Nick Offerman deserves an Emmy nomination By Mandi Bierly


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Between now and June 28, the deadline for Emmy voters to return nomination ballots, EW.com is running a series called Emmy Watch, featuring highlight clips and interviews with actors, producers, and writers whom EW TV critic Ken Tucker has on his wish list for the nominations announcement on July 19. Four seasons into NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman has turned burly libertarian Ron Swanson into one of TV’s most well-defined characters. It’s impossible to read the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness and not hear his voice in your head, which makes it easy to take Offerman’s deadpan performance for granted. Perhaps that’s why we’re hoping Emmy voters revisit the September 2011 episode “Ron and Tammys,” in which Ron’s first ex-wife, Tammy 1 (guest star Patricia Clarkson), turns him into the anti-Ron Swanson (a “neutered wimp,” to borrow Leslie Knope’s words). Watch a clip below. Offerman reflects on his transformation.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When it comes to Ron’s backstory, how much input do you have with the show’s writers?

NICK OFFERMAN: I have input in a very loose, general way. Like with [season 4’s] Pawnee Rangers: For years, I’ve been convincing the writers of the validity of a scouting episode. I said, “You gotta give Ron a troop of scouts.” Or when we coached the boys’ basketball teams [in season 2], that was also at my urging. In this case, they wrote the line early on, “I have two ex-wives, both of them are named Tammy, and they’re both bitches.” When we came up with Tammy 2 [played by Offerman’s real-life wife, Megan Mullally], we knew eventually we would probably meet Tammy 1. So there’s been a lot of discussion about Tammy 1, and also Ron’s mom, Tammy [played by Paula Pell]. But by and large, my input ends when they go into the writers’ room and flesh out the stories.

What did you think when you first read Ron’s history with Tammy 1?

I loved the perversity of her being my Sunday school teacher [Laughs] and a candy striper at the hospital when I was born [Laughs]. I loved the way that that’s kind of gross but also sexy in a twisted hot-for-teacher way. Patricia was the perfect person to cast. When her name came up, I was just over the moon because she’s always been an absolute hero of mine in the business. Only because she had [already] told me what a big fan of the show she is did I even think it was a possibility. She was initially trepidacious about saying yes, because she loves the show so much she didn’t want to ruin her perception of it in any way. Or like any actor, she was like, “Oh no, I don’t know if I could be on your show, it’s so great.” [Laughs] I’m like, “I think you’ll be okay, Patricia.” [Megan and I] actually just recently had drinks with her in New York. Sitting at a table with Megan and Patricia, I just can’t believe what a lucky son of a b—- I am to get to play somebody who had been married to both of those powerhouses.

Tammy 1 prefers Ron clean shaven. Did the cast and crew treat you differently without Ron’s trademark mustache?

Yeah, everyone was really freaked out. There was a real sense of having shorn Samson of his locks. And it really felt sacrilegious. That was by far the hardest, strangest thing I’ve had to do as Ron Swanson. Maybe it was predicated by the scene in [the season 3 episode] “Ron and Tammy II” when Ron lost half his mustache and had to get cornrows. To have him be clean shaven, wearing an Easter shirt, and turned into a little boy was so bizarre and foreign. And it was so hard to speak dialogue as Ron Swanson without a big mustache. Certain consonants didn’t feel right without a huge bristle brush impeding their exit from my mouth. Just the things Ron had to say — the cute way that he talks to his coworkers as well as Tammy 1 on the phone when he calls her [Laughs] — it was really hard to speak that dialogue without getting nauseous. The writing is like a big old aunt throwing her blousy arms around you and embracing you.

But you don’t break character easily.

No, I’m known for maintaining my stiff deadpan. I usually don’t laugh when I’m involved. The time when people get me is when I’m a bystander in a scene. Chris Pratt can really lay me out with something out of left field.

At one point, Leslie (Amy Poehler) slaps Ron. Did she make contact?

Yeah. Amy and I have the kind of relationship where we’re both old school hardcore entertainers, and so I don’t think it was even discussed. She just said, “Let’s see, the camera’s there… Alright, I’m gonna slap you right there.” And then boom. And I have to say we did a couple more takes of that scene than I would have cared for. I think I probably got slapped eight times. [Laughs]

In the end, Leslie, Tammy 1, and Ron’s mother fight for Ron in an “old-fashioned prairie drink-off” involving Swanson family mash liquor. I feel like you have a good real-life moonshine story for me.

It doesn’t play out like a great piece of storytelling, but I did a great play when I was in Chicago called The Kentucky Cycle. It’s the Pulitzer-Prize winning piece of drama, seven hours long, and I won a Chicago Jeff Award for it [in 1997]. It was one of the most epic theater experiences I’ve ever had. And on opening night, our director had gone to Kentucky and gotten us all a jar of corn liquor. And they tell me I had a very good time that night. I may or may not have sired a few children and definitely woke up in a strange apartment without any trousers.

Yes, that’ll do. Ron also has tender moments with Leslie. Are those something you and the writers think carefully about?

I think with every ingredient in the meal that we cook up week after week, they generally take care not to overuse any of our tastier spices. Just like the moments when Ron is hilariously macho or hilariously unfeeling, the moments when he’s touchingly heartwarming, we definitely try to keep them far between so that they maintain a strong impact.

Which heartwarming moment stood out for you this season?