TV

There’s Going To Be A Special ‘Parks And Recreation’ Coronavirus Reunion And I’m So Happy

We NEED Leslie Knope right now.

by Patrick Lenton  24 April 2020
Parks and Recreation 10 year anniversary

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If there’s one thing that will genuinely help me get through this pandemic, it’s a Parks and Recreation reunion. I’m dead serious. I don’t know if it will help you, or even the world, but it’s precisely what I need.

And that’s beautiful.

It’s been announced that the core cast of Parks and Rec will reunite for a one-time event (this is no A Year In The Life), as a fundraiser for Feeding America.

Castmembers Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, and Retta will all be a part of the special, as well as several guest stars from around Pawnee.

All we really know is that the story will take place during the pandemic, as Leslie Knope remains determined to stay connected to her friends during isolation. I mean… that’s a classic Leslie plotline. I can’t wait.

I think there’s something very necessary about this reunion. Leslie Knope is, unfortunately, a slightly dated character — she’s a manic avatar of the bright-eyed hope that sprung up around the Obama administration. She manifested both the flaws and the benefits of trust in a liberal form of government in the US, that feels… sad and tarnished now with Trump. A reunion before this could have been like the ill-fated episode of Broad City with Hillary Clinton.

But a one off special where Leslie Knope wants to connect to her friends? That’s the can-do attitude, the wholesome throwback, that we need.

Mike Schur, creator of the show, said in a statement.

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

We don’t know how we will get this in Australia, but we’ll keep you posted.