmy speech ready, baby. Get that Emmy speech ready, honey, please. But. Get it ready. But when you. When you shoot that show, is it. I just feel like it's a really. I mean, it's so beautifully shot. You have such great set design. You have tons of, like. It just seems like it's a long. How many days take is one episode take?

[Adam Scott]

Well, it depends.

[Amy Poehler]

It's long, right?

[Adam Scott]

It's long. The season two, I think it was 186 days.

[Amy Poehler]

Wow.

[Adam Scott]

For the season, which is a long time. You know, I mean, I think, like, one episode took, like, six weeks, and then I think it's kind of average out because we shoot them, like, three at a time, all mixed up together.

[Amy Poehler]

Crossboard is the part. You do that. Okay. Yeah, yeah.

[Adam Scott]

Season one, we shot the entire thing at once. So, like, in month nine, we were still shooting scenes from the first episode. But the thing that that did, the accidental thing that that did, is, you know, the first few episodes of any show are a little shaky, and everyone's finding their tone a little bit or characters or whatever. It spread that out over the entire season. So it kind of felt more or less fully realized, you know, in a way, fully realized from the start. But the shaky scenes are kind of distributed over the course of. Over the course of the course of the season.

[Amy Poehler]

You have to do so much switcheroo in that show. I mean, like, you have to act against yourself. You have to just figure out versions of yourself, truly, that change mid scene, let alone mid sentence. Do you have a script supervisor or a graph or someone that keeps that? How do you keep track of that?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, that's a good question. In season one, I remember I had heard that Michael Keaton had this big, like, these big poster boards for Multiplicity where he kept track of all of his characters. And I got large, like, construction paper. I remember I was staying in Aziz's apartment in season one, and so I was like. I remember speaking, putting it out on the floor and getting like a marker and drawing a line and like trying to like, mark down, like the scenes and the episodes. And eventually was like, I don't know what I'm. And I just stopped doing that. I just gave up. But I think it's. You just sort of map it out and then just like a math problem, you just try to kind of lock in what's going on, particularly if you're shooting it all at once. You have to sort of make some decisions. And. And we would go back and forth between characters. Sometimes in. In one, like in the morning we would do innie stuff and in the afternoon do Audi stuff.

[Amy Poehler]

Ah, interesting.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. And so.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, that's interesting.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

So you'd like any before lunch, outie. After lunch.

[Adam Scott]

That's right. Which is good because you're slowed down afterwards.

[Amy Poehler]

You want to let it outie.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, yeah, you got to get it outie.

[Amy Poehler]

You got to get it outie.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, yeah, you let it any. And you got to get it outie.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, it's such a, such an indication of how well that show trapped us because in the, in this last season, just so incredible. The finale was so incredible.

[Adam Scott]

Thanks. What?

[Amy Poehler]

Your wife, right? She went pretty hard to get back to you.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, I know, dude, I know. Were you pissed? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And Brit is incredible. I got to do a movie with Brit.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, that's right. You guys did.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, we did this movie, Sisters, and she was so fun in it and so she's great in the show, but.

[Adam Scott]

Well, what other choice was any mark in the world?

[Amy Poehler]

I don't know the choice whether you're going with your wife.

[Adam Scott]

So walk out the door and like, end your life. And yes, you go to the door. That's the choice you would.

[Amy Poehler]

What do you mean, end your life?

[Adam Scott]

He walks out that door, he doesn't know if he's ever coming back. He walks out that door, he becomes his Audi. He doesn't know if that Audi is ever going to walk back in that building.

[Amy Poehler]

But that building is not great.

[Adam Scott]

No, but it's better than not existing.

[Amy Poehler]

But is it?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, I don't know. That's a good question. I don't know.

[Amy Poehler]

It was such a good ending. It was like standing up, shouting at the TV ending. It was so good and you played it so well and it was so exciting to watch. That ending was so satisfying.

[Adam Scott]

You were nice. You texted me like right after and you, you text pretty promptly after things and it always means the most when you text me. It really does.

