The cast of Parks and Recreation are getting back together for a very special reason.
NBC has announced that Leslie Knope will be back on the job in a one-off episode of the hit comedy series that will be aired in the US on Thursday, April 30 at 8.30pm ET to raise money for Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund.
Amy Poehler is reprising her role as Leslie for an episode written by series co-creator Michael Schur that will centre on her character "determined to stay connected to her friends in a time of social distancing".
Returning for this special episode via video from their homes will be Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer), Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson), Rashida Jones (Ann Perkins), Rob Lowe (Chris Traeger), Aziz Ansari (Tom Haverford), Retta (Donna Meagle), Adam Scott (Ben Wyatt), Aubrey Plaza (April Ludgate) and Jim O'Heir (Garry/Jerry Gergich), plus "several guest stars from the Pawnee universe".
Michael Schur announced on Thursday (April 23): "Like a lot of other people, we were looking for ways to help and felt that bringing these characters back for a night could raise some money.
"I sent a hopeful email to the cast, and they all got back to me within 45 minutes. Our old Parks and Rec team has put together one more 30-minute slice of (quarantined) Pawnee life, and we hope everyone enjoys it. And donates."
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The cast have reunited twice before in recent years, first to celebrate the comedy's 10th anniversary last March and then just two months ago as several of the ladies in the cast marked the show's Galentine's Day holiday.
Parks and Recreation originally aired on NBC from 2009 to 2015, during which time it received 14 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Golden Globe win.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
