Stepping out of the elevator in faded blue jeans, a dog-eared baseball cap and a guitar coolly slung around his neck, Nick Offerman was a tried and true American badass.
Offerman’s enviable masculinity and deadpan humor were evident as he waited for his interviews to begin, simultaneously cracking jokes and finishing a can of Coke he then threw onto the ground.
“Is someone going to draw a charcoal sketch of me?” he quipped.
Nick Offerman, best known for his breakout role as the tough and cynical parks department director Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, paid a visit to TCNJ as the headliner for CUB’s Spring Comedy Show.
Offerman landed the role of Ron Swanson when he was 38, working with the show’s producers and writers to develop a truly distinct character.
“I never dreamed I would get a job as good as Parks and Recreation,” said Offerman. “I’m just an actor that got a funny job.”
The original character of Ron manifested itself from the producer’s interactions with a libertarian woman working as the manager of a bureaucratic parks department.
In the beginning of the show the producers conducted a series of social interviews and meetings to get to know the actors; searching for potential comedic hotspots hidden within the actors’ personalities.
“With me, they determined that I talk slowly, and that I like woodworking, they thought that was funny,” said Offerman.
After six seasons as the man with America’s most admired mustache, Offerman admits that his own personality reflects in Ron’s character. “I share a lot of Ron’s sensibilities. I certainly don’t suffer fools gladly. And I’m not a fan of big government either, but Ron’s a masterfully written comedy character, so he is a little more clear-cut in his ideology.”
The creation of such a unique character is certainly a challenge; the show’s writers must balance audience expectations, Offerman’s personality, and Ron’s pre-established characteristics. “We all sort of protect the integrity of Ron’s ideals, and so story-points will come up, and we’ll say ‘well hang on , it serves the story, we need Ron to feel this way about this issue, but I don’t think that’s how Ron would feel about that,” said Offerman.
The show’s popularity has thrust Offerman, himself the antithesis of Hollywood, into an unfamiliar, and sometimes even painful, spotlight. On being recognized in public Offerman remarked, “It’s kinda weird when people throw bacon at me. At first it was flattering, but then it hurt.”
Becoming a national celebrity has taught Offerman to appreciate the abundance of opportunities available to him.
“I’ve learned that the most powerful thing you can say is no. I am so lucky to have come into a life where I have more opportunities than I have time to take advantage of.”
In his daily life, Offerman finds humor all around him. “When I was younger, and when I had more time to watch things I used to really love Mr. Show (with Bob and David), which is a sketch show with Bob Odenkirk.”
“If I ever need a good chuckle, I just look in the mirror, and see my face. And I either laugh or burst into tears. Usually I’m able to enjoy my funny face.”
In 2013 Offerman published his first book, Paddle Your Own Canoe, offering life lessons and personal stories infused with wit. Offerman based his standup lecture “American Ham,” loosely on lessons mentioned in his book.
Whether he’s fuming about his inept coworkers as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation or telling life stories to campus audiences, Nick Offerman is sure to leave his audience in amusement and awe as America’s most adored meat-loving nationalist.
“Bratwurst is my favorite food.”