Parks and Recollection - Flu Season (S3E2)

Episode Date: April 19, 2022

Grab your waffles and chicken soup—today Rob Lowe and Alan Yang are watching an iconic episode of Parks and Recreation. In "Flu Season" Leslie gets sick right before an important fundraising pitch for the Harvest Festival while Chris tries frantically to avoid catching the bug. In today's episode you'll hear why Rob saying "Stop Pooping" was so important, the impact of "Spa-nee" on treating one's self, and how the Harvest Festival storyline helped keep Chris and Ben as main characters. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email: [e-mail] Or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: [phone] Flu season has hit Pawnee hard, leaving nurse Ann caring for April, along with many other sick citizens at the hospital, who constantly mistreats Ann in retaliation for kissing Andy. Leslie also has the flu, but refuses to admit it in attempts to continue working on an important presentation to the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce about the planned Harvest Festival. With Leslie’s symptoms worsening by the second, Ben takes Leslie to the hospital, where she is admitted with a dangerously high fever and dehydration. Much to the chagrin of Leslie, Ben and Tom decide to do the presentation themselves, but Tom immediately abandons Ben to hang out with a group of older men at the spa.Back at the hospital, to Ann's surprise, a very sick Chris has also been admitted to the hospital with the flu. Because of his extreme health and 0% body fat, he is ravaged by the flu, which lets Ann see him in a less intimidating light.Meanwhile, Leslie escapes the hospital and heads back to city hall to deliver the presentation herself. Tom returns from the spa, revealing his spa friends are the owners of several car dealerships, which have agreed to lend vehicles to the festival. Although delirious with fever and an excess of flu medication, Leslie delivers a flawless presentation, wildly impressing Ben. She is immediately brought back to the hospital, where Ben tells her 110 businesses have agreed to help with the festival, surpassing the minimum 80 needed and brings her waffles and homemade chicken soup.Back at the Parks Dept, with April absent from work, Ron asks Andy to fill in as his assistant. The two bond over the course of the day, and Andy begins to tell Ron about his problems with April, for whom he still harbors romantic feelings. Although initially not wishing to get involved, Ron reluctantly tells Andy she is at the hospital and he should visit her. Meanwhile, Ann remains pleasant throughout her nursing shift despite April's constant abuse. The second her shift ends, however, Ann immediately loses her temper and curses at April. Ann apologizes for kissing Andy, but insists it was a mistake and that April should stop taking it out on Andy. Later, Andy visits April, who pretends to be asleep but smiles, revealing she is happy he came.At the end of the episode, Chris tells Ben they have been called back to Indianapolis for a new assignment, but both agree to seek an extension to stay in Pawnee longer. Although both claim they want to help organize the Harvest Festival, it is hinted they really want to stay because of Leslie and Ann.

We're getting together to talk about all the things we used to do The laughs, the passions, the little Sebastian's, the pets we fell into And we're putting it on in a podcast, then we'll send it up into the sky We're calling it Parks and Recollection Come on little podcast Spread your wings and fly Hello everybody, welcome to Parks and Recollection One of my favorite episodes If I had to pick one

If I had to pick one, it's this one This might be the one It's gotta be the one This might be the one. It's got to be the one. This might be the one that goes in the time capsule. I know the next episode is called Time Capsule, but this might be the one that goes in Time Capsule. It's possibly the best episode. We'll see. I know that when we had to pick a show to show it to the television academy, i.e. the Emmy people, this was the one that was picked.

Television Academy, i.e. the Emmy people, this was the one that was picked. And it is none other than an episode called Flu Season that was written by Norm Hiscock and directed by Wendy Stanzler. The original air date was season three, episode two, January 27th, 2011. And of course, this is the episode where Leslie gets the flu right before an important fundraising pitch at the Harvest Festival. And Chris tries frantically to avoid catching the bug. And Ron hires Andy to replace April while she is out. This is before COVID. What would this episode have been like if COVID had been in our vernacular, do you think? It's a trip watching it, man. It's all of this shit that happens in this episode is triggering. Triggering. Thank God that we're

doing a little bit better now. People are vaccinated, all that stuff. But watching this, God, if I had to watch this like March 2020, I would have maybe killed myself because it's all, it's all people. It's my symptoms, my symptoms, my cough, my cold, my, like I got a fever. You're wearing an N95 mask at a certain point. It's like, oh my God, like we didn't cough, my cold, my, like I got a fever. You're wearing an N95 mask at a certain point. It's like, oh my God, like we didn't know, man. This was 10 years before. But yeah, it's very triggering. It's a, producer Greg just texted,

it's the comedy version of Contagion. Did you watch Contagion after COVID started? Because I did. I don't know why I did that, but it's very prescient. I had Steven Soderbergh why I did that, but it's very prescient. I had Stephen Soderbergh on my other podcast. Literally, by the way, if you haven't listened to it, check it out. We have fun people on. But I

