Parks and Recreation: Cast & Creators Live at PaleyFest

“Saturday Night Live” alum Amy Poehler leads a stellar ensemble in this mockumentary which rode election fever with Leslie Knope’s hilarious campaign for a seat on the Pawnee (Indiana) City Council. This William S. Paley Television Festival live event honors “Parks and Recreation,” the mockumentary-style comedy series about the quirky staffers of the parks and recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana. Michael Schneider (Los Angeles bureau chief, TV Guide Magazine) moderates the following panelists: producer/director Dean Holland; co-executive producer/writer Dan Goor; series co-creator/executive producer/ Michael Schur; and cast members Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich), Retta (Donna Meagle), Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer), and Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope). The panelists touch on such topics as: dramatic changes made when shaping the character of Leslie; Poehler’s difficulty at staying in character in scenes with Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson); and Poehler’s “dream come true” in writing and directing a recent episode. Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: the commitment to include all characters in every episode; how the handheld cameras create a more comedy-friendly style; and why Poehler’s positive nature makes the set “the happiest place on Earth.”