Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson won't half-ass their new crafting competition show. They'll whole-ass it.

NBC, we love you and we like you.
Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson won't half-ass their new crafting competition show. They'll whole-ass it.
If you've ever wanted Ron and Leslie to judge you, NBC has the perfect show. Credit: Getty Images

Our lives have been so much darker since Parks and Recreation left our screens.

Luckily, the beautiful people known as Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman (aka Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson) are reuniting to make the world a better place, one handmade object at a time.

Poehler and Offerman will host a six-episode competition series called The Handmade Project (sadly no relation to Hulu's Handmaid's Tale, although we'd love to see their take on that too), which Poehler will produce through her Paper Kite Productions company.

The show will feature eight of America’s best all-around makers and crafters, who will undertake a series of projects that must be completed in their own unique way with the hopes of impressing Poehler, Offerman and a panel of expert judges. Over the course of each episode, the contestants will tackle a different theme, hand-making items in different disciplines — the difficulty of which increase as the competition unfolds. 

Described by NBC as a "friendly competition" that will be filmed in a "serene outdoor setting" (perhaps they'll borrow Ron's secret cabin in the woods), the show will crown a winner at the end of the six week journey, but the focus will be on "the characters and camaraderie of those who enjoy creating their own crafts, all under the comedic guidance of Poehler and Offerman," per the press release.

Both Poehler and Offerman share a passion for craftsmanship -- Poehler is a self-proclaimed crafting novice, while Offerman, much like his stoic Parks and Rec character, is well known for his love of woodworking, and even owns his own store, Offerman Woodshop, in Los Angeles.

“I’m thrilled to be celebrating artists who make things by hand, and I’m looking forward to finally conquering my fear of paper mache,” Poehler said.

Added Offerman: “People who make things are my favorite kind of folk. Practical, clever and terrific in a pinch. That makes me tickled pink to have a front row seat at this prodigious display of talent, and admiring and cheering on an amazing crop of American makers. Plus, Amy and I have a strong tradition of tomfoolery so let’s see if we don’t have some good fun.”

The show is currently looking for participants -- noting that artisans and makers of any type, or any creative person who loves making things by hand, are welcome. 

Here's hoping all of the contestants live by the immortal wisdom of Ron Swanson: "Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing."

Topics NBC

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