“Tonight I will consider myself an honorary Hoosier,” ?Offerman said.
The multi-talented actor, humorist, writer and woodworker performed to a receptive ?audience.
Offerman is best known for his character on NBC’s comedy show, “Parks & Recreation,” which had its series finale in ?February.
On the show, he played Ron Swanson, a meat-loving, outdoorsy Libertarian with a dry sense of humor and a knack for woodwork, a role that won him the Television Critics Award for Individual Achievement in ?Comedy.
Though Offerman said he is a fan of Indiana, he also said he is not in favor of Indiana’s government. He recently announced via Twitter he and his wife, actress Megan Mullally, will cancel the Indianapolis tour stop of “Summer of 69: No Apostrophe” due to the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Before the performance, people were wound around Showalter Fountain, forming a line to see the miniature horse dubbed “Lil’ Sebastian,” an animal character beloved on “Parks & Recreation.”
An eager family of four waited in line to get a picture with the horse before entering the auditorium. Jim Lynch, a lecturer at IU, said the moment he heard Nick Offerman was coming to Bloomington he bought tickets for his two daughters and wife.
The Lynch family said they supported Offerman’s decision to boycott Indianapolis, but were happy to hear he would still come to Bloomington and donate the show’s proceeds to the Human Rights Campaign.
“When we heard that he was still going to show up here and donate his money, we all high-fived,” Lynch said.
The “Full Bush” set included humorous songs played on classic guitar, a diss on Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” hit, an extensive talk on the political climate, his distinctive giggle and life and love advice.
Offerman explained “Full Bush” has a few meanings. Throughout the show, he compared the tour title to a lifestyle choice. When a person gets up early and gets going, when a ?person crafts with their hands and lives life in full, that is the way to live full bush, he said.
“Full bush is a great way of life no matter where you live,” he said.
During the show, Offerman said he was new to being a humorist. He talked about his passions and how he’s found work that makes him love to get up in the morning — entertaining and woodworking.
He said he has mellowed with age and realized he just wants people to be decent with one another.
“Everybody’s OK,” Offerman said. “Everybody is trying their best.”
Offerman read an exclusive statement from Michael Schur, co-creator of “Parks & Recreation,” in relation to the RFRA. In the statement, Schur commented on how Ron Swanson and Amy Poehler would have reacted to the new law.
Neither would have liked it, according to Schur’s statement. Neither does Offerman, which he made clear by calling Gov. Mike Pence’s signing of the bill a mistake and donating the money from the show to HRC, or what Offerman jokingly called the “Ham Reclamation Corps.”
“I hope that I’m very much preaching to the choir,” Offerman said.
Offerman said he hopes people who are fans of his work would not be fans of the RFRA, which Offerman said he finds ?discriminatory.
IU’s Union Board organized the event, working with Offerman’s agent to arrange the appearance. Union Board Films ?Director Trevor Smith said he and the rest of the board especially wanted to bring Offerman to IU because “Parks & Recreation” is set in Indiana.
“We all love him a lot and are excited to have him here, especially because the show takes place in ?Indiana,” Smith said.
Offerman said he always feels honored to be invited to colleges. He said he loves to speak to large groups of college students to whom he can give advice.
“It’s parental,” Offerman laughs. “I did OK. Please ?do better.”
