“Parks and Recreation” Cast to Reunite for New Scripted Special

The special will raise money for COVID-19 relief

The cast of "Parks and Recreation"
The cast of "Parks and Recreation"
NBC

Parks and Recreation fans, rejoice: the residents of Pawnee, Indiana are returning to TV for a new, scripted special to raise money for COVID-19 relief.

The entire cast of the beloved sitcom — which includes Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Aubrey Plaza, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir and Retta — will return for the half-hour special, which will air at 8:30 p.m. EST on NBC on Thursday, April 30. The network also teased that other guest stars from the Pawnee universe “might pop in.”

The episode — which, presumably, was recorded remotely while the cast is in quarantine — will take place during the real-life pandemic and focus on Leslie Knope’s efforts to keep in touch with her friends while still observing social distancing. Money raised during the special will go to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund, and donations up to $500,000 will be matched by contributions from NBCUniversal, the show’s cast, writers and producers, State Farm and Subaru of America.

“Like a lot of other people, we were looking for ways to help and felt that bringing these characters back for a night could raise some money,” executive producer Michael Schur said in a statement. “I sent a hopeful email to the cast and they all got back to me within 45 minutes.”

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