So, I have to say - I really like Parks & Rec. I really wasn’t a fan during the first season. Didn’t think it was funny at all. But now it seems to be one of the more consistantly funny shows on TV. It’s really hit it’s stride this season and I see that it just got picked up for the rest of the year.
Aziz Ansari really makes the show for me, as does the guy that plays Andy. Both are hilarious. Last night’s Halloween episode had me cracking up.
Andy seems to get the best lines:
“I’m not crying… I’m just allergic to jerks.”
“My name is Bert Mackey and I’m with the F*cking FBI!”
Aziz dressed as T-Pain was great. And the whole green-card wife is funny, but also sad and sweet. Tom (Aziz) is so proud of his hot, surgeon wife - but to her it’s just a greencard wedding.
It wins Most Improved Show for me. Yes, Tom is hilarious. All the casting is good. They really have to stretch the reasons to get Ann to the city building (why is she there? she just comes to visit from the hospital? I get that she volunteers for the park, but she really doesn’t seem to volunteer much. She just seems to be a parks & rec groupie), but all the characters are very nicely written. Andy is such a bonehead.
I was incredulous about how often Ann was around the city buidling, but I guess it can be explained away by her and Leslie becoming such close friends - and that she’s dating Mark. So she has a couple of reasons to hang around.
There are a few things they could do to add some realism (if they feel they need to). In our office, we work with a lot of community organizations, many of whom have “concerned citizen” volunteers. If they had her form a quick community action group, it’d perfectly wave away any questions about it.
(And yes, I work for a municipality in Indiana, in community development, and the irony of my fandom of this show is not lost on me.)
I never liked him much before, but I really like his character on P&R. I agree that the show has improved tremendously now that it’s found its footing.
“No, I don’t think Leslie would make a good cop. I would actually be frightened to live in a town that she was a cop of…”
I think Leslie’s park is one it’s way to becoming an artifact. Poehler said in an interview that their research indicated that in real life it would take Leslie about 18 years to get her park built. Hence Leslie & Ann becoming BFFs. Other that the fake documentary aspect this isn’t much like The Office at all. Leslie isn’t anywhere near the buffoon Michael Scott is. She’s far more likable too.
We’ve enjoyed it. The first episode we watched was the stakeout/hernia one (IIRC). Ron sitting so stiffly all day - the actor did an awesome job. I also liked when Tom said, of changing his name, “Swarthy men with Muslim-y sounding names don’t get anywhere in politics.”
I also love Louis C.K. and his character. He may be a bit ignorant, but he’s sweet and likeable - I liked how they made Leslie’s view of him turn around: “Excuse me buddy, coming through.”
