Okay, I am finally going to try and put into words what it is that I love about Parks & Recreation, in an effort to convince Kacey that it should jump to the top of her Instant Watch priorities.
Here's my best attempt at 5 reasons why you should change the channel to NBC immediately following Sheldon on Thursday nights:
5) It's not The Office. Before the show even started, there were comparisons made with The Office, which, don't get me wrong, is a great show. It's funny, well written, well acted, etc. But it never really caught my attention in a "I must watch every single episode of this show and tell everyone how much I love it" kind of way. Steve Carrell is a wonderful actor, and Michael Scott is a great character for him, but there has always been, for me, too much of that "oh my god I can't watch this train wreck" stupidity with the show, mostly with Michael. At least for me to want to watch week in and week out. So, when Parks & Rec started I resisted because I wasn't interested in that type of show. But it is so not like that. Yes, it uses the same mockumentary style (like both the Office and Modern Family), and the characters all work together, but that is where I think the comparisons stop. While the crew at Parks & Rec is dysfunctional and incompetent at times (okay, a lot), there is never that feeling that they won't be able to overcome the obstacle, or that there won't be a heartfelt attempt. Even when they don't care about the task at hand, they care about each other (or one person in particular) to make it work. But if you (like my mom) assume you will not like this show because you don't like the Office, well, give it a chance.
4) Brilliant ensemble. I'll highlight some individuals later, but this is definitely a show that relies on every member of the cast contributing each and every week. If you picked up any one of these characters on their own, I'm not convinced they would work. But put them together, and it's near perfection. Aziz Ansari's wannabe Tom Haverford is beyond annoying, but it works because everyone else laughs at him. Chris Pratt's stupid but adorable and sincere Andy is too dumb to believe, but you fall in love with him right along with... um... everyone else. And Nick Offerman's government hating Ron Swanson and Amy Poehler's government loving Leslie Knope need each other, and so does the Parks Department (if only people with opposing views worked so well together in Congress)
3) Adam Scott, i.e. the addition of. I have to be perfectly honest, I have a huge crush on Adam Scott, and an even bigger crush on Ben Wyatt. I don't know where it came from exactly. Perhaps the first part of that one Veronica Mars episode where he was the teacher that everyone loved but was then accused of having an affair with a student, and I just tuned out the end where he did actually have an affair with a student. Regardless of where it started, it was definitely increased by the brilliant Party Down (which you should watch immediately if you haven't, but that's another blog entry all together). He is the perfect cute nerd (if he played Nate Silver in a movie I would see that movie many, many times), and just avoids being a hipster. I loved the first two seasons of Parks of Rec, but when they added the character of nerdy, former teenage mayor turned government wonk Ben Wyatt, they hit a whole new level of excellence. No offense to Paul Schneider, who did a fine job in the first two seasons, but with the addition of Ben (and to a lesser degree Rob Lowe's overwhelmingly optimistic Chris Traeger), I barely remember Mark Brandanawicz. And again, I loved the first two seasons. They were awesome. It's just that Ben is there now, and he makes it more awesome.
2) Ron & April. These two together are hilarious. The way that the writers and these actors have developed this father/daughter-like relationship for the head of Parks & Rec and his now-assistant is comedic gold. Every time they have a scene together, I know I'm going to laugh. Plus, their negative attitude are what make it possible for me to unapologetically love....
1) Leslie Knope - Like I said, this is an amazing ensemble, but there is only reason this rag tag group of government employees can pull it together, and it is the one and only Leslie Knope. She's crazy and energetic to the point of annoyance, but her ambitious is contagious and she's just the type of unyielding person you wish would work in your local government. Her co-workers (except Ben & Chris) find her enthusiasm to be draining, if not horribly annoying, but like the audience, they can't help but root for her. When the shit hits the fan, they are all there to chip in and make sure that things get done for Leslie. Even if they don't care about the project or whatever is happening. They do it because Leslie is a genuinely good person who takes care of everyone else around her. She loves her job, her friends, waffles, and most importantly, the town of Pawnee. So much that it makes you kind of love the town of Pawnee too.
This is why I've resisted writing this, even though I love this show week in and week out. When I get down to it, it sounds so sappy and that is not the show at all. People far more cynical than I am love this show. I mean, just watch a few minutes of any scene with Ron Swanson (especially if there is a Tammy involved), and you'll see what I mean.
Basically, I just love this show as much as Leslie loves waffles. And you should watch so you understand how much that is.
No comments:
Post a Comment