Aziz Ansari’s Thoughts On “Parks And Rec” Writer And Producer Harris Wittels
Aziz Ansari went on Tumblr to post a memorial for his friend Harris Wittels who worked with him on “Parks and Recreation” as a writer and co-executive producer. Harris passed away on Thursday at age 30 from what police called an apparent overdose.
Aziz wrote about his friend saying, “Harris was part of that rare breed where you wouldn’t see his shit coming. His jokes were so weird, unexpected, often brilliantly dumb that they were in that ultra-exclusive club of ones that made comedy people laugh — and laugh hard. This was why Harris was such a go-to for everyone. Anyone that was ever in a writers room with him knew he was probably the funniest comedy writer out there. He was just a machine.”
Aziz shared his favorite moments about Harris and some of the jokes that he created including his favorite line written by Harris for President Obama’s appearance on Funny or Die’s “Between Two Ferns” with Zach Galifianakis. Aziz wrote:
“Remember the Obama-Galifianakis Funny or Die video?
Galifianakis: So are you gonna run a third time?
Obama: I don’t think that’d be a very good idea. That’d be like making a third Hangover movie.
I thought that was by far the best joke in that thing and maybe any thing I watched last year. I found out today that it was a Wittels original. Of course.”
Aziz wrote about working with Harris Wittels on a couple of movie ideas that never panned out. Including one tentatively called “Olympic Size Asshole” starring Danny McBride. Aziz shared a scene from the script that Harris had sent to him. It called for Paul Giamatti to play a Paul Giamatti look-a-like.
To show how it was to work with Harris Wittels on “Parks and Recreation”, Aziz Ansari shared an email that Harris sent out to nearly everyone at NBC, including executives, in response to a mandatory sexual harassment seminar that employees were required to attend.
Aziz wrapped up his tribute to Harris Wittels by writing:
Bye Harris. I miss you and I’m glad I got to enjoy your genuinely amazing and original presence. I wish I got to you know even more. I hope people reading this realize what a incredibly unique man you were, and what brutal a loss it is for those who knew you and also for those who never had the pleasure. This has been so hard to write because I just keep wanting to add more and more stories and more jokes and more everything, but I’d never be able to finish it. You are far too special to sum up in any kind of piece like this. You were one of the best and we all will miss you.
Love,
Aziz
