‘Parks And Rec’ Creator: Rand Canceled Cameo Over Being Tied To Ron Swanson

Actor Nick Offerman and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is usually quick with a zinger on Twitter, but the co-creator of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” said he thinks the senator was too afraid of getting zinged himself to go through with a cameo appearance on the cult comedy.

Mike Schur told entertainment news site Hitfix in an interview published Wednesday that Paul was slated to appear on an episode of the show set in Washington, D.C., “but then bailed at the eleventh hour.”

“I think he thought we were making fun of him, or something, which we were not, at all,” Schur said. “We were in fact flattering him, by linking him to Ron [Swanson, a character on the show]. I get the sense that maybe interpreting writing and humor is not his strong suit.”

An episode of “Parks and Recreation” that aired last month boasted cameos from former Secretary of State Madeline Albright as well as Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

An advisor to Paul did not return TPM’s request for comment on Thursday.

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