Adam Scott is beloved for his role as nerdy state auditor Ben Wyatt in Parks & Recreation, but that wasn't the role he initially auditioned for. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, Parks & Recreation ran from 2009 to 2015 and focused on an eclectic group of employees working for the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Before joining the cast of Parks & Recreation during its second season, Adam Scott had a starring role on Party Down, a sitcom about a group of Los Angeles caterers hoping to make it in Hollywood. However, Scott left his leading role in the Starz comedy to accept the part of Ben on Parks & Recreation.
Ben Wyatt first shows up in the Parks & Recreation season 2 episode "The Master Plan." He and Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) come to Pawnee to make some major cuts after hearing about the town's budget problems. Though Ben doesn't fit into Pawnee life at first and gets off on the wrong foot with Leslie (Amy Poehler), the Parks Department's Deputy Director, he decides to stay permanently as an assistant city manager to Chris. Ben became a fan-favorite character, known for his iconic quotes and endearing romance with Leslie.
As great as Adam Scott's portrayal is, it almost didn't happen. Scott revealed in an interview (via GQ) that he initially auditioned for another role before Parks & Recreation even premiered. As Adam Scott explained, "I actually auditioned for the show before it was even on the air. I really wanted it, but I actually kind of blew it, and so I was obviously pretty upset. When the opportunity popped up again a couple years later, I was really excited. I had a meeting with Mike Schur, and then it all just kind of fell into place from there." Scott auditioned for the role of Josh, who was supposed to be a love interest for Ann (Rashida Jones). Interestingly enough, Nick Offerman also auditioned for this role before being cast as the gruff yet lovable Ron Swanson. It's possible that the character of Josh ended up turning into Mark Brendanawicz, Ann's boyfriend in Parks & Recreation season 2 who was played by Paul Schneider.
Why It’s Good That Adam Scott Didn’t Play Ann’s Love Interest In Parks & Rec
It's good that Adam Scott didn't land the role of Josh considering what happened to Mark's character in Parks & Recreation. Mark wasn't a terrible character but he didn't have as compelling of a personality as the characters around him. Ben also fills a straight-man role, though he also has his own quirks that make him a more interesting character. Besides, if Scott got the love interest role, audiences would be deprived of his hilarious depiction of Ben Wyatt as well as the Ben and Leslie relationship, which shines due to his chemistry with Amy Poehler. The role of Ben still proves that Adam Scott can be a love interest but also shines as an Everyman with an eccentric streak, something that wasn't evident with Mark's character.
Adam Scott may have "blew" that first Parks & Recreation audition, but fortunately, he was given another chance later on. Ben Wyatt was a great addition to the show's ensemble, not just as a love interest for Leslie, but as an entertaining character in his own right. Though Adam Scott lost out on a part he really wanted, he eventually found an even better role with Ben. It's hard to imagine Parks & Recreation being as good as it was without Adam Scott's dorky, Calzone-loving Ben in the cast.