Adam Scott Was Asked About Ben Wyatt’s Severance-Like Pitch On Parks And Rec

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Beyond being well-known for his roles in “Parks and Recreation” and “Severance,” which predominantly unfold within their characters’ work environments, viewers have found an intriguing link between these two series. In Season 6, Episode 12 of “Parks and Recreation,” Adam Scott’s character Ben Wyatt actually proposes the idea behind “Severance” to his wife, Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler. Interestingly, Scott himself has acknowledged the viral spread of this particular scene.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but shed tears over the heartrending Season 2 finale of “Severance,” eagerly anticipating Season 3. Not too long ago, Adam Scott was treated to a clip from “Parks and Recreation” where Ben proposes that he and Leslie maintain a distinction between their personal and professional lives, much like a “firewall system.” Catch his priceless reaction during his Radio X interview!

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♬ original sound – Radio X

Is that scene exceptionally vivid? If there’s any doubt in your mind, I can verify as a devoted fan of “Parks and Recreation” that it hails from an episode broadcasted all the way back in 2014, which is more than a decade old now.

What blew my mind even more was what Adam Scott shared about the making of it:

Isn’t that weird? Actually, I directed that episode which is extra weird.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I must confess that Adam Scott, during his 96-episode stint on Parks and Recreation, only directed one episode – “Farmers Market.” Interestingly enough, it’s this particular episode that fans constantly share due to its striking resemblance to the film Severance. In this episode, we see Ben Wyatt returning from a break to his job at City Hall, and when Leslie Knope, as is her custom, gets overly engrossed in work, taking it home with her, Ben suggests that they both leave their jobs at work.

Experience “Severance” seasons 1 and 2 instantly with an Apple TV Plus membership! New users can enjoy a full seven days of streaming at no cost, following which it costs just $9.99 per month. Trust me, after diving into “Severance”, you’ll find yourself eager to finish the series within a week or even less. Check out this offer now!

Interestingly enough, Scott hadn’t recalled shooting that particular scene until the internet uncovered it. To quote him directly:

That never even occurred to me until I saw it on Instagram a couple months ago.

To put it simply, Adam Scott’s professional duties remained separate from the increasingly famous scene in “Parks and Recreation,” creating a clear division of energies. It’s quite intense!

One may assume that the scene depicted in the series serves as evidence that Scott conceived the concept behind Severance. However, it was Dan Erickson who came up with the idea for the AppleTV+ show while juggling temporary jobs and daydreaming about a realm where he could detach from work rather than endure it directly.

Following Ben Stiller receiving the script for the debut episode of Severance, he reached out to Adam Scott with his pitch. Impressed by the idea, Scott referred to it as “sticky,” “catchy,” and “great.” Despite waiting a full year without seeing a script, Scott was eagerly on board!

In a recent update, I found out that Stiller had to champion for Scott to secure the main part, yet one of the factors that initially drew me to him was his past success in office-centric comedies, specifically “Parks and Recreation,” where he’s had a significant run. Interestingly, he hasn’t revisited this series for a heartwarming personal reason.

With “Severance” on hold again, take a look at one of Ben Wyatt’s coded scenes from our exclusive Season 2 interviews and revisit the “Swverance”-coded moment in “Parks and Recreation” using a Peacock subscription to catch it!

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2025-04-03 12:37