Parks and Recollection

Pawnee’s got a pest problem, and it’s up to Leslie to find a new head for the Department of Animal Control. Meanwhile, Ben approaches fragrance mogul Dennis Feinstein about a large charitable donation for the Sweetums Foundation, and Ann helps Ron get over a bad case of strep throat. Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break it all down in this week’s walkthrough of “Animal Control.” Plus, Kevin Symons (Sexy Dexy himself!) joins Jim and Greg to talk about his recurring role as Pawnee’s sleaziest politician, Councilman Dexhart. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2024

Writer Dave King (Parks and Rec, The Good Place, Workaholics) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to break down Ben’s disillusioning return home to Partridge, Indiana, Chris and Ann’s overt lack of compatibility, and the events leading up to Ron’s “Self-Jamm.” Plus, Dave discusses the many references to he and Mike Schur’s favorite novel, “Infinite Jest” sprinkled throughout the episode. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2024

Mona Lisa Saperstein just rolled into town and *spoiler alert*, she’s the woooooorst! Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break down every cringeworthy moment, along with April and Ann’s forced friendship, Chris’ poor attempt at parenting Tom, and the future of the Pawnee Video Dome in this week’s walkthrough of “Bailout.” Plus, Mara Marini joins Jim and Greg to talk about her recurring role as Pawnee’s favorite adult film star Brandi Maxxxx. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2024

Leslie is back from her Hawaiian honeymoon, but there’s no time to bask in the glow. Leslie’s speech has been stolen and she’s on the prowl to find the culprit. Meanwhile, Ben embarks on a new career as head of the Sweetums Foundation and Ann works up the nerve to ask Chris to be her sperm donor. Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break it all down in this week’s walkthrough of “Correspondents' Lunch.” Plus, Jamie Denbo (aka Leslie’s nemesis Kim Terlando) joins Jim and Greg to rehash her early improv days with Amy Poehler, all the fun she had on set, and how she landed her latest role as Co-EP on Grey’s Anatomy. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2024

Rob Lowe is back to help Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine host one big Town Hall and you’ll never believe where they’ve set the scene. This week we tackle some of our listeners’ most burning questions, like how the characters from “The Outsiders” would fit into the world of Pawnee, what a Chris Traeger ice cream flavor would taste like, and who would reign supreme in a Josh Lyman/Leslie Knope debate. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2024

Rashida Jones (Ann Perkins herself!) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to discuss the early days of Parks and Recreation, how being a close friend of Mike Schur did not do her any favors in the casting process, and all the ways Ann Perkins and Leslie Knope’s unbreakable bond parallels her and Amy Poehler’s real life friendship. Plus Rashida, Jim and Greg rehash what is arguably the best television wedding of all time in this week’s breakdown of “Leslie and Ben.” Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2024

Ted and Woody are back together to bring you a brand new podcast from Team Coco! It’s called “Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (Sometimes)" and it’s out right now! They’re talking to guests like Conan O’Brien, Will Arnett, Jane Fonda, Billy Eichner, Kristen Bell, and so many more. Head over to “Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (Sometimes)" to subscribe and listen now!

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2024

Comedian and writer Joe Mande (Parks and Rec, The Good Place, Delocated) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to break down Pawnee’s response to a hypothetical avian flu outbreak, Andy’s attempt to pass the police entrance exam, and Ron’s surprisingly good appearance on Pawnee Today. Plus, Joe discusses the ins and outs of writing his first episode of Parks, his recurring role as Morris Lerpiss, and the real story behind Tom Haverford’s paper iPhone in “Sex Education” (S5E4). Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2024

Ann’s on a quest for a sperm donor amid Pawnee’s shallow pool of candidates, April sets fire to Leslie’s impressive collection of pantsuits, and Ben, Ron, and Chris are stricken with an epic case of food poisoning. Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break it all down in this week’s walkthrough of “Ann’s Decision.” Plus, improv genius Matt Besser joins Jim and Greg to discuss his recurring role as half of Pawnee’s rock jock DJ duo, Crazy Ira and The Douche. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2024

“TWEEP!” Alison Becker (Shauna Malwae-Tweep herself) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to break down Shauna’s “situationship” with Chris Traeger, Leslie and April’s day fighting misogyny within the sanitation department, and Ron’s failed attempt as a babysitter. Plus, Alison recounts finding out she was cast on the “Unnamed Amy Poehler Project” and how she became a member of Mensa. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2024

“It’s time for the Gettysburg UNDRESS!” Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break down the highs and lows of Ben and Leslie’s bachelor and bachelorette parties in this week’s walkthrough of “Two Parties.” They cover it all, from Leslie digging in the dirt with gummy penises, to Andy catching a pass from Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, to Newt Gingrich’s unplanned cameo at St. Elmo Steakhouse. Plus, Jim and Greg read a touching tribute to Crown Point, Indiana’s real-life version of Lil’ Sebastian in this week’s Town Hall segment. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2024

“Diane Lewis? More like Diane Sawyer!” In this week’s episode, Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break down Leslie and Diane’s first meeting, Jerry Gergich’s surprisingly lovely home life with Gail (played by supermodel Christie Brinkley), and the sexual hurricane that is Tammy II. Plus, Jim and Greg give their top pick of who they think would be the last Pawneean standing on a Pawnee access television version of “Survivor” in this week’s Town Hall segment. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2024

Special Agent Burt Macklin (aka Andy Dwyer) hangs up his shades, Tom gets Rent-A-Swag up and running, and Leslie and Ben cross the border into Pawnee’s smug sister city Eagleton to collaborate on a park design for Lot 48. Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine are breaking it all down in this week’s rewatch of “Pawnee Commons.” Plus, Jim and Greg think up vanity license plates for our main characters in this week’s Town Hall segment. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2024

“Calc-you-later!” Ben receives a slew of job offers, Andy launches a full-scale investigation into his missing computer, and Leslie and April go toe to toe over a dog park project proposed for Lot 48; Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine get into all of it in this week’s episode walkthrough of “Leslie vs. April.” Plus, John Balma stops by to talk about playing Pawnee’s most enthusiastic accountant, Barney Varmn.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2024

It’s the war of the Wyatts! Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break down every jab in this week’s walkthrough of “Ben’s Parents.” In this episode, Leslie presents a unity quilt to Ben’s divorced parents (Jonathan Banks and Glenne Headly), Tom and Jean-Ralphio aim to make Ron a ground-level investor in Rent-A-Swag, and Chris goes on a rollercoaster of emotion. Plus, Greg talks about writing his first solo episode of Parks and Rec: everything from the Goldilocks story outline he created, to reworking jokes on set, to the corkboard full of notes he never brought back to the Radford lot. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2024

Rolling Stone’s chief TV critic Alan Sepinwall joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to break down the “fart attack” heard ‘round the world and Ben and Leslie’s heartwarming proposal. Plus, Alan discusses the joys of sitting in on the Parks writers room, the challenge of writing a negative episode review for a show that you love, and the satisfaction of gleaning a wildly successful career out of watching television. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2024

STDs, paper iPhones, and a robotic congressman—Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine discuss it all in this week’s walkthrough of “Sex Education”. In this episode, Leslie Knope launches a safe sex initiative for Pawnee’s senior citizens, Tom goes on a technology detox after crashing his car while texting, and April and Ben try to decipher if Congressman Murray is actually a robot. Plus, Darlene Hunt (The Big C) joins Jim and Greg to discuss her recurring role as Pawnee’s morality watchdog Marcia Langman. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2024

You just got JAMMED! Jon Glaser (Jeremy Jamm himself!) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine in this week’s walkthrough of “How a Bill Becomes a Law” to break down Leslie Knope’s first encounter with the Pawnee councilman we love to hate, the 311 hotline that leads Ron Swanson to find the love of his life, and the reason Ben and April can’t make it out of the parking garage. Plus, Jon reveals the origin story of his character’s iconic quaff and how well Jeremy Jamm would fit into today’s political landscape. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2024

Broadway star Mary Faber joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to discuss her recurring role as Pawnee’s Restaurant Association member Kathryn Pinewood. In this episode, they discuss soda cups large enough to hold a liquified toddler, the first cries for Leslie Knope’s recall, and the underlying attraction between Pinewood and another one of Leslie’s nemeses, Councilman Jamm. 
 Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2024

Senator cameos, D.C. location shoots, AND a live pig named Tom—Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine break it all down in this week’s walkthrough of “Ms. Knope Goes to Washington.” In Parks & Recreation’s season five premiere, Leslie is off to the Capitol to visit Ben and apply for a federal grant to clean up Pawnee’s riverbed, leaving Ron Swanson in charge of the The Leslie Knope Employment Enjoyment Summerslam Grill Jam Fun-Splosion. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2024

Adam Scott (Ben Wyatt himself!) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to discuss his character’s surprising plot twist in Parks & Recreation’s season four finale: “Win, Lose, or Draw”. Plus, the instant connection he felt to Amy in their first scene together, the ballroom dance lessons he took with Jim, and the cryptic note Aubrey Plaza passed him during his first table read. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2024

The writer most compared to Leslie Knope, Aisha Muharrar (Parks and Rec, Hacks, The Good Place) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to discuss “Bus Tour”. In this episode, Aisha breaks out her Parks notebook recounting the time Amy Poehler helped her out of a jam, the logistics of maneuvering a full-sized campaign bus through a small Los Angeles neighborhood, the hidden sweetness of April Ludgate, and just how many pies to the face Jim had to endure while filming. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2024

Dust off your podium - Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine are back to discuss “The Debate”! In this episode, Jim and Greg break down Leslie Knope’s face-off with a slew of Pawnee’s City Council hopefuls (including local porn star Brandi Maxxxx and Sweetums heir Bobby Newport), Andy Dwyer’s one-man reenactment of the movie “Roadhouse”, and Ron Swanson’s scaling of a telephone pole. Plus, they dive into which character’s backstory would make the best prequel series in our Town Hall segment. Get your rebuttal ready and go ahead and treat yo’ self! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2024

Jim and Greg are pressing pause on Parks and Recollection until the SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved. Please stay subscribed to this feed, and follow @teamcocopodcasts on socials for the latest news on Parks and Recollection!

Transcribed - Published: 25 August 2023

Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine are here to discuss a very “West Wing” episode of “Parks & Rec!” “West Wing” super-fan Greg walks us through all the references, from the episode’s title to the appearance of guest star Bradley Whitford. They also discuss working with animals, Greg’s tours of the “West Wing” Oval Office, Ron Swanson’s reluctant yoga journey, and much more. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]! This episode was recorded on July 13, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2023

How “Lucky” are we? Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and Greg Levine are back to discuss Season 4, Episode 18 - it’s “Lucky!” They discuss the return of Ron’s post-coital polo shirt, Jerry’s mechanical envelope-stuffing method, Andy’s Women’s Studies exam, why it’s so fun to see Sean Hayes play an asshole, and much more. And stick around for an interview with our friend, Hadley Hall Meares, discussing her time as Amy Poehler’s stand-in on “Parks & Rec!” This episode was recorded on July 13, 2023. The interview with Hadley was recorded on June 26, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2023

Rob Lowe returns to talk “Campaign Shake-Up!” Rob and our hosts Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine discuss this episode’s appearance from the legendary Carl Reiner, how a magazine cover altered the character of Chris Traeger, the comedic talent of Kathryn Hahn, and much more. This episode was recorded on July 13, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2023

Parks writer Norm Hiscock (whose illustrious writing credits include King of the Hill, Saturday Night Live, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine) joins Jim O’Heir and Greg Levine to discuss “S4E16: Sweet Sixteen” (written by… Norm Hiscock!). They discuss Jerry’s leap year birthday, R&B star Ginuwine, the joys of a simple plot, Wheels for Meals on Wheels, and Jim’s emotional backstory for this episode. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]! This episode was recorded on June 27, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2023

Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and Greg Levine are here to discuss “Dave Returns!” They discuss Adam Scott’s tour de force performance in this episode, the triumphant return of Mouse Rat, Jim and Greg’s shared love for “We Are the World,” what if Jerry had a Duke Silver-style alter ego, and much more! Treat yo’ self and give it a listen! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]! This episode was recorded on June 26, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2023

Happy Galentine's Day! This week, Jim O'Heir and Greg Levine are talking "Operation Ann." Leslie Knope makes it her mission to find Ann Perkins a Valentine's date, Ron Swanson proves himself to be a master puzzle-solver, and, for one beautiful moment, Chris Traeger contemplates a life with Jerry Gergich. It’s an excellent Valentine’s Day episode - treat yo’ self and give it a listen! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]! Episode recorded June 7, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2023

Comedian, actor, and writer Kevin Dorff (known for his work with Conan O'Brien and his appearances on shows like The Office, 30 Rock, and White House Plumbers) joins Jim O'Heir and Greg Levine to discuss his role as Derek in “Bowling for Votes.” Yes, this is the episode where Ben Wyatt punches a guy. It’s also the episode where: Jerry Gergich gives a stranger his social security number, Tom Haverford stumbles upon the most effective (and most embarrassing) bowling technique in history, and Chris Traeger gets his heart broken. Jim and Greg discuss all this and more on this week’s episode, give it a listen and stick around to hear Kevin Dorff (beginning around 37:35)! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2023

Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine are back to discuss S4E12 of Parks and Rec - it’s Campaign Ad! Jim and Greg discuss the arrival of Bobby Newport, Paul Rudd’s method acting, the Better Better Business Bureau, Greg’s brief turn as a film star, and so much more. Treat yo’ self! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email at [email protected]!

Transcribed - Published: 4 July 2023

Writer Mike Scully (The Simpsons, King of the Hill) joins Jim O'Heir and writer Greg Levine to talk about one of our favorite Parks episodes: it’s S4E11, The Comeback Kid (written by Mike Scully)! They discuss one of the all-time funniest Parks & Rec bloopers, Ben Wyatt’s descent into madness, a delightful three-legged dog named Champion, and, most importantly, that chaotic scene on the ice rink. Give it a listen and treat yo’ self!

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2023

Jason Mantzoukas joins Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine to discuss “Citizen Knope” and his role as the Fragrance King of Pawnee: Dennis Feinstein! They discuss Jason’s various roles in the Schur-verse (Parks and Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place), a major change in Leslie’s political campaign, Jerry’s perfect Christmas gift, Barney Varmn's accounting firm, and much more.

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2023

Our friend and (former host of this very podcast!) Rob Lowe joins Jim O’Heir and writer Greg Levine once again to discuss the wonderful world of Pawnee! This week, we’re talking S4E9: The Trial of Leslie Knope. They discuss Rob's viral 9-1-1: Lone Star moment, the evolution of Chris Traeger’s character, the amazing Helen Slayton-Hughes (better known to Parks fans as court stenographer Ethel Beavers), the power of specificity in comedy, and a very important revelation about Jerry Gergich's birth name! Give it a listen - and treat yo’ self!

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2023

The hilarious Chelsea Peretti (Netflix, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) joins Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine to discuss the best writer’s room snacks, an important moment in Ben and Leslie’s relationship, working with the brilliant Harris Wittels, and much more. It’s Season 4, Episode 8 (directed by the brilliant Nicole Holofcener): “Smallest Park!” Chelsea also discusses her upcoming feature directorial debut, “First Time Female Director" - co-starring and produced by Amy Poehler! It’s another great episode of Parks & Recollection - give it a listen and treat yo' self!

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2023

“We got the freaking Moon!” Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself) and writer Greg Levine are discussing Season 4, Episode 7 of Parks and Recreation - it’s “The Treaty!” A meeting of the Pawnee Central High School's Model UN club leads to a historic face-off between Leslie and Ben, Ron and Tom interview some terrible job applicants (including Kyle Mooney and the show’s actual accountant!), and Chris seeks dating advice from his co-workers (including, for some reason, his girlfriend’s father). It’s another great episode of Parks - give it a listen and treat yo’ self!

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2023

Hail Zorp! Actress/director Natalie Morales (who Parks fans know and love as Lucy!) joins Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine to discuss one of our favorite Parks episodes: End of the World. The three discuss the surprise return of Lucy, Andy Dwyer’s bucket list, the finances of Entertainment 720, and much, much more. See Natalie in the upcoming comedy film “No Hard Feelings” (starring Jennifer Lawrence) this summer!

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2023

It’s a Gergich family reunion! Sarah Wright Olsen (aka Millicent Gergich) joins her TV dad Jim O'Heir and writer Greg Levine to discuss her days on Parks, her TV mom Christie Brinkley, and much more. Jim and Greg also recap a great Halloween episode of Parks, featuring rubber nipples, blood orphans, and the spookiest man in Pawnee - Orin. Treat yo’ self!

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2023

The episode that birthed a cultural phenomenon - Jim O’Heir and writer Greg Levine are here to discuss “Pawnee Rangers,” better known as the “Treat Yo’ Self” episode! Yes, it’s the B-story that (accidentally) changed the way we talk about self-care forever. Jim and Greg discuss Treat Yo’ Self Day, the Pawnee Rangers vs Pawnee Goddesses, Greg's stint as Pierre, Chris' budding romance with Jerry's daughter, and much more. You will not want to miss this episode!

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2023

Jim O'Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine are joined this week by actress and comedian Mo Collins, who Parks fans know and love as Joan Callamezzo, the host of Pawnee Today. They discuss one of our favorite Parks scenes of all time - and explore what makes Mo such a gifted comedic performer. Jim and Greg also discuss Leslie’s shocking birthplace, Ann’s quest to make Ron and April enjoy chatting with her, and much more. Treat yo’ self!

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2023

Jim O'Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer Greg Levine are here to discuss another great episode of Parks and Recreation: Ron and Tammys. They discuss the brilliant Patricia Clarkson's performance as Tammy One, why we all idolize Paula Pell (who plays Ron's mom, Tammy Zero), and Jim explains the secret behind proper jug chugging. Treat yo’ self!

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2023

Welcome back to Pawnee! Today Rob Lowe ushers in a new era of Parks and Recollection, handing over the reins to our new hosts: the great Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer/script coordinator Greg Levine. Our hosts discuss the show’s jam-packed season four premiere, featuring the start of Leslie’s city council campaign, the first appearance of Tammy One, and an important revelation about Jerry’s, ahem, package. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email: [email protected] or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: (310) 893-6992.

