PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2012: 29TH ANNUAL WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL: PARKS AND RECREATION {PUBLIC SHORT VERSION ANAMORPHIC}
Summary
One in a series of seminars presented as part of the Paley Center for Media's 29th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television’s creative community. This evening honors "Parks and Recreation," the mockumentary-style comedy series about the quirky staffers of Pawnee, Indiana's parks and recreation department.
Michael Schneider (Los Angeles bureau chief, TV Guide magazine) moderates the following panelists: producer/director Dean Holland; co-executive producer/writer Dan Goor; executive producer/co-creator Michael Schur; and cast members Jim O'Heir (Jerry Gergich), Retta (Donna Meagle), Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer), and Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope).
The panelists discuss topics which include: the relationship between Leslie and Ben (Adam Scott), the "love of her life"; the original plan to have Leslie date many different characters and change when her chemistry with Ben proved strongest; being inspired by the drawn-out romance between Jim and Pam on "The Office"; having the characters balance each other's quirks; Poehler's fondness for the characters' "choice to be in love with a small town"; the "comedy relationship" of the outlandish Tom (Aziz Ansari) and the ever-rational Ann (Rashida Jones); the "Knope 2012" plotline as the "ambitious" Leslie runs for city council, strategically timed with the real-life 2012 presidential election; the writers' dislike of stasis; the two separate endings shot for the season finale, depicting both possible outcomes for candidate Leslie; the wry character of Donna and her catchphrase "treat yourself"; the characters' different "relationships" with the camera; O'Heir's experience playing a character significantly older than himself, similar to Poehler's role in "Mean Girls" (2004); the gruff character of Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) and his struggles with "the Tammys," his formidable mother and two ex-wives who all share the same name; the dimwitted Andy and his growth and development over time; Pratt's commitment to challenging physical scenes; the return of the flamboyant Jean-Ralphio Saperstein (Ben Schwartz); Leslie's strong loyalty to her friends, who in turn support her political campaign; Poehler's difficulty with staying in character in scenes with Offerman; Leslie's opponents in the city council race, including one played by Brad Leland of "Friday Night Lights" fame and other notable guest stars; Poehler's "dream come true" in writing and directing the twentieth episode of the fourth season; the usefulness of laughter as feedback in comedy; Retta and Offerman's ease at crying on cue; the cast's running joke about "Philly Justice," a pretend legal drama pilot allegedly shot in 2003, and the elaborate "backstory" created by Scott and the other actors; the character of Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) as a "crazy spiraler" who dotes on his life's problems; the use of the "Pawnee book" for continuity by the detail-oriented art department; and the need to get small onscreen details correct with the advent of high-definition television.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: the commitment to include all characters in every episode; the many different "mix and match" combinations of characters for storylines; plans for in-show references to "The West Wing" when Bradley Whitford guest stars; the actors' occasional use of improvisation; how the handheld cameras create a more comedy-friendly style; the cast's camaraderie and "dance parties" in the trailers; how Poehler's positive nature makes the set "the happiest place on Earth"; Poehler's interest in plans for more "Arrested Development" episodes, which star her husband Will Arnett; the possibility of an appearance by Pratt's wife, Anna Faris; and the crew's "cautious optimism" about being renewed for a fifth season.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: March 6, 2012 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:08:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 107111
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael Schneider … Moderator
- Dean Holland … Panelist
- Dan Goor … Panelist
- Jim O'Heir … Panelist
- Retta … Panelist
- Michael Schur … Panelist
- Chris Pratt … Panelist
- Amy Poehler … Panelist
- Will Arnett
- Aziz Ansari
- Anna Faris
- Rashida Jones
- Brad Leland
- Rob Lowe
- Nick Offerman
- Ben Schwartz
- Adam Scott
- Bradley Whitford