Image Credit: Danny Feld/NBCThe exiting Brothers & Sisters actor joins the NBC comedy next month as one of two state employees (the other being Party Down‘s Adam Scott) brought in to fix Pawnee’s budgetary crisis. Executive producer Michael Schur likens it to “an action movie where the FBI shows up and the local cops say, ‘This is our jurisdiction! And the FBI says, ‘Not anymore!’” But Lowe’s character, Chris Traeger, wins everyone over with his “very optimistic, positive, forward-thinking” attitude, explains Schur, who hints that he “very quickly falls into a romantic entanglement” with one of the locals. “I don’t want to spoil who it is because it’s kind of a surprise.”
Apr 30
2010
07:57 AM ET
First Look: Rob Lowe shakes up 'Parks and Recreation'
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TV Finale Highlights
Five days at a glance*
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Tuesday, May 1
- The Biggest Loser NBC, 8-9PM
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Friday, May 4
- In Plain Sight USA, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 6
- The Amazing Race CBS, 8-10PM
- GCB NBC, 10-11PM
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Monday, May 7
- Two Broke Girls CBS, 8-9PM
- Castle ABC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 8
- Last Man Standing ABC, 8-8:30PM
- The Voice NBC, 8-10PM
- New Girl FOX, 9-9:31PM
- Unforgettable CBS, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 9
- CSI CBS, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 10
- The Big Bang Theory CBS, 8-8:31PM
- The Vampire Diaries The CW, 8-9PM
- The Office NBC, 9-9:30PM
- The Secret Circle The CW, 9-10PM
- Parks and Recreation NBC, 9:30-10PM
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Friday, May 11
- The Finder FOX, 8-9PM
- Undercover Boss CBS, 8-9PM
- Fringe FOX, 9-10PM
- CSI: NY CBS, 9-10PM
- Blue Bloods CBS, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 13
- Once Upon A Time ABC, 8-9PM
- Survivor: One World CBS, 8-10PM
- Desperate Housewives ABC, 9-11PM, SERIES FINALE
- American Dad FOX, 9:30-10PM
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Monday, May 14
- Bones FOX, 8-9PM
- How I Met Your Mother CBS, 8-9PM
- Gossip Girl The CW, 8-9PM
- Two and a Half Men CBS, 9-9:30PM
- Hart of Dixie The CW, 9-10PM
- Mike & Molly CBS, 9:30-10PM
- Hawaii Five-0 CBS, 10-11PM
- Smash NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 15
- 90210 The CW, 8-9PM
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- NCIS CBS, 8-9PM
- NCIS: Los Angeles CBS, 9-11PM
- Fashion Star NBC, 10-11PM
- Private Practice ABC, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 16
- Suburgatory ABC, 8:30-9PM
- Criminal Minds CBS, 9-11PM
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Thursday, May 17
- Missing ABC, 8-9PM
- Community NBC, 8-8:30PM, 9-10PM
- 30 Rock NBC, 8:30-9PM
- Rules of Engagement CBS, 8:30-9PM
- Awake NBC, 9-11PM
- Grey's Anatomy ABC, 9-10PM
- Person of Interest CBS, 9-10PM
- The Mentalist CBS, 10-11PM
- Scandal ABC, 10-11PM
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Friday, May 18
- Nikita The CW, 8-9PM
- Shark Tank ABC, 8-9PM
- Who Do You Think You Are NBC, 8-9PM
- Grimm NBC, 9-10PM
- Supernatural The CW, 9-10PM
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Saturday, May 19
- Saturday Night Live NBC, 11:29PM-1AM
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Sunday, May 20
- America's Funniest Home Videos ABC, 7-8PM
- The Cleveland Show FOX, 7:30-8PM
- Harry's Law NBC, 8-9PM
- The Simpsons FOX, 8-8:30PM
- Bob's Burgers FOX, 8:30-9PM
- Celebrity Apprentice NBC, 9-11PM
- Family Guy FOX, 9-10PM
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Monday, May 21
- Dancing With the Stars (Performance) ABC, 8-9PM
- House FOX, 8-10PM, SERIES FINALE
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Tuesday, May 22
- American Idol (Performance) FOX, 8-9PM
- Dancing With the Stars (Results) ABC, 9-11PM
- Glee FOX, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 23
- The Middle ABC, 8-8:30PM
- American Idol (Results) FOX, 8-10:07PM
- Modern Family ABC, 9-9:30PM
- Don't Trust the B— ABC, 9:30-10PM
- Revenge ABC, 10-11PM
- Law & Order: SVU NBC, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 24
- Awake NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 29
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- The L.A. Complex The CW, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 30
- America's Next Top Model: British Invasion The CW, 9-10PM
*Times are Eastern Daylight and subject to change
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God I hate Rob Lowe. If I wasn’t already not watching Parks and Rec, this would be the end.