[Amy Poehler]

I Mean, it means the most that I get to have friends. I mean, kid, for people listening, can you imagine your favorite tv? It's the best feeling in the world, your favorite TV show, and then you get to text the person on it immediately and be like, what the fuck?

[Adam Scott]

Right, Right.

[Amy Poehler]

And, you know, and it's not like you get any spoilers, but you just get to, like, be like. You get to process.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, I think growing up, if I ever, you know, if I'd ever been able to, I don't know, text Molly Ringwald.

[Adam Scott]

Right.

[Amy Poehler]

And be like, dude, you. Why didn't you pick Ducky?

[Adam Scott]

Ducky, man.

[Amy Poehler]

Ducky was the dude.

[Adam Scott]

Um. Or like, I remember I wrote viewer mail to David Letterman and just never. You know, it just kind of went off and disintegrated in the mail.

[Amy Poehler]

And you're like, dave.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, Dave.

[Amy Poehler]

Hey.

[Adam Scott]

I remember I came up with this whole thing that I thought they would use to create a bit around that I thought would be so lame.

[Amy Poehler]

People should know this about you. You have great hair. And you do not have a system. That is your hair.

[Adam Scott]

Do you mean, like a toupee?

[Amy Poehler]

I don't know. Just. You don't have a system. Whatever that is. There's nothing wrong with having it.

[Adam Scott]

No, look, there is nothing wrong with a system.

[Amy Poehler]

Wrong with a hair system.

[Adam Scott]

There's nothing wrong.

[Amy Poehler]

Men and women. I'm just saying that Adam has great hair, and you. Do you think it's because you're Scottish. Aren't you Scottish?

[Adam Scott]

And I'm Scottish. I'm Sicilian.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. That maybe it's that.

[Adam Scott]

I don't know. But also, I started taking Propecia when I was, like, 30 years old.

[Amy Poehler]

Really?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, it started. It started coming out pretty, like, when I was, like, 30. Ish. Yeah. I mean, everyone on Parks remember all the guys had great hair.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. And all the men and Catherine Hahn had great hair. And then. I don't think Rashida would mind or Aubrey would mind that we all felt like we had.

[Adam Scott]

Why?

[Amy Poehler]

Our hair was. It was just. It's just thin, but it was. All the men would just have these, like, giant heads of hair.

[Adam Scott]

That's right.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, and just. And just. I mean, Nick would grow a beard in a day.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, he would. Yeah. Yeah. That mustache is like, what is it, 45 minutes? He can grow that.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, he can grow it in 45 minutes. If he just goes.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. He has to push really hard.

[Amy Poehler]

But one more severance question, which is, what is happening on it? What is it? And what. What happened?

[Adam Scott]

Right. What's Going on?

[Amy Poehler]

What's going on?

[Adam Scott]

What happened?

[Amy Poehler]

What is it?

[Adam Scott]

What is it?

[Amy Poehler]

But you do host a podcast. How has that been?

[Adam Scott]

Ben and I host it.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. How has it been doing that? Like, what's it like to talk about the show that you're.

[Adam Scott]

It's actually been. Originally, it was actually Naomi's idea. She was like, you guys, like. Because it had been three years since season one, we were just like, we were just worried about everyone that watched the first season coming back. So we're just trying to think of ways to. And Naomi thought, you know, you guys should do this. And it actually was. It's so fun to just go back and really be able to watch the episodes as finished things and talk over it with the actors or, you know, crew members or whomever and kind of talk about it as audience members and kind of dipping into what we remember, what we intended, and, you know, all that stuff. Cool.

[Amy Poehler]

And do you remember the YouTube podcast you used to do with Aukerman?

[Adam Scott]

Yes. What if I didn't remember it?

[Amy Poehler]

Do you remember? That's such a bad question. Do you remember?

[Adam Scott]

No, that's like a. Because it's something that you could forget.

[Amy Poehler]

People also don't know that you did a podcast about YouTube and it was.

[Adam Scott]

Called you talking U2 to me.

[Amy Poehler]

Why? Why did you do a podcast about YouTube?

