It's no secret Chris Traeger has mastered the art of the word "literally," but Rob Lowe says he came about his "Parks And Recreation" catchphrase by accident.

“I think I just leaned into that word really hard a couple of times and it made [showrunner Mike Schur] laugh,” Lowe told Vulture. “The next thing you know it just became one of Chris’s things, but it was never designed that way. It was merely a word in a sentence. I think I just took a really big, probably very embarrassing swing at it and it stuck.”

Chris Traeger may be famous for a catchphrase or two -- he also has a knack for saying "Anne Perkins" (Rashida Jones) in the perkiest of tones -- but Aubrey Plaza, who plays April Ludgate, is famous for her portrayal of a full-on weirdo.

"I want people to be confused by my character," Plaza said of the deadpan April Ludgate. "And also have a feeling of not knowing if you want to strangle me to death or kiss me really hard."

"Parks And Recreation" returns to NBC on Thurs., Sept. 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET

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  • "Two Parties"

    Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Jim O'Heir as Associate Director Jerry Gergich, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt

  • "Two Parties"

    Chris Pratt as Andy, Jim Irsay, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger

  • "Two Parties"

    Chris Pratt as Andy, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt

  • "Two Parties"

    Chris Pratt as Andy

  • "Two Parties"

    Jim O'Heir as Jerry Gergich

  • "Two Parties"

    Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt

  • "Two Parties"

    Newt Gingrich, Jim O'Heir as Jerry Gergich

  • "Two Parties"

    Newt Gingrich

  • "Two Parties"

    Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Chris Pratt as Andy, Jim O'Heir as Jerry Gergich, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

  • "Two Parties"

    Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford

  • "Two Parties"

    Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Retta as Donna Meagle

  • "Two Parties"

    Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Two Parties"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Two Parties"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope.

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Christie Brinkley as Gayle.

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Christie Brinkley as Gayle, Sarah Wright as Millicent, Peter Porte as Carl.

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Megan Mullally as Tammy 2

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Lucy Lawless as Diane, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Megan Mullally as Tammy 2.

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Megan Mullally as Tammy 2

  • "Ron & Diane"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson.

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Brad Hall as Wreston St. James

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Brad Hall as Wreston St. James

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Brad Hall as Wreston St. James

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Pawnee Commons"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Adam Scott, Joe Biden and Amy Poehler

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Vice President Joe Biden and Amy Poehler

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Vice President Joe Biden, Chris Pratt, Mike Schur Amy Poehler and Adam Scott

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Vice President Joe Biden and Amy Poehler

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Vice President Joe Biden and Amy Poehler

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope and Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins

  • "Leslie vs. April"

    Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins and Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Ben's Parents"

    Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Ben Schwartz as Jean-Ralphio

  • "Ben's Parents"

    Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Retta as Donna Meagle

  • "Halloween Surprise"

    Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

  • "Halloween Surprise"

    Lucy Lawless as Diane, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

  • "Halloween Surprise"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Halloween Surprise"

    Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Halloween Surprise"

    Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt as Andy

  • "Halloween Surprise"

    Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

  • "Halloween Surprise"

    Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt

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