Top 10 Stars You Forgot Appeared on Parks and Recreation
#10: Jon Hamm
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Although he got his big break playing Don Draper in the AMC drama “Mad Men,” Jon Hamm has shown off his comedic chops on multiple occasions. From appearances on “30 Rock” to “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, Hamm has made us laugh, and his turn on “Parks and Recreation” was no exception. However, while Hamm is very good at his job, the character he played on “Parks” was not. Ed is a not-so-bright, but well-meaning National Parks Service employee who Leslie Knope fires at the end of season 6, but who comes back in the season seven premiere. Albeit very briefly.
#9: Will Forte
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If you were filling up a time capsule of items that represented your town, what would you put in it? Well, we’re pretty sure the “Twilight” books wouldn’t be one of them. Unless of course you lived in Forks, Washington, where the story is set, or Hartford, Connecticut, where author Stephenie Meyer was born. Yet in the season three episode “Time Capsule”, SNL alum Will Forte guest starred as a Pawnee citizen who wanted the “Twilight” books included in the city’s time capsule that Leslie was putting together. And he was very passionate about it too!
#8: Bill Murray
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Many sitcoms over the years have had characters that were talked about but never seen, and on “Parks and Recreation” that person was Pawnee mayor Walter Gunderson. But that changed in the second to last episode of the series when finally fans got to lay eyes on Gunderson. Unfortunately for the former mayor, it was at his funeral. And who was there, laying in the coffin, and also speaking in a recorded video? None other than one of the greatest comedic actors of our time, Bill Murray. For years the cast and the writers had said that they would never reveal the mayor unless they got Murray to play him. And they actually did!
#7: Andy Samberg
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Three years before he became a cop on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Andy Samberg got a taste of serving and protecting as Park Ranger Carl on “Parks and Recreation.” The SNL alum and Lonely Island member plays the head of outdoor security of the parks, who was transferred from his desk job because, well… allow Aziz Ansari to explain. Samberg is, of course, very funny in the role and if you had forgotten him, we’re pretty sure you won’t forget him now. In fact, you might still hear him after this video is over.
#6: Questlove
While known primarily for his musical abilities, Questlove has made a number of appearances on TV shows over the years. However, he often plays himself, as was the case in “iCarly” and “Empire” to name just a couple of shows. But when it came time for him to guest star on “Parks and Recreation”, the drummer for the Roots got to play someone else: LaVondrius Meagle, the estranged brother of Donna Meagle. And he also got to smash a microwave oven so it sure sounds like a win-win to us.
#5: Josh Groban
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Unlike Questlove, who portrayed someone else in his guest role on the show, Josh Groban was himself in his “Parks and Recreation” episode. Or at least a funny, flirting, baller version of himself. In the season seven episode “Save JJ’s”, Donna and Tom are at an L.A. sushi restaurant where all the sushi is made from fish previously owned by celebrities. And who just so happens to be sitting at a nearby table but Mr. Groban himself. And what does he order? Well, the Groban of course ... Somehow it makes it weirder that he’s eating his own fish.
#4: John Cena
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His opponents in the ring might not be able to see him, but everyone watching the third to last episode of “Parks and Recreation” caught a good glimpse of John Cena. The entire episode is the last episode of Andy’s kid show “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show” and Cena guest starred as himself guest starring on the “Johnny Karate” show. In the episode, John steals a guitar, gets handcuffed, scared by a tarantula and dropped into a dunk tank. Makes a WWE match sound like a walk in the park doesn’t it?
#3: Heidi Klum
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It’s hard to imagine forgetting one of the most beautiful women in the world, but in case it did slip your mind allow us to remind you of Klum’s turn on the show. It happened back in the season six premier when Leslie traveled to London to receive an award for her work in government. While there she meets Klum’s character, Ulee Danssen, at the awards ceremony. Danssen is the attractive mayor of a town in Denmark who’s beloved by the town’s people - things that Knope is more than a little jealous of.
#2: Kristen Bell
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Kristen Bell and her husband Dax Shepard do a lot together. They started a product company, they have their own game show, and they both guest starred on “Parks and Recreation” - although not in the same episode. Dax appeared in one episode in the final season playing an executive at the local Pawnee television station, while Bell was in three episodes back in season 6. Kristen played Ingrid de Forest, the WASP-y councilwoman from Eagleton who replaces Leslie as councilwoman when the towns of Eagleton and Pawnee merge. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Jonathan Banks From “Breaking Bad” Hitman to Ben Wyatt’s Father Chelsea Peretti Peretti Didn’t Just Appear in an Episode of “Parks and Rec,” She Also Wrote Said Episode Rachel Dratch Dratch Played Ben & Leslie’s Nanny Roz Pinwheel
#1: Bo Burnham
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Popular comedian Bo Burnham is known for his catchy and very funny songs, and those musical talents were put to good use for his guest starring role in season six as teen country music star Chipp McCapp. McCapp’s song “Beautiful Like My Mom (Support the Troops)” is a huge hit with the people of Pawnee, but when Leslie and Andy try to get him to play a concert in town they learn the truth about Chipp. He’s a big jerk, who really likes ham and isn’t a fan of turkey!
