Adam Scott: Parks & Rec Would Be 'Different' in Trump Era
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- Adam Scott is starring in the upcoming horror film "Hokum," which opens in theaters on Friday, and reflected on his past sitcom work in a Variety interview
- Parks and Recreation ran for seven seasons on NBC from 2009 to 2015, with Scott playing Ben Wyatt on the small-town government comedy
- Scott said the sitcom brings people "hope and joy" and has helped fans through the pandemic and other trying times
- Donald Trump entering politics in 2015 is when Scott said the U.S. "may have lost what was left of its innocence"
- Scott acknowledged that if "Parks and Rec" started now, it "would be different" given the country's changed energy
- Abbott Elementary was cited by Scott as proof a show can maintain a "really lovely tone" of being "hilarious and heartfelt" even in today's political climate, and that "there's always an audience for that"
Why it matters: Scott frames the debate over whether warm, optimistic TV can survive a divided political era — and answers it with a working example, citing ABC's 'Abbott Elementary' as live proof the Parks and Rec formula still draws an audience. For comedy writers and network buyers weighing tone, the implicit message is that cynical times don't necessarily kill hopeful shows.
