You guys, this is the big one. SO MUCH HAPPENS!!!! Cut scenes, replaced scenes, BTS from the cast themselves, Michelle Obama?! AND the Department of the Interior's Resident Bad Boy stops by, I mean..... this is truly a Parks and Rec DREAM. Thank you, writers, cast and crew, for this gift of an episode. :) 

Thank you to Joe Souza for sending in WONDERFUL voice memos, no one knew you were sick, and you were perfect! ahhh!!! 

SOURCES: 

Vanity Fair Article: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/04/parks-and-recreation-finale#:~:text=a%20coy%20hint%20about%20the,Ed%20was%20hired%20or%20something.

Alcatraz: https://www.bop.gov/about/history/alcatraz.jsp

Thomas Hucker (Ron's woodworker mention): https://furnsoc.org/fs22/speakers/tom-hucker

Joe Souza! (Liam Bonneville, Resident Bad Boy): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1318675/

LET'S MOVE! (MICHELLE OBAMA QUEEN): https://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/

Michelle Obama on Good Hang with Amy Poehler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMmCb2hq1OA

Michelle Obama Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imo-with-michelle-obama-and-craig-robinson/id1532956108

Merging Towns (Virginia): https://virginiamercury.com/2018/07/18/with-annexation-off-the-table-officials-studying-ways-to-prod-struggling-cities-to-merge-with-counties/#:~:text=Martinsville%20might%20be%20further%20along,than%20the%20cities%20they%20contain.

Shana Hagan (Cam Op for Parks! and Cinematographer Queen): https://parkpalspodcast.buzzsprout.com/1663456/episodes/9915666-our-conversation-with-shana-hagan-aka-camera-operator-tweep

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Support the show

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Follow us @parkpalspodcast on Instagram! 
Or email us at [email protected]

Today's episode is an AMAZING rerun and if you haven't heard it yet, you're in for a treat! The best! 

Dexhart is an amazing guest and I have a feeling some of you haven't heard it yet! Please enjoy how excited we are by how excited HE IS about this show! We love when someone on the show is as big a fan as we are! Please remember you can ask him for personal messages via Cameo!

Kevin's YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEQdbINKqPfzDhm7LFMG_2g
Social Media: @thekevinsymons
Get a personalized message on Cameo!: https://www.cameo.com/kevinsymons1

THANK YOU KEVIN!!!!

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Did you know Mike Schur doesn't love Hawaiian Pizza? Such an informative, jam-packed episode and this is just the beginning of the end! (Of Season 6) ALSO the similarities I found between Friends (the TV show) and Parks is kind of hilarious! 

Deleted scenes, a TON of blooper reel scenes, surprises (and reproductive information) at the doctor's office, Keegan Michael Key AND guest star voice memos?! WHAT A DAY! Plus, the writers did such a great job showing us the amazing love and balance that Leslie and Ben share. 

Thank you so much to Teresa Reilly aka Kitty Goodbye, our pharmacist that tells Leslie she most likely doesn't have the flu. What an amazing memory and the joy of her story is SO fun and wonderful. 

Teresa: https://www.teresa-reilly.com/about

Thank you also to Caroline Hall, our lovely "crying mom" at the elementary school with Keegan Michael Key! Amazing mic pack stories, and working with Keegan plus, the surprise person she knew before she got to set! 

Caroline: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1009439/

Kevin Symons aka Dexhart Interview: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhyQxuvSFo

Cooper Thornton aka Cooper Thornton Interview: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-conversation-with-cooper-thornton-aka-dr-harris/id1551856074?i=1000569857241

Sources: 

IMDB.com

https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/fact-sheets-and-infographics/multiple-pregnancy-and-birth-twins-triplets-and-high-order-multiples/#:~:text=Also%2C%20more%20women%20are%20waiting,multiples%2C%20especially%20with%20fertility%20treatment.

https://www.huggies.com/en-us/resources/getting-pregnant/pregnancy-planning/fraternal-triplets#:~:text=Eat%20a%20diet%20which%20is,11%20to%2015%2Dplus%20pounds.

