PARKS & RECREATION Season Finale: Rock Show - Give Me My Remote : Give Me My Remote

PARKS & RECREATION Season Finale: Rock Show

May 15, 2009 by  

After a pilot episode that earned justifiably mixed reviews, I have been riding a wave of enthusiasm for Parks & Recreation. Limited to only six chapters in its mini-season, I was impressed with the creative team’s focus on shaping meaningful storylines for each of its main characters and establishing a consistent comedic tone within the halls of city government. With Amy Poehler as our tour guide, viewers were becoming familiar with the local flavor of Pawnee, Indiana and the inefficient cast of characters who are entrusted with its care.

With so much momentum to build on, I was disappointed by a P&R finale that forgot the funny and indulged in melodrama. From a hasty twist in the “raggedy” Ann and Andy romance to a disastrous scene at the Pit between Leslie and Mark, the Pawnee crew felt more like a soap opera than a sitcom, and curbed my enthusiasm for its place on NBC’s fall lineup. Greg Daniels and Michael Schur are more than capable of plotting a season filled with moments that made episodes 2-5 so enjoyable, but the finale did raise some red flags about the pitfalls they need to avoid.

Chris Pratt has been a hilarious guest star in P&R’s initial run, and a worthy addition to the cast moving forward. Though his onscreen dynamic with Rashida Jones has never been magical, I was under the impression that the Ann/Andy breakup would be a slow process. During the “Boys’ Club” episode, Andy invested a lot of time and energy to clean both their house and himself. At the time, I assumed the writers wanted us to recognize Andy’s genuine feelings, and to ignore his various shortcomings. Following Andy’s confession that he delayed the removal of his casts, this love story is over. Despite a temporary victory for the aspiring rock star, reclaiming the couch while Ann tended to a fallen friend in the Pit, I am concerned that Andy might not be a permanent resident of Pawnee in Season Two.

Leslie Knope was dealt a double shot of romantic disaster, beginning with a senior citizen and ending with the man of her pipe dreams. Just one week after appearing downright chummy with her Mom in “The Banquet,” Leslie was back to the role of dutiful daughter as her mother arranged a blind date with a spritely 62 year old named George. As Leslie realized that her dinner companion was not there to discuss city planning, Amy Poehler had a number of fun moments to interact with the documentary camera. The rest of the night was a disaster, as our favorite Deputy Director found herself closing the bar with Mark Brendanawicz. After getting a peek at Mark running back to the banquet hall, presumably to find Ann, it was sad to watch Leslie get drawn into his force field. Even when Leslie mustered the self-awareness to refuse Mark’s advances, leading to his treacherous fall into the Pit, I was disappointed that the eternal optimist was being manipulated by another person in her inner circle.

Here is my plea to Greg and Mike. If this show is going to work, Leslie Knope needs someone who will always be on her side. Her mother is a narcissistic train wreck with limited patience for parental responsibilities. Ann is the best friend who is headed for a relationship with Mark. Ron Swanson is a hilarious caricature, but he lacks any appreciation for Leslie’s approach to public service. Tom Haverford is a consummate flirt and enthusiastic networker who does not share any of Ms. Knope’s core values. My suggestion? Cast a male friend for Leslie, perhaps in the area of construction (since we ARE building a park) that will adore and appreciate her quirks. All those in favor of a hot new foreman to chase after Leslie, raise your hand!

Moving into the fall season, Parks and Recreation is well-positioned to be a worthy neighbor to the rest of NBC’s Thursday comedy lineup. Ron and Tom can be counted on for uproarious laughs and Twitter-ready catchphrases. April the Intern will have many chances to show how uninterested she is in her job. Most significantly, there are at least seven more politically incorrect murals to be unveiled to the audience!

Where this show needs to tread lightly, and where the finale fell short, is making Leslie Knope a punching bag in the tradition of Michael Scott. I do not believe that viewers want to watch a professional woman be derided and embarrassed on a weekly basis. The middle episodes of this mini-season were enjoyable because Leslie was not the punchline to every joke. If Season Two is simply an exercise in betrayal, jealousy, and disappointment, we won’t have much more time to visit Pawnee, Indiana. If, however, Leslie Knope triumphs in her quest to fill the Pit and meets a few interesting people on the way, I will continue to champion this show and its remarkable cast.

