With a classic series like Parks And Recreation, writers, actors and producers get to flex their voices by commenting about political and social issues through the scripts and storylines.
And while the main setting took place in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana during its seven season run on NBC, oftentimes there was national commentary that included guest appearances by such political heavyweights as the late John McCain, Joe Biden and Michelle Obama.
With the SAG-AFTRA strike now in its second month, some of the old cast and crew decided it was time to reunite in a show of solidarity for the American actors’ union, as well as the Writer’s Guild Of America (WGA) who’ve been on strike since May.
Among the cast to take to the picket line outside Amazon Studios in the Culver City neighborhood of Los Angeles on Friday included Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Ben Schwartz, Retta, Jim O’Heir, Kirk Fox, Susan Yeagley, Colton Dunn, Allan McLeod, Alison Becker and Joe Mande.
Acclaimed actor Sam Elliott, who played Offerman’s Eagleton counterpart Ron Dunn in three episodes of the hit political satire mockumentary sitcom, would also join the show of support.
Solidarity:Cast and crew members for the hit NBC sitcom Parks And Recreation came together to walk the picket line in Los Angele on Friday in a show of support for the SAG-AFTRA strike; The picketers include Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Nick Offerman, Retta, Jim O’Heir, Ben Schwartz, Alison Becker, Kirk Fox, Joe Mande, Susan Yeagley, Allan McLeod and Colton Dunn
And in a surprise to just about everyone out there letting their voices be heard, Pawnee’s celebrity miniature horse Lil Sebastian was also trotted out to steal the show of the day.
Pratt, who played the goofy and dim-witted Andy Dwye on Parks, wasn’t able to attend due to previous commitments but he did take to Instagram to share a series of photos of the group on the picket line.
‘The Parks gang went picketing today. I couldn’t be there, but I stand in solidarity with them. #SAGAFTRAstrong #SAGAFTRAstrike,’ the Hollywood leading man, 44, wrote in the caption.
The cover photo showed 11 of the old cast all huddled together, holding signs, and standing firm on the issues at hand.
There were a couple more pictures of some of them standing arm-in-arm, along with another that zeroed in on Lil Sebastian.
Schwartz, 41, would also comment on Pawnee’s famous four-legged friend, writing in his post, ‘Lil Sebastian made a rare public appearance to support the #sagaftrastrike #wgastrike alongside some people who understand how amazing he is.’
Members of SAG-AFTRA went on strike on July 14 over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The union cited several issues in negotiations, including ‘economic fairness, residuals, regulating the use of artificial intelligence and alleviating the burdens of the industry-wide shift to self-taping.’
Rallying the troops” Chris Pratt wasn’t able to attend due to previous commitments but he made sure to let people known of his support for SAG-AFTRA and the ongoing strike; the picture includes star Offerman, Retta and Plaza
Four-legged star: The big surprise came in the form of Pawnee’s celebrity miniature horse, Lil Sebastian, who also trotted out to steal the show of the day.
Shows of support: Many of the other cast and crew from Parks And Recreation also shared images from the Friday picket line in the Culver City neighborhood of Los Angeles
Adorable: Ben Schwartz mugged for the camera alongside Li’l Sebastian
Lucky #7: Parks And Recreation wrapped up its successful seven season run on NBC in February 2015
Taking a stance: Most of the Park crew held up signs as they let their presence be known
Fox, 53, who had the role of Joe Fantringham, reposted the group photo and then took to the caption to declare: ‘Pawnee is a union town.’
Yeagley, who played Jessica Wicks, shared a series of snaps on her Instagram page showing the old gang trying to bring a little humor to such a touch serious situation for union members.
‘Parks and Recreation Day on the picket lines,’ the 51-year-old wrote. ‘What a thrill to see the sweet family again. One day longer. One day stronger. #solidarity @sagaftra @wgawest.’
The man behind the character of Jerry Gergich appeared to be overjoyed over meeting up with his former colleagues.
‘Such a great day. Got to hang with some of my Parks cast, crew, writers, producers and guest stars to support SAG/AFTRA and the WGA’s fight for a fair contract,’ O’Heir, 61, shared in his Instagram page. ‘We also brought along the cutest lil’ horse to ever walk a picket line.’
Parks showrunner Michael Schur was also on hand to walk the picket line alongside co-creator Greg Daniels and writer Greg Levine, according to Entertainment Weekly.
The Parks team wasn’t the only TV show to reunite for the event on Friday, Arrow actors like Katie Cassidy, Willa Holland, Caity Lotz, and Katrina Law met up outside the Warner Bros. lot in the Burbank neighborhood of Los Angeles.
‘Great day’: Jim O’Heir made the best of a bad situation by using the strike event as a way to catch up with some of his old colleagues
Call for fair contract: Members of SAG-AFTRA went on strike on July 14 over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP); Plaza, Retta and O’Heir are seen on the picket line
Holding strong: The strike comes eight years after Park And Recreation wrapped up the series and three years since the special reunion episode; O’Heir and Offerman were seen chatting about the issues during the strike event
Since going on strike in mid-July, which comes eight years after the series wrapped and three years since a special reunion episode aired, the Parks And Recreation gang have been giving updates on their social media platforms.
At times they’ve tried to through in a bit of comedy, such as Adam Scott’s August 1 post where he called Offerman ‘my boyfriend’ in the caption of the photo showing them holding up strike signs while at the rally in Los Angeles.
On July 20, just five days after the SAG-AFTRA strike began, Offerman highlighted the importance of the coinciding WGA strike and their union members behind the stories on film and television.
‘It is a privilege to picket in solidarity with @WGAwest seeing new friends and old, all of us laborers striking for fair pay and so much more,’ he revealed. ‘If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage, folks. @sagaftra #interactive #games #unionstrong #1u #safestudios #fairpay #wegotyourback #negotiatingcommittee.’
Socializing: Since going on strike in mid-July, the Parks And Recreation gang have been giving updates on their social media platforms; Scott is seen with Offerman
Premise: Parks and Recreation, which was created by the team that wrote and brought The Office to the U.S., focused on Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope, a perky, mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks Department of the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee; the cast pictured are Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Retta, Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Rob Lowe, Amy Poehler, Adam Scott and Jim O’Heir Parks
Parks and Recreation, which was created by the team that wrote and brought The Office to the U.S., focused on Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope, a perky, mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks Department of the fictional Indiana town.
It featured a group of ragtag government workers who get into all sorts of shenanigans while building friendship and family at work.
Along with the previously mentioned cast members, the show also featured Rashida Jones, Jenny Slate, Rob Lowe, Billy Eichner, Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari, Pamela Reed, Jama Williamson, Darlene Hunt and Andy Forrest. among others.
The writers researched local California politics for the series and consulted with urban planners and elected officials.
Bonafide hit: The hit sitcom ended up running for seven seasons from 2009-2015, and then come back together for a special reunion episode in 2020; Poehler is pictured with Scott
Smart TV: The series incorporated current events, along with plenty of political and social issues, to the storylines; Pratt is seen with Plaza
The writing staff incorporated current events into the episodes, such as a government shutdown in Pawnee inspired by the real-life global financial crisis of 2007–08.
The SAG-AFTRA work stoppage coincides with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, which began May 2, in a series of broader Hollywood labor disputes with the AMPTP.
Both union labor disputes have contributed to what’s being called the biggest interruption to the American television and film industries since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The SAG-AFTRA labor union represents approximately 160,000 media professionals and entertainers.
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