Parks and Recreation: Scoop on Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe's return in season 7 from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from this week's (Posted on 12/23/14) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Got any scoop on the final season of Parks and Rec? —Serena
Ausiello: The one-episode return of Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe will be “warm, happy and upbeat,” reports exec producer Mike Schur, who teases that viewers will get “some cool glimpses into what [Ann and Chris] have been up to in the years that they’ve been gone. It’s going to be a really nice thing for people to see them.” Bringing Jones back for the farewell season was among Schur’s top priorities. “The entire series is predicated on Ann Perkins coming to a small public forum and complaining about something in her neighborhood,” the EP reminds us. “That was literally the design of the show, and it just wouldn’t have felt right if we didn’t have Ann back in one episode, at least. I’m really happy that it all worked out.”

Link to the full article:Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Arrow’ and More | TVLine

Parks and Recreation: Scoop on the possibility of Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones appearing in season 7 from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from this week's (Posted on 5/7/14) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Any chance Chris and Ann will pop back up on Parks and Rec next season — even if for just an episode? —Joel
Ausiello: At the very least we’ll get an update about them via one of the show’s regulars, per exec producer Mike Schur, who tells us, “They were such a huge part of the show that I don’t think it would be appropriate to go a whole season without knowing what’s happening to them or seeing them.” The fact that their portrayers, Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones, have already booked follow-up gigs — he has the NBC pilot The Pro, she’s starring in a new TBS comedy — could create “practical production” challenges, notes Schur, “But no matter what, the show will keep tabs on the two of them.”

Link to the full article:‘Revenge’ Season 4 Spoilers: Big Deaths — Who’s Leaving the Show? - TVLine

Parks and Recreation: Scoop on episode 6x13 "Ann and Chris" from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 1/29/14.

Renee: I'm really not prepared to say goodbye to Ann "Beautiful Tropical Fish" Perkins and Chris "Stop. Pooping." Traeger. What can you tell me about their big Parks and Rec goodbye?
Have tissues handy, it's an emotional one. Ann and Chris have goodbyes with all your favorite Pawnee citizens, each one special in its own way. And just when you thought you knew everything about Ann's sordid dating past, a shocking past romance comes to light.

Link to the full article:American Horror Story: Coven's Deadly Finale, Teen Wolf's Sketchy Partnership and More Spoiler Chat Scoop | E! Online

Parks and Recreation: Ben and Chris related scoop on Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones' exit from the show from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 12/20/13.

Julia: I'm not ready to say goodbye to Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones on Parks and Recreation! Any scoop to ease my broken heart?
Well, the auditing bros, Butch Countsidy and the Sumdance Kid, will get a nice farewell. "It was really kind of sad, but our characters get a nice goodbye," Adam Scott tells E! News. Scott and Lowe's characters both came to Pawnee together at the end of season two to save the town from budgetary collapse…the rest is history.

Link to the full article:New Mysterious Vampire Diaries Hunk, Parks and Rec Exit Details, Teen Wolf Romance and More Spoiler Chat Scoop | E! Online

Parks and Recreation: Scoop on Chris and Ann's preparation for leaving Pawnee from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 11/15/13.

T.J.: Parks and Rec was so perfect last night. I know it's going on hiatus soon so please, please, please gimme some scoop to help me through the dark days coming up.
We will be starting a Parks and Rec withdrawal support group real soon. But for now, we'll just let you know that we will be seeing Chris and Ann out of their comfort zones, i.e., out of Pawnee for a "test drive" sort of thing. Meaning, they're not sure if they really want to leave Pawnee after dealing with some terrible people outside city limits. Of course, we know the outcome is they won't change their minds, seeing as Rob Lowe has been tweeting about filming final scenes, but we can stay in denial a little while longer, can't we?

Link to the full article:Spoiler Chat: Scoop on New Girl, Nashville, Glee and More! | E! Online

Parks and Recreation: Leslie, Ann and Chris related scoop from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 11/1/13.

