Step and Repeat

Will McCormack and Rashida Jones. (Andrew Toth/PatrickMcMullan.com)

Rashida Jones and Will McCormack on the Comic Roles They Wrote for Themselves in Celeste and Jesse Forever

It isn’t rare for Hollywood stars to step out of the spotlight and behind the scenes of late, with names as big as Madonna and Angelina Jolie getting Oscar buzz last year for their stints in the director’s chair. The newest actor-turned-something-else is Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones, who, along with friend and fellow actor Will McCormack, wrote the script for new release Celeste and Jesse Forever, in which they both appear. (Read our review here.) At last night’s Peggy Siegal Company special screening, in support of the International Rescue Committee, Ms. Jones and Mr. McCormack gave The Observer the lowdown on writing their own characters. “Most people would write a superhero, or some kind of animated character, I just picked a business woman,” joked Ms. Jones. “Thats my aspiration.” Read More

Funny Girl

Amy Poehler on stage at 92Y. (Photo: Joyce Culver)

An Hour-long Love Fest with Amy Poehler at the 92Y

As Amy Poehler settled into her seat for her conversation with Caryn James in Kaufman Concert Hall and her fans screamed shrilly in ecstasy on Friday night, one of the few young men in the crowd raised his hands in a heart shape.

Ms. Poehler hearted him back.

The producer, writer and star of NBC’s Parks and Recreation praised and teased her friends and colleagues, reminisced about her different gigs and doled out advice, all peppered with her trademark humor. Read More

Blond Ambition

4 Photos

The new Nick Offerman: blond.

Ron Swanson, Is That Really You? Nick Offerman Is Now a Bearded Blond

NBC’s Parks and Recreation has had a lot of (deserved) good fortune recently. After rumors to the contrary, the fan favorite was renewed for a full fifth season, and the show was also awarded a Peabody Award, because, as the Peabodys’ website put it, the show “never condescends or caricatures. Instead it confronts the characters with problems from the trivial to the serious.” Truth!

But tragedy has befallen the cast: as seen at the awards luncheon this today, Nick Offerman, who plays the lushly mustachioed, dark-haired Ron Swanson, is now a bearded blond. (Or possibly a redhead?)

What explanation could there possibly be? See the slideshow for a couple of angles on the problem. (We’re also wondering if Aubrey Plaza and Amy Poehler coordinated on their fashion-shorts ensembles?) Read More