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(Most of) the parks crew heads to the winery, and Ben and Leslie get a WILD surprise!!!!!! and Chip McCapp (Bo Burnham) is finally here, omg we've been waiting!!!!! 

Thank you so much to Steve Tom and Rebecca Klingler for sending in amazing voice memos about your time on set, WE LOVED THEM!!!!!! So forever grateful! Check out their information below to follow! 

Rebecca Klingler:

Teaching: https://www.uclaextension.edu/instructors/rebecca-klingler

https://www.instagram.com/klingler.rebecca/?hl=en

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0459779/

Steve Tom: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003493/

Jeff Tweedy article: https://www.vulture.com/article/wilco-jeff-tweedy-parks-and-recreation-interview.html#:~:text=Land%20Ho!%2C%20indeed%2C%20reunites,%E2%80%9D%20as%20a%20non%2Dactor

Jim Meskimen Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-conversation-with-jim-meskimen-aka-martin-housely/id1551856074?i=1000528207972

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We're going to Prom, you guys! Leslie panics about the future, Ron helps ground her, and Alison is stuck in the middle. We learn about locations, uses for helium and more!

Thank you so much to Piper Major from the Galentine's Day episode, Brittany Oaks, Carrie Alexander, and Reece Kirk for sending in incredible voice memos! We are OBSESSED with all the behind-the-scenes details! Please check out all their wonderful projects below! 

Piper Major: https://www.instagram.com/piperemajor/

Brittany Oaks: https://www.instagram.com/itsbrittanyoaks/?hl=en

Carrie Alexander: https://www.instagram.com/carriewampler/?hl=en

Carrie's New Mom Podcast: https://linktr.ee/newmompodcast#530985485

Reece Kirk: https://www.instagram.com/reecekkirk/?hl=en

Kelly Washington: https://www.instagram.com/washingtonkelly/?hl=en

Uses for helium: https://rockymountainair.com/blog/10-helium-uses/

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Leslie is on the hunt for a new best friend, and sadly uses the sacred holy Galentine's Day to rank the people she knows...

Ben and Tom learn that Jerry/Larry is a powerful paperwork beast! ...but never shows it. 

And yay Ann is back and we get to meet Oliver! Plus our tent guy is here! Deleted scenes, summaries and more. <3 

Donate/call your Senators!!!!!!! We are all in this together, let's go!!!!!! To our immigrant friends, YOU BELONG HERE AND YOU ARE AMERICAN. We believe in the America that represents us all. 

https://www.aclu.org/

https://5calls.org/

https://www.standwithminnesota.com/

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How to help Minnesotans: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/

How to find your representatives and tell them to STOP FUNDING ICE: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

___________________

Thank you, Devin Sidell and Bonnie Bailey-Reed for sending incredible voice memos in, about the kindness of Nick Offerman, Amy Poehler and more! Such detailed and incredible information. This week, we discuss where the Pawnee/Eagleton park is located, how Leslie feels that she's lost control, and Tom's Bistro may become a reality. Plus Andy deleted scenes, so good. 

Sources for the episode:

Follow Devin Sidell and her project "Love, Danielle"! https://www.instagram.com/devin.sidell/?hl=en

Bonnie Bailey Reed IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0047541/

Mike Schur's Favorite Names: https://variety.com/2015/tv/spotlight/mike-schurs-10-favorite-parks-and-recreation-character-names-1201403320/

National Parks: https://npshistory.com/brochures/criteria-parklands-2005.pdf#:~:text=To%20be%20eligible%20for%20favorable%20consideration%20as,by%20some%20other%20governmental%20agency%20or%20by

State Park VS National Park: https://vamonosoutside.org/es/whats-the-difference-between-a-national-forest-and-state-park/

Yvans Jourdain (Councilman Howser): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/re-share-our-conversation-with-yvans-jourdain/id1551856074?i=1000673391520

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Today's agenda! 