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2023

Your favorite Parks and Recreation rewatch podcast is back with new hosts! Jim O’Heir (Jerry Gergich himself!) and writer/script coordinator Greg Levine are taking the reins, and they couldn’t be more excited to have you along. Each week, Jim and Greg will talk through a new episode of Parks and Rec, breaking down all our favorite moments and characters. Join them in Pawnee every Tuesday, beginning Tuesday, April 18! Special guests include Rob Lowe, Jason Mantzoukas, Chelsea Peretti, and more!

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2023

Today Rob Lowe and Alan Yang have a huge show for a small horse when recapping the season three finale of Parks and Recreation. In "Li'l Sebastian" Leslie and the Parks Department organize a memorial for a departed friend. In this episode you'll find out how an awkward encounter in the writer's room caused one of the funniest jokes on the show, which character is like Colossus from The X-Men, why changing Tom's career trajectory was important, an update on Biff Yeager, and a huge bombshell is revealed by producer Greg! Come for the Parks and Rec trivia, stay for the AC/DC trivia! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email: [email protected] Or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: (310) 893-6992 Leslie announces Li'l Sebastian, Pawnee's beloved celebrity mini-horse, has died and the parks department will hold a memorial service for him. Tom suggests they hire Entertainment 720 for the event, a production company recently started by his friend Jean-Ralphio. Jean-Ralphio encourages Tom to come work with him at the company, but Tom isn’t sure if he wants to leave his city hall job. Meanwhile, the extremely health-conscious Chris finds out he has tendonitis, and takes the news so seriously that he questions his own mortality. Leslie and Ben continue their romance despite a no-dating policy at city hall, but they have difficulty keeping it a secret. Ron finds out and warns them that Chris will fire them if he learns about it. As the city prepares for the memorial service, Leslie and Ben are caught making out by a maintenance worker named George (Biff Yeager), so they send him home with a gift certificate in exchange for his silence. What Leslie and Ben didn’t realize was that George had the propane for Li'l Sebastian's eternal flame, which results in later confusion behind the scenes, which they struggle to fix throughout the night. Jerry is sent to get propane for the flame but buys lighter fluid instead; this causes a huge fireball to shoot into the air when Ron lights it, which singes off most of his facial hair. Leslie and Ben are relieved, however, when the crowd applauds in the belief the fireball was staged. Entertainment 720's show also proves to be a hit with the crowd, which makes Tom further contemplate quitting his job. At a party afterward, Andy receives praise for his Li'l Sebastian tribute song, "5,000 Candles in the Wind." April sells many Mouse Rat CDs at an inflated price, which spurs Andy to ask her to become the group's manager. Indirectly responsible for nearly killing Ron, Leslie and Ben agree to no more secret displays of affection at work. Ann, who previously dated Chris and had trouble getting over him, offers comfort to Chris for his depression. This makes him appear romantically interested in Ann once again. A conflicted Tom decides to resign and accept a job with Entertainment 720. Meanwhile, Ron is confronted by his evil ex-wife Tammy (Megan Mullally) at the party—but both Ron and Tammy are horrified to learn his other ex-wife, also named Tammy (whom he calls "Tammy 1") has also arrived in town. Leslie is approached by scouts looking for potential candidates for elected office, which has always been one of her dreams. Impressed by the memorial service and the harvest festival Leslie previously organized, they believe she would be a good candidate for upcoming city council seats, or possibly the mayoral position. With the expected increased media attention on her personal life, the scouts ask whether Leslie has any secret scandals in her life. She denies any such scandals exist, thus omitting her secret relationship with Ben, and the scouts promise to contact her about preparing an electoral run.

