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

Actor Nick Offerman and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

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.

Latest Livewire
28
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. That’s strange, I thought Rand had a sense of humor, what with that dead squirrel he has stapled to his head. I guess he’s more into sight gags than quirky sitcoms.

  2. About Rand Paul: Seriously, what is up with that guy’s hair?

  3. I get the sense that maybe interpreting writing and humor is not his strong suit.

    Maybe he just felt uncomfortable saying someone else’s words in front of the camera.

  4. Why? That’s Rand Paul’s regular job.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

22 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for runfastandwin Avatar for caterpillar Avatar for leftflank Avatar for braxtonbraggart Avatar for avattoir Avatar for manhattan123 Avatar for navamske Avatar for commiedearest Avatar for cwazycajun Avatar for carlosfiance Avatar for mantan Avatar for callmeeric Avatar for billfrompa Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lissa511 Avatar for ottnott Avatar for rbinnc Avatar for dlefevre Avatar for twowolves Avatar for seehowtheyrun Avatar for jinnj Avatar for jviscont1

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: