"Parks and Recreation" returns for its Season 5 premiere with a special Washington, DC episode that features guest stars Senators John McCain, Olympia Snowe and Barbara Boxer. In a video released by NBC, Senator McCain discussed why he chose to participate in the episode, and reflected on some of his other TV cameos from years gone by.

McCain shared that he's a big fan of "Parks" and its star Amy Poehler. "It's one of my favorite shows ... I'm a fan, it's hilarious," he said. "The whole schtick about an election, and being elected and now coming to Washington. And of course, Amy [Poehler] is such a talented actress. My experience with her goes back to hosting 'Saturday Night Live' a long time ago," he recalled.

The Arizona Senator also revealed that the plot of the show mirrors many experiences he's had with real-life, locally-elected officials. "It's really a very clever plot, and very entertaining ... Listen, I spend a lot of time with local elected officials from my state, they come becasue they need the assistance and the federal largess that we are able to help them with."

And he took some time to reminsce about another TV cameo he made on Fox's "24." "I did a walk-on on '24' with Jack Bauer, that was kind of fun. I bragged about it for years, even though I wasn't even on the full screen ... You know how they divide the screen? I was up in the right-hand corner."

"Parks & Recreation" Season 5 premieres 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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