had Soderbergh on it, and we talked about contagion and how that they predicted it. They literally turns out Gwyneth Paltrow is patient zero. Who knew? Yes, it's chilling. Gwyneth was in the wet market in Wuhanuhan apparently that's right it's just just eating pangolins but yeah by the way pangolin is my favorite word favorite

name for it's it's pangolin's got a lot more love after covid it's not not a lot more love love people like knew what the fuck they were after covid uh all right so uh let's do some notes notes quickly for this wonderful wonderful. This episode features the first appearance of JJ, of JJ's Diner, with Brent Briscoe playing the eponymous Pancake and Waffle Wiz. Brent Briscoe, the late, great Brent Briscoe, also from Toon Peaks, a lovely actor. And like you said, this episode was Poehler's Emmy submission for her eventual nomination from the Emmys. And during the Emmys that year, a clip from this episode played. So it got some love. Got some love. Yeah. All right, let's jump into the synopsis here. Flu season has hit Pawnee hard,

leaving nurse Ann caring for April along with many other sick citizens at the hospital who constantly mistreats Ann in retaliation for kissing Andy. Leslie also has the flu, but refuses to admit it and attempts to continue working on an important presentation

to the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce about the planned Harvest Festival. This is a hot one. This is a hot one. It's one of the best episodes of the whole series. You know, there's just so many memorable moments.

It just feels like everything's firing on all cylinders and you bounce around and it's just great pairings. And there's great improvs in this one, including network connectivity problems. I'm Leslie Monster. This is Nightline. You had me at Meat Tornado.

Stop pooping. We'll get to stop pooping. But I also want to shout out there's a great Ron talking head near the beginning where he says, I once worked with a guy for three years and never learned his name. Best friend I ever had. We still never talk sometimes. It's just, it's one of the, it's amazing. And I know who wrote this one and it was Harris Whittles. So I still, I remember who wrote that one.

And it's just, it's a master class in writing and also writing on character because that's who Ron is. You know, it's super, super funny. you know it's it's super super funny it's yeah this is one where every minute of this episode not only is just working on every level but as you allude to are some are classics that that are you know memes and gifs to this day um per capita most of them come from this episode flu season yeah it's it and again it's pandemic wise i actually watching it was like i was it was a little bit less chilling than i thought i was a little bit but but you know they're isolating from from leslie and like there's there's there's some but you know ultimately like it's still fun to watch guys you can still watch it it's not gonna

it's not gonna trigger you too much it'll be right. This is one of those, we talked about this earlier in a different episode about how you guys had to build a hospital set for Ann Perkins. Yeah, that's a set. That's a set. That's a hospital set, very expensive set built to service Ann at work. Nobody really cares. It's called Parks and Recreation, not Ann at the ER. And you guys have to build this set for it. And I remember because I had to do this scene where I come in and meet her.

And I thought, wow, they really went all to town on this thing. Did you guys think, I'd ask you, Alan, was there a world in which you were like, you know, half of it's going to be in the hospital? Was that ever a thought? I think you're like, we don't know. Like, how much is it going to be? Like, this episode did take advantage of it, but I think there's a combination of two things. I think people don't know this,

but it's difficult to shoot in hospitals. Like, they don't typically love for you to do that, as opposed to some other places. Like, it turned out, like, the City Hall Courtyard, we were able to shoot in. But an actual hospital is difficult to shoot in. But you're right. It's also expensive to build a hospital set.

We built the whole, it's crazy. We built a hospital set we built the whole it's it's crazy we built the hospital how often were we going to the hospital after this episode which is about people going to the hospital it's like i don't think it got used that much i think the set came down pretty quickly and we replaced it with like the city council chambers or whatever but in what was already a sprawling set the parks and rec set is is massive it was massive and it would we would add on to it every year every season we'd add more stuff this season i guess we decided to build a hospital well i just don't i just don't know how how useful that would that would be go ahead well do you remember i

think what one of the things was we had two sound stages at this point right and so when one stage was the whole city hall which was sprawling but at some point we filled it up. And so this soundstage had so much space. So I think you had the ability to build a little more. I want to throw in just one factoid, I think, but it's interesting, just my own personal professional experience. My first job was as a production assistant at John Wells Productions that did the West Wing and ER. And one of the things was, as a major fan of both shows, is I would give tours of both sets to VIPs that would

come in. And I started them at the West Wing set, and it was like, oh, here's the Oval Office and the Briefing Room and the Roosevelt Room and all the fun stuff, right? And then they were taking pictures and having a blast. And then we go to the ER set. And after about a few minutes, you start to realize people are like, oh, so it's just the hospital you know and i'm like yeah you know those blood

stains are there as part of the set deck so that people think it actually had like it's not a gleaming perfect hospital and i started flipping then the order of the tour so like we're going to start at the er so it feels like a hospital but you're going to end up at the oval office yes it's it's a little bit more special and it's having shot in all of them it's you know you're affected by your work environment even if it's a fake work environment and you know the er set was depressing and you're like and and and conversely to walk it went particularly when they would light the oval office in sort of that magic hour sunset light and you'd walk into that Oval Office, the hair would stand up in the back of your neck. No matter how many times you walk in there. You feel great.