[Adam Scott]

We did it because we found out that we were both U2 fans and there was something funny doing it. Doing it because U2 is so huge. There was something funny about doing. It's almost like doing a podcast about, like Sizzler or something. I love YouTube, but they're big. And so I don't know, it's hard to pinpoint exactly why it's funny to do the thing. And that wasn't the right analogy. But we both found out that Kulops, Scott's wife, and Naomi, my wife, were sick of hearing about YouTube and didn't want to talk about it anymore. And so we. I think maybe Seth Meyers said something on this show about being a middle aged man. If you want to have middle aged male friendships, you need to do a podcast together.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my God, yes. Yeah. I mean, it is it. It's. One of the things I love about you is you have a very back of the classroom style of comedy. Like, you are a side. Like you're the, like out of your mouth talk. You're a shit talker. Not in a bad way, but you, like, you know, you are, you are. You can be like the. A love tap from Adam is like a Quick. You know, to me, that's what intimacy is, is when you can, like, shit talk your friends and you like to mumble out of the side of your mouth in the back of the class.

[Adam Scott]

Sure, sure.

[Amy Poehler]

But what comes. What. What's great about that is along with that comes, like, you, like, deep dives into.

[Adam Scott]

Dumb stuff.

[Amy Poehler]

Dumb stuff? Yeah, like getting dumb stuff and. And like, elevating it, by the way you talk about it. Have you always been like that? Maybe because you were a big TV and movie fan growing. Like, you just were a kind of a nerd in that way. When you talked about comic books, I mean.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, I know there's nothing nerdier than a fucking comic book, but, like, particularly Fat Freddy's cat. Yeah, I think that. And I think doing it on a podcast is extra good because you can edit it and make it shorter.

[Amy Poehler]

Now that you're my. We're the same age. Are you, like a year younger than me?

[Adam Scott]

I think we're the same age.

[Amy Poehler]

Or do you have, like, hobbies now that you're getting into? Like, you know how we are. Like, that happens to us, like, where we're like, I want to start sculpting.

[Adam Scott]

Gardening.

[Amy Poehler]

Gardening stuff. Like, do you do that?

[Adam Scott]

No, I've never. I have, like, in the garages, like, a bicycle and a. What did I have? I had a telescope that I got, like, a really nice telescope and never once used it. A bicycle that I rode once. I don't. I've been looking for. I don't. I. I like working and. And I like. Did you have a thing?

[Amy Poehler]

No. It's funny you say that about a telescope. That is such a. Like, you know what? I'm gonna get a nice telescope.

[Adam Scott]

Telescope.

[Amy Poehler]

I deserve it.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, I know. Look at the stars.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, who are we?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

On this tiny marvel.

[Adam Scott]

It's a moon. It's up there every night. I've never taken a good look at it, and then I just never looked at it.

[Amy Poehler]

Just cut to a dusty place to hang your clothes.

[Adam Scott]

I don't care about the moon that much.

[Amy Poehler]

I guess what I'm asking underneath that question is, like, you've been working really hard for a long time. What's your relationship to work and to hard work and. Do you.

[Adam Scott]

That's a good question. I feel like it's. It's all mixed up and somewhat dysfunctional. You know what I was thinking about actually, and it's sort of on the same line of thinking is, is that you mentioned SNL earlier. And something that I realized recently was when I really kind of met you and got to know you. SNL was only like, what, two years ago, a year and a half before Parks.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

Like, it was a fresh thing. And what an intense experience and what a giant change, work wise from that environment and the pressure of that to the pressure of. Of parks, which was an enormous amount of pressure, but entirely different. It must have been. That must have been something that you. That took a while to kind of settle and grapple with.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. I mean, the. What I was lucky about, almost was how much I had to do. I felt like if I had been playing, if Leslie Knope was a character that worked three days a week, I feel like I would have been struggling because to your point, I just had to. I made a lot of. I feel like, swings and misses in the beginning. The show kind of did too. Right. I think we were all trying to figure out what the show was, and I think it just took me a while to settle down. You know, I used to make a joke when I would be in people's movies. I'd be like, you know, when you get into someone else's car and the music's too loud, that may be how I am. Like, feel free to turn me down. Interesting. I think it took a while. And honestly, Adam, so much of it was our work together, where I felt, like, grounded on the ground as a performer enough to just settle. Because so much of the beginning was sketch energy, which is different.

