TELEVISION
'Parks and Rec' continues to offer timeless laughs
The cast of "Parks and Recreation," namely Ron Swanson (third from left), provides hilarious representation of a government office.
NBC
Usually, in the popular television scene, I am two steps behind everyone. I didn't get into "Game of Thrones" until the first season had ended, I just finished watching the second season of "The Walking Dead" and the entire "Lost" series is still waiting on my Netflix queue. So of course, when everyone was talking about "Parks and Recreation" (circa 2011), I steered clear of spoilers and didn't give it much thought. However, when I watched my roommate laugh her head off on the futon watching "Parks and Rec," I decided it was finally time. This was when I learned what everyone tried telling
me two years ago: "Parks and Recreation" is the best comedy on television, end of discussion.
There are just so many components that make this show great. The chemistry between the characters is flawless, the acting is spot on, the story lines are hilarious, and while being a mostly episodic-style show, there is still a continual story line that makes audiences come back for more. However, there is definitely one reason that this show is so much greater than all the others, and that reason is Ron Swanson.
For those of you who have not watched "Parks and Rec," Ron Swanson (played by Nick Offerman) is not only my favorite character in the show, but he has also become my dream man, my role model, my everything. Alright, that might be a little bit extensive, but that does not mean it isn't true. Ron Swanson, a man who hates the government, yet feels the need to work for the government in order to corrupt it, is also a softie and a lover of all meats. He
adds so much to the show, and while other comedies on television might have characters similar to that of Swanson, there will never be a single character that has generated more laughs, guaranteed.
Without Swanson, "Parks and Rec" would still definitely be funny, but I really don't believe it would be
the awesome comedy that it is now. With his fabulous facial hair, he is the perfect foil to the ever perky Leslie Knope. He grounds the show, makes it a little more real, and allows audiences to really see how completely different people can come together to not only make a great fake "Parks and Recreation" office in a small town of
Indiana, but through Ron Swanson, NBC has successfully continued creating the best comedies on television. So go watch, my little Swansonites. Go forward and learn.
— Edited by Megan Hinman
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