If you’re a fan of mockumentary style sitcoms (like me) then you really need to be watching Parks & Recreation.
I love watching re-runs of The Office, Extras and Curb Your Enthusiasm but Parks & Recreation may have just stolen top spot for now.
The US NBC comedy series has been on screens since 2009 and is now in its 7th season. However, the show has only recently become more popular in the UK. BBC Four is currently running through the seasons by showing two episodes each week and they can also be watched on iplayer. At around 20 minutes an episode the catching up is easy enough to do if you’re missing out – and believe me you are!
To give a brief outline of the basics – the show is a mockumentary about public officials striving to make their Indiana town a better place. Each episode typically.revolves around the main character Leslie Knope, described as “a perky, mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana.” The series hysterically follows Leslie’s efforts to be the next Hilary Clinton, the ups and downs of Leslie and her team’s decisions and the various love interests of different characters working in the Parks & Recreation department.
The series is produced by the same creators of the US Office and features a strong cast and some notable guest stars. Amy Poehler (Leslie) and Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson) are perhaps the most quoted characters from the show but each cast member is a strong contender for the funniest performances and best one-liners.
Parks & Recreation works well because it doesn’t try too hard like other TV series of the same genre do. The characters are easy to relate to. This means as a viewer you’re either willing them to fail – so can you laugh for longer, or rooting for them to get what they want – because you like them so much!
Having just watched the 3rd season I can say that this is one of those series you have to persevere and have patience with but once you do I guarantee you’ll enjoy it and never want it to end!
curlywrites 