Adam Scott's never have trouble landing roles over the course of his 17-year career, with the inevitable highs (partying on TV in "Party of Five" and "Party Down") and lows (paycheck movie fare like "Hellraiser: Bloodline" and "Piranha").
But Scott is on a roll now, thanks in large part to his lovable turn as Leslie Knope's love interest on NBC's beloved mocku-com "Parks and Recreation." Now movie offers are coming fast and furiously.
The affable Scott says he's grateful for every gig, but he especially enjoyed "Friends With Kids" (about a platonic pair of friends who decide to make a baby since all of their friends have them), a comedy he made with longtime friends/ power couple Jennifer Westfeldt (who wrote, directed and stars) and Jon Hamm (who produces and co-stars). Also: He gets to make out with Megan Fox. A lot.
Did you know Jennifer and Jon going into this film?
We've been friends for like 15 years, which is lucky for me because there's no way I would have gotten this part, otherwise. Yeah, we've been friends forever … and actually I have a couple kids, so reading the script, I was like, "Oh boy … sorry guys, definitely one of those people."
You were a plot inspiration?
Well, I know that our time with our friends really suffered once we had kids so … Actually making the movie, I got to spend a lot more time with Jen and Jon than I had in four years or so.
Maybe that's why they wrote the movie, just to spend time with you.
I'm not going to flatter myself.
Is it strange working for your friends?
No, because they really treated me as a collaborator and we're comfortable with each other so the whole thing was really easy, actually. The movie itself was tough just because of the low budget, and we're making it like, the middle of the worst storm in 40 years in New York. But working with my friends is sort of the ideal scenario; it makes everything a lot easier rather than working with strangers.
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It's a very New York story. Do you have a preference between New York and LA?
I prefer Los Angeles just because I live there and my family's there. But I think New York is just kind of the center of the world. It was great being there and being able to be there with my family for a couple months … It was awesome, so fun. My boy loves trains so we got to ride the subway everyday and whenever we see taxis now in Los Angeles they both freak out, just because they loved riding in taxis so much.
You get to do a considerable amount of making out with Megan Fox in this movie. Has it dawned on you how much dudes are going to envy you now?
Well, like I've said before, Megan is one of those people that is so beautiful when you're around them you feel like you're covered in diarrhea [laughs]. But we got along great. I loved working with Megan, she's super cool, and really funny, too. It's no surprise to me that she's doing all of these comedies now because she's a really funny person.
In one scene you are actually literally covered with diarrhea. I can only assume that was actual poop on your face.
Yeah, we flew some poop in, from like, Turkey.
Oh, so it was some of that high-grade poop?
Yeah, it was high-grade, Turkish prison diarrhea [laughs]. It's really, really, high grade stuff.
The film has a definite edge to it – could you see it becoming an unlikely success in the same vein as "Bridesmaids?" It not only shares cast members, but some qualities.
Yeah, I think one of the great things about "Bridesmaids" is that it's a big studio comedy but all of the relationships in it are so grounded that you're watching a real movie. Like when I saw the trailer for "Bridesmaids" and I saw the bits they were showing on the plane, I always figured that when that plane landed – before I saw the movie, I figured – when that plane lands, they're going to have this big party in Vegas. I didn't expect for that plane to be grounded, for their trip to be ruined. That's a turn that movie makes that's really special, and it's one of the main things I admired about that movie is how grounded and real the relationships and situations were. So yeah, I think in that sense this movie is similar. You can imagine this stuff actually happening, which in a lot of modern romantic comedies is not always the case.
Something random I noticed on the IMDB bio pages of both you and Jon Hamm: There's a line that says "Is very good friend with Paul Rudd." Which brings up two questions: A –Who's the better friend with Paul Rudd? And B- Is Paul Rudd hacking IMDB?
Yeah, you'll find it with every actor … Paul has put that line there in their bio [laughs]. Yeah, we've all been friends for 15 years or something … Hamm even longer because they knew each other from back in St. Louis and Kansas City, like back in the day. I just became friends with them in Los Angeles, but they've been friends even longer. So I guess Hamm would have to win that battle.
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So, "Parks and Recreation" just rules. Is it as much fun to film as it is to watch?
Yeah. I mean, we have such incredible writers around that they're coming up with great stuff and it's so fun. Like I work at 7 on Monday morning and I can't wait to get back. I always feel that way. I'm always just so excited to go into work. It's such a great gig.
You and Rob Lowe, especially, got a lot of notice for coming on last season and making the show even better. Have you seen your career reap in any rewards from the attention you've gotten for "Parks"?
I think when you're on a network show it's crazy how different it is … just being on a network show that reaches that many people. It's not like I'm very famous but seemingly overnight I would get recognized more and it was really weird. You don't even realize what 5 million people means until you're on every week with 5 million people watching. So I think just by virtue of being on a network show, yeah … I mean I'm just so lucky just being on the show and it has made my career more legitimate.
I don't think many people realize that you were in a Star Trek movie (1996's "Star Trek: First Contact"). What are your fondest memories from that experience?
To be honest, I was there from like 7 a.m. to 11 a.a.. For me it was rent at the time but it was fun. Jonathan Frakes was directing, he was a really nice guy, but I was never much of a Trekkie. But I like "Star Trek." I really loved the J.J. Abrams movie … I was just never super into it but it's cool that I got to be in one of those movies.
You've been pretty candid about some of your more "dubious" past roles in interviews. Do you feel like when people ask you about them you have to defend those movies?
No, I don't regret doing anything and, you know, at the time "Monster-in-Law" was … I was so excited to get that part. I got to be in a big movie for a few months. I got work and everybody on it was really nice and it was a fun experience. I'm proud to have worked at all over the past 17 years or whatever and lucky I get any jobs. So to be embarrassed about any role or something is a little ridiculous, I think.