Transcribed - Published: 26 July 2022

The hilarity is popping in Pawnee, when Rob Lowe and Alan Yang discuss S3E15 of Parks and Recreation! In "The Bubble" Leslie's mom makes a pass at Ben, not knowing that he and Leslie are dating. On today's episode the team share how fun it is to have Chris interacting with all of the parks department, Greg gives insights on his first writing credit, and why it took so long to get Marlene back in an episode! All of this and some surprising data about opening credits. Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email: [email protected] Or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: (310) 893-6992 The Parks Department welcomes Ann Perkins to her new office at Pawnee City Hall and fills it with balloons, much to the chagrin of her cranky officemate Stuart. Leslie and Ben are dating, but they are keeping their relationship a secret due to a no-dating policy at work. They are enjoying what Leslie calls "the bubble", or the beginning of a relationship when everything is simple and fun. The Bubble is threatened when Ben has a meeting with Leslie's mother Marlene Griggs-Knope, a notoriously tough politician in the Pawnee school system, who wants Ben to approve the purchase of four new school buses despite a difficult budget season. Afraid of ruining the bubble, Leslie initially tells Ben she is not related to Marlene. Right before Ben's meeting, however, Leslie admits Marlene is her mother, making him nervous and causing him to capitulate to all of her demands during the meeting. Marlene considers Ben weak, so Leslie becomes determined to prove that he is a tough boss to impress Marlene. Chris has enacted numerous changes to the Parks Department: he promotes Jerry to Public Relations Director, appoints April as everyone's assistant, places Tom Haverford on the nightmarish fourth floor with Andy as his temporary assistant, and makes Ron sit in the middle of a circular desk after the removal of his office, to force him to interact with people. Ron believes everything will eventually go back to normal as it has with past city managers that implemented changes. However, Donna is concerned that the overly-determined Chris will not do so and demands that Ron talk to him. On the fourth floor, Tom's attempts to charm some of the elderly women, including Ethel Beavers and Muriel into doing his work but fails miserably, as they ignore him and all adore Andy and April. Leslie trains Ben for his next meeting with her mother. He impresses Marlene so much with his tough negotiation skills that she becomes flirtatious with him. An uncomfortable Ben tells Leslie they should tell her about their relationship, but Leslie does not want to lose the bubble. Fed up, Ben storms into Marlene's office and tells her that he is dating her daughter and asks her to keep it secret. Marlene laughs off the situation and tells Leslie that she approves of Ben. Ron tells Chris the changes do not play to his staff's strengths and decides to compromise: if Chris returns everything to the way it was, he will remain at/in the desk for another week. Chris complies. Nevertheless, Tom is frustrated with the experience and begins to contemplate leaving his City Hall job to pursue his own entrepreneurial interests.

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2022

Grab your banjo and put on your seatbelts because today Rob Lowe and Alan Yang are watching S3E14 of Parks and Recreation! In "Road Trip" Chris sends Leslie and Ben on a trip to the capital while Tom's new game creates tension between April and Andy. In this episode you'll hear why the rare bonding moment between Ann and April was important, Mike Schur's love of Neutral Milk Hotel and hate for hot fruit, how RoLo's Banjo improv came to be, and why creating a mix CD is a true artform. All of this and a subtle lesson in mainland Mandarin! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall or do you eat Cheez-its with raisins? Send us an email: [email protected] Or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: (310) 893-6992 Leslie still harbors strong romantic feelings for Ben, but cannot date him due to Chris Traeger’s strict policy against workplace dating. Just as Ann suggests to Leslie that she should avoid being alone with Ben, Chris asks Leslie and Ben to drive to Indianapolis to pitch Pawnee as the next host of the Indiana Little League Baseball tournament. Leslie and Ann devise numerous boring conversation topics for the trip to prevent it from becoming romantic. After an awkward drive to Indianapolis, Leslie and Ben speak before the Little League Commission, which seems reluctant to choose Pawnee for the tournament. Ben delivers a heartfelt speech about the town, but also appears to be secretly speaking about his feelings for Leslie. Meanwhile, Tom asks Andy, April, Jerry and Donna to participate in a new game show called Know Ya Boo, that he is hoping to pitch to networks; he admits that it is a rip-off of The Newlywed Game. It quickly becomes clear that Jerry and Donna know much more about each other than the recently married Andy and April. When April reveals her favorite band is Neutral Milk Hotel and not Andy's band Mouse Rat, Andy angrily leaves the game. April and Andy have a big fight which causes him to quit his music. April seeks advice from Ann because, although she dislikes her, Ann previously dated Andy for several years. Ann tells April she has to be supportive of Andy no matter how she feels. The next day, April brings the other members of Mouse Rat to city hall and surprises Andy by singing one of his songs. A thrilled Andy reconciles with April. In a separate C Story, a young girl named Lauren (Alyssa Shafer) asks to interview Ron for her school's field trip assignment to city hall. Ron initially resists, but soon espouses his libertarian beliefs to her. He illustrates the concept of taxes by eating 40 percent of Lauren's lunch, to compare his actions to those of the government. She eagerly accepts his anti-government views. The next day, Lauren's furious mother reveals her daughter's assignment was "Why Government Matters", and that Lauren simply wrote "It doesn't". Ron apologizes, and later tells Lauren she should keep her views on government to herself until she gets older. Ben’s speech clearly impresses both the judges and Leslie, and Pawnee is ultimately selected for the tournament. Leslie reluctantly accepts Ben's invitation to a celebratory dinner that night, where Ben brings up his feelings for her. She slips away to call Ann for advice, and Ann urges Leslie to act on her feelings. Just as Leslie decides to do so, she is surprised to find Chris has arrived at the dinner to congratulate the two personally. He insists they sleep at his home in Indianapolis, ruining their night. The next day, Leslie and Ben run into each other alone and Ben reveals Chris is out for the day. Ben then immediately kisses her, to which Leslie reciprocates, leaving her simultaneously delighted and nervous about their future.

