Internet Culture

The ‘OK, well, that’s interesting’ sound is for the anxious

The ‘Parks and Recreation’ sound is a runaway hit.

Photo of Audra Schroeder

Audra Schroeder

Parks and Recreation scene with That One Sound From TikTok logo in bottom left corner
That One Sound is a column from internet culture reporter Charlotte Colombo that explores the origin of popular sounds heard on TikTok.
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Parks and Recreation has been a pretty consistent content provider for TikTok, and another sound from the show is going viral now. It’s become the perfect soundtrack for anxiety and avoidant behavior.

The sound

In early April, the account @memesfromtvandfilm posted a clip from the show featuring Adam Scott and Amy Poehler, with the caption “Me when I’m confronted.” In the scene, Scott’s character Ben says, “OK, well, that’s interesting. You know why?” When Poehler’s Leslie responds, “Why?,” he says, “Because…” and takes off running.

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@memesfromtvandfilm #benwyatt #confrontation #adamscott #leslieknope #amypoehler #meme #parksandrecmeme #funny #parksandrec #fears #avoidingconfrontation ♬ original sound – Memes about stuff

The TikTok has more than 1.9 million views and sound has been used in more than 73,000 TikToks, applied to a variety of responsibilities or embarrassing situations people want to run from. It’s sort of the opposite energy of Beetlejuice’s viral “Just hanging around” sound.

@seanghedi i’ll never beat the allegations😞💔 #fyp #sittingontheremote #tvremote #wherestheremote #relatable ♬ original sound – Memes about stuff
@alannabahama Lol i cant be the only one! #fyp #viral #funny #relateable ♬ original sound – Memes about stuff
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@_xochitl.gomez

Love them all…its hard to choose! ♥️♥️♥️

♬ original sound – Memes about stuff

Where’s it from?

The sound is from Parks and Recreation season 6, episode 12, “Farmers Market.” In the clip posted to TikTok, Ben and Leslie are trying to resolve a work-related issue without it crossing into their personal life, and Ben has decided to put up a “firewall” between personal and professional.

While Parks and Recreation lives on Peacock now, and is easily accessible, there were a few people in the comments of the original that didn’t know what it was from. But the account that posted the clip, which has more than 22,000 followers and appears to be a fan account, shows the community is still robust.

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@memesfromtvandfilm #parksandrec #meme #parksandrecmeme #amypoehler #leslieknope #benwyatt #adamscott #workmeme #work #adulting #officelife #boss ♬ original sound – Memes about stuff

Sound off

While this Parks and Recreation sound is going viral for obvious reasons, another sound from the show has also seen a revival in the last week or so.

@vlexisruiz always when your chillen too 😫😂 #didyouknow ♬ original sound – haveyouseenmyolives
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Then there’s “Don’t be suspicious,” a sound that has been on TikTok almost as long as the app’s been around

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