[Adam Scott]

Right. Which is all about right now. We gotta, like, make it great. I mean, I don't know. I'm just guessing that it's all about, like, an immediate thing that you have to put everything into.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

And. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. And I think one of the things that was so fun about what we got to do is the camera helped us. At least it helped me have my feelings about, you know, I tell people, like, of course you. Of course we love Ben. We got to like Ben. We watch Ben, watch Leslie, and we love Leslie. So, like, when people love Leslie, we love them. And we got to watch Ben love her because the camera watch, like, we got to do so much indirect stuff. Like, we didn't have to face to face all the time. We had feelings. Our characters had feelings for each other because of the camera. That's right, though. Even though. I mean. And it's such a beautiful genre, that mockumentary. Cause it allows you to just even create space and depth in the shot. People are just not in the same room.

[Adam Scott]

That's right. And like, I remember we always used to say, we Loved it when there were spy shots through, like, blinds because it made our acting better. Do you remember that?

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Adam Scott]

Do you also remember this thing we used to do where sometimes we would be doing a scene and we'd be like, okay, I can't. I'm not someone who can predict the future 100%. But I will say it was, like, a couple times a season. I will say. I can say with 100% certainty that neither of us will ever win an award for acting for this scene. You would say it sometimes. And sometimes.

[Amy Poehler]

Let's just. I mean. And also on the other side, I would sometimes say, you know, I said this on the podcast. Like, I would say, like, Adam, your acting is so good. You'd be like, shut up. We're in the middle of the scene. Like, because it was like, oh, my God. I mean, but. Oh, yeah. I mean, that's what I love about working with you. And I just feel like before we end, like, I just want to feed our fans a little bit more, which is. What do you think was the most romantic scene between Bennett.

[Adam Scott]

Leslie. Oh, man, it's so sweet.

[Amy Poehler]

I know. But what's the most.

[Adam Scott]

The most romantic? I think. I think. Well, there are a couple of nominees.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay.

[Adam Scott]

But I think. I think maybe Smallest park, because I.

[Amy Poehler]

Just heard a little groan. I hope it's a good groan.

[Adam Scott]

Someone just being like.

[Amy Poehler]

I love Smallest Parks.

[Adam Scott]

Me too.

[Amy Poehler]

Nicole Hollis centered a great.

[Adam Scott]

Chelsea wrote that.

[Amy Poehler]

Chelsea Peretti wrote that episode.

[Adam Scott]

And I remember really, like, feeling connected shooting that and just being like, this is kind of feeling, like, how special it was.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[Adam Scott]

Making the show. And that was. Yeah, that was. But I don't know. What. What do you think?

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I have a lot. I. I mean, I feel like that was such a big one. I feel like some of the. I have such a affinity for the beginning. Beginnings parts of Ben and Leslie, because I do think it also just reminded me of, like, we were, you know, the show was deciding that they were gonna love each other, too.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And I really love this tiny moment when they realize they have they, like, the same spot when they like to sit under the sunflower mural. Well, I love that moment.

[Adam Scott]

When I ask you if you know where that mural is, and your response is, really, It's a rewindable moment.

[Amy Poehler]

I love that moment between both of us because. And, of course, Parks then pays it off years later, years later by sitting underneath it.

[Adam Scott]

Yep.

[Amy Poehler]

I also. You know, when we shot Ben and Leslie's wedding, it was so fun. It was like we were all just Sitting there all day, goofing around, and it was so fun.

[Adam Scott]

And, like, I think we had real champagne too. Maybe.

[Amy Poehler]

Probably did. Yeah, he probably did. And then that probably became a problem later in the day.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, probably champagne. Not something to have when you're. When you have, like a 10 hour work day ahead of you.

[Amy Poehler]

Speaking of champagne, maybe our fans would like to know that on our last day of shooting or one of our last days, like, speaking of, like, romantic goodbyes, we all climbed up on the top of the hair and makeup trailer and, like, did a big toast up there. Because we shot at a studio called CBS Radford. And it was very, like, we wrote our names on the wall. We were sharing a studio who had been there before. Malcolm in the Middle.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And maybe Sein.

