Pocono News Section

Behind The Scenes of "Parks and Recreation"

Behind The Scenes of "Parks and Recreation" - Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 11:00PM EST

LOS ANGELES, CA –On Thursday evening, NBC premiered its new comedy "Parks and Recreation." Eyewitness News gives you a behind the scenes look at the show from our own Jeff Chirico, back from Hollywood.
It was fascinating to visit the set they shot the pilot episode. Parks and Recreation is a mockumentary that examines the sometimes exciting world of local government.

Straight from Saturday Night Live --Amy Poehler hits prime time. She stars in NBC's newest sitcom. It's set in the parks and recreation department in fictional Pawnee, Indiana. "It’s a small hotbed of government activity."

The show was created by producers of The Office and co-stars former “Office” regular Rashida Jones. But she insists “this is not an ‘Office’ spin-off. I repeat not an ‘Office’ spin-off." "I think the only thing that's similar is the tone and documentary style."

It also has a cast of strong characters including Tom Haverford, played by standup comic Aziz Ansari "He's pretty much the sleaziest guy in TV right now." While Poehler plays the ambitious yet naive Leslie Knope. "This is Leslie Knope's office. You'd think by looking at the flags and seal, that this would be the mayor's office. But no. Lesley is the second in command of the parks and recreation department. But looking at the books on her shelf, you know this woman has political aspirations."

Executive producer Michael Shur says “Leslie believes that she's destined for greatness." And to prove that, vows to turn a pit into a city park. “We follow her journey in realizing how good intentions are not enough. That was good. You guys are going to use that."

So how can a show about a small government department be funny? “Let me ask you. If I told you the show was about a paper company wouldn't you ask me the same thing. And wouldn't you be wrong? Yea. You would be."

Only in Luzerne County can local government be as much fun...

You can catch Parks and Recreation Thursday nights at 8:30 - just before “The Office"