Newt Gingrich to appear on Parks and Rec

First Barbara Boxer and Olympia Snowe, John McCain and finally Vice President Joe Biden: Parks and Recreation is really racking up the political cameos.

Now they can add former presidential candidate and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich to the list.

Parks and Rec cast member Rob Lowe, who plays nutty city manager Chris Traeger on the popular NBC sitcom about local politics, tweeted Monday about the coincidence.

Latest surprise drop by on set: Speaker Newt Gingrich! So we made up a scene and put him in!!#AllHappeningInIndy

— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) December 3, 2012

According to the Indiana Star, the men of the show were in Indianapolis Monday (most of the show is filmed in Los Angeles), shooting a scene at St. Elmo Steak House. Within the show's universe, the trip from the fictional Pawnee, Ind., to the big city of Indianapolis was to throw Ben Wyatt (played by Adam Scott) a bachelor party.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, in town to meet Gov. Mitch Daniels, stopped by the restaurant for lunch but learned that Hollywood had taken over. Mike Schur, co-creator of “Parks and Recreation,” quickly wrote a Gingrich appearance into the script.

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“It was a completely random chance,” Schur said. “But you can’t pass up on an opportunity like that.”

Parks and Recreation has one more episode, this Thursday, before it breaks for the holiday hiatus.