Parks and Recreation EP Talks Season 7 Time Jump, [Spoiler]’s Possible Return
Parks and Recreation fans, we feel your pain. With several weeks still left before the NBC comedy debuts its seventh and final season, we’re ready to swear off waffles for life if it means the time will pass faster.
But executive producer Mike Schur feels differently.
During a recent visit to the Parks set, where production on the series’ final two episodes had begun, Schur told TVLine he was dreading the show’s end.
“The real test will be the next couple of weeks, because that’s when we’re shooting the finale and we’ll start wrapping people out,” he said. “It’s going to be a huge bummer.”
But before we jump ahead to Parks‘ upcoming series ender — which Schur says was “very stressful” to write — we’ve got questions about where Season 7 will begin, given the three-year time jump that brought Pawnee into the year 2017 last April.
Below, Schur discusses which familiar faces will resurface in Season 7 (including Chris and Ann?!), the TV finales that influenced his writing and the “stages of grief” that have come with Parks‘ looming conclusion.
RELATED Parks and Rec Brings Back Megan Mullally, Revives Lost ‘Jammy’ Plot in Season 7
TVLINE | Knowing that you’re moving all these characters forward by three years, was it difficult to break story for Season 7?
It was actually quite easy. The idea behind that move was to give us a jolt of creativity. Now, we have this whole new idea. We don’t have to link everything to exactly what came before it. We can have the characters take quantum leaps and then fill in the blanks later, or not. It was actually really fun to mentally jump everybody three years forward in their lives and imagine what was going on. I hope that translates, because it was very enjoyable. It was like a fun creative writing exercise.
TVLINE | Can we expect to see Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe back?
We made a list of people that we needed to see back one more time. We didn’t get everybody we wanted, because some people had other obligations. But a lot of the people we were hoping to see one more time — we managed to make that happen.
TVLINE | Who else can we expect to see return?
If you watch the show, you can probably take a few educated guesses. You’re not going to go the whole year without seeing Jean-Ralphio. You’re not going to go the whole year without seeing Megan Mullally. But then there are a few sneak-attack surprises that I very much hope people don’t get wind of. [Laughs]
TVLINE | What was the mood like when you wrote the series finale? Did you feel pressured to create the perfect end for these characters?
It’s been very stressful. We watched a lot of finales of other shows in our writers’ room. We’d have lunch and watch the Cheers finale, the Six Feet Under finale. And we realized there’s no such thing as a perfect finale, but the ones that were the most satisfying are the ones where you spent time with the characters and luxuriated with them and ones where you felt like, at the end of it, you could imagine what happens next. TV is a weird thing. People are growing with you over many, many years. And the best finales are ones where you can imagine the characters continuing to move on with their lives. That became our goal: Let’s do a nice, character-based story where, at the end of it, you’re like, “OK, I feel like everyone is safe and happy.” [Laughs]
TVLINE | What’s the atmosphere been like on set for these final episodes?
It’s been exactly what you’d imagine. A little bit exciting, a little bit sad, a little bit of people freaking out — all the stages of grief at once. The show takes its cues from its lead actress and main character. We’re all trying to Leslie Knope our way through it: Keep our chins up and soldier on.
Parks fans, what’s your biggest wish for Season 7? Hit the comments and tell us!
Cheers and Six Feet Under are good finales, same with West Wing. There are no good finales, but there are early bad ones. Don’t screw it up!
Not ready for there to be no more new Parks & Rec!! That being said it sounds like the writers are going to do the show justice and give it a proper send off. Better to leave wanting more than to have it overstay its welcome.
Yay for Tammy 2! I love this show and will miss it a lot!!!
So sad this show is almost over, but as long as it doesn’t end with Ben dying and Leslie ending up with Mark Brendanaquits, I think I’ll be ok.
I’m glad he said everyone will be safe and happy because I’m still depressed over the Six Feet Under ending and also still want to punch walls when talking about HIMYM.
Wonder if Paul Schneider will make a return. Said he would always come back
As long as Leslie doesn’t end up a lumberjack in the Pacific Northwest, I’ll be ok.
Maybe they should, just for fun…
I actually think this would be more suited for Leslie than Dexter.
They did such a great job with the season 6 finale (that was better than so many series finales!) that I think it will be excellent!
Totally agree. They could have ended the show right there and I would have been satisfied (not happy, but satisfied!). That said would love to see Paul Schneider and of course Louis C.K back-both happy and content!
“With several weeks still left before the NBC comedy debuts its seventh and final season” Did they announce a return date?
No they haven’t. It is rumored to be January. All we know is that it’s 13 episodes and what the first episodes are named.
I thought so. The article makes it sound like a premiere date was set.
Great interview. Can’t wait for final season to start! Gonna miss the show so much.
I hope Parks returns soon! I miss this show so much and I’m gonna be terribly sad when it’s over but I trust the writers that the finale it’s going to be good.
I am so excited for the return of Parks & Rec and so sad to see it end. I am sure I will be a big puddle during the finale. It makes me a little teary just thinking about it. Man, I have missed the whole Pawnee gang!
I want to see Paul Rudd. And Leslie and Ben need to live happily ever after. Other than that, I don’t care.
I’d love to see the finale end with yet another time jump, say five more years, with April in Leslie’s old job, Ron willing election as Mayor of Pawnee on a platform of refusing to do any work and Leslie being sworn in as Indiana’s newest senator.
more councilman jamm please!
I can’t wait for the premiere, I miss this show. Thursday nights have been lonely without Parks and Rec!