The TV Chick

I have been waiting for the return of Parks and Recreation for quite some time. While the first six-episode season might not have been the best, in the second season, the show really found its voice. Parks & Rec can go toe to toe with any great comedy on TV right now. So when NBC made the decision to delay the 3rd season premiere, I was a bit shocked. The ratings were not amazing, but it had ended on such a high note. Whatever the case may be, Parks & Rec is back for a 16 episode third season and I am ridiculously excited about it. “Go Big or Go Home” starts with the Parks Department of Pawnee still shut down from the budget crisis. This doesn’t stop Leslie Knope (played by the hilarious Amy Poehler) however, from planning a high-cost, risky Harvest Festival. But good news! Knope appropriately declares “We’re back!” and the cast of characters leave whatever they are hilariously doing while unemployed to return to the Parks Department.

“Go Big or Go Home” focuses on the Harvest Festival, but it’s just so good to have the show back. When Rob Lowe first appeared on Parks & Rec, I wasn’t a huge fan of his character Chris, an auditor. He seemed like a bit of a nut (which he is) and his interest in Ann (played by the lovely Rashida Jones) was sort of odd. Perhaps I didn’t like him because you aren’t supposed to like auditors, who knows? But I have to say in this third season, his character has done a complete 180 in my mind. Rob Lowe is a stellar addition to the cast, and his portrayal of Chris is both funny and charming. I don’t think this third season (of which I have seen the first six episodes) would be as fantastic without him. I also have enjoyed Adam Scott (who plays Ben, another auditor) since his Party Down days, and he is another great full time addition to the cast. The premiere picks up with the will-they-won’t-they relationship of April and Andy, Ron F’ing Swanson being his awesome self, and Jerry, well, being Jerry. There’s also perhaps a budding relationship between Ben and Leslie, but it’s going to take a while to develop.

I can say with full confidence that the 3rd season of Parks & Rec is going to be great. The 2nd episode, titled “Flu Season” is probably one of my favorites of the entire series. So I have high hopes that this season will do better in the ratings and prove itself as one of the comedy strongholds for NBC. It has a great ensemble cast, many incredibly funny running bits and it’s come to be one of those shows where I’ve started to really care about the characters. And that for me, is what will keep me watching week after week.

Check out a sneak peek at season 3:

And be sure to tune in tonight at 9:30 pm to NBC for the 3rd season premiere of Parks and Recreation!