This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bentley chapter.

If you’re a fan of the type of comedy found in The Office, you’re in for a treat with the hit NBC show Parks and Recreation. Here are five reasons why you should start watching this funny mockumentary:

1. The Plot

Set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, the show follows the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department, Leslie Knope. Leslie, along with her motley crew of office workers, tries her best to improve the small town, with often comical results. Filmed like a mockumentary (similar to that of The Office), the show captures the small town spirit perfectly.

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2. Leslie Knope

Leslie, played by the goddess that is Amy Poehler, is one of my favorite characters on television. Intelligent and dedicated, Leslie is determined to see Pawnee succeed. She’s quirky, extremely loyal, and perpetually cheery, which is sometimes in contrast to her coworkers, with hilarious results.

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3. The Staff

There’s never a dull day in the department with characters like these. There’s Tom Haverford, Leslie’s office assistant, who dreams of making it big in the show business world and embarks on crazy schemes with his business partner (the hysterical Jon Raphael) – the most notable of these? His business enterprise “Rent-a-Swag”, where he rents out his clothes to people who don’t want to buy pricier items. There’s Donna, the sassy office worker who isn’t afraid to say (and tweet!) her thoughts. There’s April Ludgate, the melancholy intern whose dour views of the world are in direct conflict with Leslie’s positive attitude. Jerry, the good-natured worker who gets teased mercilessly by his coworkers, is reminiscent of Tobey from The Office. These workers, along with those who come later in the seasons, make up the best part of the show and provide the viewer with endless laughs.

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4. The Comedy

If you miss the comedy of The Office, then definitely try out Parks and Rec. The mockumentary style of filming allows for many laughs, and the interviews with the characters are hysterical. The best part? The show gets funnier as the seasons go on – if Season 1 doesn’t do it for you, keep watching!

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5. Ron Swanson

I saved the best for last: Ron Swanson, the man so great that I gave him his own reason why you should watch the show. He’s Leslie’s boss, which is ironic because he distrusts the government. As head of the Parks Department, he believes in little or no government intervention and believes that the Parks Department shouldn’t maintain parks or even exist. A fan of jazz music, eating meat, and nature, Ron Swanson is a god among mortals and is one of my favorite characters on television.

The sixth season of Parks and Recreation is currently airing on NBC.

Catch up: Netflix, Hulu, Bentley library reserves

Photo Source:

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