Good Hang with Amy Poehler: "Favorite 'Parks and Rec' Memories"

Date: March 3, 2026
Podcast: Good Hang with Amy Poehler (The Ringer)
Episode Theme: Celebrating the best, funniest, and most meaningful memories from 'Parks and Recreation' with creator Mike Schur, and cast members Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Kathryn Hahn, Paul Rudd, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, and more.

Episode Overview

This reunion-style episode assembles a star-studded cast of ‘Parks and Recreation’ favorites for a joyful, funny, and heartfelt look back at the show’s beginnings, favorite behind-the-scenes moments, why certain decisions were made, and the deep bonds the cast and creators formed over years of working together. Amy Poehler, while in the middle of filming her new Peacock show with Mike Schur, curates a lively collage of conversations with talents who shaped one of TV’s most beloved comedies.

Origins of 'Parks and Recreation' with Mike Schur

[03:12 - 08:26]

• Genesis Story:
  • NBC executive Ben Silverman wanted a spinoff of 'The Office,’ but creator Greg Daniels insisted on “best idea wins”—willing to do something new if it felt right.
  • Early brainstorming at Norm’s Diner led to a realization: “‘The Office’ was a satire of the private sector; what if we made a fake town to satirize the public sector?”
    • Mike Schur: [04:22] "We stumbled upon this idea: Dunder Mifflin is a fake company... what if we create a whole fake town and satirize the public sector?"
  • Real-world context: The 2008 financial crisis amplified government’s role in daily lives, influencing their direction.
• Casting Amy Poehler:
  • Mike and Greg realized Amy was irreplaceable for their lead role.
  • They convinced NBC to give up the coveted post-Super Bowl slot to accommodate Amy’s schedule post-pregnancy, choosing a long-term view.
    • Mike Schur: [07:51] “Getting Amy Poehler on your show is a long-term decision.”
  • Amy reflects: “It proved to be the most satisfying creative experience I’ve ever had.” [08:26]

The Joy (and Science) of Naming Characters

[08:37 - 14:55]

• Mike Schur’s Comedic Naming Process:
  • Inspired by Monty Python; dislikes generic names for supporting actors.
  • Determined that every background character would have a first and last name, leading to gems like Mona Lisa Saperstein, Trod Frankenstein, Tyrion Fonzarelli, Gretzky Susan Pellegrino, Typhoon Montalban, Summer Oly Kraken Frog-Frog.
    • Mike Schur: [10:22] “Every character who appeared on the show was going to have a first and last name.”
  • Legal realities: Choosing names that don’t exist in the real world to avoid clearance issues.
    • Amy Poehler: [11:11] “A lot of people don’t know that you have to get names cleared…”

Rashida Jones & Amy Poehler: Off-Camera Friendship and On-Screen Chemistry

[15:05 - 26:11]

• Biggest Laughs:
  • Recalling the iconic scene wrestling Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson) during the hunting episode:
    • Amy Poehler: [18:36] “There is so much fun about wrestling… he was throwing us around!”
    • Rashida Jones: [17:51] “He was whipping us around with such ease.”
• Friendship as the Show’s Heart:
  • The deep real-life friendship between Amy and Rashida laid the emotional foundation of Leslie and Ann’s relationship.
    • Rashida: [20:57] “We filmed in between our conversations.”
• Early Days & Casting Jitters:
  • Both felt like they were taking each other’s roles in the uncertain pilot phase; Amy’s forthright handling of the casting news cemented their friendship.
    • Rashida: [23:40] “This baby is yours.”
    • Rashida: [24:38] “I hold this moment as a gold standard of friendship.”
    • Rashida: [25:28] “It kind of went from ‘oh no’ to ‘oh my god, we might be the two women.’”

Aziz Ansari & Building the Cast

[27:03 - 29:37]

• The Avengers Assemble Feel:
  • Aziz jokes he was "13 in season one" (as Tom Haverford), playing up how new to TV he was.
  • Meeting Mike Schur and Greg Daniels felt like a dream job:
    • Aziz Ansari: [27:51] “It was so mysterious what they were up to… I told them, I don’t know what you’re doing, but that would be a dream job.”
• The Parks Family Vibe:
  • Cast was carefully picked for their humor and goodness:
    • Aziz: [28:47] “Not only funny… just the best people I’ve ever met in my life.”
  • The experience shaped his own leadership style in later work.

Kathryn Hahn: Ponchos, Dance Parties, and Improvisation

[29:47 - 34:07]

• Set Culture:
  • Kathryn reminisces about Amy’s energy: midday dance parties and a welcoming environment.
    • Kathryn Hahn: [30:09] “You had dance parties at lunch every day.”
• On Set Moments:
  • Famous “Poncho!” improvisation:
    • Kathryn: [32:43] “I just swung my arms open and went, ‘Poncho! Poncho!’”
• Acting Style:
  • Kathryn and Adam Scott’s ability to stay loose before scenes; improvisation came easy once characters’ intent was clear.
    • Amy: [33:15] “A lot of your character on Parks—Jen Barkley’s moments—were improvised.”

Paul Rudd on Bobby Newport: Nice, Clueless, and Lovable

[34:34 - 38:23]

• Playing Bobby Newport:
  • Paul Rudd describes Bobby as “guyless” and sweet, the epitome of unearned confidence:
    • Paul Rudd: [37:45] “There’s nothing funnier… than unearned confidence.”
  • Delight at acting in an environment filled with friends:
    • Paul: [36:26] “My memories… I can’t believe I get to work with my favorite people in the world… It was the dream.”
  • The comedic heart of Bobby: just wants "everyone to have a good time," even about policy issues.

