Actor Adam Scott recently opened up about his character Ben Wyatt's initial portrayal as an unlikeable figure on the beloved NBC sitcom "Parks and Recreation."
During an appearance on Rob Lowe's "Literally!" podcast, Scott candidly discussed how his character evolved from an antagonistic state auditor to Leslie Knope's endearing love interest.
"They were kind of figuring it out as they went," Scott said, referring to the show's creative team. When Lowe pointed out that Scott's character was initially "a huge dick," the actor readily agreed, stating, "I was a total dick."
Scott and Lowe joined the cast during the second season's penultimate episode, with Scott playing Ben Wyatt, a straight-laced state auditor with a questionable past as a teenage mayor. While Lowe's character Chris Traeger maintained his enthusiastic personality throughout the series, Ben Wyatt underwent a dramatic transformation.
The actor also shared an amusing anecdote about his early days on set, revealing his initial uncertainty about the show's mockumentary style. Producer and director Dean Holland had to explain the format, specifically instructing Scott about camera interactions.
"Parks and Recreation," which aired from 2009 to 2015, follows the adventures of public servants in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Despite modest ratings during its original run, the show has cultivated a dedicated fan base that continues to celebrate the series and its cast reunions.
The series, developed by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, shares similar narrative and stylistic elements with "The Office," another successful NBC mockumentary series. What began as a potentially challenging character arc for Scott ultimately became one of the show's most beloved storylines, demonstrating the series' ability to evolve and grow throughout its seven-season run.