Transcribed - Published: 12 July 2022

Pawnee is full of clearances and apologies when Rob Lowe and Alan Yang tackle S3E13. In The Fight Tom invites everyone to the Snakehole as he debuts a new drink, and Leslie encourages Ann to apply for a job with the city. On today's episode find out how front loading the B-story helped the slow burn of the A-story, why Janet Snakehole has a Mid-Atlantic accent, and which actors improvised their drunk talking heads. All of this and some interesting talk about agents! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email: [email protected] Or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: (310) 893-6992 Chris Traeger has fired Dennis Cooper, the former health department public relations director, who hung posters around city hall to publicly condemn his adulterous wife. Leslie suggests Ann replace him, but her ulterior motive is to spend more time with her friend. Although reluctant, Ann agrees to attend the job interview—and Leslie provides her with an overwhelming amount of reading material to prepare for it. Tom encourages the parks department to attend the Snakehole Lounge, for the unveiling of his new alcoholic beverage, Snake Juice—He also requests that they use guerrilla marketing techniques via word of mouth promotion. April shows little interest in attending, until Andy suggests they make a game of it by role-playing as different people at the bar. April pretends to be Janet Snakehole, an aristocratic widow with a dark secret, while Andy poses as his frequent alter-ego, FBI agent Burt Macklin. That night, at the Snakehole Lounge, Leslie is surprised and annoyed to find Ann partying on the dance floor instead of preparing for the job interview. Ann introduces Leslie to her latest boyfriend, local radio host "The Douche" (Nick Kroll). As Leslie and Ann become increasingly drunk from Snake Juice, Leslie insults Ann's current dating lifestyle. This prompts Ann to insult Leslie for moving too slow with Ben. The fight escalates throughout the night, and Leslie ultimately claims she always has to keep Ann motivated or Ann would not go anywhere. Both declare it best that Ann not work with Leslie after all and they storm off. The Snake Juice proves delicious and popular with the rest of the parks department employees, all of whom become extremely drunk, with the exception of Donna who is on a juice cleanse. Chris arrives to warn Tom that using government employees to promote his own personal ventures is a breach of ethics. He tells a disappointed Tom that he must sell his shares of the Snakehole Lounge if he wants to keep his job. The next morning, everyone who drank Snake Juice is extremely hungover except for Ron—and Tom sells his shares the next morning to Jean-Ralphio, but not before Ron tries to convince Chris to let Tom off the government “teat.” Leslie deeply regrets how she treated Ann. Ben visits Ann at her home and asks her to forgive Leslie. Ann, who also regrets the fight, is touched by Ben's gesture and reveals that Leslie likes him. Ann decides to attend the job interview, during which she and Leslie apologize to each other. After a second interview with Chris, Ann is given the job on a part-time basis so she can continue her work as a nurse. April tries to reprise her role of Janet Snakehole and have Andy reprise Burt Macklin, but a hungover Andy claims Burt is dead, but creates Kip Hackman, Burt Macklin's brother. He then vomits onto Kyle's shoes.