Aubrey Plaza: The April Ludgate Origin Story & Chemistry With Chris Pratt

[39:17 - 50:46]

• Landing the Role:
  • Aubrey describes accidentally landing on 'Parks' while in LA for another audition. She met Mike Schur in ripped jean shorts, unaware of the stakes.
    • Aubrey: [41:54] “I didn’t know what this was… I got a phone call: you’re on a TV show. I’m like, what? No.”
    • Amy: [41:54] “There’s no bigger fan of Aubrey Plaza than Mike Schur.”
• On-Set Relationship:
  • Amy & Aubrey bonded quickly. Their dynamic paralleled Leslie and April’s:
    • Amy: [44:53] “The arc of—In many ways, April had the biggest growth in the show.”
    • Aubrey: [45:34] “Once I realized… it’s a game of not showing anyone that I really care…”
• April & Andy’s Romance:
  • Their on-screen relationship emerged organically, starting from subtle, improvised moments.
    • Aubrey: [48:02] “April thinks Andy’s cool because he’s so not cool that he’s cool. Do you understand?”
  • The wedding episode:
    • Aubrey: [50:09] “There was a lot of crying. You cried.”
    • Amy: [50:19] “I was crying because you were crying so hard…”

The Cast’s Unwillingness to Watch Themselves

[51:01 - 52:35]

• Rewatching the Show:
  • Several cast members admit they’ve never rewatched 'Parks.'
  • Amy teases Aubrey for not knowing how to stream the show.
    • Aubrey: [51:07] “No.”
    • Amy: [51:54] “I don’t know what’s wrong with you guys.”

Fan Love, Comfort TV, and How 'Parks' Endures

[55:09 - 56:24]

• The Comfort of ‘Parks’:
  • Paul Rudd notes (and Amy agrees) that fans constantly express how the show got them through tough times, notably the pandemic.
    • Paul: [55:22] “Every single day, someone tells me Parks got them through the pandemic.”
    • Amy: [55:30] “Every single day… I cannot believe the way that show continues to be a medicine for people.”

Adam Scott: Ben and Leslie, TV's Sweetest Couple

[55:51 - 61:46]

• Ben & Leslie’s Arc:
  • Amy and Adam reflect on why their relationship feels iconic and special: mutual support, rooting for each other, writing that honors the characters.
    • Adam Scott: [56:24] “Leslie, from the word go, loved Ben.”
    • Amy: [57:06] “They kept putting each other’s needs over their own… and they respected each other.”
  • Filming style—mockumentary allows for intimate, indirect acting:
    • Amy: [58:08] “The camera helped us… we got to watch Ben love her because the camera…”
• Most Romantic Scene:
  • Both agree: The “Smallest Park” episode stood out, as did quiet moments like sitting “under the sunflower mural.”
    • Adam: [60:23] “I think maybe Smallest Park…”
    • Amy: [61:03] “Such a big one… some affinity for the beginnings…”

Funniest Moments & Jokes

[63:12 - 64:33]

• Favorite Joke:
  • Adam and Amy recall the “ice skating rink with Gloria Estefan” episode as a table read highlight.
    • Adam: [64:01] “On the ice at the ice skating rink with Gloria Estefan…we couldn't stop laughing.”
  • The set was “genuinely goofy and funny,” making it a joy to work on.

Reflections on the 'Parks’ Ethos

[63:12 - 64:11]

• Nostalgia for a Gentler Era:
  • Adam and Amy joke about a hypothetical “Parks and Rec Babies” reboot, but agree part of the magic is the show's optimism, rooted in an era when public service was valued.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Schur on casting Amy:
  • “Getting Amy Poehler on your show is a long term decision.” [07:51]
• Amy Poehler on the creative process:
  • "It proved to be the most satisfying creative experience I’ve ever had.” [08:26]
• Rashida Jones on their friendship:
  • “We filmed in between our conversations.” [20:57]
• Aziz Ansari on the cast environment:
  • “Not only funny...just the best people I’ve ever met in my life.” [28:47]
• Paul Rudd on Bobby Newport:
  • “There’s nothing funnier to me than unearned confidence.” [37:45]
• Aubrey Plaza on April’s secret:
  • “It’s a game of not showing anyone that I really care.” [45:34]
• Adam Scott on Leslie & Ben:
  • “Leslie, from the word go, loved Ben.” [56:24]

Memorable Moments & Banter

• Amy & Rashida wrestling Nick Offerman in “the hunting episode” [16:49 – 19:31]
• Kathryn Hahn’s “Poncho!” improvisation [32:02]
• Aubrey Plaza’s failed prank on Chris Bosh, who never realized she was an actress and not a hair stylist. [53:13 – 54:59]
• Ben & Leslie’s “Smallest Park” and sunflower mural moments as their favorite scenes. [60:16 – 61:46]
• Joking about a “Parks and Rec Babies” Muppet Babies-style reboot. [62:35 – 63:05]

Timestamps: Important Segments

• [03:12] – Mike Schur on the show’s creation
• [08:37] – Naming Parks characters & legal challenges
• [15:05] – Rashida & Amy’s on-set friendship stories
• [29:47] – Kathryn Hahn on set culture & improvisation
• [34:34] – Paul Rudd as Bobby Newport
• [39:17] – Aubrey Plaza’s casting story & April/Andy
• [55:09] – Fans crediting Parks for comfort in hard times
• [55:51] – Amy & Adam gush over Ben & Leslie
• [63:12] – Guards down: Parks Babies and show nostalgia

Closing Thoughts

The episode is a love letter to the cast, the creative spirit of “best idea wins,” and the enduring warmth and humor of Parks and Recreation. Listeners get rare behind-the-scenes anecdotes, infectiously happy banter, and a vivid window into how and why the show remains a beloved comfort for millions.