Rob Lowe is leaving “Parks and Recreation” — but he won’t be absent from NBC for long.
Lowe, who plays energetic Chris Traeger on “Parks and Rec,” will return to the network next season as a down-and-out former tennis champ in “The Pro.”
He’ll play former doubles champ “Big Ben” Bertrahm, who works at a tennis and golf club — relying on his charm — after a series of bad investments left him in financial ruin.
The show will be written by Pete Huyck and Alex Gregory (“The Larry Sanders Show,” “Frasier”) and will be directed by Emmy winner Todd Holland (“The Larry Sanders Show”).
It’s part-and-parcel of the development deal Lowe signed when he was negotiating his exit from “Parks and Rec.” He’ll leave the show later this season after its 13th episode.
“Parks and Rec” co-star Rashida Jones is also leaving the show.