Nick Offerman, Ron Swanson Of 'Parks And Recreation,' Took To Reddit's AMA To Answer Fan Questions

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By Jeff Stone | September 1, 2012 8:31 AM EST

Two days after the president of the United States appeared in a Reddit I Am A session, Nick Offerman sat down for an interview with the site's users in the same kind of forum.

Reddit Verification Photo (htt
Two days after the president of the United States appeared in a Reddit I Am A, or IAmA, session, Nick Offerman sat down for an interview with the site's users in the same kind of forum -- and the online community appeared to give a higher approval rating not to the politician but to the actor.

Offerman plays the popular character Ron Swanson on the NBC comedy "Parks and Recreation," and although he doesn't bring the same star power as the leader of the free world, he's very popular. Friday's session -- linked here -- attracted more than 4,600 comments in just two hours.  

"Howdy Reddit. ... I play Ron Swanson on NBC's 'Parks and Recreation.' I also like to use a shovel, a broom, and craft things out of wood," Offerman wrote in his introductory paragraph.

The session began at about 2:30 p.m. EDT and was a bit out of character for Offerman, who said during an appearance on "WTF with Marc Maron" in March that he and his wife -- actress Megan Mullally -- stay away from the Internet. Nonetheless, Offerman's character has gained another level of popularity online because of the fan sites that have popped up in his honor, perhaps most notably the Cats That Look Like Ron Swanson tumblr page.

One of the reasons the actor may garner so much praise is the similarity between Swanson's and his own personality. Like Ron, Offerman enjoys woodworking (Offerman has his own wood shop) and, based on his IAmA answers and appearances in previous interviews, he appears content with himself. It's a trait that isn't always obvious when Hollywood actors interact with their fans.

Offerman seemed to confirm his real-life niceties when one fan asked Offerman about the best way to cook bacon and eggs.

"In an iron skillet, over a fire of oak at your cabin," Offerman replied in a tone "Parks and Recreation" fans can probably hear him deadpan.

When someone else asked Offerman if he could take Teddy Roosevelt in a fight, the actor replied: "Ted Roosevelt would hand me my a-- in moments. He was a god---n man and soldier who could kill with his hands. Let's remember, I am an actor who is handy with a sopkeshave."

He also mentioned his love for quality scotch and expensive cigars, two masculine traits that will only make him more endearing to fans of Swanson.

It wasn't all jokes, though, and when Offerman was asked about the best part of woodworking, it might have led some fans to wonder whether he was more passionate about that than acting. (That and his comment about his favorite firearm being a trebuchet.)

According to Offerman: "The moments of truth in woodworking: 1) When you flood your finished wood with oil, and the grain, color and figure jump out like a visual lung-full of opium smoke (so I've read).

"2) When the piece you have wrought comes into use. The canoe, the table, the canoe paddle, the pipe, the cribbage board. ... when you rest your steak and your whiskey upon the table you have made, you feel pretty god---n tall for keeping those treats off the ground."

Even though Offerman's Q-and-A took place during the same week as the leader of the free world's IAmA session, one Redditor might have summed up Friday's conversation best with the line, "I think we've reached AMA nirvana."

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(Photo: Reddit Verification Photo (htt / )
Two days after the president of the United States appeared in a Reddit I Am A, or IAmA, session, Nick Offerman sat down for an interview with the site's users in the same kind of forum -- and the online community appeared to give a higher approval rating not to the politician but to the actor.
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