About 500 people watched “Parks and Recreation” actor Nick Offerman deliver standup and songs, but hundreds more couldn’t fit in the room.
Crowds were turned away from his Wednesday night performance. Offerman plays Ron Swanson on the NBC show.
The line snaked past the Rion Ballroom and through hallways on the Reitz Union’s second floor.Attendees were turned away starting 30 minutes before the event.
Those who made it in witnessed Offerman bound around the room in an unbuttoned American flag shirt before the show.
He joked about the smoke in Gainesville, homosexuality and evangelical politics.
“With this homosexuality issue, I think we’re losing sight of what really matters — there are vegetarians everywhere,” he said.
The free event was hosted by Reitz Union Board Entertainment, Accent Speaker’s Bureau and Inter-Residence Hall Association. Offerman was paid $35,000 for the 90-minute performance.
Christie Harrod and Jessica Perkins waited in line for three hours, wearing paper bag mustaches.
Harrod, a 22-year-old wildlife ecology and conservation senior, said Swanson has been her favorite character since the first episode.
Mechanical engineering junior Scott Jagolinzer said he enjoyed Offerman’s show.
“His whole philosophy on religion and politics was interesting,” he said.