It's totally true. And you, you know, this show I'm working on right now is about a billionaire. So it's a lot. It's mansions and private jets and yachts. And then we did. It's nice. It's frankly, it's like it's mansions and private jets and yachts. And then it's nice. Frankly, it's nice to be in those sets. And then recently we shot in essentially a police station slash jail set. And the holding for the actors was a jail cell.

So I went to go talk to Maya Rudolph and Netflix, and they're in a jail cell. It's like, oh, this is not as nice. This is not as nice for the actors but but that that aside so in this episode i believe we built this hospital set on the same stage as ann's house so so she had those that sort of stage and and you know we can talk a little bit about ann dating chris you know it's you know in her previous relationships and was a little bit more in control because of Andy's immaturity and Mark not having had serious relationships. Now we got to have and play a little bit more awkward and

nerdy and, and, and, and sure would say like, you know, this is the first time she's losing herself and falling for a guy super hard. And, and that gave her more things to play. What was it like for you with Rashida? Did you know her beforehand or, and, and, and what, what was that like? know her beforehand or and and what what was that like so i knew rashida and her sister kadada um it's it's kind of complex but i i was dating a a long-time girlfriend named melissa gilbert was in little house in the prairie her little sister sarah gilbert of the view fame and rosanne and the connor's fame that's was i went to school with rashida and kadada so i remember them as like like like my girlfriend's little sister's friends and then fast forward to all these years and now i'm on parks with uh with rashida and um so we kind of had a shorthand. And I was just so lucky to have her as my romantic interest because there's no one smarter.

Well, that's not true. This show is full of people like that, honestly. I mean, every single person on this show was a joy. And, like, you couldn't wait to talk to them. They're all super. I find most actors not interesting if you're acclaimed and established you're in you're going to be interesting because you have that to talk about so there's always that fallback tell me about making the revenant

so you always have that yeah in spite of the fact that you might be adult but the by and large most i i just don't find most actors that that interesting this cast every single person's fascinating smart um and a joy like if you pulled up your chair in the holding room in the jail cell if you're with rashida or Nick or Amy or Adam or Retta or didn't matter everybody was super super cool but that said having Rashida as my the person I did my most work with was was amazing because she always made me laugh she always she was very much like Adam in that they their dryness like Adam's good lord made me laugh every single time. And Rashida had, what was her move? Cause I think I say in flu season, I say, I vomited somewhere in this room. Oh wait, I think it might be in that drawer. And she, she was like, oh my God, or something.

She just made me laugh. Yeah. And, and she's like, you know, Rashida is awesome. She's just so chill. Like you said, she's really smart. Obviously, she actually went to school with Mike Shore and Dan Gore. She went to Harvard with them and she was around there a year. So they knew they had an existing relationship with her. But that's one of her strengths as an actor is just a full understanding of the story, the scene, the character, all that. So obviously, she's a writer as well. You know, she's written a bunch of movies and produces a bunch of stuff. So, you know, you're totally right in the sense that, you know, you treat every actor sort of specifically to who they are. And with her, it's like, yeah, there's no sort of, you don't have to talk down to anyone or explaining. It's just like, it's, it's just like a total understanding of everything. And also just like a really relaxed person that I felt like anyway. And I've gotten to know her a lot better outside of the set and, and we became friends. So it's kind of a,

yeah, it was, it's, it's always nice when it's like that, man, it's not like that on every show. We know that it's like, sure.

We can rave about all these people. We're not making that up. Like it is, it was a joy. And so, yeah, that's kind of cool. It's,

it's, it's interesting that, that you knew her before and, and you guys, you know, it's like, you guys are in that kind of world. It's like, she, that's kind of cool. It's interesting that you knew her before. And you guys, you know, it's like you guys are in that kind of world. It's like she, you know, obviously she's been around celebrities or whatever her whole life, and yet she's super normal. I don't know how they pulled that off, but good parenting, good genes, I guess. Super, super, super normal. One of the most, like, grounded people you're ever going meet rashida yeah for sure no bullshit there's some of that's in the character right like you said it's like a straight man she can be funny without with with playing it real um all right with leslie's symptoms worsening by the second ben takes leslie to the hospital where she's admitted with a dangerously high fever and

dehydration much to the chagrin of leslie ben and tom decide to do the presentation themselves but tom immediately abandons ben to hang out with a group of older men at the spa. We can go on and on. I also, it was cool for me to see the scene with Aziz and Adam because it's like, God, they were just kind of meeting. You know, it's like I was meeting you, you know, Aziz was meeting Adam, like, and they're like really good friends now. Like, I was just thinking, like, I've been seeing ads for Severance, this new show that Adam's doing with with Ben Stiller directing. And I remember seeing Adam in New York and he was staying at Aziz's place and I went out to dinner with Adam. And it's like they were just meeting like that. It's kind of like looking at a yearbook.

