Parks and Recreation: PR Fail

Oh, the hardships of being a former boy mayor. Ben’s checkered past came back to haunt him this week on Parks and Recreation, as he joined Leslie and Tom in a media blitz to promote the upcoming Harvest Festival. The problem was, no one was interested in the fat-coaster. All they wanted to do was grill and criticize Ben.

Adam Scott was great in this episode. Don’t get me wrong – he’s been great all along, managing to make a character that is technically the straight man funny. But this week was really special, as he stammered his way through media interviews and threw several fits. Ben had already been established as a social screw-up – remember last week when he wouldn’t shut up about stupid calzones that no one like? But this? This was on a whole new level.

The episode was filled with lots of classic Pawnee craziness, too, like a rollercoaster for obese people and the fact that the most popular radio personality in town goes by “The Douche”. In the end, though, Leslie saved him by clearing the air about Ben’s past on our favorite Pawnee TV show. (Where they kindly gave him the title “Ben Wyatt, Human Disaster”.) I’m getting really antsy for these guys to go out. After all, Leslie’s never had a really good romance, so I think it’s time.

Meanwhile, April was still punishing Andy for kissing Ann. She told Chris she’d move to Indianapolis to work for him (even though it sounds really boring) and then told Andy that if he did everything she hates for a month, she’d consider staying. Thank you, April! Now I have a new way to make people prove their love for me. Every Thursday night I realize more and more that April and I are almost the exact same person.

Ron helped Andy accomplish the tasks, like writing her grandmother grandfather a thank-you note and taking pictures for a photography class project, because he didn’t want to lose the best/worst assistant ever. But eventually he told April that she should make a decision and stop stringing Andy along. She decided to date him, and I’m pretty excited to see what will happen now that these guys are officially an item.

Ann finally told Chris that she really likes him and wants to talk about their future together, but nothing really came of it. I’m still dying to know how the writers will manage to keep Chris and Ben in Pawnee.

What did you think of “Media Blitz”? Now, check out these favorite quotes and moments:

  • “I’m going to type every word I know. Rectangle. America. Megaphone. Monday. Butthole.” – Ron, using his new annoying typewriter
  • “And I even called Oprah. Well, I tried to call Oprah. Couldn’t get her number. I’m putting it out there, like The Secret. And hopefully she’ll call me.” – Leslie
  • “Well, we should just slap a pair of Ray-Bans on a calculator, because that would be more charming.” – Tom
  • “We’re getting you a new suit – I’ve let this go on long enough.” – Tom, apparently taking Ben to Brooks Brothers Boys
  • “It’s art. Anything can mean anything.” – Ron
  • “Boom. Sadness. That’s the one.” – Ron
  • Everyone in Pawnee uses Alta Vista


The Office: Scarn’s Yarn

A DAMN FINE CAUSE