[Adam Scott]

No, Seinfeld was on the lot, but not that particular stage. Naomi and I have our office at Radford.

[Amy Poehler]

You do?

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. And I walk over there all the time.

[Amy Poehler]

That would have been my first time really shooting anything on a studio. I had never had, like, a studio experience before and I was so lucky to do it there. But, yeah, we, like, got up on the trailer. I mean, there was just so many proper goodbyes for that show. We really. And Mike and the writers really landed that plane.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. And that's rare.

[Amy Poehler]

I know.

[Adam Scott]

Like, that is so rare. Are you asked all the time if there'll be more parks or a reboot or something? I always feel like that's. It's been. It's done. Like, it was perfectly done. Like, how do you do that perfectly?

[Amy Poehler]

Maybe they should do, like, Muppet Babies. They should do, like, Parks and Rec babies.

[Adam Scott]

That's right.

[Amy Poehler]

Like, everyone is.

[Adam Scott]

All of us. Like that in Instagram thing where everyone's.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, yeah, babies. They should do AI Babies.

[Adam Scott]

But like a whole series.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

Of all of us just in a crib together.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. But they should do it, like, present day, where, like, politics are really dark and mean. And so it should be like, tiny babies fighting each other.

[Adam Scott]

They hate each other. It's like apocalyptic political babies.

[Amy Poehler]

And they all, like, are like, oh.

[Adam Scott]

No, I hate you so much.

[Amy Poehler]

Yay. I mean, yay.

[Adam Scott]

I hate you. Because we made the show in an era where public service was encouraged and valued.

[Amy Poehler]

Right.

[Adam Scott]

And funded.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes, it was.

[Adam Scott]

Or, I mean, you know, I'm sure it wasn't as funded as much as it should have been, but it was funded at least. It's an entirely different tone to American life.

[Amy Poehler]

I know it's. And you know, the many fun town halls that we used to have to do. Were so fun to sit together and do those and just have people like just come up and score and be so funny.

[Adam Scott]

The funniest people coming and doing stuff on the show.

[Amy Poehler]

We had the best. Best rotating cast of geniuses come through there. In fact, a lot of people should know that at the end of the year when we made the show. Made like a yearbook and it was a list of every single person that's been in the show. And by the way, RIP Jonathan Joss, Ken Hotate.

[Adam Scott]

What a sweetheart.

[Amy Poehler]

Sweet man.

[Adam Scott]

And funny.

[Amy Poehler]

Very funny. And so sad for him and his family and his husband. You know when you have that feeling sometimes like you wish you could go back to high school and enjoy it.

[Adam Scott]

Right.

[Amy Poehler]

That's how it felt. Like we actually got to do it in real time.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. Because it was genuinely goofy and funny.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

Like the best jokes.

[Amy Poehler]

What is your. What's your. One of your favorite. What is one of the favorite funny scenes you got to do? So many.

[Adam Scott]

So many. I mean, I always think of you guys on the. On. On the ice. At the ice skating rink with Gloria Estefan.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

I mean, that is. I remember at the table read. That was. We couldn't stop laughing because it was so funny.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Mike Scully wrote that episode and Mike Scully's the best. We got to walk across that ice. And I remember just thinking, this is so fun. Oh, my God, what a fun.

[Adam Scott]

I wasn't even in that scene.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, that's right. That's right.

[Adam Scott]

Sorry.

[Amy Poehler]

We should probably just Photoshop you.

[Adam Scott]

We should put me in that scene. That's why I brought it up. I feel like it would I deserve it.

[Amy Poehler]

You know, my kids watched the show during the pandemic like everyone else did, and I rewatched a lot of stuff and it was so fun because I remembered the feeling of how everything was to shoot it, but I didn't remember what was going to happen.

[Adam Scott]

It is weird to watch yourself doing something and have no recollection of it happening in your life. It's so strange.

[Amy Poehler]

What are you. I asked this to everybody. Like, what are you laughing at right now? I mean, first of all, you. You know. Do you. You're very serious now.

[Adam Scott]

That's right. I don't thank you for acknowledging that. I don't laugh anymore.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, you're. All you're doing is running and typing.

[Adam Scott]

And if you'll. I don't know if you notice, but while I'm running, I'm not laughing.

[Amy Poehler]

Not at all. I didn't see you crack a smile once.

[Adam Scott]

Because it's hard to laugh while you're running. Because it's. It's not funny.

[Amy Poehler]

You're running for your life.

[Adam Scott]

That's right.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

I gotta get there, like as fast as possible.

[Amy Poehler]

And again, I'd love to ask you where. Where are you going?

[Adam Scott]

Where am I going?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Adam Scott]

I'm going down the hall. Gotta. Gotta run down the hall. What am I. What are you.

[Amy Poehler]

Are you watching anything? Are you like, anything?

[Adam Scott]

Like, super funny?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. What are you, like. What are you Naomi liking right now? Or did you see something recently or.

[Adam Scott]

You know what I've been watching recently is I've been rewatching all Sex and.

[Amy Poehler]

The City, the Ridge.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. It's incredible. So fucking good.

[Amy Poehler]

So good.

[Adam Scott]

It is so good.

[Amy Poehler]

Such a love letter to that time period.

[Adam Scott]

Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

Were you ever on it? Because every actor. Actor I know is on it.

[Adam Scott]

Justin Theroux, Bobby Cannavale. Will.

[Amy Poehler]

Yep.

[Adam Scott]

Everybody.

[Amy Poehler]

Yep. Slattery.

[Adam Scott]

Slattery. Elizabeth Banks.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. It's a real who's who.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, everybody in New York. But it is so good. And to. Something I like doing is watching it and just kind of thinking about all of this happening for the first time. Like women sitting at a table together, talking about what? Whatever. Talking about themselves and talking about, like, how weird someone's cum smells. It's just like, holy shit, this is incredible. Like, that has never been on TV before, let alone said out loud for people. And just how Samantha is just the most sex positive. Like, incredible. Like not a moment of embarrassment.

[Amy Poehler]

Never.

[Adam Scott]

Like, so cool.

[Amy Poehler]

So good.

[Adam Scott]

And Sarah Jessica Parker is so great at being the center of a show, servicing everybody else, but also keeping that motor going in the middle. It's so good.

[Amy Poehler]

There's a couple shows that make me, when I'm in Los Angeles, really miss New York. Old Sex and the City and Law and Order.

[Adam Scott]

Oh, yeah, sure. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Were you on Law and Order?

[Adam Scott]

I was on Law and Order once. You weren't on Law and Order?

[Amy Poehler]

No, that was my dream.

[Adam Scott]

Really?

[Amy Poehler]

Never. I mean, I didn't see. I wasn't auditioning in that way. I didn't think I was a tough actor, but I wanted to be on Law and Order so bad.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

What was your character? Why do I not know that? You should know this.

[Adam Scott]

Timothy Dinkins. I don't know what the name was.

[Amy Poehler]

We can look it up.

[Adam Scott]

I was working at the grocery store arranging fruits or vegetables when they came up and first started talking to me. And I remember my agent at the time calling me right after it aired and being like, you don't know how to handle those vegetables. Like you weren't doing anything.

[Amy Poehler]

Who were the peeps? That was it. The Orbach years.

[Adam Scott]

It was. No, it was Dennis Farina. Dennis Farina, who was so cool. And Jesse L. Martin.

[Amy Poehler]

L. Martin.

[Adam Scott]

Fantastic.

[Amy Poehler]

Did you meet S. Apatha? Who I. Apatha. If you. If you're listening, I need to get you on the show.

[Adam Scott]

She's great.

[Amy Poehler]

She's incredible.

[Adam Scott]

Sam Waterston? Yep.

[Amy Poehler]

So you went to the court.

[Adam Scott]

You got to the law.

[Amy Poehler]

The law part.

[Adam Scott]

Pablo Schreiber and I were in court together and he ended up being guilty, and I was the red herring, I think.

[Amy Poehler]

What were you accused of doing?