It's like, you know, they're meeting each other and they're really funny in the scene together. And and you can see like this is where people started meeting their friends. Like, that's kind of cool. It's a, you know, they're meeting each other and they're really funny in the scene together. And you can see, like, this is where people started meeting their friends. Like, that's kind of cool. It's a decade ago. So that's just a personal note I saw while they were doing a scene together. But, yeah, it's just cool. Ron at the spa stirring a memory for me. I wonder, where did we shoot that?

It's called, well, the fake name is spawnee i'm trying to remember where the actual location the thing well the other thing that made me laugh about the scene where he's like yeah i'm just going to the spa like aziz is just like go it's like aziz did like going to the spa like he he and i used to go to a spa there was a spa in korea town that it would be like yeah let's just go to like i don't think he does it so much anymore but but it was like yeah let's just go to like I don't think he does it so much anymore but but it was like yeah let's just go to the spa and like relax and like go sit in the hot tub or go to the sauna I was like I never I would never think of that like I don't on vacation like you know my girlfriend likes going to the spa getting massaged where I was like I don't I don't I don't

ever do that so I'll go play golf or something but but uh yeah he just like loved going to the spa and like god there's I think a Russian spa in Koreatown we used to go to. And then there was another one. So like, I was like, yeah, that rings true. Aziz is a big, he was, Aziz is a huge like jacuzzi fan. He's a bit, he's a bit, he told me about going to your house, getting in the jacuzzi over at your old place. Like, I remember that. He was like, it doesn't get any crazier. He was like, Rob's house is amazing.

But yeah, it's, it's a, he likes creature comfort. So, so we kind of bled that into the character. It's funny. It's funny how we take inspiration from the real people. I also love the scene where it starts where Andy has the super straw and he's put a bunch of straws together. And Ron is like, hey, what's up, Andy? What's new? And Pratt is like, a lot.

He's made a straw out of like 10 different straws. And, and boy, I like this Ron and Andy C story or whatever. It's like, it's so fun. It's just like, it's just like a, it's just like a romp. Well, like you said, when, when the C story is working as well as the A story, you know, you're onto something, you know, the, the, the scripts are always divided into the A story, the B story and the C story. And, you know, the theory is that the, obviously the A story is more important and and you go down the scale so when you get to the c story and it's andy making a straw and it's as funny as anything else you know you're you got a tight script it really is it's a testament you know it's a testament to you know how simple a

story can be and still work if the characters and the actors are you know that story is literally like him getting him a burrito them throwing a football in the parking lot, them like learning about government together. It's like, it's great. It's like really fun and funny. And it's really the performances and the jokes and, and, and, and all the character work. So, um, really, really, uh, really fun stuff. Back at the hospital, to Anne's surprise, a very sick Chris has been admitted to the hospital with the flu.

Because of his extreme health and 0% body fat, he's ravaged by the flu. Which lets Anne see him in a less intimidating light. Leslie escapes the hospital and heads back to City Hall to deliver the presentation herself. Tom returns from the spa, revealing his new friends are the owners of several car dealerships, which have agreed to lend vehicles to the festival. Although delirious with fever and high on flu medication, Leslie delivers a flawless presentation wildly impressing ben she's immediately brought back to the hospital where ben tells her 110 businesses have agreed to help with the festival surpassing the minimum of 80 needed and brings her waffles and homemade chicken soup wow

that's a lot um amy with the flu is one of my favorite. Well, that's why she was nominated for an Emmy that year. It's one of my favorite performances. Chris saying your computer has connectivity issues in this episode. I think we asked Mike Schur his two favorite. What are your favorite ad libs and I think connectivity issues. Yes, it's Andy. it's andy the computer leslie i typed your symptoms into the the search bar up here and it says you could have network connectivity problems i think that was just an ad lib that pratt made up and uh is also a really amazing joke and you had an ad lib in

this one let's talk about this ad lib what was what was that like what what set the scene for us so you have to understand this is we i'd made a deal to do six episodes that's it and the thought being that if it works out if i like it if mike sure likes it if everybody likes it mutually then maybe you know it would be become a thing and and we you know we'll be a permanent character but that was in no way decided so this is my fourth episode so we're you know we're getting to the point where we're thinking about you know do we like this whatever and i'm shooting the scene where i'm looking in the mirror. It's talking head. And I don't remember what the actual dialogue was. It might have just been as simple as me looking at myself in the mirror. And you can see that I'm super, super sick.

