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Newt Gingrich Is Parks and Recreation’s Next Political Guest Star

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Newt Gingrich attends TIME's Person of the Year panel on November 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME)
Photo: Jemal Countess/2012 Getty Images

Filming at Indianapolis’s St. Elmo Steak House (Ron Swanson, you ol’ devil), Parks and Recreation ran into the one and only Newt Gingrich. Showrunner Mike Schur “quickly huddled with the episode’s writer and director to incorporate Gingrich into the script,†reports the Indy Star. “It was a completely random chance,†Schur said. “But you can’t pass up on an opportunity like that.†Gingrich will now follow recent appearances by Vice-President Joe Biden and Sens. John McCain, Olympia Snowe, and Barbara Boxer. Rob Lowe was characteristically thrilled, tweeting, “Latest surprise drop by on set: Speaker Newt Gingrich! So we made up a scene and put him in!! #AllHappeningInIndy.â€Â Jonathan Banks playing papa to Ben Wyatt has gone so well — can Newt just be Chris Traeger’s dad?

Newt Gingrich Is Parks and Rec’s Next Guest