I watched the pilot episode of Parks and Rec and figured it wasn’t worth my time. But a friend convinced me a couple of weeks later to give it another try. So give it another try already! The show is terrific.
agreed, the pilot was awful! HOWEVER… since then, this show has gotten better and better, its a must watch now
So you’re reading about a guy you hate on a show you’re not watching. You must really just love to post comments
Thanks for saying what we were all thinking
I couldn’t agree more! If I wasn’t thinking the same already, this would be my guess too
oh, whatev. let her hate rob lowe in peace.
I hope it’s Donna.
That would be so hilarious!
Heehee – that’s got my vote too!
I know I’m bad, but my first guess WAS “Hmm, the ‘fat, black chick’?! But, of course, since Paul is leaving it will probably be ‘the skinny, black chick’.”
…My vote is Jerry.
I did not like this show last year. It seemed like a poor hybrid of 30 Rock and The Office. Started watching again recently though, after hearing how much it had turned around. People are right. Give P&R another shot. This show is FUNNY now. Rob Lowe will be a great addition. The smirky way he plays humor will be a great contrast to the sunny optimism of Poehler’s character and the bored detachment or hyperactivity of some others.
April?
Or Ron Swanson’s ex-wife Tammi?
if its a ‘surprise’, it won’t be Annie or Leslie.
Sure hope it isn’t Tom either
That’s just too much awesome for one couple.
So the guy leaves one of the lamest shows on TV (B&S) and joins THE lamest show on TV (Parks). yeh continue with those great career moves Lowe!
Lamest shows on TV? Please. But, you know, continue wasting your time posting comments about shows and actors who you think are lame. I do it all the time /sarcasm
So the jobless person who always posts one of the lamest comments has posted THE lamest comment ever. Get back to your garbage disposal job buddy.
Parks & Rec is one of the funniest shows on TV right now. LOVE it…great characters, well written. But, bringing this douche to the screen is very disappointing
How could people not love Rob Lowe? He’s in the Handsome Mens’ Club!
Haha! So true!
Parks is amazing.
Is Rob Lowe ever not good? I challenge anyone to really identify something that he did not do a good job in. He’ll rock on this, whether the show keeps it all going or not, I’m sure Mr. Lowe will be good.
Hmmm…. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits with the cast. After an average innagural season, the 2nd season has had me laughing out loud every episode. VERY entertaining. The chemistry between the cast is great and their interactions are intriguing, so I hope Row fits in well and doesn’t ruin a good thing.
The mystery romance? I would have guessed Leslie, but I’ll say Anne. She clearly not interested in Mark (the most boring and dull character on the show) and highly doubt she’ll get back with her ex (even though her interest has resurfaced), so maybe it’s Anne…
I agree with the posts above me, Donna would rock!
Mark is leaving, so Anne is available.
Rob Lowe why did you decide to join this pathetic attempt of a show???????????Go back to ABC an star on your own drama…I am begging you!!!
This is one of the best comedies on television. But clearly a dumb person like you needs to stick to shows like Brothers and Sisters or Two and a half men.
Awesome. Parks & Rec is like a baby girl in the womb stealing the beauty from its mother, The Office.
Except the mother is now old and haggard and the baby is the new beauty in the family.
LESLIE’S MOM!
Oh, THAT would be a kick!
Parks and Rec has turned around. The talent was always there but now the wriing is great. RL is a welcome addition. Same happened with Cougar Town- yucky at first and now hilarious.