Does Parks & Recreation Casting Mean Party Down Is Ending?

Star Adam Scott and executive producer Rob Thomas weigh in on the future of the cult-hit comedy

Quick, somebody clone Adam Scott!

In case you haven't heard, the very cute and funny leading man of Starz's Party Down (a hit among those who know it) has been cast on Parks and Recreation. Not as a guest star. But as a full-fledged castmember.  

"Next week, I'm starting Parks and Recreation as a regular," Adam himself tells us. "I just hope I don't screw it up, because it's one of my favorite TV shows. It's incredible."

So does this mean that Party Down will be no more? Here's what executive producer Rob Thomas (of Veronica Mars fame) tells us, and warning, you fans aren't gonna like it:

"We're very concerned about the fate of Party Down," Thomas tells me. "The network has decided they want to see how we do in April—numbers-wise—before ordering a third season. Our actors are only in one-year deals, and Adam couldn't pass up a great opportunity with no guarantees that we'd get to do more Party Down episodes. The remaining castmembers and the producers remain hopeful that we'll get to do a third season."

A rep for the Starz network tells us: "We're waiting to see the audience reaction on the second season before we make a decision on the a third. Adam is a producer, but his starring in the show is not a deal breaker for us (but he's awesome and we love him)."

Correction: Adam is a producer and the leading man! And Party Down, which returns April 23 for its second season, is one of the best-written comedies currently on the air. And though it survived the loss of Jane Lynch, who went over to that Fox karaoke show (kidding, you know I love me some Glee), it's safe to assume the loss of Adam will be a greater hit for Party Down.

If Party Down does score a third season, Rob says he's hopeful they'd get Adam for three episodes. "Right now, we're grieving the loss of Adam/Henry, but if this is the end, we couldn't have written a better final scene for him."