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We often believe that once an opportunity is gone, it’s better to look for the next door. But Adam Scott proved that hanging on to the same old thing can sometimes be beneficial. Take for example, when he auditioned forParks and Recreation, Scott was initially rejected. However, holding onto his hope eventually landed him the role of Ben Wyatt.
But do you know which role he had originally auditioned for? Well, according to Adam Scott’s interview withGQ, the actor revealed reading the same scenes alongside Nick Offerman, who landed the role of Ron Swanson. Now, considering how Offerman seemed like the perfect actor to play Ron, it’s for sure that Scott might have doomed the show, had he succeeded to score that role.
Adam Scott’s original role nearly doomed Parks and Recreation
While it’s hard to imagineParks and Recreationwithout Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, there was a time when he almost didn’t get that role. According to the actor’s interview withGQ, Scott had not only auditioned for a completely different role but had also lost that opportunity to Nick Offerman.
Rob Lowe: “It seemed like a good fit” When Parks and Recreation Was Created as a Comedy Version of Another Hit Series I Starred In
Yes, apparently, when Adam Scott was initially auditioning forParks and Recreation, he was asked to read the same lines asNick Offerman. Well, what happened was—as the creators were unaware of what the show would end up being, they had asked multiple actors to sit for meetings and interviews with them.
Thereafter, the actors’ meeting with the show’s co-creator, Micheal Schur, led to the creation of certain roles in the sitcom. Similarly, when Adam Scott and Nick Offerman went for an interview-based audition and read the same lines in different styles and tones, Offerman’s version stuck with Schur, helping him create the role of Ron Swanson.
Well, they didn’t have any parts yet. I think, I could be wrong about this, but I think they were sort of reading actors just randomly, and then kind of finding people they liked and developing parts around them.
There was no part. Nick and I were reading the same scenes when we were going in and auditioning. So they were just sort of reading people and seeing what kinds of people interested them.
Sadly, Adam Scott lost his initial opportunity to Nick Offerman, who ended up being the perfect Ron Swanson. Now in retrospect, it seems that Michael Schur was right to reject Scott, because had he been cast as Ron, the character—and maybe the whole show—might not have worked as well.
Adam Scott’s second audition landed the role of Ben Wyatt
Meanwhile, despite losing the initial opportunity,Adam Scottdidn’t give up his hopes of being a part ofParks and Recreation. A couple of seasons later, he once again auditioned for the show, and this time, he finally scored the role of Ben Wyatt. Playing the nerdy and sweet love interest of Leslie Knope, Scott’s perspective as an outsider on how strange the town of Pawnee was, resonated with audiences.
I really wanted it and didn’t get it; I actually kind of blew it, and so I was obviously pretty upset—I really wanted to be a part of it from the beginning.
So when the opportunity popped up again a couple years later, I was really excited. I went and had a meeting with Mike Schur, and then it all just kind of fell into place from there.
So it seems that while Adam Scott was inches close to snatching the role of Ron Swanson away from Nick Offerman and destroying the show—he eventually ended up finding his perfect fit as Ben Wyatt. Thereafter, Scott not only entertained fans with his iconic chemistry with Amy Poehler but also proved that the right role can sometimes take time to come along. And when it does, it can be a game-changer.
Parks and Recreationis currently available to watch on Peacock.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
