The Master Plan (Parks and Recreation)

"The Master Plan" was written by Parks and Recreation co-creator, Michael Schur. It was his fifth writing credit for the series after, "Pilot", "Greg Pikitis", "Christmas Scandal", and "Galentine's Day". The idea of state auditors visiting Pawnee, and the subsequent government shutdown, was inspired by news reports at the time of a number of states considering shutting down schools, parks and other services due to the global recession. In particular, Schur cited stories about Kansas City closing down several of their public schools, and Idaho threatening to shut down the state parks department.[2] Similar measures were being discussed in such states as New York, New Jersey and California.[3] This was in keeping with efforts by the Parks and Recreation writers to be more topical with second season episodes.[4][5] Upon learning of the spending freeze, Ron and Leslie engage in heated arguments over the function of government, with Leslie insisting the government is meant to provide social services and Ron advocating as little government intervention as possible. Throughout most of the second season, much of the relationship between Leslie and Ron focused on the two developing a mutual respect for each other. However, with the introduction of the Ben Wyatt character and the conflict over budget problems in Pawnee, the writers included these arguments between Leslie and Ron to illustrate their conflicting political ideologies and develop tension amid the character and the city hall setting.[6][7]

"The Master Plan" marked the end of the romantic relationship between Mark and Ann, which had lasted throughout the entire second season. This allowed for the eventual departure of Paul Schneider, who was leaving the series at the end of the second season.[2][8][9] The title of "The Master Plan" stemmed from the fact that real-life municipal planning documents in small American towns are often called the "master plan", like the one Leslie refers to in the episode. Schur said of this, "It seems so funny to call the municipal budgets and planning documents for a small city in Indiana the 'master plan'." Schur said the Parks and Recreation writing staff believed the title of the episode was appropriate because the subplots of "The Master Plan" revolved around the various plans of the characters. While Leslie is dealing with the literal master plan for the Pawnee budget proposal, April's plan is to seek a romantic relationship with Andy, and Tom's plan is to find a girlfriend at April's birthday party.[6]

The idea of Ann making out with Chris Traeger was not part of the original screenplay, but was added after the first cast read-through of the script. The writing staff felt that while Ben was immediately connected to Leslie and the other characters through his role in eliminating wasteful spending at Pawnee, Chris still needed something to more strongly connect to the cast, and the subplot with Ann was determined to be a funny way to do it. In one scene, after Ben explains the need for severe budget cuts at Pawnee, Ron asks Leslie, "What's a not gay way to ask him to go camping with me?" That line was not in the first draft of the script, but was added during filming as a possible alternative line for the editors to choose from later. The staff found it so funny, however, that they chose to use it and the original line was never filmed.[6]

During another scene at the Snakehole Lounge, a drunken Leslie angrily yells to Ben, "I just talked to everybody in this bar and nobody wants you here." That line was written by Harris Wittels, who wrote past screenplays for other Parks and Recreation episodes.[7] During the end credits, Andy sings a song he wrote for April called "November," which includes the lyrics, "Let's spread our wings and fly on a date." This is also a reference to "Woman of the Year," in which Andy explained every song he writes includes either the lyrics, "Spread your wings and fly" or "You deserve to be a champion." Schur, who wrote the words to "November", said it was especially challenging working one of those phrases into a love song.[6]

Rob Lowe (left) and Adam Scott (right) made their first appearances as, respectively, Chris Traeger and Ben Wyatt.

"The Master Plan" marked the first appearance of Adam Scott, who also appeared in the subsequent season finale "Freddy Spaghetti" and became a regular cast member during the third season. Scott left the Starz comedy Party Down to join the Parks and Recreation cast,[10][11] a decision he made in part because it was unclear whether Starz would renew the series: "It was a matter of me asking Starz if it was going to continue, and them saying they weren't ready to make that decision. I couldn't pass up the opportunity on Parks and Rec for a show that could possibly not exist anymore."[12] Schur said when the Ben Wyatt character was written, Scott was envisioned as the "dream scenario" for casting.[13] Schur described Scott as "brilliant and funny" and praised his comedic range: "There just aren't that many people with a comedic range that spans 'Step Brothers' to 'Party Down.'".[10] Several commentators said Ben Wyatt closely resembles the character Scott played on Party Down, Henry Pollard. While Ben was a politician who found great success at a young age then suffered a downfall, Henry was an actor who became a caterer after his acting career declined.[14][15] Scott, however, said he feels they are "vastly different characters and circumstances".[12] The idea of a character trying to rebuild a government career following a humiliating public failure was one of the original ideas for the series of Parks and Recreation in general, but one that was ultimately not used until the Ben Wyatt character was introduced.[6][16] During the scene when Ben explains his failed mayoral tenure, shots of a newspaper clip with images of the character's prom pictures are shown. Those pictures are the actual high school prom photos of actor Adam Scott.[17]