Bonnie: I'm still really sad about Ann leaving her best friend Leslie in Pawnee. Any chance Ann won't leave Parks and Rec?
Considering the actors behind the characters, Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe, are leaving Parks and Recreation, we doubt they'll change their minds. If it helps, Ann won't leave her BFF easily. "Leslie and Ann are really in deep denial about it. Well, they're trying. We're processing it. Slowly but surely, we're processing it," Jones tells us. "It's nice because we're getting a lot of time and a lot of episodes to really deal with it because we talked about it so early in the season. Now it's really about figuring out how best to say goodbye." Plus, Jones thinks that this is the next logical step for her and her baby daddy Chris. "It makes sense that he would move on. He's a man of the world and adventure, and I think that's probably what Ann loves about him," she says. "He opens her up to new possibilities." We still have about 10 episodes left before their departure so we have some time to prepare.

Link to the full article:Spoiler Chat: Scoop on How I Met Your Mother, Arrow, The Good Wife and More! | E! Online

Parks and Recreation: Scoop on Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones' exit from the show in season 6 from TVLine's Michael Ausiello

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from this week's (Posted on 8/20/13) Ask Ausiello column.

Question: I’ve got a Q about Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones’ Parks and Recreation exit — do we know why Ann and Chris decide to move away from Pawnee? —Jen
Ausiello: Although the pair don’t depart until Episode 13,  ”The decision that they make that will transition them off the show is made very early,” confirms exec producer Mike Schur. “It’s not, like, in Episode 12 they’re going, ‘Hey, we’re moving to Hawaii.’ It happens in Episode 3, which is the first one after the hour-long premiere. Ann gets an idea in the very first episode after that. It’s dropped into the world very early. So it feels like a very fun, long arc and a big [farewell] to them.”

Link to the full article:‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 3 Episode 6 Spoilers on ‘Ariel’ — Ask Ausiello - TVLine

Parks and Recreation: Ron, Diane and Andy related scoop on the season 6 premiere and scoop on Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones' exit from the show from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from Entertainment Weekly's Sandra Gonzalez's The Spoiler Room column, which was posted on 8/16/13.

Any Parks scoop? How is Ron going to react to being a dad? — Laura
You’ll actually find out right away because the premiere picks up right where the show left off in the finale. Mike Schur previews: “He’s not at all freaked out. He’s nothing but excited or happy.” Meanwhile, as we’ve reported, Lucy Lawless will return in the season premiere but how often she pops up after that remains in the air. “She literally has to fly 19 hours to do one hour of our show so we have to be a little strategic about it,” Schur shares. “But obviously she’s going to be the mother of Ron’s child so we want her to be a real presence in the show.”

How is Parks going to deal with Chris Pratt filming Guardians? How often are we going to see him. We can’t lose Andy AND Chris and Ann!!! — Lisa
He is in the premiere, but after that, the show will indeed have to deal with Andy’s absence. And what takes him away, you ask? “He kind of gets an offer he can’t refuse,” Schur teases. “He’s back for good in episode 9 or 10, I’m not sure. And in the middle we’re going to grab him for one episode and maybe more. So hopefully it won’t just feel like he’s gone. We’re parsing out his appearances over the first nine or ten episodes.” And since Chris and Ann don’t leave until episode 13, you shouldn’t be dealing with too much change at once, Lisa. Also, breathe.

Link to the full article:Spoiler Room: Scoop on 'Bones,' 'Chicago Fire,' 'Teen Wolf,' more | Inside TV | EW.com

Parks and Recreation: Casting related scoop on season 6 from E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos

Here's some scoop on Parks and Recreation from Kristin Dos Santos' Spoiler Chat column, which was posted on 8/13/13.

Georgina: I'm still reeling over the news that Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe are leaving Parks and Rec. Do you know how they will be written out?
No, but we can tell you that the producers are currently looking for a new actress who resembles Rashida Jones. They want this Rashida 2.0 to be a "very pretty (but not glamorous)" city employee. As far as we know, it's just for one episode, but maybe she will end up being Leslie's new bestie? (As if anyone could compare to Ann!)

