There are plenty of comedies on TV today that have a darkly cynical, mean-spirited view of their characters and the worlds they inhabit. There’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “The Office,” and any number of shows about idiots being idiots. Of course, these shows are all the more funny for their biting tone, and they create realistic portrayals of the mundaneness of everyday life.
However, “Parks and Recreation” blows all these shows completely out of the water—not with cruelty or mockery, but with its winning, charming kindness. Instead of deriving laughs from characters belittling each other, “Parks and Recreation” portrays a group of people who genuinely like each other and are trying to make their flawed city a better place.
It also doesn’t hurt that it has some serious pedigree. The show was created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the minds behind “The Office,” another single-camera workplace sitcom without a laugh track. “Parks and Rec” stars Amy Poehler as the infinitely confident, ineffable Leslie Knope, Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. The show is centered on Leslie and the Parks department and their daily efforts to improve the lives of the citizens of Pawnee.
“Parks and Recreation” boasts one of the most talented casts on TV playing a great set of characters. It includes not only Amy Poehler, but also Nick Offerman as the real-life Ron Swanson, Aziz Ansari, who plays a bureaucrat with all the swagger of Kanye, and Aubrey Plaza as a secretly sweet, eye-rolling college-aged misanthrope. All of the characters are completely fleshed out and dynamic, growing and changing as the show progresses.
The character of Leslie Knope, in particular, has been praised as a positive and empowering depiction of a woman in a position of authority. Leslie is a boss figure, but is also universally respected and loved for her competence and compassion (unlike her “The Office” counterpart, Michael Scott). She has real, fulfilling friendships with other women, especially her closest confidante, Ann, who balances out Leslie’s bouncing enthusiasm. A feminist who aspires to be president someday, Leslie is a vocal supporter of the arts, waffles, and Madeleine Albright. She is an exemplary portrait of a strong, smart woman in a world of Real Housewives and Kardashians.
One reason “Parks and Recreation” has been met with so much critical acclaim is its vivid depiction of the town of Pawnee. The world of the show is so real and nuanced, which is partially due to the fact that the writers researched local California politics, particularly those of Los Angeles, for the show. Many people have compared Pawnee to Springfield from “The Simpsons” for this reason.
“Parks and Rec” has established dozens of local stores and restaurants, such as J.J.’s Diner and the Snakehole Lounge. Pawnee has its own talk show, on which Leslie has appeared several times. These minute details are what make Pawnee a believable place to set the show in. They also make up a veritable ocean of comedic fodder from which the writers of “Parks and Recreation” create situations and jokes.
The show started off rather slowly in its first season. Many people drew comparisons to “The Office,” saying that while Amy Poehler was stellar, “Parks and Rec” had yet to come into its own. It was in the latter half of the second season that it gained momentum, leading into what I (and many others) would call a perfect season of television.
Season three introduced new characters, new relationships, and developed the world that we know so well. It strayed from typical sitcom tropes and managed to surprise, entertain, and delight. It doled out genuinely moving emotional moments without using a corny song and a voiceover to beat the viewer over the head (I’m looking at you, “Modern Family”). But most of all, it was funny as hell. “Parks” mastered the art of callbacks to earlier jokes, pratfalls, sight gags, and political satire. One episode simply put all of the characters in an enclosed setting and got them falling-down drunk. Predictably, hilarity ensued.
Many newspapers and magazines have year-end lists of the best in every category. “Parks and Recreation” topped many, if not most, of those lists. It is truly a critical darling, many TV critics hailing it as the best and smartest show on television. It has won and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (for Amy Poehler). “Parks” has also gained a cult following, inspiring countless internet fan sites including “Cats that Look like Ron Swanson” and “Tom Haverfoods.”
Even with all of the critical acclaim and cultish fans, “Parks and Recreation” still performs rather poorly in Neilson ratings. In a world dictated by money and statistics, it is possible that “Parks and Rec” will not return to air.
Right now, “Parks” is in the middle of its fourth season. Overall, it has been a slight step down from the perfection that was season three. However, the show never fails to deliver, the writing is as tight as it has ever been, and the cast is consistently hitting every joke out of the park.
So this is my personal plea to you, reader. Watch the show. Find a place for DJ Roomba and calzones and Lil’ Sebastian in your heart. I promise you’ll love it. And if you don’t, obviously we can’t be friends.