Series synopsis
Parks and Recreation is an American comedy television series that premiered on NBC on April 9, 2009. It ended on February 24, 2015. It was created by Michael Schur, Greg Daniels. It stars Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari and Paul Schneider.
In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career — Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, takes on bureaucrats, cranky neighbors, and single-issue fanatics whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the democratic process she loves so much.
Premise
In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career — Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, takes on bureaucrats, cranky neighbors, and single-issue fanatics whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the democratic process she loves so much.
Premise: Because parks don't grow on trees.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope
- Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins
- Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford
- Paul Schneider as Mark Brendanawicz
- Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson
- Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate
- Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer
- Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt
Supporting cast
- Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger
- Jim O'Heir as Jerry Gergich
- Retta as Donna Meagle
- Lucy Lawless as Diane Lewis
Guest cast
- Patricia Clarkson as Tammy One
- Michael Gross as Michael
- Bonita Friedericy as Maria
- Jessica St. Clair as Debbie
- Parker Posey as Lindsay Carlisle Shay
- Pat Crawford Brown as Andy's Grandma
- Ian Roberts as Ian Winston
- Will Forte as Kelly
- Lyle Kanouse as Joe Campopiano
- Dakin Matthews as David
- Will Arnett as Chris
- John Larroquette as Frank
Episodes
This series spans 8 seasons with 133 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 11 | November 4, 2011 | March 21, 2019 |
| Season 1 | 6 | April 9, 2009 | May 14, 2009 |
| Season 2 | 24 | September 17, 2009 | May 20, 2010 |
| Season 3 | 16 | January 20, 2011 | May 19, 2011 |
| Season 4 | 22 | September 22, 2011 | May 10, 2012 |
| Season 5 | 22 | September 20, 2012 | May 2, 2013 |
| Season 6 | 20 | September 26, 2013 | April 24, 2014 |
| Season 7 | 12 | January 13, 2015 | February 24, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
April & Andy's Road Trip: Spider See April's intense—and hilarious—bout of arachnophobia. |
November 4, 2011 |
| 2 |
April & Andy's Road Trip: Four Corners Watch Andy show April the magical point where four states connect. |
November 4, 2011 |
| 3 |
April & Andy's Road Trip: Calling Leslie Hear Leslie's hilarious travel tips for April and Andy. |
November 4, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pilot Indiana government worker Leslie Knope is given the assignment to convert an abandoned quarry pit into a community park. A documentary film crew follows Leslie through her mishaps and gaffes as she tries to make her assignment a reality. |
April 9, 2009 |
| 2 |
Canvassing Leslie decides that she and her committee need to go door-to-door to gain support for the park project as well as support for an upcoming town hall meeting, but their mission does not go as planned. Meanwhile, Tom wanders away from the canvassing group and uses his own creative recruitment tactics. |
April 16, 2009 |
| 3 |
The Reporter Leslie arranges for a reporter to do a story about her park project, but she and her committee have the worst time staying on topic. She then calls Mark to help her save the story, but it ends up hurting more than helping. Meanwhile, Tom does all he can to suck up to his boss. |
April 23, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pawnee Zoo When Leslie decides to marry two penguins to promote the local zoo, she inadvertently causes an uproar when both penguins turn out to be male. Meanwhile, Mark puts Ann in an awkward situation when he asks her to go see a movie. |
September 17, 2009 |
| 2 |
The Stakeout While tending to the new community garden, Leslie and Tom discover someone has planted marijuana among the vegetables. In an effort to catch the people responsible, they pull an all-night stakeout. With Leslie's permission, Ann decides to go on a date with Mark. |
September 24, 2009 |
| 3 |
Beauty Pageant Leslie gets to judge a beauty contest, but ends up having conflicting opinions on "the ideal woman" with the other judges. While on a date with Mark, Ann learns Andy has been living in the pit. |
October 1, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Go Big or Go Home Leslie and the Parks Department return to work after three months to discover that the budget crisis still looms. After unsuccessfully trying to have their budget restored by using Ann to charm Chris with a date, Leslie decides to make an all or nothing play by resurrecting the Pawnee Harvest Festival. Meanwhile, Ben restarts the youth basketball league and instates Ron and Andy to coach the only two teams. April returns from a vacation with a new boyfriend. |
January 20, 2011 |
| 2 |
Flu Season While planning for the local Harvest Festival, Leslie is struck with the flu and is forced to go to the hospital. Ron and Andy have a day of male bonding, and Tom hits the spa. |
January 27, 2011 |
| 3 |
Time Capsule Leslie wants to bury a time capsule that encapsulates life in Pawnee, but an odd suggestion from a local man causes unforeseen consequences. Andy seeks help from Chris about how to win back April. |
February 3, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
I'm Leslie Knope Leslie is torn between Ben and her dreams of running for public office, while Ron braces himself for the arrival of his first wife, the original Tammy. |
September 22, 2011 |
| 2 |
Ron and Tammys Ron's first ex-wife, Tammy One, reenters his life and tries to control his every move. Meanwhile, Ben helps Tom balance the books at his new company, and Ann makes a PSA, with help from Chris. |
September 29, 2011 |
| 3 |
Born and Raised Leslie's book about Pawnee comes out just in time for her campaign. Ann tries to bond with Ron and April. |
October 6, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ms. Knope Goes to Washington Leslie and Andy visit Ben and April at their new jobs in Washington D.C., and Leslie feels overwhelmed by the city -- especially after meeting two of her idols. Meanwhile, Ron throws a "thank you" barbeque for the entire Parks and Recreation staff. |
September 20, 2012 |
| 2 |
Soda Tax Leslie decides to wage war on obesity in Pawnee in her first mission as city councilor by passing a city-wide soda tax. Meanwhile, Andy tries to get in shape for his police-entrance exam, and Ben struggles to connect with the interns in his office. |
September 27, 2012 |
| 3 |
How a Bill Becomes a Law Leslie helps a local swim team get more practice time by working on a new law that extends the hours at the community pool; Ron finds himself filling a pothole for a local woman (Lucy Lawless) as part of Chris' new plan to solve citizens' problems around the city; April and Ben take a road trip to Pawnee. |
October 4, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
London Leslie wins an award from an international Women in Government organization, and travels to London with Ben, Andy, April and Ron to accept it. |
September 26, 2013 |
| 2 |
The Pawnee-Eagleton Tip-Off Classic Ben, Leslie and Chris meet with Eagleton city councilor Ingrid de Forest to discuss financial matters; Ann brings April to vet school orientation; Ron tries to get off the grid. |
October 3, 2013 |
| 3 |
Doppelgängers Leslie pairs up the Pawnee Parks employees with their Eagleton counterparts. Meanwhile Ben and Chris reunite for an accounting project, and Ann reveals her plans for the future. |
October 10, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
2017 Leslie launches a competition with tech company Gryzzl for a large parcel of land, which she wants to turn into a National Park. April and Andy try to regain their spontaneity. Ben is recognized at a Bicentennial gala, where Tom delivers a speech in his honor. |
January 13, 2015 |
| 2 |
Ron and Jammy Leslie and Ron briefly put aside their feud to help old foe Jeremy Jamm escape the clutches of the diabolical Tammy 2. Ben vows to help April discover her true passion in life, while Andy and Tom travel to Chicago. |
January 13, 2015 |
| 3 |
William Henry Harrison Leslie's team tries to strengthen her case that the Newport land should be turned into a National Park. Ron's team, fighting back, brings on a celebrity as a minority owner. |
January 20, 2015 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NBC |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 9, 2009 |
| Last aired | February 24, 2015 |
| Runtime | 22 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Tuesday at 20:00:00 |