The episode also featured the first in a string of guest appearances by actor Rob Lowe, who had recently departed from the ABC drama series Brothers & Sisters.[18][19] As a joke, Rob Lowe's credit during the opening credits reads "and introducing Rob Lowe".[20] Unlike Scott, Lowe was originally not expected to join the regular cast, but rather make guest appearances in "Freddy Spaghetti" and six third season episodes before departing the show.[10][21] However, after those episodes were filmed, Lowe later joined the show as a regular cast member.[22][23] Lowe said he loved playing the part, which he described as "a big fat nerd" and "the most positive person in the world [with] unrelenting enthusiasm", adding, "He is also very, very intense and specific. So whether he's ordering how he would like his water or describing the kind of colors he wants on a graph, everything means the world to him."[24] Throughout the episode, whenever he meets someone new, Chris Traeger points directly at their face and slowly repeats their name. Schur said this habit was the first element the writers conceived for the character. In one line of the episode, while describing his exercise regimen and supplements, "Scientists believe that the first human being who will live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being." That line was inspired by Schur's wife, J. J. Philbin, who had recently read an article about that scientific prediction and felt it applied to the character.[6] Parks and Recreation was suffering in the Nielsen ratings when "The Master Plan" aired, and it was hoped Lowe's appearance would help increase viewership. Lowe's performance was heavily publicized in advance of the episode's original broadcast.[14][15]

"The Master Plan" marked the first of several performances by Natalie Morales as Lucy, romantic interest for Tom Haverford.

"The Master Plan" featured several other guest appearances. Ben Schwartz returned to his recurring role as Tom's fast-talking friend, Jean-Ralphio.[25][26] Natalie Morales, best known for her role in the ABC Family science-fiction dramedy The Middleman,[14][15] made her first Parks and Recreation appearance in the episode as Lucy, a Pawnee bartender and romantic interest for Tom.[27][28] The scene between Lucy and Tom at the Snakehole Lounge was the same scene Natalie Morales read during her audition for the part, although the dialogue was rewritten slightly before filming. The line with Lucy asking Tom if he flirted with so many women because he was expected to have a "43-way" was added during the rewrite.[6] Ralph Richeson, best known for playing the unkempt hotel employee Richardson in the HBO drama series Deadwood, briefly appeared as an unkempt man seeking a marriage license in the Pawnee town hall. Richeson is credited as "Ghoulish Man" in the episode's end credits.[29] April Marie Eden, who played beauty contest winner Trish Ianetta in the episode "Beauty Pageant", reprised that role in "The Master Plan", in scenes where Tom flirted with her relentlessly at the Snakehole Lounge. Alison Becker, who played local reporter Shauna Malwae-Tweep in several past episodes, filmed several scenes where she and Andy flirt, but he ultimately rejects her due to his feelings for April. All of these scenes were cut from the final episode due to length restrictions, which Schur said he regretted because he found Becker very funny.[6]

"The Master Plan" was directed by Dean Holland, his third directorial credit after "Greg Pikitis" and "Sweetums". The script read-through and filming took place in March 2010.[30][31] Rob Lowe's first day of filming took place on his birthday, March 17, which was the same day the scene where he kissed Rashida Jones was shot.[30] The original cut of "The Master Plan" was a full 30 minutes and had to be cut down to 22 minutes for broadcast. The staff of Parks and Recreation had difficulty editing the episode down because the script involved so many interconnected subplots between the characters. Screenwriter Harris Wittels said, "As soon as you'd cut one thing, you had to cut something else because it was tied to another piece."[7] Among the scenes cut were an extended cold open in which Ron gives April a handgun for her 21st birthday, much to the chagrin of Leslie. Also cut was a scene in which Ron chastises Leslie for yelling at Ben at the Snakehole Lounge and orders her to apologize to him so she will not be fired. Instead, the episode was changed to reflect that Leslie decided to apologize to Ben herself, with the line from Leslie "I have to go swallow my pride" added just before she spoke to Ben.[6]

During one scene, Ann and Mark have a discussion at J.J.'s Diner, a Pawnee restaurant that had previously been featured in the episodes "The Reporter" and "Summer Catalog". In all three episodes, a different interior set is used, although the exterior building shots are the same.[32] At the Snakehole Lounge, Tom flirts with a woman by giving her a bottle cap "to remember him by", then later unsuccessfully tries to find her again in the nightclub. This was not part of the script, and was conceived and added to the episode about 10 minutes before the scene was shot. During one of the final scenes, when Ben informs Leslie and Ron that the Pawnee government will be shut down, Ron looks directly at the camera and makes a comical grin. Although Leslie is supposed to be horrified by the news, the scene had to be re-shot many times because she kept laughing at Ron's facial expression.[6]