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about P&R, and let me know if you can figure out Ron Swanson’s nickname for Leslie’s Mom!

Will you be returning to P&R for a second season? If you are planning to come back to the show, what factors influenced your decision? Did the creative team do enough to separate P&R from its cousins in Scranton? Is Amy Poehler clicking for you as a sitcom star? What were your favorite moments from the finale? Can anyone think of the right name for Andy’s band? I’m eager to read your comments!

How does Erik combat writer’s block? He indulges in Adam Carolla’s new daily podcast at carollaradio.com and reads Bill Simmons’ columns on ESPN.com. Along with covering Parks & Recreation and House for GMMR, Erik is attempting to navigate the addictive world of Twitter (@FreelanceErik).

Comments

5 Responses to “PARKS & RECREATION Season Finale: Rock Show”

  1. CFO (not myinitials) on May 15th, 2009 7:21 pm

    Thanks for the recap! I TOTALLY agree with you about what is needed for Season 2.
    Can I just add that Amy Poehler looked so beautiful on her inadvertent “date”!
    Wow! She deserves a hot construction worker to woo her.

  2. Ryan on May 16th, 2009 12:40 am

    This was my favorite episode of the season and, as i commented in the office finale post, was the first time i felt p&r out shined its older brother the office.

    Even though it was lacking face time for my favorite character, Ron Swanson, i felt it struck a good balance of funny and drama that the office often strikes. Keep in mind this is supposed to be a documentary. For there to be just funny and drama would be a little out there. Everyone’s life has its heavy noncomical moments.

    I’m also fine with the Mark and Leslie slow dance to an eventual relationship. Mark, due to his age, is in the midst of the transition from meaningless bar chick one night stands to a meaningful relationship(s). Leslie obviously has a huge crush on Mark and despite her Michael Scott like childishness has the redeeming qualities of being pretty attractive and a good heart. The two being a match seems only natural.

    Looking forward to season 2.

  3. Erik on May 18th, 2009 12:57 am

    CFO: Thanks for your feedback. P&R was in little danger of being left off the fall schedule, so I am guessing that Greg & Mike saw this mini-season as the first chapter in Leslie’s quest to build the park. Though I was not a huge fan of the finale itself, I trust the creative folks to hit the right beats in Season Two.

    I agree with your feedback about Amy Poehler’s appearance in this episode. With so many quirky SNL appearances in our memory banks, I do think that Poehler’s beauty is underrated. She was absolutely radiant in her blind date/business meeting ensemble. As a result, I found it difficult to believe that Mrs. Knope would go so far as to set her lovely daughter up with a 62 year old man. I understood the comedic motivations to show Leslie with such an absurdly mismatched date. On the other hand, I question whether a male sitcom star (can you say Kevin James or Jim Belushi) would ever be placed in such an absurd pairing. There’s a lesson in sexism there, but I can’t put my finger on how to explain it.

  4. Erik on May 18th, 2009 1:02 am

    Ryan: Your observations about presenting a balance of comedy and drama are astute. P&R has enough absurd aspects to display a little heart each week. My inclination is that we are headed for a Leslie/Mark/Ann love triangle, where Leslie is going to left out in the cold. The danger in writing that story, if in fact that is the plan, is that it perpetuates the stereotype that women exist to compete for men. If you are selling a sitcom based around a distinguished female star, I think the old assumptions need to be set aside.

    If Leslie & Ann find their friendship strained by petty jealousy, all while competing for a flawed male antagonist, I think the show will suffer, particularly among educated female viewers. I am hopeful that Leslie will be given a meaningful male counterpart that parallels the Ann/Mark dynamic. Otherwise, we’re just watching a high school drama play out over 22 episodes.

  5. Chris29 on June 6th, 2009 10:57 pm

    I’d really like to see Ron as this person to be besides Leslie all the time. Their differences make any interaction between them pretty damn hilarious, and my favorite moment of the whole season was Ron defending Leslie on the fourth episode, because not only shows that he is not a total asshole, but also that he cares a little bit for her even though she is everything he does not want into his workteam. Also, Ron is hilarious and firm in everything he does, something that can’t be said about Mark. Who’s a jerk. I liked all the characters but Mark just doesn’t work for me.