TV Romance
Amy Poehler & Adam Scott Reveal Leslie and Ben’s Most Romantic ‘Parks and Rec’ Scenes
Amy Poehler and Adam Scott just gave Parks and Recreation fans (specifically Benslie shippers) a treat.
The former onscreen couple reunited for the August 12 episode of Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. They spent a good portion of it reminiscing about their seven-season NBC sitcom, which is ideal for those of us who still have Parks and Rec living rent-free in our heads. The show may have ended over a decade ago, but we still think about the workplace romance between Poehler’s Leslie Knope and Scott’s Ben Wyatt.
“I just want to feed our fans a little bit more,” Poehler said before changing the topic to the most romantic Leslie and Ben scenes. (We Benslie lovers are definitely appreciative, Amy!) It’s tough for us to narrow down our own favorite moments, so we were eager to hear what they had to say. “Oh man, it’s so sweet,” Scott said, also seeming to struggle to land on one. “Well, there are a couple of nominees, but I think maybe ‘Smallest Park.'”
Both actors expressed their love for Season 4 Episode 8, which includes the moment Ben and Leslie decide to become an official couple. At the beginning, Ben tells his coworker that he’s leaving the department behind, feeling like Leslie steamrolls the rest of her team regardless of how they feel. She tries to draw out their latest project — creating the tiniest park in America — to delay Ben’s departure.
Ultimately, he stays after Leslie apologizes for her behavior and confesses that she still has feelings for Ben. “I miss you like crazy,” Leslie pleads. “I think about you all the time. I want to be with you. So let’s just say ‘screw it.'” Ben then plants a swoonworthy kiss on her.
“I remember really feeling connected shooting that, and just being like, this is… kind of feeling like how special it was making the show,” Scott mused, which Poehler agreed with. The actors also acknowledged the episode’s director, Nicole Holofcener, and writer, Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Chelsea Peretti.
Scott then directed the question back at Poehler, who also noted that there were “a lot” to choose from. “I have such an affinity for the beginning, beginning parts of Ben and Leslie, because I do think it also just reminded me of like, we were… the show was deciding that they were going to love each other, too.
She then points out the moment when they realize they both like hanging out the same spot: underneath the sunflower mural on the second floor. It takes place during Season 3 Episode 10, which is aptly titled “Soulmates.”
“When I ask you if you know where that mural is, and your response… It’s a rewindable moment,” Scott said.
“I love that moment between both of us,” Poehler replied. “Because then Parks pays it off years later by sitting underneath it [during Ben and Leslie’s wedding in Season 5 Episode 13].”
Poehler then reflected on shooting the Pawnee power couple’s marriage ceremony. “We were all just sitting there all day, goofing around, and it was so fun,” she said, after which Scott added that they had real champagne on set that day. “And then that probably became a problem later in the day,” Poehler laughed.
Parks and Recreation, All Seasons Streaming, Peacock
