Nick Offerman Says 'Parks & Rec' Actor Was 'Excused' for Being an A-Hole

Thanks to his double Emmy nominations for Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Ride the Lightning, Nick Offerman has a new interview with Deadline that is delightful and candid as only Nick Offerman can be. The whole thing is definitely worth a read.

As you can tell by the headline, Offerman also spilled some behind-the-scenes gossip about Parks and Recreation, and how that show taught him the value of having a no a-hole rule. “When we realized you can choose putting together a team of people to do anything, you can choose no a-holes,” he said. “Even though maybe that good-looking person or that person will get you more budget, or there’s something lucrative about using a person, if they’re an a-hole, it’s never worth it.”

According to TV’s Ron Swanson, there was one actor who was supposed to have a longer stint on Parks & Rec, but they violated the golden rule.

That cast and group of writers and the whole company, we just had so much fun. We laughed so much for 125 episodes. There were two episodes where there was an a-hole, and that person was supposed to be there for a while, and they were excused. That cast, we’re just making each other laugh for seven years. I mean, there’s no getting around that.

Because I’m a nosy b*tch who loves drama, I needed to know who was the culprit. Right out of the gate, it’s not Paul Schneider, who left the show after Season 1. He’s openly talked about his exit and how his character just wasn’t working. So, using the very scientific method of looking at a Buzzfeed listicle, I’ve narrowed down the potential suspect: Jason Schwartzman.

Schwartzman appeared in exactly two episodes as video store owner Dennis Lerpiss, and then he was never seen from again. In fairness, three other actors fit this criteria: Kristen Bell, Tatiana Maslany, and Patricia Clarkson.

We can obviously scratch Bell off the list because she went on to star in The Good Place, so clearly, Mike Schur liked working with her. Maslany doesn’t seem likely, but her arc as a love interest for Aziz Ansari’s Tom Haverford did abruptly end with her character being shipped off to Rwanda. Could that have been a creative choice to show unlucky Tom is in love? Probably! There’s a chance that Maslany could be a problematic fave, but the evidence just isn’t there.

And then there’s Clarkson, who also a sterling reputation. However, her scenes did involve working with Offerman and his real-life wife Megan Mulally. Did she maybe not gel with the couple? If that’s the case, calling her an “a-hole” seems a little over the top. However, that dynamic plus Offerman notably using “they” does make Clarkson a close second after Schwartzman.

Of course, all of this hinges on Offerman getting the episode count right, and if he’s off by one in any direction that puts Sam Elliott, J.K. Simmons, Sean Hayes and Will Forte in play. (I didn’t include obvious stunt cameos like Heidi Klum, John Cena, Bo Burnham, and Josh Groban. Dax Shepard was also ruled out because of his connection to Bell, and he appeared in The Good Place.)

So, to be clear, I’m shooting in the dark here, and the only way to know for sure is to hogtie Offerman until he talks. Who’s with me?