Comedian Ben Schwartz Speaks on Potential Parks and Recreation Spin Off

Ben Schwartz would love to revive Parks and Recreation, but will it ever happen?

The actor and comedian sat down with Men’s Journal to talk about a potential spinoff to his beloved comedy series, as well as his starring role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, his frighteningly rapid new improv show Ben Schwartz and Friends, and Topo Chico Hard Seltzer (he’s partnering with them in a campaign where the winners get a free supply of seltzer, plus a new voicemail greeting by Ben himself).

On the topic of Parks and Recreation, the 2009-2015 sitcom about small-town public officials, Schwartz revealed he’s thought about what an eighth season might look like.

“People asked me questions about John Ralphio and my twin sister in the show called Mona Lisa, played by Jenny Slate, and they said, ‘what about a spinoff there?’ And I was like, ‘oh, what about that?’ And I remember [co-creator] Mike Schur was like, ‘I don't think you can take John Ralphio for more than a tiny bit of time. I don't think you can take 30 full minutes of John Ralphio.’”

While a Ralphio-centred spinoff might be a little too much for audiences, Schwartz is open to reprising his role in any capacity, especially “if I get to play with Mike Schur again, and that world of course. And me and Jenny are looking for someone to do it together outside of that world too, just because we love each other.”

Schwartz's Parks and Recreation castmates are keeping busy. Nick Offerman plays the country-dividing US President in A24 hit Civil War, while Amy Poehler voices Joy in Pixar’s eagerly awaited Inside Out 2.

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As for Schwartz, he’s got quite the slate. Topo Chico Hard Seltzer tie-in aside, he’s set to star as Sonic the Hedgehog in Paramount’s ongoing SonicVerse for some time yet. Meanwhile, he’s got a new improv show: Ben Schwartz and Friends.

“It's me and three people who get on stage and make up an entire show on the spot. It's great. It's very similar long-form improv [to 2020 Netlix special Middleditch and Schwartz]. But now it's me and I'm playing with three different friends from LA, and we're gonna basically do a four-person show night.”

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 releases December 20, 2024, while Ben Schwartz and Friends runs Sunday 19 May in the UK's Royal Albert Hall.

In a completely different sort of interview, Eric Bana talks Australian crime films, “brutal” sets, and finally using his real accent.