-Amazing voice memos from Josh Breeding (our vegan restaurant store owner from the Anniversaries episode)

- Amber Friendly (our reporter who has Mike Schur's favorite character name)

- Requirements for state parks vs national parks

-We discuss how in the heck Leslie could leave the Parks department behind! 

-The origin of Tom's Bistro! 

Sources:

Jen Statsky interview: https://ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/hacks-co-creator-jen-statsky-on-getting

State Parks Vs National Parks:

https://vamonosoutside.org/es/whats-the-difference-between-a-national-forest-and-state-park/

https://www.publiclands.com/blog/a/americas-next-national-parks#:~:text=There%20are%20a%20few%20different,leveled%2Dup%20via%20Congressional%20vote.

Mike Schur's fav character name: 

https://variety.com/2015/tv/spotlight/mike-schurs-10-favorite-parks-and-recreation-character-names-1201403320/

Good Hang w/Amy Poehler: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-hang-with-amy-poehler/id1795483480

Dig - New Mike Schur and Amy Poehler Show: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36843594/

Loved One by Aisha Muharrar: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loved-one-aisha-muharrar/1146546133

Lauren Shaw Stunt Lady! https://www.instagram.com/iamlaurenshaw/?hl=en

Josh Breeding's Band The Megas! https://www.youtube.com/user/theMegas

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Game of Thrones replica! A horse-drawn carriage with Jerry!? The birth of the UNITY CONCERT!?!? So many amazing stories in this episode! Plus, the amazing Debra Mooney and Peter Bonerz join the cast, holy star studded show. 

Thank you to Christopher Wolfe for exchanging emails to follow up, and thank YOU all for commenting/liking our videos and letting us know information you know! (Like how Adam Scott *had* directed before) It honestly is so fun to share this with you! 

Don't forget to rate and review, and talk soon! 

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Tbh, this episode should be called Ann and Leslie, but we get it :( What a beautiful send off for our Ann and Chris - the parties, the groundbreaking, the headlocks, all of it! Thank you writers, Aisha Muharrar and Mike Schur and director, Dean Holland, for making this such a magical moment for the fans to say farewell and see you soon. <3 <3 Plus, the green park bench, Tom Petty and a drone shot?! Come on. Perfect. 

PS, yes we talk about why they left. lol

Thank you to Christopher Wolfe for sending in amazing voice memos about BTS from Farmer's Market! So fun and detailed! 

Don't forget to rate and review please and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Thank you for a great 2025 year of Parks! 

Also a quote I found later that I didn't mention: "Rashida has a producing gig at Warner Bros. and she just sold a TV show yesterday -- I hope I'm not breaking that news -- and she's really focusing more on writing. And as I writer, I fully support that," he added.

When the writers talked about what they have planned for Ann and Chris with Jones, "she was totally on board. The real headline is that everyone is happy. There's no controversy," Schur pointed out.

Sources:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3460878/?ref_=ttep_ep_13

https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/31/showbiz/parks-and-rec-departures-ew#:~:text=We've%20been%20working%20on,in%20the%20works%20for%20them.%E2%80%9D&text=While%20it%20is%20unclear%20what,Henry%20Winkler%20and%20Lucy%20Lawless.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-are-rob-lowe-and-rashida-jones-leaving-parks-and-rec-mike-schur_n_3691399#:~:text=But%20no%2C%20the%20decision%20wasn't%20like%2C%20'We're,they've%20just%20been%20going%20in%20that%20direction.%22

https://people.com/movies/rashida-jones-reportedly-left-toy-story-4-due-to-alleged-unwanted-advances-from-john-lasseter/#:~:text=That%20is%20untrue%2C%E2%80%9D%20Jones%20said,Tuesday%20about%20any%20inappropriate%20behavior.

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