Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation, American television sitcom that aired on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) network from 2009 to 2015 and followed the antics of a group of government employees in a hapless Midwestern town. The show was created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, who had also worked together on NBC’s The Office (2005–13). Like The Office, Parks and Recreation was styled as a “mockumentary,” in which the episodes are filmed as if by a documentary crew, but in reality they are entirely scripted. The show became a hit with critics and viewers alike and was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards.
Premise and characters
The show centers on the humorous yet heartfelt relationships between the government employees of the parks and recreation department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, a place known for its high-sugar food industries and raccoon infestations. Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler), a boundlessly enthusiastic career civil servant, is the heart of the group. Her boss, the gruff libertarian outdoorsman Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), provides a foil to her character, preferring to keep the department’s role in government small even as Leslie’s ambitions soar. Other key characters are Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), a nurse who is Leslie’s best friend; April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), a misanthropic intern; Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt), a lovable doofus musician; Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), a swaggering underachiever with entrepreneurial ambitions; Donna Meagle (Retta), the savvy office manager; and Jerry Gergich (Jim O’Heir), the meek and bumbling office punching bag. Later additions to the cast included Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott), a deadpan accountant trying to live down his disastrous past as the former 18-year-old mayor of another Midwestern town, and Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe), an auditor whose intense dedication to healthy living is outmatched only by his overuse of the word literally.
As the show progresses, the characters pursue their individual ambitions, and close friendships and romantic relationships develop between several of them. Much humor is made of Pawnee’s long-running feud with the upscale neighboring town of Eagleton. Leslie rises through the ranks of government, with her colleagues supporting her along the way.
The show’s popularity paved the way for various guest spots and cameos. Notable guest stars included Christie Brinkley, Megan Mullally, Kathryn Hahn, Ginuwine, Paul Rudd, Werner Herzog, Sam Elliott, and Keegan-Michael Key. Several real-life government officials made appearances on the show as well, including Sen. John McCain, Vice Pres. Joe Biden, and first lady Michelle Obama. Recurring characters included two astoundingly insufferable siblings, Jean-Ralphio (Ben Schwartz) and Mona-Lisa Saperstein (Jenny Slate), and their father, Dr. Lu Saperstein (Henry Winkler), who is also Pawnee’s local obstetrician/gynecologist.
Development of the show
The idea for Parks and Recreation began when Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, who had both served as producers on the smash hit NBC sitcom The Office, were tasked with making a series spin-off based on Karen Filippelli, a character on The Office played by Rashida Jones. Instead, Daniels and Schur created Parks and Recreation as a sort of spiritual successor to The Office—whereas The Office takes place in the private sector, Parks and Recreation takes place in the public sector. Schur, who had worked with Poehler on Saturday Night Live, pursued her for the role of Leslie and allowed Poehler’s cheerful and gregarious personality to help shape the character. Initially, critics were skeptical of the show, comparing it unfavorably to The Office. Some tweaks to the characters followed, with one regular character of the first two seasons—Mark Brendanawicz (Paul Schneider)—being entirely written out of the show. The series found its footing and remained consistently well reviewed for the rest of its run. In 2012 it was named Time’s top TV series of the year.
Fan base and legacy
Parks and Recreation gained a devoted fan base, with an influence that spilled over into real life. The show spawned memes such as “Treat Yo’ Self Day” (a fictional holiday observed by Donna and Tom, in which they treat themselves to a day of spa services and shopping) and “Galentine’s Day” (another fictional holiday observed by Leslie the day before Valentine’s Day, in which she celebrates her female friendships). Many fans started hosting events inspired by the show’s invented holidays.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the series returned for a one-off television special. Filmed over videoconferencing, the special focused on Leslie’s efforts to stay connected with her friends during enforced social distancing. The telecast raised money for the charity Feeding America.
