One of my absolute favorite shows on TV right now is Parks and Recreation. Currently in its fourth season, if you haven’t heard of it or seen an episode than you are missing out! When the show first started, it wasn’t quite sure what type of show it was. Instantly compared to The Office, a lot of people skipped it but now that the characters and stories have developed, I think it is the best comedy on TV. Parks and Recreation is available from Amazon.com
Parks & Rec has a similar mocumentary style that is popular in many shows today. It follows the lives of people working in the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live fame, is the over achieving deputy director of the Parks Department who is surrounded by a group of under achievers.
The supporting cast is made up of Aziz Ansari, Chris Pratt, Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman as one of the best characters on TV these days, Ron Swanson and as if that wasn’t enough Rob Lowe who joined the cast late in season 2. It is this supporting cast that really makes the show for me; they are a bunch of misfits that seem to fit perfectly together in the setting of the Parks Department. The show is ridiculous and hilarious but it is also filled with heart.
Every Thursday I escape to Pawnee and fall in love with these characters again and again. You have to push through the first season and allow the show to figure itself out, if you make it to season 2, you will be very glad you did. Parks and Recreation currently airs on NBC Thursday nights at 8:30.