When former House Speaker Newt Gingrich walked up to a table in St. Elmo's Steak House in Indianapolis, he was truly stepping into a television shoot for NBC's "Parks and Recreation."

His early December appearance in the restaurant for a meal coincidentally came as the sitcom was filming an episode, according to The Indianapolis Star. The show's writers turned it into a cameo on the show which aired Thursday.

Gingrich is a fitting character on the show, which stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, the deputy director of the fictional Pawnee, Illinois' parks and recreation department.

His moment on screen is brief.

"Excuse me, sir -- this is not your table," the restaurant's host says to Jerry Gergich, played by Jim O'Heir.

Gergich, an aide in the parks department, replies, "I thought you said the Gergich party."

"No, no," the host replies. "I said the Gingrich party."

As the former House speaker and presidential candidate appears, Gergich suggests, "Gingrich. Gergich. I wonder if we're related."

"I don't think so, Jerry," Gingrich replies.

He joins others in the Washington ranks who have made cameo appearances. His company includes Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Barbara Boxer, and Sen. Olympia Snowe.