Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America

Pop culture historian Armstrong (Seinfeldia) delivers a heartfelt analysis of the creation and legacy of Parks and Recreation, the mockumentary-style sitcom about local government workers in the fictional town of Pawnee, Ind., that aired on NBC from 2009 to 2015. With its optimism, celebration of friendship, and belief that good people working together can make the world a better place, the show became “a symbol of a better America,” Armstrong argues. Drawing on interviews with the cast, writers, and real-life government officials, she chronicles how the series grew out of Obama-era optimism, with its main character Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, attempting to make residents’ lives better one incremental step at a time. Armstrong highlights endearing on-screen relationships, like the friendship between Leslie and local nurse Ann Perkins and the love story between deadpan Parks Department intern April Ludgate and goofball musician Andy Dwyer, and discusses how the series invented phrases like “Treat yo’ self” and the female friendship–based holiday Galentine’s Day. Though the show struggled with ratings, it later became a streaming hit during the pandemic, offering an idealistic view of politics in a polarizing time, Armstrong explains. Deeply researched and pleasantly nostalgic, this is a treat for fans. (Apr.)