# Parks and Rec - If you're not watching this, you're not watching TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168 "2011-09-30T16:02:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/21 "2011-09-30T18:01:21Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I disagree with this - Chris Traeger is literally one of the funniest characters on television. He’s hysterical. It’s just that on P&R the curve is really, really high, (it has Ron F-ing Swanson, for goodness sakes) and the entire cast is written and acted exceptionally well. You are dead on with the curve. Lightweight character actors need not apply. But even if I accept your opinion of the character or the ‘actor’ Rob Lowe, what’s the explanation for that hair this season? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/22 "2011-09-30T18:15:37Z")
For all the people wanting to get into the show, I say start with the season finale of Season 1. You can see where they’re starting to really turn the show into something special. And it helps set up the plot lines for season 2. Plus, you get to see the clip of Andy listing all the names his band has gone through. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/23 "2011-09-30T18:26:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You are dead on with the curve. Lightweight character actors need not apply. But even if I accept your opinion of the character or the ‘actor’ Rob Lowe, what’s the explanation for that hair this season? I think it’s for some movie he’s in, but ISTM he could just wear a wig for it. Or comb it better. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/24 "2011-09-30T18:51:13Z")
I think this show is a lot like a live-action Simpsons, especially with the ever-expanding roster of recurring townspeople. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/25 "2011-09-30T19:07:55Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > Saw a few minutes of the first episode and turned the channel. Saw a few minutes last year a started watching. Great show. Aubery did look unusually good last night. It took me a long time to warm to her character. Maybe she was too realistic and I didn’t have the background to understand her characters hatred of Rashida’s. I’ve liked her for a long time. And She shot to the top of my list in the episode in which she was role-playing being a film noir rich dame or whatever. And then her drunken rant in Spanish. Last night her “I can handle it, I’m Puerto Rican” was killer. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/26 "2011-09-30T21:02:29Z")
I have to agree with the OP. Parks and Rec is easily one of the best things currently on TV. As for the latest episode, four different women having a moonshine drinking contest over Ron Fucking Swanson’s fate was classic. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/27 "2011-09-30T21:23:33Z")
I’m still a big fan. I too thought April looked great last night, I’ve not found her attractive previously. Anne (Rashida Jones) on the other hand…always thought she was spectacular, ever since she was on Office. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/28 "2011-09-30T21:32:47Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You are dead on with the curve. Lightweight character actors need not apply. But even if I accept your opinion of the character or the ‘actor’ Rob Lowe, what’s the explanation for that hair this season? There, I agree. That hair has no excuse. > [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I think this show is a lot like a live-action Simpsons, especially with the ever-expanding roster of recurring townspeople. “Ya Heard? with Perd!” consistently cracks me up. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/29 "2011-09-30T22:03:04Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > “Ya Heard? with Perd!” consistently cracks me up. The question I’m asking you right now is, why hasn’t Perd Haply won an Emmy for his distinguished journalism? There you have it, where “it” is the thing Leslie Knope just said…about the situation. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/30 "2011-09-30T22:09:17Z")
Does it have the shaky cam/quick zoom like the office? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/31 "2011-09-30T22:25:27Z")
Maybe a little bit? I usually forget that it’s mockumentary style until they do an interview. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/32 "2011-09-30T23:03:42Z")
I prefer _Community, Louie_ and _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_, but this is in my top 4. I also hated the first season, but it improved dramatically after that. Also agree Rob Lowe’s character is funny as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/33 "2011-10-01T01:32:20Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I think this show is a lot like a live-action Simpsons, especially with the ever-expanding roster of recurring townspeople. Besides just the townspeople you have the towns. Pawnee is a character in the show in the same way Springfield is for the Simpsons. For me it’s the best comedy on TV. I watched the first couple episodes on Netflix and gave up on it. A friend convinced me to keep watching at least until the first few episodes of the 2nd season and I’m glad he did, I’d have missed out on something great. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/34 "2011-10-01T02:54:10Z")
“She can hurt you with just a single word… And a jar of acid.” ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/35 "2011-10-01T02:54:39Z")
No argument here, P&R is currently my favorite comedy on TV. …Community is a close second, but I actually care about the characters on P&R so that tips it in P&R’s favor. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/36 "2011-10-01T03:04:49Z")
Just a few weeks ago I bumped in to one of my sister’s friends and talked to her for a bit. When I saw my sister later that day I said “Your friend reminds me of April from Parks and Rec” to which she replied “Yeah, I know, she looks like her and talks in that really monotone voice”…“Well, that and when she said ‘Umm, my boyfriend lives in Venezuela…I’m not going to visit him’” (I swear those were her exact words, and she really does look and sound just like April) I didn’t start watching the show until about a year ago (when I got caught up with the DVDs) but before that I caught just a few minutes of one episode because it came on after the Office. It was the Flu episode. When my TiVo caught that episode at some time later on I kept it. I still have that episode to watch once in a while. “I vomited somewhere in this room, I don’t remember where…check that drawer” and “Oh boy, hold on, the floor and the wall just switched, walk very carefully”…two of my favorite lines from that show. ETA and “STOP POOPING” ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/37 "2011-10-01T03:36:10Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > The beginning of Season 2 is a good starting point. It’s not really a show you need to see from the beginning, you won’t be lost if you start there. Truth. I never saw the first season and it is by far my favorite show now. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/38 "2011-10-01T05:59:21Z")
I agree with the chorus of skip the first season. It’s a lot of annoying SNL-esque Poehler behavior. In my opinion, even the second season is kind of rocky. I don’t think it really became the P&R that I love until Rob Lowe and Adam Scott became regulars. (Flu Season is my favorite episode as well. "My body is a microchip!’) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/39 "2011-10-01T08:10:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > But even if I accept your opinion of the character or the ‘actor’ Rob Lowe, what’s the explanation for that hair this season? Look at it and point out where, exactly, a single follicle could be moved that would not detract from his nonchalant perfection. 😃 Tammy 1 seemed so sweet on Mothers Day, but the psycho shines through. http:/ /www.hulu.com/watch/72434/saturday-night-live-snl-digital-short-motherlover-censored (link slightly broken but it was on an NBC series.) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168/40 "2011-10-01T08:18:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > (Flu Season is my favorite episode as well. "My body is a microchip!') Was that the one where Leslie was totally sick but had to make a presentation and you could watch Adam fall in love with her because she nailed it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parks-and-rec-if-youre-not-watching-this-youre-not-watching-tv/598168.md?page=3)