Written by Brendan O’Meara
Amy Poehler wrote in her book Yes Please, a book with great insight into what it takes to be an artist, that after shooting an episode during Season 5, Parks and Recreation earned an Emmy nomination for best comedy.
They lost.
Poehler wrote:
We were upset because as we know, no matter how much you think you don’t want the pudding, once people start telling you that you might get the pudding it makes you want that pudding bad.
Awards, by and large are B.S. Then again, sometimes you win. In fact, Ron Swanson, the famed P&R character perfectly played by Nick Offerman said as much in an episode I cannot remember.
What did show runner and show creator Mike Schur do in response to the disappointment of his craft’s highest honor? Poehler writes:
Instead of being upset, Mike said, ‘I’m going to go write the scene where Ben proposes to Leslie.’
And if you’re a fan of the show, you know it’s one of the most beautiful scenes in the show’s run. Makes me weep every time I see it…and I’ve seen it probably five times.
So you didn’t win an award. What did you do? Did you mope? Or did you fight back by writing the best damn scene you’ve ever written?
I thought so. Now get to work.
