Newt Gingrich Will Cameo On Parks & Recreation

Tara Ariano

December 4th, 2012

Our Players

Hello, I'm Parks & Recreation Showrunner Michael Schur.

Hello, I'm The Interview Expander.

The Scene

It will surely attract lots of press coverage for Parks & Recreation, and probably a ratings boost from the looky-loos, to have Newt Gingrich cameo on the show, but when he just randomly happened to cross your path when you were shooting on location here in Indianapolis, you must have had mixed feelings.

What do you mean?

Well, don't get me wrong -- you're being very gracious, which is impressive.

Now, the fact that you would say that makes me think that you think I'm not being gracious.

Not at all!

You wrote down what I said, right? "...you can't pass up on an opportunity like that."

Sure.

Okay. I'm sincerely not trying to be combative -- you're right, our show's ratings aren't spectacular, so we really appreciate the coverage -- but I'm just really curious about why you think I had mixed feelings about having the Speaker on the show. I mean, admittedly, with Leslie as the protagonist, it's fair to say the show leans left, but we've had other Republican politicians on playing themselves this season -- sitting politicians.

There it is.

There what is?

You have to call out the fact that Gingrich isn't in office?

...Don't we all know he's not in office?

Some people might think he's still a Congressman.

That is probably true. Sadly.

So Speaker Gingrich walks into the restaurant, he wanders right into your shoot, you figure, "Maybe he'll do a cameo on the show."

Sure, why not? John McCain and Olympia Snowe did; they're Republicans. Why not ask the Speaker? The worst he can say is no.

Well...the worst he can say is no, unless you're the one asking him. In that case, there are worse things he can say.

Me?

You.

You think the Speaker has an issue with me personally?