[Adam Scott]

Probably killing someone. I don't totally remember.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, we're gonna watch.

[Adam Scott]

You have your. Are you finding my character's name? And if it's Timothy. Whatever. I said, that would be amazing.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay. Timothy Dinkins.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

Timothy Dinkins was Adam Scott on Law and Order. Okay. The trail leads to a pair of perpetrators. Another mercenary played by Pablo Schreiber and the brother of one of Schreiber's fellow mercenaries, who was killed in a roadside ambush by presumably Al Qaeda.

[Adam Scott]

God, I don't know the brother.

[Amy Poehler]

You forgot the Al Qaeda part.

[Adam Scott]

I did.

[Amy Poehler]

The brother is Adam Scott and he is the only true innocent.

[Adam Scott]

That's right.

[Amy Poehler]

And the o. The whole.

[Adam Scott]

That's right. Wow. Thank you.

[Amy Poehler]

That's. I wanted to play a. I wanted to play the opposite.

[Adam Scott]

See, because you wanted to be a.

[Amy Poehler]

I wanted to be like the one that you would not suspect. And then it's like I burned the whole place. I wanted to be a pyro because I felt like of all.

[Adam Scott]

You wanted to specifically be a pyromaniac.

[Amy Poehler]

I wish I wanted to be like a baby faced pyro. Someone who just is like, you know, she seems like she's helping the police, and then she's like, they deserved it.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

You know, whatever kind of weird psycho thing. Okay, so Sex in the City is what you're watching and laughing at.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, I'm. I. It's great. And you know, when you're. I saw something recently that said. That repeated. If you have the urge to watch something you've seen before and repeat viewings is a sign of a particular kind of intelligence. Oh, yeah. No, this is real.

[Amy Poehler]

It's a sign of intelligence.

[Adam Scott]

Intelligence. I saw this on. On Instagram.

[Amy Poehler]

Where did you see this on.

[Adam Scott]

On Instagram.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay.

[Adam Scott]

Yeah, it just. And it was a picture of someone watching tv, and it just said that there was no nothing to back it up. And I was like, oh, great. We'll watch more Sex in The City.

[Amy Poehler]

On Dr. Instagram.

[Adam Scott]

Frank. My daughter and I just flew together from New York, like, night before last. And we got on the plane, and I got in my seat, and she was across the road from me. And I got in and, like, suddenly and started watching Sex in the City that I had downloaded because I. And she was like, dad, are you watching more Sex in the City? Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

I love you.

[Adam Scott]

I love you, Amy. Thank you for having me. This is so fun.

[Amy Poehler]

We were really excited to do this one today.

[Adam Scott]

Oh, that's very nice. I love being here. Thank you.

[Amy Poehler]

Come back when we do our big. We'll do a big park show, or.

[Adam Scott]

We can do Philly justice again.

[Amy Poehler]

Today's polar plunge is brought to you by Wayfair, here to help you make your home a happy place. Well, that was an amazing episode with Adam. We got so deep. I love talking to him, and he's just the best. And he mentioned Six Feet Under, a show that he got close to booking, and that did remind me of the Parks finale. You know, for people that watch the end of Parks and Recreation creation, Mike Scher and I were talking about the idea that in comedies, you don't always get to see the future. You don't always get to see what happens to these characters that you've grown to love. And so we were so blown away by the Six Feet under finale, and I think we were heavily influenced by the idea of that when we wrote the finale of Parks and Recreation. So watch Six Feet Under. And honestly, it's so good. I mean, and better because Adam didn't get cast in it. You know what I mean? Michael hall is incredible. So, you know, Adam's loss is our win. And check that show out. And, you know, as always, thank you for caring so deeply about Parks and Rec, because I do, too. Wayfair makes it easier to turn your home into your happy place, express your style, and create a space you love with everything from cozy sofas to. To stylish decor and smart essentials with free shipping and easy setup. Head over to Wayfair.com and find something that's just your style today. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com Wayfair Every style, every home. Thanks for Good Hang and we'll see you soon. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by by the Ringer and Paper Kite for the Ringer. Production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaia McMullen and Aleya Zaneris. For Paper Kite production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Mill.