Link to the full article:Spoiler Chat: Scoop on Scandal, Vampire Diaries, Grey's, New Girl, Revenge and More! | E! Online

Parks and Recreation: Rob Lowe & Rashida Jones Leaving In Season 6-TVLine

According to TVLine's Megan Masters, Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones will be leaving Parks and Recreation in the 13th episode of the show's upcoming sixth season. Here's an excerpt from the article, which gives some details on Lowe and Jones' departure from the show:

“The news about Rob and Rashida is true — they will be leaving the show after the 13th episode of the upcoming season six,” Mike Schur says. ” We’ve been working on their storyline (on and off) for four seasons now, and heading into this year, with the two of them contemplating parenthood, it felt like a natural time to move them into the next phase.

“We absolutely love both Rashida and Rob, and will be sad to see them go.  Rashida was one of the very first people we knew we wanted in the cast, and as important as Ann is to Leslie (and vice-versa), she’ll certainly never be far from Pawnee.  Rob we initially thought we could only have for six or eight episodes, and we couldn’t be happier that he will have stuck around for 75.”

Schur continues, “They are wonderful, funny, committed actors, they’ve been a huge part of the Parks and Rec family, and we think we have a great Pawnee send-off in the works for them.”

This isn’t the first time Lowe has left a series before the end of its run. The actor famously walked away from The West Wing during Season 4, on the heels of a salary dispute/decreased airtime. (“It has been increasingly clear, for quite a while, that there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on The West Wing,” he said in a statement at the time.)

Jones has been part of Parks since its April 2009 debut, while Lowe came aboard the sitcom in the final leg of Season 2.

Parks and Recreation‘s London-set, hour-long premiere airs Sept. 26.

Link to the full article:Rob Lowe & Rashida Jones Leaving ‘Parks & Recreation’ In Season 6 - TVLine

My thoughts: Finding out that Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones will be leaving the cast of Parks and Recreation in the 13 episode of season six was literally the worst thing that happened to me yesterday. I definitely have mixed feelings about Rashida Jones leaving the show. On the one hand, Ann is Leslie's best friend and Rashida Jones has been a part of the cast since the show started, so it will definitely be weird not having Ann around once Rashida Jones leaves on the show.

On the other hand, the presence of the character Ann often felt rather forced to me during Parks and Recreation's first two seasons; although her presence on the show finally made sense to me in season three when she started working for the health department as the department's public relations director part-time. While I find the dynamic between Leslie and Ann rather funny for the most part, I've often found the way Leslie treats Ann and the way she talks to Ann or about Ann kind of creepy at times. I've often felt like she loves Ann in a romantic sense. If Leslie feels that way about Ann, I don't have problem with that, it's just the way she expresses herself that makes it seem creepy to me at times.

Leslie's behavior towards Ann actually kind of reminds me of Kurt's crush on Finn during Glee's first season and how Kurt handled it. I've always felt like the character Kurt gave the LGBT community a really bad reputation by perpetuating a lot of the stereotypes regarding gay men that exist in our society today. The main steoreotype that I feel like the writers of Glee perpetuated was making Kurt come across as someone who was rather predatory when it came to guys he had feelings for and the writers of Glee made it seem he like he was the type of gay guy who would aggressively pursue anyone who has a penis even if they were straight, namely Finn, but I digress. It'll definitely be interesting to see how Leslie will deal with Ann not being around any more once Rashida Jones leaves the show since Ann is her best friend.

As for my thoughts on Rob Lowe leaving the show, I'm actually probably more upset about him leaving the show than I am about Rashida Jones leaving. That honestly really surprises me considering the fact that I initially wasn't very happy about Rob Lowe joining the cast of Parks and Recreation. He was often one of my least favorite things about Brothers & Sisters, so I was actually really happy when he left the show. His character, Chris Traeger, and his performance on Parks and Recreation is definitely the first time I ever liked Rob Lowe as an actor. Chris ended up becoming one of my favorite characters on Parks and Recreation, so I'm really going to miss having Rob Lowe and the character Chris Traeger around once he leaves the show. Ultimately, my hope is that the writers will give Ann and Chris' storyline with them trying to have a baby together a nice resolution when Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones leave the show in the upcoming sixth season.