The TV Chick

As Fall TV slowly starts to trickle back, one show I am beyond thrilled to see return is Parks and Recreation. I will admit I was having a fairly awful day when I put in the screener for the season 5 premiere and Leslie Knope’s infectious happiness rubbed off on me. Things are a little different this season with Ben (and April, working as his assistant) away in Washington DC. Leslie and Andy take a trip to DC to visit their significant others and leave Ron in charge of a big annual barbecue in Pawnee. Seeing Leslie in her true element was magical. Her level of excitement over a candlestick in the Smithsonian is both hilarious and touching at the same time. Seeing Andy’s lack of historical knowledge is just plain hilarious.

However, long distance is hard and Leslie finds herself jealous of all the “tall” Washington DC women. April and Andy however seem to be having less trouble with the distance thing. Perhaps they make out on a museum floor. You need to wait and see! Also, the premiere is full of some fantastic political cameos. John McCain was hilarious. And seeing Leslie meet Olympia Snowe and Barbara Boxer (#4 and #24 on Leslie’s list of inspiring women) made me tear up with pure joy.

Fans of the show will be relieved that there are also some fantastic Ron Swanson moments. Let’s just say his BBQ-ing ideas are a little on the ridiculous side. There’s a pig named Tom. I won’t say more. We also get to find out the results of Tom and Ann moving in together.

It will be interesting to see where this season goes with characters in different places and Ron “leading” the department. Parks and Rec is the kind of show that can make me laugh and cry, and those are always the ones I care about the most. I would love to see the series end — many, many, years from now — with Leslie running for Senate or Congress or something else amazing. I am so thrilled with how this show has developed and grown season after season and incorporated amazing new cast members, while fading out a lot of the mockumentary style that can get old very quickly. Leslie Knope is the type of role model all girls should aspire to — confident, caring, ambitious and loyal. If only there were more Leslie Knope’s on television. The world would certainly be a better place.