A Definitive Ranking Of The Best ‘Parks And Recreation’ Running Gags
Parks and Recreation is one of the greatest sitcoms in modern comedy. There I said it.
Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, this Amy Poehler-backed project ran for seven seasons, with the quality of humour getting better and better as the seasons went on. Now that the TV series has just appeared on Netflix, I am genuinely struggling to watch anything else. So, to celebrate this, I thought I’d rank all the best running gags that appeared in the series.
Let’s Break Down Parks and Recreation’s Best Running Gags:
7. Ben Wyatt’s Accounting Job
When Ben is introduced to the Parks and Recreation cast in season 2 (then properly in season 3), he isn’t immediately liked. His much peppier colleague takes the spotlight and it’s only over time that we fell in love with Ben.
Ultimately, Ben is a gigantic nerd (I mean, c’mon, the guy made his own board game). And while the Parks and Rec team often make fun of him for his nerdiness, it’s celebrated at the Tilton & Radomski accounting firm. In fact, the people over at Tilton & Radomski think Ben Wyatt is the bee’s knees. It’s truly hilarious to watch, especially when the cast bears witness to their over-the-top affection.
6. The Pawnee City Hall Murals
When I first watched the show, I remember it made for such a strange visual and yet, it also made for so many plot points.
For some reason, the town that Leslie and her team work so hard to defend has a horrible, dark past that they – for some reason – put so proudly on display. It’s very awkward but very funny. Also, as a new mural is introduced to the audience, it’s somehow a lot worse than the previous one.
5. Pawnee vs Eagleton
Who doesn’t love a good rivalry? According to Leslie Knope, Eagleton is “the land of rich, snobby jerks” and it’s also the place where Voldemort was born. Safe to say, the rivalry between the humble, kind citizens of Pawnee versus the rich, snobby citizens of Eagleton makes for consistently entertaining content. Especially, when Kristen Bell is brought on to guest star.
4. Leslie’s Hatred Of Libraries
Leslie has plenty of running gags – I mean, how could she not? It’s essentially her show.
And while I could have slotted her love for JJ’s Diner waffles or her ability to have infinite nice nicknames for Anne here, I’ve gone with her hatred of libraries. Why? I think it’s so ridiculous that the show almost pits libraries and parks against each other. It’s so funny. But, I must say, the funniest moment to come out of this motif is in the show’s literal finale, when Leslie has a library named after her and she absolutely hates it.
3. All Of Jerry’s Names
Poor Jerry. While we know Mr. Gergich as Jerry for most of the show, his real name is actually Garry. We don’t actually find this out until Season 4, and his friends in the show don’t actually call him that until the show’s final episode. Instead, he is called a myriad of names, including Terry, Larry, Lenny, and Barry. Poor Jerry. I mean, Garry.
2. Treat Yo Self!
Perhaps the biggest legacy to actually come out of the show is the phrase that green-lights any guilty-pleasure purchase, “Treat Yo’ Self!’ The phrase was coined by Donna and Tom in Season 4, Episode 4, and it pops up throughout the rest of the series. It’s iconic, we love it and we love seeing Donna and Tom have fun together.
1. Lil Sebastian
Don’t you dare call Lil Sebastian a pony.
Lil Sebastian is a miniature horse and he’s loved by every single person in Pawnee. Except for Ben, but we don’t have to get into that.
Lil Sebastian is the reason why we have some of the best moments in the show. There’s the time Ron Swanson giggles upon just meeting him, the beautiful “Bye Bye Lil Sebastian’ song and how could we forget, the time the Parks and Rec team lose him on “cursed” land. For all these moments and more, he is our number one motif.
Speaking of Parks and Recreation, make sure you check out Leslie Knope’s powerful letter to America re: Trump.