Adam Scott says "Parks and Recreation" would be "Slightly Different" in Trump Era

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Adam Scott says "Parks and Recreation" in the Trump Era would be "Slightly Different"
by William Earl
April 30, 2026


Adam Scott, who is starring in the upcoming horror film Hokum which opens in theaters on Friday, reflected on his time playing Ben Wyatt on the hugely popular NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation” with Variety.

The small-town government sitcom, which ran for seven seasons from 2009-2015, buzzed with a wholesome innocence that seems to be at odds with President Trump’s America, which began in 2017. When asked if “Parks and Recreation” could happen today, given the different energy of our country, he considered it with a nuanced answer.



“I think back on ‘Parks and Rec’ and the hope and joy that it brings people,” Scott says. “It’s so lovely to hear from people that it helped them through the pandemic or helps them through trying times now. And it is a dark time right now.

And I do feel like our country may have lost what was left of its innocence in 2015, when Donald Trump stepped up and stepped into politics. And it’s easy to forget just how much our country has changed in the last 10 or 11 years.”



“But as far as whether it could kind of survive or how it would sit in the now if it started now: Certainly, it would be different,” he continued.

“But something like ‘Abbott Elementary’ is able to maintain this really lovely tone, and it’s able to be hilarious and heartfelt and all of those things in a climate that isn’t always conducive to that. They’re able to protect themselves and make this great show. I think there’s always an audience for that.”

https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ada...nt-1236734725/

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Annual rankings in the Nielsen ratings (2009-2015): 96, 108, 116, 134, 111, 115, 119