Jan. 12--"Parks and Recreation" kicks off its seventh and final season with back-to-back episodes Tuesday, the second of which filmed, in part, in Chicago and involves Andy Dwyer and Tom Haverford looking for the latter's ex-girlfriend.
The two friends' made-up excuse for the visit is that Dwyer has just landed a job in Chicago, but when put on the spot and asked what that job is, the dim-witted Dwyer responds, "Head coach of the Chicago Bulls." It's not their first bone-headed move during the visit. The preview for the episode reveals that the cab they took from the fictional town of Pawnee, Ind., to Chicago cost them $830.25.
The Chicago shoot took place in September and lasted just one day, with Chris Pratt and Aziz Ansari, who play Dwyer and Haverford, respectively, only spending an hour or two filming at various locations. The taxi scene was shot in rainy conditions in Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue, while other scenes were filmed at Millennium Park and North Avenue Beach; outside of Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist; and Wrigley Field.
The synopsis for the episode, titled "Ron and Jammy": "Leslie and Ron come together to help their old foe Jeremy Jamm espcape the diabolical Tammy 2's clutches. Meanwhile, Ben makes it his mission to find April's true passion in life; and Andy travels with Tom to Chicago."
Pratt and Ansari made the most of their time here. Pratt threw out the first pitch at the Cubs game at Wrigley Field and attended a Garth Brooks concert at the Allstate Arena. Ansari performed stand-up at The Vic.
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