NBC Puts ‘Parks and Recreation’ on Hiatus

NBC has reportedly put Parks and Recreation on hiatus until 2014, aside from airing a few new episodes in November.

The station announced a number of schedule changes and cancellations of new series on Friday, and the new schedule omitted the Amy Poehler-led sitcom, according to Vulture. A repeat of The Voice will air in its place on Thursday of this week, and Parks and Rec will not return until November 14th, and only for back-to-back episodes that night and the following Thursday. Accordingly, its Halloween episode will air two weeks after the holiday and its election-night-themed episode will also be a week late. It will not return until 2014, unless NBC makes over its schedule again.

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The reasoning behind the changes, Vulture hypothesizes, is that NBC wants to push more viewers towards its Thursday, 9 p.m. EST show Sean Saves the World. Moreover, Parks and Rec may have peaked as far as ratings go.

After the live episode of The Voice, NBC will air an SNL Halloween clip show next week and a live episode of The Voice the following week. The ensuing weeks after Parks and Recreation’s short-lived return will feature a mix of football, a live broadcast of The Sound of Music, The Sing-Off and, on January 2, the hour-long return of Community.

When Rolling Stone spoke with Parks and Rec actor Adam Scott earlier this month, he hinted at changes on the show, though not in its scheduling. Namely, he addressed the imminent departures of costars Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones. “That’s coming up,” he said presciently, considering the schedule changes. “I’m not sure when, but I know it’s coming up. And it’s going to be really sad.”