THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA SALUTES PARKS AND RECREATION
NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET
This retrospective special by The Paley Center for Media, produced in cooperation with NBC, salutes the much-loved NBC sitcom, which premiered in 2009 and presented its final episode in 2015. Or so we thought. But series creator Michael Schur came up with a way to present a new, reunion episode premiering tonight on NBC, just after this special. It’ll include footage from a tenth-anniversary event held at the Center’s Los Angeles wing in March 2019 (pictured). I should point out that Michael Schur had graciously agreed to be interviewed by me, and my Rowan University TV Studies cohort Kim Akass, about his TV career and inspirations, at the Broadcast Education Association convention in Las Vegas. That event was scheduled for April 19, in Las Vegas, only a week ago – but, of course, didn’t happen. But Michael sure found a way to put that unexpected free time to good use. He sat in front of his computer, began typing, and revisited Pawnee, ID, for the one-shot special that follows. Good for you, Mr. Schur. Now, can we talk someday about a post-pandemic rain-check play date?