What Is 'Parks and Recreation' About?
It's likely that you've seen Parks and Recreation already since it was a pretty big hit about a decade ago. But if you haven't managed to catch it yet, there are countless reasons why it should be your next binge-watch. The series is set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, and the story follows a rag-tag bunch of employees who work at the Parks and Recreation Department. Comedy legend Amy Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, a cheery, optimist who truly believes that she can turn Pawnee into the best city ever. Her first order of business in Season 1 is to turn a giant pit behind her best friend, Ann's (Rashida Jones) house into a park that the whole city can enjoy.
Of course, there is plenty of political red tape and bureaucracy, but Leslie enlists her dysfunctional co-workers to help with her lofty goals. Her colleagues include the gruff, anti-social parks director Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), who tries to resist Leslie's sunshiny nature, and Leslie's subordinates, Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), and intern April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), who are just generally sort of inept at their jobs. Somehow, Leslie never lets any roadblocks deter her, and throughout seven seasons she remains one of the best protagonists ever seen on television.
You'll Fall in Love With 'Parks and Recreation's Zany Storylines and Incredible Cast
It's easy to get joyfully sucked into Leslie's world, and every season is better than the last. The show consists of a fantastic blend of dry humor, mixed with a hopeful electricity that will mean you'll want to spend time with all of these characters. The setting of Pawnee also feels instantly relatable. Even if you've never lived in a small town, you've probably had to interact with local government, making these scenes feel familiar, yet always hilarious. Whether Leslie is getting sidelined by a city councilperson who acts as her nemesis or falling in love with the city's miniature horse mascot named Li'l Sebastian, Parks and Recreation will never fail to keep you laughing. The series also has the benefit of developing its characters over the course of many seasons. Chris Pratt, in his breakthrough role, becomes even more lovable as Andy Dwyer, April's goofy boyfriend, and Retta joins the cast later in the series as Donna Meagle, a no-nonsense employee that joins the department with amazing deadpan timing.
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'Parks and Rec' is known for its hilariously memorable quotes.
Parks and Recreation would have been a good-enough sitcom based merely on the hysterical writing of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. But the series has stood the test of time because of its incredible cast. Poehler grounds the entire cast with her unflappable positivity, and Offerman offers much hilarity by being the total opposite of her. The supporting cast is boosted to even greater heights with later appearances by Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, and Billy Eichner. The series also became well-known for cameos from comedy icons, with performances by everyone from Megan Mullally (Offerman's real-life wife) and Fred Armison to Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn. Several real-life politicians even popped up, including then-Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Leslie's personal hero, Madeleine Albright. A binge-watch makes it easy to see how all of these talented humans came together to produce a laugh-a-minute sitcom.
Throughout its seven-season run, Parks and Recreation was nominated for 14 Emmys, but would, shockingly, never take home any wins. That makes it all the more sweet that the series is still climbing the charts and finding new audiences more than a decade after it went off the air. In 2020, about one month into the COVID-19 pandemic, Parks and Recreation came back with a special reunion episode to help lift everyone's spirits. This just proves that the show continues to be a comfort to everyone who watches it. So, as Tom and Donna would say, you should "treat yo' self" to a binge-watch today.
Release Date
2009 - 2015
Directors
Dean Holland, Ken Whittingham, Troy Miller, Craig Zisk, Morgan Sackett, Randall Einhorn, Michael Trim, Nicole Holofcener, Tristram Shapeero, Wendey Stanzler, Beth McCarthy-Miller, Jason Woliner, Charles McDougall, Daniel J. Goor, Nick Offerman, Tucker Gates, Alan Yang, Alex Hardcastle, Jorma Taccone, Seth Gordon, Adam Scott, David Rogers, Jaime Eliezer Karas, Jeffrey Blitz
Image via NBC
English (US) ·