But I had the instinct to, I don't know where this ad lib came from, but I looked in the mirror and was like, stop pooping. And I remember everybody laughing around the monitor and that was the a moment where at least i felt like this is a real special place for for me to be able to do stuff like that that i'm not going to be able to do anywhere else and i also think um that from from the perspective of Mike and people making the show, they were like, Oh, this dude's willing to go for it. And, um, it was a, it was, it was a very seminal moment. I remember it like it was yesterday. Yeah. I mean, there must be such a joy in being able to be silly, have it fit in with the show, have it not be about vanity. You know,

I think that's a big thing, right? Where it's like, oh, I think, you know, Mike and everyone, you know, watching the dailies and watching the cuts, like, oh yeah, this guy's, this guy's willing to have fun. And he's not, you know, it's not about him looking good or being a hero or whatever. It's, it's, it's actually the opposite of that. And it's more fun for him to be silly and to, you know, did they put makeup on you? Were they making make they were actively trying to make you look worse right it's like oh yeah sick yeah yeah look the sicker the better and you know the i i can remember you know it's like the script says chris is sick in the bed or chris is sick on the floor and like really trying to figure out what's the most awkward position i could lie like what's the most disgusting like I could lie? Like what's the most disgusting, like gross version of there's where I have my,

my face is on the hospital floor. There's one where, um, I, I, I'm, I'm actually bent over those weird, like portable,

like desk things that they slide up to the bed. And also I have that gown on. Yes. The gown is doing a lot of work. You know, the hospital, again, we all know it open in the gown is doing a lot of work. You know, the hospital gown, we all know it, open in the back, there's nothing down there. Do you have any tricks? Because this is sometimes,

this is two things we ask actors to do. They either have to play sick or they play drunk or whatever. Do you have tricks for playing sick? Is there a facial strategy? Is there a sinus thing? Like, do you have strategies for all the budding actors out there? For me, it's just, Or a sinus thing? Like, do you have strategies for all the budding actors out there?

For me, it's just, it's like the more slack my jaw and mouth can be. Like, the more, like, breathing through your mouth because your nose is closed up. And, like, maybe some drool. It's all about the slack. The slack mouth no no tension in the face no tension in the face just no energy to keep your muscles taut that's right for sure no and one other thing that um that that is in this episode that people um it's it's fun one of the things i love about parks is when i'm out and about, people will quote lines. So people talk about stop pooping, but they also talk about the microchip has been compromised.

And that's a big one. And that's in this episode. And that always made me laugh. My body is a microchip also was something I feel like in the writer's room was kind of unlocked a little bit of the episode because like yeah this guy's so healthy like why would he get sick like you know we actually talked believe it or not we actually talked about that like that does that make sense like how do you justify that but then we came up i think it's a pretty funny thing which is like yes someone whose body is perfectly perfectly calibrated and balanced and does not

like clearly this guy has a habit right he has a routine every day is the same workout he's probably eating the same shit every day like but if that changes by a little bit if a piece of dust gets on that microchip like everything breaks down so we felt like that was both a funny explanation and somewhat reasonable and so it's like yeah that that my body's a microchip like I don't know who came up with that, but, but, uh, it, it really made us laugh. And also again, was kind of seminal for the character. Cause it's like, okay, this, and you start getting the quirks. It's not just these healthy and that he's fit or whatever.

It's like, okay, what is the comedic version of that? And, um, I also like when, when Ann is like, my body's like a potato chip. No, that's nothing. No, it doesn't work. It's nothing. It's like a potato chip. No, that's nothing. No, it doesn't work. It's nothing. It's truly, truly nothing. But yeah. And also, by the way, there's also a little bit of a thing near the end of the episode where you're talking to Ben and you're like, yeah, I'm going to go, I got to put a like 15K and I missed yesterday. And you're talking about your heart as well. And it's kind of funny because you talk about it with Anne, you know, you're saying, yeah,

my heart could like pump like jet into like fuel into into a passenger jet or something and it's like oh actually later on when you talk about your heart condition it's like maybe that could fit as well like maybe that all works like it maybe it's an overcompensation it's all it's all part of a beautiful tapestry so well i just wanted to call out uh about stop pooping one thing which is that i think about this rob which is like you know as a actor you know, drama shows or movies, you must like dream to have like, to get to be so lucky to have a scene like in West Wing, like in Galileo, and you're talking to Mallory outside and be like, why go to Mars? And it's like, because it's what's next or whatever. You get this amazing, or like playing chess and hearts fields landing right to do these amazing

moments like i get that and then a comedy side to say i get to stare at myself in the mirror and with all sincerity dripping with sweat to stay stop pooping and that you get to do like two of these like mount rushmore type moments of acting is incredible so i had to call that out thank you i appreciate that and i and i'm i am super aware of how rare that is and those opportunities don't come around very often and for very many people and you know they're they're opposite ends of the acting spectrum which at the end of the day as an actor that's all you're hoping for is to be able to, to play a range of, of characters. Yeah. And, and just so it doesn't get boring too. You know, I think that's really fun. I think, you know, as a writer director, same thing, it's like, you know, you don't want to do the same thing over and over again. Let's

try to push yourself. And so that must be fun. It's variety, man. Variety is the spice of life. Um, you know, it's, uh, shifting gears a tiny bit. It always makes me laugh when we clearly just go outside and shoot on the studio lot next to the parking structure. Like we do that like every other episode. So there's a scene where Ron and Andy are throwing a football and it's like, that's just clearly a studio lot parking lot. There's no, I mean, we have a parking lot. We're going to shoot it there. Like that scene is there in in freddy spaghetti there's a scene

