NBC has released the first clip from the upcoming Parks and Recreations Special that proves Ron Swanson – a libertarian survivalist – wasn’t just made for the COVID-19 pandemic, but he’s been preparing for it all his life.
The clip from the special features the reunion of Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) as they video chat about the coronavirus. During their conversation, Leslie asks Ron if he is self-isolating in his cabin, which of course he is.
“I’ve come up here to hunt meat so I don’t have to go to the grocery store,” says Ron. “I’ve built up about a 12-year supply of venison jerky, I can ship you some. You’ll probably have to get your incisor teeth sharpened.”
Leslie declines his offer and then she asks Ron if he has been practicing social distancing. “I’ve been practicing social distancing since I was four years old,” says Ron.
The entire cast of Parks and Recreation – which ran on NBC between 2009 and 2015 – reunited in secret to shoot the episode that features Leslie Knope in the middle of the present day COVID-19 outbreak as she tries to keep in touch with her friends while practicing social distancing.
NBC announced the special episode last week, and they revealed that Poehler and Offerman will be joined by original stars Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer), Rashida Jones (Ann Perkins), Aziz Ansari (Tom Havelford), Aubrey Plaza (April Ludgate Dwyer), Adam Scott (Ben Wyatt), Rob Lowe (Chris Traeger), Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich) and Retta (Donna Meager).
Everyone filmed their parts from their homes, and the special will also be raising money for Feeding America. In their press release, NBC also teased that other stars from the Parks and Recreation universe could stop by, but they didn’t give any names.
The 30-minute special will be the first scripted series to air an episode about the current COVID-19 pandemic. On Instagram, Lowe said that the cast shot the episode with their respective iPhones, and it was “literally pretty hard to do.”
A Parks and Recreation Special will air Thursday night, April 30, on NBC after they re-air the 2019 special The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation that celebrated the 10th anniversary of the beloved sitcom’s premiere.