Chris Pratt Says He Acted Wildly Inappropriate On The Set Of Hit Show
Chris Pratt says he actually stripped naked for a scene in Parks and Recreation, rather than using industry-standard nude boxers.
Years before Chris Pratt captivated audiences as Star-Lord in Marvel’s Guardians of The Galaxy, he made the wildly inappropriate decision to go completely nude while filming an episode of Parks and Recreation. The infamous scene took place in the second season of the hit comedy when Andy was supposed to arrive naked at his ex-girlfriend Anne’s house. But instead of wearing the industry-standard nude boxers, the actor secretly stripped down.
As a result, Chris Pratt flashed an unsuspecting Rashida Jones and Amy Poehler who portrayed Anne and Leslie, respectively. Speaking about the decision on The Graham Norton Show, the 43-year-old said he thought showing up fully disrobed would elicit a hilarious reaction from his co-stars. However, the bosses at NBC didn’t appreciate his commitment to the perfect comedic shot.
“I got a letter from NBC saying basically never, ever do that again,” Chris Pratt said. The note also explained that there is a protocol for being naked. Actors must give everyone the option to not see it. “I forgot that behind the camera are a ton of people watching,” the Jurassic World Dominion star continued. The actor went on to save the letter by having it framed. It is now prominently displayed in his office.
Ironically, Chris Pratt told Graham Norton that the note from NBC specifically asked him not to talk about the incident or the letter in a humorous context. He obviously didn’t listen and went on to discuss its contents by quoting its opening sentences. “First of all, this is not a joke. You’re being reprimanded,” the letter read. “This is the last warning, it can’t happen again, and also we don’t want you going around and talking about this letter like it was something, some kind of a joke.”
Fortunately, Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones still seem to adore Chris Pratt despite his behavior on set. However, this does not excuse his poor behavior. Filming a comedy series still comes with the same protocols and boundaries as any nine-to-five job. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, Pratt joined Parks and Recreation as Andy Dwyer in the show’s first season.
Although Chris Pratt was initially supposed to appear as a guest star, his character was a hit with fans and producers. This led to him becoming a permanent part of the show in the second season. The satirical mockumentary debuted on NBC in 2009 and starred Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a perky, mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks Department of a fictional town in Indiana called Pawnee.
Parks and Recreation also boasted a stellar supporting cast alongside Chris Pratt and Amy Poehler. This included Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Paul Schneider as Mark Brendanawicz, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, and Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger. Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Jim O’Heir, and Billy Eichner also starred.
The NBC comedy received numerous awards and nominations during its seven-season run. Parks and Recreation was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards, with Amy Poehler taking home a Golden Globe for her performance. The series also went on to win the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy in 2013. Chris Pratt didn’t receive any accolades during his time on the show.