where andy is with showing off his motorcycle inexplicably that's also in front of like the parking structure it's like yeah we're just sitting there's an episode where where adam sky's eating soup on a bench also parking lot like just they're all the parking lot like you know you just go outside that's that's right outside the writer's offices. That's like literally like we would park our cars in that structure and walk to the office. So I have a soft spot in my heart for any scene where there's like a talking head or whatever that just like in front of a parking structure, because we all know where that is. That's where I parked my car for seven years. Here's my favorite little factoid is before we moved in was um malcolm in the middle yes that's right yeah it's really you know just to geek out a little bit like you know you it's the same stage you

know we're on paramount for a show now and it's like we're shooting this fun comedy there but there's all kinds of historic movies from 70 years ago the past you know 70 years of movie making and and there's usually a list of shows and movies that have shot there. It's like, wow, they shot whatever. Some like it hot here or whatever. It's just insane. It's the same building. So that's kind of cool.

All right, onwards. Back to the Parks Department with April absent from work. Ron asked Andy to fill in as his assistant. The two bond over the course of the day, and Andy begins to tell Ron about his problems with April, for whom he still harbors romantic feelings. Although initially not wishing to get involved, Ron reluctantly tells Andy she's at the hospital and he should visit her. Meanwhile, Anne remains pleasant throughout her nursing shift, despite

April's constant abuse. The second her shift ends, however, Anne immediately loses her temper and curses at April. Anne apologizes for kissing Andy, but insists it was a mistake and that April should stop taking it out on Andy. Later, Andy visits April, who pretends to be asleep, but smiles, revealing she's happy he came. You want Anne being a straight person, but kind of sucking it up. You want her exploding at the end. And the way the stories dovetail at the end is kind of nice. It's Ron adorable. It's, it's, it's him kind of caring for Andy at the end and, and thereby facilitating his relationship with, with April. So, um, you know, was it hard navigating these new relationships in this third season? It was more like, it was exciting. It was exciting to sort of, you're, you're almost like putting puzzle pieces together in the writer's room, right? It's like, you have these new puzzle pieces, where do they fit? You know, what are pairings that we really love? And what are new pairings that you haven't seen as much? Like, I don't think Ron and Andy have been in scenes together. It's like, let's put them together and see what that's like. And, you know, it bore really great fruit in this episode. And the same thing for April and Anne. It's like, you don't see them together on an island necessarily that often. You do it here, and you get comedy out of it, and you get new sort of

wrinkles in their relationship. And Tom and Ben are in a relationship. It's really like four stories almost, you know? It's a lot. It's a lot. Yeah. But really fun. You know, we talked about again and again about how we shot these episodes, wrote them and shot them immediately after season two. But one of the benefits,

I think, is that we're kind of coasting on the energy that was set up in these storylines and these dynamics. And so that the pause we had as a writer's room actually happened after episode six, which then launches, we'll get to the Harvest Festival and the weddings and all these things. But these early episodes almost feel like they belong,

it's like cousins almost to those last two of season two because of how intertwined they were because of the people making them were so in their heads thinking about the episodes that just came before it yes and just to touch on that even more it's keep in mind this is the second episode and obviously this is largely about it's called flu season right it's about this but know what's really, it's also part of the Harvest Festival plot arc. So the Harvest Festival arc gets set up ultimately kind of in master plan where it's the budget being slashed. Then in Go Big or Go Home, it's like the budget's shut down.

How do we save the thing? We're going to take this huge risk and we're going to throw the Harvest Festival. And then in the ensuing episodes between Go Big or Go Home and the actual Harvest Festival episode, there's always kind of something, some connective tissue. So in this one, she has to go to the Chamber of these sort of, you know, cover stories, we call them, right? Not the emotional stories, but there's something that the characters have a goal that they want to achieve. And so you lay that on top of the existing characters, and then you lay that on top of the romantic relationships, and you lay that on top of the growing, budding friendships. Like all of that is what contributes to making the show feel rich and connected and somewhat serialized, but also enjoyable on their own. So this is an episode

you can just turn on and watch. And it's super funny. You could, it could be the first episode of the show you ever watch, but if you watch the previous 30 episodes and are about to watch five more, it's also super, you know, sort of satisfying in that way. So those are the things that we're talking about. Yeah. It's, it's a little serialized, a little episodic. episode two and you're like oh god really jesus i just want to watch an episode of television is that is that too much to ask and you don't have to it's like there's no like buy-in that you have to have and i what i what i like about this episode in particular is it really it's a standalone it's a true standalone but with enough you know um connective stuff that people who are are super fans can like it too yes exactly and you And you get that she's basically overcoming the flu and giving a big speech at the end.

