Parks and Rec season 5 is back, and Chris and Ann are planning blowout bachelor/bachelorette parties for Ben and Leslie respectively. Mayhem ensues, as does the appearance of Newt Gingrich— a former presidential candidate for the Republican party.

After a hiatus where all we could do was dream about Ron’s beard and watch Amy Poehler dazzle as a Golden Globes host, Parks and Rec Season 5 is back and wedding bells are in the air. Before Ben and Leslie tie the knot, parties are in order, as is a surprise appearance from Newt Gingrich.

Newt Gingrich walks into a steak house, sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it’s actually how Gingrich landed his cameo on Parks and Rec season 5. He wasn’t supposed to be in the episode, but the crew ran into him while filming on location at the St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis and wrote him into the script. According to the Huffington Post, he really hit it off with Rob Lowe (Chris) over their mutual interest in the Civil War and General Grant. Needless to say, we are intrigued by his impending appearance on Parks and Rec.

Besides Gingrich, this episode promises an appearance from (one of) Leslie’s arch-nemeses City Councilman Jamm, who may threaten the carefully calculated party Ann planned. Chris too becomes frazzled (not out of the normal for Chris) when he realizes none of the men at the party had bachelor parties themselves. Looks like we are in for a night of tomfoolery (seriously … we hope Tom acts a fool).

What are your thoughts about this Thursday’s return of Parks and Rec season 5? What do you hope to see at the respective parties? We are definitely hoping for a repeat of the drunken rants that happened when all of the characters had Snake Juice for the first time.

Other food for thought: Gergich and Gingrich … hilarious name coincidence.

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