Think you know everything there is to know aboutParks and Recreation?
You don’t know the half.
Novakhad been one of the firstOfficecastings, Ansari’s twin acting and writing chops seemed perfect forParks.

The cast of ‘Parks and Recreation’.Greg Gayne/NBC
Colleen Hayes/NBC
4.
Lo and behold…
5.
In other words,The West Wingbut “with much lower stakes.”

Aziz Ansari on ‘Parks and Recreation’.Colleen Hayes/NBC
Mitchell Haaseth/NBC; Scott Garfield/Paramount
10.
Lowe was an even bigger star than series lead Poehler, and easily aced his audition.
But his impact onParksis incalculable.

Aziz Ansari and Retta on ‘Parks and Rec’.Chris Haston/NBC
One way he coped with the stress was to look at their unofficial sister show,The Office.
Once the adorable himbo, Pratt has since become a swashbuckling leading man with abs of steel.

Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise.Mitchell Haaseth/NBC; Scott Garfield/Paramount

Amy Poehler, Jim O’Heir, and Christie Brinkley on ‘Parks and Rec’.Tyler Golden/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty