Parks and Recreation is special to Parks and Rec’ers(?) since its debut in 2009. It was co-created by Greg Daniels whom also worked on The Office and Michael Shur who went on to create The Good Place. There is something unique about the Parks and Recreation Department in Pawnee, Indiana. It was the cast more than almost any show that was made up of different personalities all endearing. There was a Paley Center special on the show before the special. The lead is the optimistic Leslie Knope played by Amy Poehler.
So it seemed there was finality with the two part, “One Last Ride” in 2015. It seems like we can’t walk away from Pawnee even with re-runs. We start with the awkward opening with Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd) giving a message to everyone about Feeding America, but he’s a little clueless. Bobby is the spoiled heir from season 4. We get the opening April 2020 with Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) speaking with his wife, Leslie (Poehler). Ben is thinking about a claymation Cones of Dunshire movie! This is the complex, fantasy board game Ben created in season 6. She is starting a phone tree with the running joke that no one wants to call Gary.
So it seemed there was finality with the two part, “One Last Ride” in 2015. It seems like we can’t walk away from Pawnee even with re-runs. We start with the awkward opening with Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd) giving a message to everyone about Feeding America, but he’s a little clueless. Bobby is the spoiled heir from season 4. We get the opening April 2020 with Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) speaking with his wife, Leslie (Poehler). Ben is thinking about a claymation Cones of Dunshire movie! This is the complex, fantasy board game Ben created in season 6. She is starting a phone tree with the running joke that no one wants to call Gary.
Leslie then switches over to Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) who is in his cabin. He says he’s been practicing social distancing since he was 4 years old, very funny. Ron next has to contact “Satan’s Niece”, April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) and her husband Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) trapped in the closet. April is very fun being cynical and Andy is dopey. They get a call with Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) and his wife Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) who is working with patients. Chris was the City Manager of Pawnee and Ann is nurse so her advice this special is important. Leslie cuts into April and Andy’s stream to talk to Ann. She is of course is best friend to Ann.
Next, they contact Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) who is at some “beach” vacation? He still have some ideas and I hoped one of them would be the sub-plot of this special. Tom contacts Donna Meagle (Retta) who also brings up Tom’s “beach” background. She says every teacher deserves a Mercedes! Donna ends up contacting Jerry Gergich (Jim O’Heir) now mayor of Pawnee. He doesn’t know how to use apps and puts several filters on his face, LOL! Next we get the segment on Pawnee Today with At Home with Joan host Joan Callamezzo (Mo Collins) interviews Leslie and Ben, “Congressman.” She says she has friends, but they are dolls. Then, there is a commercial with Dennis Feinstein (Jason Mantzoukas) scamming everyone with the “Miracle Cure.”
Next, they contact Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) who is at some “beach” vacation? He still have some ideas and I hoped one of them would be the sub-plot of this special. Tom contacts Donna Meagle (Retta) who also brings up Tom’s “beach” background. She says every teacher deserves a Mercedes! Donna ends up contacting Jerry Gergich (Jim O’Heir) now mayor of Pawnee. He doesn’t know how to use apps and puts several filters on his face, LOL! Next we get the segment on Pawnee Today with At Home with Joan host Joan Callamezzo (Mo Collins) interviews Leslie and Ben, “Congressman.” She says she has friends, but they are dolls. Then, there is a commercial with Dennis Feinstein (Jason Mantzoukas) scamming everyone with the “Miracle Cure.”
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| Props from Parks and Recreation including Cones of Dunshire!, Universal Studios, 2015, photo by the author. |
Ya’ Heard? With Perd! has Perd Hapley (Jay Jackson), the television host who is parody of tv journalist. He introduces Rep. Ben Wyatt who brings up the claymation project. Then, we get a commercial of Dr. Jeremy Jamm (Jon Glaser), D.D.S., he was also part of the Pawnee City Council. He is talking about home dental delivery in his robe. A bright surprise is Jean-Ralphio (Ben Schwartz) talking about his car accidents. He is trying to promote calls to his phone number. We always need a little Jean-Ralphio. Back to the show is Johnny Karate (Pratt), children’s host, who notes that he will karate chop the virus, very funny.
Leslie contacts Ron again. He pans down to Tammy Two (Megan Mullally) who is tied up by his wife Diane. Ron calls April who plays drums. Then, we get a group call of everyone. Andy starts playing his song that was a tribute to the miniature horse heard in the third season episode “Lil’ Sebastian” (2011). Everyone sings Andy’s song, “5,000 Candles in the Wind”, a nice group and cast moment. says goodbyes until it is just Ron and Leslie. Tammy Two has escaped. The messages are not heavy and comedy is great, give them the Emmy already! The Parks and Recreation Special is a chance to check in on friends and know that everything is still going strong.
Leslie contacts Ron again. He pans down to Tammy Two (Megan Mullally) who is tied up by his wife Diane. Ron calls April who plays drums. Then, we get a group call of everyone. Andy starts playing his song that was a tribute to the miniature horse heard in the third season episode “Lil’ Sebastian” (2011). Everyone sings Andy’s song, “5,000 Candles in the Wind”, a nice group and cast moment. says goodbyes until it is just Ron and Leslie. Tammy Two has escaped. The messages are not heavy and comedy is great, give them the Emmy already! The Parks and Recreation Special is a chance to check in on friends and know that everything is still going strong.
Five Phone Trees out of Five!
#AParksandRecreationSpecial, #MichaelShur, #AmyPoehler, #AdamScott, #NickOfferman, #RashindaJones, #AubreyPlaza, #ChrisPratt, #AzizAnsari, #RobLowe, #Retta, #JimOHeir
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