Parks and Recreation

Name: Parks and Recreation
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2009-04-09
Cast: Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt

2009 | 7 seasons | 22 min | Comedy

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

People are still talking about it, it earned strong reviews (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (8.0 out of 10). A strong pick for the weekend.

Our take: Optimism as comedy: a small-town government office full of people you'd want as friends. Gets great after season one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who wants a laugh.
The mood: Provocative satire that goes after everyone.
The pace: 7 seasons, but most episodes stand on their own, so you can dip in anywhere (about 22 minutes each).
What might put you off: Nothing much: an easy pick for most people.

In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career — Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, takes on bureaucrats, cranky neighbors, and single-issue fanatics whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the democratic process she loves so much.

How it earned its rating

CriticsStrong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesStrong
8.0 out of 10
AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
Reach & staying powerStrong
Ran for 7 seasons and reached a solid audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 1.0 million people sought it out in the past year

Season by season

The show overall is a Saturday Special. Here's how each season stacks up; Season 3 is the high point.

Season 12009 · 6 episodes · 68% on Rotten Tomatoes · 7.3 out of 10
Sunday
Season 22009 · 24 episodes · 96% on Rotten Tomatoes · 7.8 out of 10
Friday
Season 32011 · 16 episodes · 100% on Rotten Tomatoes · 8.0 out of 10
Friday
Season 42011 · 22 episodes · 100% on Rotten Tomatoes · 7.7 out of 10
Friday
Season 52012 · 22 episodes · 96% on Rotten Tomatoes · 7.6 out of 10
Saturday
Season 62013 · 20 episodes · 96% on Rotten Tomatoes · 7.7 out of 10
Friday
Season 72015 · 12 episodes · 89% on Rotten Tomatoes · 7.8 out of 10
Friday