John McCain: Has anyone ever told you your tenacity can be a bit intimidating.
Leslie Knope: Yes, every day of my life since the 4th grade.
***
Ben: I’m Ben Wyatt and I’m running for Congress.
Leslie: That was so hot.
***
–Parks and Recreation
OVERALL: A few years ago my Hubby said “We have to watch this new show about city government. It’s called Parks and Recreation. Let’s TiVo it.” So we did. We watched it. At one point we both laughed so hard we had to stop the show so we could make ourselves breathe again. Been true for every episode ever since.
Note: A colleague of mine says that two things calm down her crying baby daughter: 1.) The Seattle Seahawks; and 2.) The Parks and Recreation Theme. So there.
POINTS: You will laugh until you cry. Even the theme song is funny. What more do you need to know?
PITFALLS: Sometimes the characters get in very painful situations. By that I mean I get so embarrassed for them I want to crawl in a hole and die.
FEMALE CHARACTER(S): Leslie Knope played by Amy Poehler. Need we say more? Nope. 🙂 Plus there is April Ludgate, Donna Meagle, Ann Perkins, and Lucy to name just a few. Goodness but they have personality. Plus many many more great characters along the way. Oh and men are GREAT too!!!
CULTURAL PITFALL(S): Hey, if there is a cultural pitfall to be commented upon this show does it. No pitfalls here. Just the Pit.
HIGH POINT(S):
1.) Amy Poehler. Oh what a woman. She carries this show and makes it great! Yes it is an ensemble piece but without Ms. Leslie Knope so perfectly played by Amy Poehler, well it just wouldn’t be the same. This woman makes me want to eat waffles.
2.) The Women. April Ludgate, Donna Meagle, and Ann Perkins – Aubrey Plaza, Retta, and Rashida Jones respectively. Oh it is so good that this show can always pass the Bechdel Test because Leslie has many women friends and colleagues who bring their own quirky sense of awesome and fun to this show. Let us also salute Tammy Two (Megan Mullally), Lucy (Natalie Morales), and Diane Lewis (Lucy Lawless!) for adding to the show. And there are MORE! Huzzah to them all!
3.) The Men. Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott), Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt), Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), Jerry Gergich (Jim O’Heir), Kyle (Andy Forrest), and Chris Treager (Rob Lowe). Well done gentlemen, well done. You all work perfectly in this ensemble piece playing wonderful and quirky characters. Huzzah to you as well!!
4.) The Producers. Well done. You made a show where the characters are good to each other and sexism and racism are well, things to laugh at. The show perfectly captures some Indiana sensibility. Love it. Well done.
5.) Bloomington, Indiana. I love it when Bloomington is mentioned in the show. Bloomingtonians are considered “snobs.” LOL! My hometown and home is Bloomington, Indiana. I love my town and I LOVE it when I hear this jab. It is a perfect stereotypical jab. 😉
BECHDEL TEST (Website): 3 of 3 – pretty much every episode. Hooray!!!
RACIAL BECHDEL TEST (Website): 3 of 3 – pretty much every episode. YAY!!!
IMDB: Parks and Recreation (TV Series 2009-)
OFFICIAL MOVIE WEBSITE: Parks and Recreation | NBC
DVD/BLU-RAY WORTHY: Yes. yes a thousand times yes!! Thank goodness for DVDs.
LION PAW PRINTS: 4 of 5. I am gonna miss this show in the saddest fashion when it is gone.
TRAILER & MOMENTS:
MUSIC VIDEOS:
Mouse Rat – The Pit – My Bands New Single
5000 Candles in the Wind – MouseRat ***FULL SONG***
Chick Flicking Reviews 