PARKS AND RECREATION: Kaboom

I bought a car last week.  After my previous vehicle was stolen in the dead of night, I thought it wise to find something safe, sound, and affordable.  The best deal I found was on a used luxury sedan, priced far more reasonably than the tanks driven by my neighbors.  I am not a “car guy” by nature.  I could not tell you the difference between 4WD, AWD, and WD-40.  Though I began my search looking for a simple car to get from point A to point B, I am having great fun with the extra bells and whistles paid for by the original owner.

When Parks & Recreation premiered last year, Amy Poehler was enough “car” to get me to test drive the show.  Little did I know that the supporting cast would turn out to be the sitcom version of heated seats, keyless entry, and a Bose sound system!  This week’s episode featured the P&R crew in their full sports package.

Leslie Knope has become more endearing each week of Season Two, and I attribute the fuller character realization to Amy Poehler’s gift for dancing with different comedic partners.  Need to see Leslie struggle to figure out how to manage people effectively?  Plug in Aziz Ansari, whose playful demeanor with Poehler makes him the ideal example of a perplexing, yet impossibly likable, subordinate.  Want some girl talk from your female lead?  Call on Rashida Jones, who is never funnier than when Ann & Leslie are dealing with the ills of their personal lives.  Care for a little temper tantrum from your Deputy Director?  Schedule a meeting with Nick Offerman, because…..well, because he’s “Ron F’N Swanson,” that’s why!

Special recognition must be given to this week’s cold open.  The interplay between Leslie and her credit card company was vintage SNL Amy Poehler, aimlessly spinning her wheels to explain the array of “unique” purchases.  Is there anything cuter than a career woman who is obsessed with Gossip Girl?  Until Leslie confesses to watching Tool Academy on VH1, I think not!  Not to be outdone, Aziz Ansari has mastered a facial expression that mixes genuine surprise with childlike joy.  Any suggestions on a name for this trademarked look?  Tom welcomed the news of Leslie’s Harry Potter club membership as if he had just become a father for the first time.  Magical stuff!

If you know anyone who thinks of P&R as a hokey ripoff of The Office, make them watch the Pawnee folks’ version of a conference room scene.  From the unsolicited attacks on Jerry’s self-esteem (“Let’s all pretend Jerry wasn’t born”) to Tom’s creative euphemism for condoms, I laughed more during the “How to Kaboom the Pit” meeting than I have in ages at Michael Scott.  That’s tough for me to type, because The Office has been my favorite show for years.  This season, the student has become the teacher.

Can we talk about Chris Pratt for a minute?  In the hands of a less talented performer, Andy could easily have been a one season wonder.  Rather than settle for being the lazy boyfriend, content to get by with humorous names for his failing band, Pratt has elevated Andy as a legitimate contributor to P&R’s brilliant ensemble.  Despite playing the fool in many scenes, Chris Pratt brings great heart to his role. As Ann ripped Andy apart in their hospital exchange, I felt genuine sympathy watching a guy have the love of his life dismiss him. Pratt’s fearlessness allows him to show up naked at Ann’s front door and bring himself to the verge of tears in the same episode.  Anna Faris’ other half deserves heaps of praise for simultaneously playing the fool and winning over the audience.

I was going to talk about Ron Swanson’s role in this episode, but I have decided against it.  The eruption of laughter in my living room as he exclaimed, “What the Ka***k were you thinking?” must have echoed across the Rocky Mountains.  There are no words…

Woven into a hilarious episode was a turning point for P&R.  Though it came at the expense of Andy’s safety, the Pit has been returned to its rightful state as a nondescript plot of land.  Symbolically, the writing staff must be thrilled to turn the page on an original idea that never quite took.  After last week’s tease of a Chavez-funded bailout, the core storyline of P&R’s first season has been laid to rest.  In the episodes ahead, I am eagerly awaiting Knope & Co to focus on the quirky personal lives of Pawnee’s public servants.

The fun part of this is hearing your point of view, so let’s Kaboom the comments section!

Who is your favorite character this season? Are you rooting for Ann & Andy to reunite?  Did any of this week’s scenes fall flat to you?  Will Leslie ever find someone to give her that “satisfying” feeling?  What’s next for the former “Pit” site?  I cannot wait to read your thoughts and opinions!

Aside from writing about House and Parks & Recreation, Erik has become addicted to Top Chef, The Next Iron Chef, and most other shows with the word “Chef” in the title. Please forward any recipes for Chef Boyardee to his Twitter handle (@FreelanceErik).