Aziz Ansari Reveals the “Parks and Rec” Scene So Funny He and Adam Scott Couldn’t Stop Laughing

More than a decade after Parks and Recreation wrapped up its iconic run, fans still quote the show’s sharp humor and unforgettable one-liners—but even the cast had moments where the laughter was impossible to control.

In a recent interview, comedian and actor Aziz Ansari opened up about one particular scene he and co-star Adam Scott simply couldn’t get through, no matter how many takes they tried.

The story took place on the set of Season 4, during the filming of a scene featuring Ansari’s fast-talking entrepreneur Tom Haverford and Scott’s straight-laced Ben Wyatt.

“It was one of those days where everything just felt off the rails,” Aziz said, smiling as he recalled the moment.

“We were shooting this bit where Tom is trying to sell Ben on one of his ridiculous business ideas—something like ‘Entertainment 720 version 2.0’—and Ben’s supposed to respond in his usual deadpan way.

But Adam started cracking up at my delivery, and then I lost it.

After that, we couldn’t recover.

We ruined at least five takes.”

According to crew members who were there, the laughter was contagious.

“You know it’s bad when even the boom mic operator is shaking,” Ansari laughed.

“It got to a point where [director] Dean Holland just threw his hands up and said, ‘Okay, let’s all take five before we implode.’”

Adam Scott, who played the lovable and socially awkward Ben Wyatt, later texted Aziz about that day, joking that he “still couldn’t hear the words ‘Entertainment 720’ without laughing.

” The chemistry between the two actors was one of the many reasons Parks and Recreation became a cultural touchstone—its blend of heart, awkward humor, and absurdity struck the perfect balance.

“Sometimes when people ask me what the funniest moment on the show was, I think about that scene,” Ansari said.

“It wasn’t even about the line itself—it was just the energy that day.

You could feel how much we all loved being there.”

The Parks and Rec set was famously warm and collaborative, with the cast often improvising or ad-libbing lines that made it into the final cut.

Ansari revealed that while Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope) and Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer) were known for their improvisation, the whole team fed off each other’s energy.

“There were days where it felt like we were doing live comedy in front of an invisible audience,” he said.

“We’d throw out a line, and everyone behind the camera would start laughing.

That’s how you knew it worked.”

For years, fans have speculated about which moments were unscripted, especially the show’s most chaotic and beloved scenes—like Andy falling into the pit or Ron Swanson’s reaction to vegan bacon.

Aziz confirmed that many of those moments came straight from spontaneous interactions.

“A lot of Tom’s lines, like the over-the-top luxury stuff—‘Treat yo’ self!’ or ‘DJ Roomba’—were things we came up with in the moment,” he said.

“The writers trusted us to play.”

Ansari also reflected on how Parks and Recreation changed his career, saying it was one of the best creative experiences of his life.

“That show gave me a platform to build Tom Haverford into something unique,” he explained.

“He started as this kind of superficial guy obsessed with bling and status, but by the end, he had a real emotional arc.

That balance of heart and humor—that’s what made Parks and Rec special.”

When asked if he still stays in touch with his co-stars, Ansari smiled.

“Yeah, absolutely.

We have a group chat.

Every now and then, someone drops a meme or a random behind-the-scenes photo.

Adam and I still joke about that scene.

He’ll just text me ‘Entertainment 720’ and I’ll start laughing all over again.”

Aziz also revealed that during the show’s final season, they made a pact to never let the stress of long shooting days kill their sense of fun.

“We were all exhausted sometimes—like, Amy was directing, acting, writing—it was insane.

But then someone would mess up a line, or Nick Offerman would make a face, and suddenly we’d all be laughing again.

That’s what got us through.”

The actor credited Amy Poehler for setting the tone on set.

“Amy was like the captain of this weird, lovable ship,” he said.

“She kept everything positive.

Even when scenes went completely off-script, she encouraged us to lean into it.

That’s why it felt like a family.”

Ansari, who has since gone on to create and star in the acclaimed Netflix series Master of None, says that no matter how far he’s come in his career, Parks and Rec remains a highlight.

“It’s crazy to think that people still watch it, still quote it, and still laugh at things we filmed over ten years ago,” he said.“That’s rare.

You don’t always get that kind of magic twice.”

Fans online have flooded comment sections with memories of their favorite Tom Haverford moments.

“Aziz made every scene pop,” one fan wrote.

“You could tell they were genuinely having fun on set.

” Another commented, “Now I want to know exactly which line made them laugh that hard!”

In true Parks and Rec spirit, Aziz refused to fully reveal the specific line that broke them—saying he’d rather keep it “between him, Adam, and the camera crew who suffered through it.

” “Some secrets are better left as inside jokes,” he teased.

“But trust me—it was worth every ruined take.”

More than a nostalgic story, Ansari’s reflection is a reminder of what made Parks and Recreation endure: the genuine camaraderie that turned every line, even the ones no one could get through, into television gold.

As Aziz put it best: “If you can’t stop laughing at work, that’s when you know you’re doing something right.”