Skip to main content

'Parks and Recreation' appreciation, dammit!

Now that Bollywood week has seemed to come to an end (thanks Al and AWM for being you which is beautiful) I have decided to post about my obsession of the moment. See:  Parks and Recreation.


The first few times I caught this show, I didn't get it. I was like "this is like the Office but in bumfuck no where Indiana." I was sort of bored. This was a while ago. 2009? 2010?


Flash forward to this year. I finally got around to watching a real episode; not just bits and pieces of one while I was out doing other things. And I was like HOLY SHIT THIS IS A VERY GOOD SHOW.


Why?

  • the writing is superb. Now I love 30 Rock very much as well and will be a lifelong Fey diehard fan, but the writing of this show has started to eclipse the other NBC shining beacon for me. You can tell in the beginning that the writing wasn't exactly on cue. But by midway second season, the writers were finally hitting their mark. I mean, nailing their mark. Like in a Seinfeld/Frasier/good Office times way.
  • the actors are all AMAZING. From over-cheerful Amy Poehler to over-energetic Rob Lowe to straight man Rashida Jones to awkward Adam Scott to scowling Aubrey Plaza ("what? okay.") to somewhat douchey in an an endearing way Azis Ansari and even Chris Pratt's lovable bro-ish buffoon and whoever the immortal man is who plays RON SWANSON....their timing is perfect. They capture their characters so well; I mean, these guys are all immensely talented. There is no weak link. Not even with guest stars.
  • the sincerity of the show! Too often shows get lost in being hip and ironic these days. Which is fine sometimes, but Parks and Recreation has a big heart and it doesn't hide it. Which is something I like. I know Fitzgerald said to wear your heart on your inside, but I do not adhere to that. There's a sense of camaraderie and endearing realness to the show that I think all great sitcoms have had, from Happy Days to Cheers to Entourage (was that a sitcom? whatevs.) These characters are people you want to see every week. I can't say that about most other shows on TV; as much as I love 30 Rock and Community.

You can watch it online on Hulu or at the NBC website.

Jean-Ralphio: I made my money the old fashioned way. Getting run over by a Lexus


watch it already!

Comments

  1. Brittany Kemp
    After the suggestion from You and Ursula, I have watched all of Parks and Recreation, and yes this is now my favorite Rob Lowe roll. I want to be him except eating red meat more often.

    PS: Season 1 was different, but I thought Paul Schneider was a lot more interesting than his season 2 role.

    ReplyDelete
  2. !!!!! YES. yes yes yes. Paul Schneider looks just like my friend's bf. it's eerie.

    ReplyDelete
  3. actually, I got really into that show. Sasha Grey mmmmm

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Give JR a Break

Recently, I've been reading some sites that have criticized James Roday, the lead actor on the USA show PSYCH for an apparent weight gain. But you know what? Who gives a flying fizzle stick if James Roday is slightly larger than he was 4 years ago. Apparently, it wasn't enough to scare away his current girlfriend/ co-star Maggie Lawson. (Who is one hell of a Catch!) And NO they are not engaged. That seems to be nothing more than a rumor, but there is a very high chance of it happening in the near future. Anyway, as long as PSYCH continues to entertain I don't mind about James Roday's waist. He, and Dule Hill, and Corbin Bernson too, can eat all the fried broccoli they want. The last episode of PSYCH wasn't so smashing, but I don't blame it on dietary issues. QATFYG: Are you keeping up with Psych? And who is hotter, James Roday or Maggie Lawson? (Trick Question but idk why) PS: If you have heard any more news on Roday and Lawson becoming Roday-Lawson, send it...

No Time to Fuck: The Goldfrapp Essay

Konnichiwa! This is Irina Cummings and I'm here to discuss one of the most brilliant, innovative, and creative artists in the entire history of mankind: Goldfrapp – or as I like to call them , GODfrapp – the fantastique, highly inspirational, and sometimes criminally overlooked electronic music duo from London consisting of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, whose godly music has certainly influenced the vast majority of today's synthpop ladies, including Lady Gaga, Little Boots, La Roux, Annie and Florence + the Machine (not electro but still worth your while). They're primarily known for their mind-blowing music (which have spanned pretty much every style of electronic music – and some non-electronic as well), their abstract, sexually ambiguous – at times forthright – lyrics which are often not gender- specific , and their elaborate shows, not to mention the amazing visual aesthetics of their work, conjuring images that masterly complement ...

An Open Letter to the Actress: Milena Govich

Dear Milena Govich, Hey, how are you? What is up? Well, I assume you might get 5-7 fan letters a week, but I hope the glitter on my envelope stood out to you. In all seriousness, I have not been the most loyal fan of your filmography, but in the opening credits of the 2006 show, “Conviction,” I got to see you in your underwear. Ever since then, I have been one of your most active online stalkers (not a crime in all states I think). In the next letter, I promise to include an underwear photo for you, so we'll be even. Milena, I remember even back to the days when you worked on one of those other 200 Dick Wolf projects you did...what was the name of that show? “Law and Order.” Yes, that was it. You made history as playing the first female lead detective on the “Law and Order” original franchise for your role as Detective Cassidy. However, I will have to note your performance was strongly tainted when Chevy Chase guest-starred and gave you the nickname, “Detective Sugar-Tits.” At leas...