I am new to the P&R bandwagon, and truthfully have only watched about half of the aired episodes at this point, but I have become a huge fan. This show if funny. Like, really, really funny. I can not get enough of Rob Lowe's infectiously cheery Chris Traeger, who calls everyone by their full name and is so positive he commends April for showing "Great initiative!" when she responds to his call. Chris Pratt's Andy is dopey sweet, telling his girlfriend the truth "because of honesty is important", and you can't beat Nick Offerman's Ron Swanson, the mustachioed man's man, who loves America, meat, and himself. It's this great collection of characters that makes this show, and brings to life what could be boring plot lines in lesser hands. Plus, there are lots of great throwaway jokes, too, like drive time radio show "Crazy Ira and the Douche", the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness (Crying: Acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon), and the crazy racist City Hall murals.
It brings all of the humor of The Office or 30 Rock, but they learned to lay off some of the awkwardness that can make those shows hard to watch at times. (I still have nightmares about the "Scott's Tots" episode of The Office. I cringed just typing that sentence.) Case in point: a few weeks ago, the devoted Leslie Knopes (the awesome Amy Poehler) came down with the flu right before a big pitch meeting. It's genuinely hilarious when she breaks out of the hospital, high on meds, and manages to make her way to the meeting despite all attempts from her friends and co-workers. She's a complete mess as she stands up to the podium, and that's when you cringe, waiting for her inevitable and spectacular downfall. But it never comes. She does a great job, gets her sponsorships, and you as a viewer, are just so happy for her. They've taken the awkwardness we've come to expect from mockumentary shows and used it to make us more emotionally invested in the character's success.
That great sense of heart pervades the show as a whole. It was funny when SNL-alum Will Forte guest starred as a Twilight fan who chains himself up in Leslie's office in order to get her to put the book in the town's time capsule, but it's a lot more interesting when we find out he's doing it to impress his estranged 12-year-old daughter. Like big-city consultant Ben says, "These people are weirdos, but they're weirdos who care."
You'll care too.
And because it's hilarious, here's a very NSFW promo featuring an expletive laden rant from Rob Lowe.
OK. we tried first couple of shows. had its moments but seemed they were pressing. trying to be funny but not quite. maybe its aging well. seinfeld did that. we'll try it again.
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