Transcribed - Published: 5 July 2022

Call your friends and welcome them to Pawnee. Today Rob Lowe and Alan Yang are watching S3E12. In "Eagleton" Leslie is forced to deal with a former beloved colleague-turned bitter enemy when a neighboring town separates a shared park with a fence. On this episode find out how amazing it was to work with Nicole Holofcener, why a trash fight convinced Parker Posey to be in this episode, what in this script made Rashida cry, and why Alan never keeps ice cream in his home! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email: [email protected] Or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: (310) 893-6992 Eagleton, a more prosperous neighboring town of Pawnee, has erected a tall fence in the shared Lafayette Park to keep Pawnee residents at a distance. Leslie’s theory is that it’s the work of Lindsay Carlisle Shay (Parker Posey), The Eagleton equivalent of Leslie. Lindsay is a former Pawnee parks department employee and used to be Leslie's best friend. While dealing with the fence, Leslie also discovers Ron's upcoming birthday, a date he has kept secret for years. Leslie promises a horrified and annoyed Ron that she will throw a surprise party for him. In the standard style of a disorderly public meeting, the citizens of Pawnee call for the fence to be removed. Leslie meets with Lindsay, who refuses to take the fence down and insults Pawnee in the process. Leslie, Tom, and Ben attend a catered Eagleton town meeting inside a country club to plead their case to its citizens. The people of Eagleton are wealthy and civil, but also incredibly condescending. Citing the poor maintenance of Pawnee's side of Lafayette Park, the Eagleton citizens would like the fence to stay up. Leslie reveals to Tom and Ben that she was offered the job of Eagleton parks director five years ago but turned it down. At the time, Leslie and Lindsay both promised to remain in Pawnee. However, Eagleton then offered Lindsay the job and she accepted, turning her back on Pawnee and worse… Leslie. Ron becomes increasingly paranoid of Leslie's birthday party, especially after he overhears April and Andy discuss outrageous plans. When Ron learns what a huge party she threw for Ann’s birthday, he becomes so paranoid that he resorts to sleeping in his office to avoid any potential surprises at home. While this is happening, Leslie seeks revenge against Lindsay by getting her parks employees to throw garbage over the Eagleton side of the fence. When Lindsay arrives to stop it, the two get into a fight amid the garbage bags. The police arrive and arrest both women: Lindsay is jailed in Pawnee, while Leslie is jailed in Eagleton's pristine holding cell. After Ann bails Leslie out of jail, she tells her that Lindsay built the fence to get a rise out of Leslie, because she is jealous that Leslie was offered the Eagleton job first. Ann suggests that Lindsay should be hit with a baseball bat, which gives Leslie the idea to turn Pawnee's side of Lafayette Park into a wiffle ball field, with the fence serving as the outfield wall. Lindsay is impressed by how fast Leslie turned the fence into something positive, and remembers why she and Leslie joined the parks department in the first place. With their relationship on the mend, the two agree to get a drink together. Later, Leslie returns to the office to throw Ron's party: she takes him to an empty room with steak, whiskey and his favorite movies waiting for him, and reveals that April and Andy's duties were red herrings. Leslie explains she made a party that he would want and leaves a content Ron alone to enjoy his birthday.

Transcribed - Published: 28 June 2022

You never know when inspiration will strike while visiting Pawnee—and today Rob Lowe and Alan Yang are inspired by S3E11 of Parks and Recreation! In "Jerry's Painting" Chris deals with community uproar over Jerry's new painting, and Ben tries to help teach Andy and April responsibility after he moves in with them. On today's episode you'll hear why Ben couldn't just live alone, how it was important for Chris to deliver non-jokes in a humorous way, and how a misbehaving Leslie strengthened the character. All of this and a grammar lesson from Mario! Got a question for the Pawnee Town Hall? Send us an email: [email protected] Or leave a 30-Second voicemail at: (310) 893-6992 Leslie Knope feels powerless at work because a policy set by Chris Traeger, which forbids workplace romances, is preventing her from dating Ben Wyatt. Meanwhile, now that he is staying in Pawnee permanently, Ben decides to move out of the motel where he has been living. Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate offer him a spare room in their house, since their previous roommate moved out and left the house to them. Although the two have been living by themselves for only a week, the house is a complete mess with no everyday items like plates or utensils available. Ben decides to teach a reluctant Andy and April how to properly live like adults. Meanwhile, the parks employees attend an art show exhibiting paintings that will later be hung in government buildings. Jerry displays his painting of the fictional topless centaur Greek goddess Diaphena, which looks exactly like Leslie. Jerry explains he subconsciously painted Leslie while thinking about powerful women. Instead of being embarrassed, Leslie feels empowered by the painting. Tom, however, is humiliated because a pot-bellied cherub in the painting shares his likeness. The next day, local conservative activist Marcia Langman (Darlene Hunt) compares the painting to bestiality, deems it unsuitable for a government setting and demands it be destroyed. Leslie goes on the news program Ya Heard? With Perd! to rouse public support for the painting by portraying it as a depiction of a powerful woman. However, she is undermined when reporter Perd Hapley also has on adult film actress Brandi Maxxxx, who defends the painting by comparing it to pornography. Chris convenes a meeting of the Pawnee Public Arts Commission to rule on whether the painting is acceptable. Despite Leslie's eloquent defense, the commission fears the nudity is offensive and decides to destroy it instead of risking public backlash. Leslie retaliates by stealing the painting. After cleaning up around the house, Ben gives Andy and April money to buy common household items. Although they almost waste their money on frivolous items, Andy insists they need to take Ben's advice. April admits she is afraid of growing up because she does not want them to lose their unique personalities, but Andy assures her they will not change. Chris angrily demands Leslie bring the painting to city hall the next day to be destroyed. When Leslie reluctantly agrees to do so, Jerry expresses disappointment that she would give up so easily. Feeling empowered again, Leslie asks Jerry to quickly paint another, similar painting, only this time with Tom as the centaur. Leslie tells Marcia the new painting is the original one but painted over. With no more nudity in the painting, a frustrated Marcia gives up her quest to have the painting destroyed. Ben later confides to Andy he likes Leslie but is unable to ask her out because of Chris, but Andy tells him if they truly care about each other, then it will eventually happen.

Transcribed - Published: 21 June 2022