You don't have to know a ton of context, but if you're following the overarching story, you get what that speech means in the larger context. So at the end of the episode, Chris tells Ben they've been called back to Indianapolis for a new assignment, but both of them agree to seek an extension to stay in Pawnee longer.

Although they both claim they want to help organize the Harvest Festival, it's hinted they really want to stay because of Leslie and Anne. They say something like, yeah, there's a couple of loose ends to tie up know let's see if this is working if you guys are having fun you know if the writers are enjoying it and um you know it's kind of a sweet moment because you there's kind of a metatextual element where it's like yeah the actors are having fun and seeing you guys say like yeah i think we want to stick around you know it's kind of it's gratifying it's really gratifying it was real it was real that was that's exactly what was happening and i think we almost never see like chris and ben like in scenes just the two of them together i was thinking about this watching this episode again i was i was like there's something really fresh about this it's like oh yeah the two characters who came in together rarely have

scenes just the two of them and that's also the power of the characters that they activated so many other characters we already had on the show. But there's something really refreshing about seeing these two people who knew each other have like different takes on Pawnee and the world that we've gotten to know. We've had relatively very few scenes together, but when we did, they were always so fun and so notable. I mean, I can't wait till we get to start talking about Ben's low-cal calzone zone episode coming up. That's one of my favorites. But yeah, it's true that you rarely see them kind of go off into a corner and like, I mean, they're a team, but yet you rarely saw them do that. So when you did, it was fun. Yeah, I think it's almost like a testament to the fact that we immediately established these pretty strong relationships with you and the other characters. You know, I think you do scenes with Amy, you do scenes with Rashida, and it's so interesting. But it is fun to see you guys together. I saw there was actually a nice profile of Adam in the New York Times, and they mentioned

the Calzone Zone and the claymation that he did. It's like, this guy has range. It's like, this dude has range. He's playing, he's in this dystopian thriller right now, and he also can be goofy and listen to letters to Cleo on this show. But yeah, final thoughts on this episode. This is an all-timer. I mean, this is. Um, but yeah, I mean, final thoughts in this episode, I, this is an all timer. I mean, this is probably on the Mount Rushmore of episodes, you know, so of parks episodes, I think fans often say it's one of their favorites. So, um, yeah, pleasure to rewatch this one. It's just,

it's just humming along, man. It's just humming along. Any final thoughts from you, uh, Rob? You know, again, one of my favorites, um, I remember, like I said, showing this to the, as a cast with Mike. We all took it to the Television Academy and then did a panel afterwards. And that was a great evening. And yeah, if I had to pick one episode to show people of Parks and Rec, this is the one. of the one it's a good one if you've got skeptical friends for uh you've been trying to get them to watch the show for 15 years uh this is a good one to show them it's very accessible it's got all the the characters you love and it's super funny so show it to your friends and then listen to this episode afterward all right some oops moments uh this is a borderline it was one i'll say it anyway ben compares leslie to a flu-ridden mich Jordan at the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan more likely had food poisoning and not the fluid playing in the 1997 Finals.

That was kind of a fact from The Last Dance. I don't know if you guys watched The Last Dance, the documentary series. Also, by the way, speaking of COVID, it's so funny to me that, you know, we did so much testing and stuff. You know, all this stuff. The NBA did a ton of testing. And obviously, if you test a positive, you couldn't play. Meanwhile, one of the most glorified games,

heroic games in NBA history was the legendary flu game. It's like Michael Jordan has the flu. He shouldn't be out there infecting other people. He's like a hero. People were lionizing him. It was like, he's all over. He's going to give Scottie Pippen the flu, man. He's right on, Scottie.

You can't do that. He's going to give the refs the flu. He's going to give Scotty Pippen the flu, man. He's right on Scotty. You can't do that. He's going to give the refs the flu. He's going to give the courtside patrons the flu. And it's like, no, it was fine at the time. It's different. Look, it's apples and oranges, but it just made me laugh. Because that guy was just all over the place. He shouldn't be giving people flu.

He was a super spreader. Not only was he the MVP of the game, he was a super spreader. Super MVP for the flu. But yeah, the legend now is that someone in utah gave him a bad pizza or something but right i don't know i don't know what the case is but that's an oops moment that's an oops moment it's amazing episode mbp most valuable panian oh boy character moment in this episode sticks out what is what are your uh what are your thoughts on this rollo it's got to be to be, I mean, look, like I said,

between stop pooping and connectivity issues, those might be the two most famous. Might be a co-MVP. Might be the old East and West co-MVPs. I'm trying to think of a classic co-MVP situation. There's got to be one in like an All-Star game. I just watched the NBA All-Star game, so I was like, I'm stuck on that.

But I feel like one year was it Shaq and Kobe or something that's the shack and kobe this episode um are those two moments yeah i think i think uh i think chris and andy take take this take this episode i think yes levine levine wants to put in a vote for and what is your what is your and vote here well Well, here's the reason. Yes, we have network connectivity issues and stop pooping and Leslie Monster and all the schmoozing from Tom. But I think at the end, numerous scenes and storylines happen and converge in the hospital, right?

