24. Christmas Scandal - Parks and Recreation, 2009
Photo Credit: NBC
After a very brief first season that showed several glimmers of potential but failed to really explode, NBC's Parks and Recreation - a sitcom about a quirky group of government employees in fictional Pawnee, Indiana shot in the documentary style popularized by The Office - made some adjustments and came back with a vengeance, earning a reputation as a fan favorite.
"Christmas Scandal," is not only a successful holiday special; it's also just a solid half hour of television. Part of what makes Parks and Recreation so good is that each cast member pulls his or her own weight in every scene without trying to take it over, and this episode is a prime example of that.
The first season fell a little flat in tone. Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope seemed too clueless to ever become genuinely endearing, and the supporting cast's laughing behind her back shtick edged on mean-spirited and would never have made for enduring entertainment. "Christmas Scandal," helps erase almost all memory of that high school humor as Leslie accidentally becomes caught up in a small town political scandal. Her team is forced to take over her duties while she deals with the situation and comes to appreciate just difficult her job really is. It's a message that's delivered subtly as a backdrop to the hilariously sensationalized scandal plot, which helps downplay the cheese factor.
This episode also marks the departure of Louis C.K.'s Officer Dave and takes a couple of nice moments to spotlight the adorableness that is April's burgeoning crush on Andy, two events that help set up the second half of the season and keep the episode relevant to the continuity of the show.
Even the least entertaining thread - Mark's celebration of his perfect Christmas gift for Ann , a less than minor subplot that feels a little unrealized - generates a few laughs, albeit from Aziz Ansari's Tom Haverford. Unfortunately, Paul Schneider's role - first as a sort of love interest, then as the straight man who deadpanned to the camera and shook his head at the madness - never really clicked. The character departed Pawnee after the second season, making way for Adam Scott's less bland Ben Wyatt.
Highlights:
1) The Pawnee City Government Follies. Such a great opening. Almost as good as the skits we do hear are the ones we only see brief glimpses of.
2) Jim O'Heir's long-suffering Jerry Gergich, who you can't help but laugh at and feel bad for all at the same time.
3) Aubrey Plaza underselling April's crush on Andy, making the reveal of her gift to him at the end even cuter.
4) Donna. All the time.
5) "April, I appreciate that, but I don't think it's something worth losing your virginity over."
6) Andy. The transition from lazy rocker to dopey shoeshiner really worked very strongly in Chris Pratt's favor.
7) "I ship out in four days." "Oh my God. Where are you going?" "San Diego." "Oh my God."
8) Mo Collins, who continues to make every Joan Callamezzo appearance memorable.
9) The world's greatest public forum.
10) The credits, which are usually reserved for a parting joke, but in this case quietly follow Leslie's return to the office and highlights her coworkers' newfound respect and affection for her. A simple and heartwarming little scene.
"Christmas Scandal" is available to stream on Netflix under the Season 2 tab.
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