And Anne is a key player in all of them. And I think the hard thing in comedy sometimes is being the straight man and activating so many other great comedy pieces. And she pretty much plays that in all these scenes. And she sets up so much comedy. And so much of the episode would not have actually worked without Anne. So my call out for this episode is Anne.

It's an art to be the straight person. And she's crushing it in this. She's a glue guy. The episode starts with her. She's like, it's the flu, whatever, flu season, whatever. And then she's dealing with April. She's dealing with Andy. She's dealing with everybody. So shout out to Anne. She's the, it's the flu, whatever, flu season, whatever, and then she's dealing with April, she's dealing with Andy, she's dealing with everybody.

So, shout out to Ann. She's the Draymond Green of this episode. Do you want to go to the town hall? I think you do. All right, let's take a trip to the town hall. Today it's a town howl. You know, I feel like we got to do this town hall at the hospital. The legendary hospital set.

We got to do it at the hospital. The super expensive hospital set. Does the hospital have a name, Greg? Do they get named? What is it called? I got to tell you Does the hospital have a name, Greg? Do they get named? Is it called, what is it called? I got to tell you, it does have a name. One of the joys sometimes as the writer's assistant at the, before I became a writer,

was getting to name some things. And so I named some characters after some people I knew. And this is Pawnee's St. Joseph Hospital. It's the same hospital my younger brother had to be rushed to when he slammed his finger in the door, and I did it in honor of him. Great. St. Joe. There you go. There you go. Okay, so this question comes to us from James from ABQ. What's ABQ? Albuquerque? What is that?

Yeah, Albuquerque. Okay, so James from Albuquerque. Shall we play this clip from James? Yeah. Hi, guys. My name is James. I live in Albuquerque, New we play this clip from James? Yeah. Hi, guys. My name is James. I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Huge fan of Parks and Rec. I watch it annually, and I'm really enjoying the podcast.

My question has to do with Season 2, Episode 10, The Hunting Trip. I was recently watching The Mandalorian. In Episode 1, Season 1 of The Mandalorian, he is fighting an alien race called the Transdosians. And while they're in a gunfight, you hear, bula, bula, bula, several times in the background. I was wondering if that is because Dave Filoni is a Parks and Rec fan. Like, what's the story on that? Thanks.

Great question. Very specific question, James, from Albuquerque um i do enjoy the mandolin have you seen the mandalorian rob yeah it's great yeah i i'm a fan i've seen both seasons and uh you know i feel like you're gonna have to ask dave filoni i actually i actually uh had dinner with john fabbro not that long ago um who does the mandalorian as well um and he was he he was so funny talking about it because obviously it's a massive show with a massive budget and it's like the biggest star wars tv show and he's done so many big big budget movies he's like yeah you know it's nice to just have this little tv show they just let me do what i want i mean it sounded like he was talking about like a one million dollar like a two hundred thousand dollar indie movie i'm like john this is like a massive show this is he's like

yeah but they kind of let me do what i want i don't have to deal with like all this studio bullshit whatever and it's like i mean it's it's an insane thing is bula bula bula something people say just during hunting in general that's i'm not a big hunter i i don't know if you are you wouldn't know this because you're a harvard. You know Bula Bula is Yale. It's a Yale thing, right? Okay. It's Yale. Well, then why do they say Bula Bula in the hunting trip episode?

Because they went to Yale. Maybe the hunters were Yalies. Because Swanson went to Yale. I don't think he went to Yale, man. No, he did not. He went to both states. Yeah, exactly. Tweet at Dave Filoti.

Ask him if you've seen the Parks and Rec episode or if he just likes the Yale fight song. But yeah, I love The Mandalorian. And it's a fun show. And I don't know. It would be nice to do a crossover. Let's do a crossover episode. Well, hopefully this episode that we just recorded is as classic as the episode it was about, because if so, then we've just done the best episode we're going to do of Parks and Rec Collection. Wouldn't you say?

It's up there. It's up there. I think. I think. Well, listen, you listeners will be the judge, and you can do that by giving us a five-star review on Apple. I think you need to, because this was a really good episode. Thank you all for listening. Schulte, Greg, as always, thank you. And Mr. Yang, thank you for being you. Thank you, Rolo. Thank you for being you.

And as always, stop pooping and goodbye from Punny. Stop pooping and goodbye from Punny. Stop pooping. Parks and Recollection is produced by Greg Levine and me, Rob Schulte. Our coordinating producer is Lisa Berm. The podcast is executive produced by Alan Yang for Alan Yang Productions, Rob Lowe for Low Profile, Jeff Ross, Adam Sachs, and Joanna Solitaroff at Team Coco, and Colin Anderson at Stitcher.

Gina Batista, Paula Davis, and Britt Kahn are our talent bookers. The theme song is by Mouse Rat, a.k.a. Mark Rivers, with additional tracks composed by John Danek thanks for listening and we'll see you next time on Parks and Recollection