The show really became a classic after it stopped trying to imitate "The Office US", and started doing its own thing. Adam Scott and Rob Lowe really gelled into the show more than Paul Schneider did, and it was like they'd been there from the very beginning.

One of my favorite arcs in the show was Chris's struggle with anxiety and depression when coming to terms with his mortality. It added a lot of very realistic depth to the "unwavering optimist" character he was initially perceived as. I think a lot of people, myself included, really resonated with the guy who masks his pain with smiles and positivity so as not to burden others with his struggles.

My favorite Chris moment is when he invites Ron for lunch to talk about projects at the city hall and Ron obviously declines, but Chris just laughs and suddenly they were at the restaurant. Even a man as immovable and firm as Ron cannot escape Chris' endless positivity and enthusiasm.

When the “Mark” character left it didn’t leave a hole. No one missed him. It was deffo the right decision. Chris and Ben fit so well and were integrated perfectly. Parks and Rec without them doesn’t feel right.

The animation Wyatt made is peak comedy and so damn relatable

"I'm Chris Traeger... this is Ben." Just the way he said that made me know I was in for a treat.

The real lesson here, is that the arrival of Mr. Bingley (Chris) and Mr. Darcy (Ben) always make for a good story.

Ironically, The Office US and Parks and Rec both got criticized in their first season for being too close to their source material.

Chris and his relentless genuine positivity vs Ron and his eternal deadpan demeanour were comedy gold

Parks and rec should write a book on how to redeem a series. Growing out of being a sequel, new characters, good side character, turning an antagonist in a love interest, 7 season in and one of the best finale on television

I think Ben and Leslie's relationship growth is the best we've ever had on TV.

The first 2 seasons were fine & I enjoy them but there's simply no denying that the show kicks into high gear once Chris & Ben arrive. Plain and simple

The "get on your feet scene" is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life. Also, Ben's claymation is something I reference all the time, alingside cones of dunshire "it's about the cones". I love this series so much

8:32 "Bottomless pit of despair" - Missed opportunity to show the pit.

IMO I felt the chemistry was also thrown off by Mark Brendanawicz in the first few seasons. Once he was gone, I enjoyed the chemistry of all the characters much better.

When I tell people to watch Parks & Rec, I always make a note that it's a bit of a trudge to get through...until Rob Lowe & Adam Scott show up. Once you make it to the arrival, it's smooth sailing. lol

And a shout-out to the phenomenal recurring side characters Joan Calamezzo, Jeremy Jamm, Brandi Maxxx, Perd Harpley, Tammy 1, Tammy 2, Ken Hotate and many more.

I'm still waiting for a real life Cones of Dunshire

The show really became really awesome after season two. Season Two was definitely an improvement, and the end of Season Two made it clear the show would liftoff.

Those two characters were welcome additions, I agree with you on that part. I completely disagree that this was the most important change. What really made this series awesome was that they made sure that the other characters started treating Lesley with appreciation and respect. They poked fun at one another, but instead of being really mean to her, they stressed that they valued her work ethic and character. That (!!!) is what made the show so awesome. That, and that the women of the show hat wonderful friendships that they cherished. The two men, and the romantic relationships, that was a nice addition.

Thought it said this was uploaded 5 months ago…it was actually 5 minutes. I knew I’d never miss a video

Chris Traeger is one of my favorite sitcom characters, it was nice to see how someone who is so overwhelmingly positive still have cracks and benefit from therapy and addressing his mental health

Parks & Rec season 2 is the only time you can ever say "all hope seemed lost, until the auditors arrived" with sincerity.

The first season was only around 6 epsidoes, so it makes sense that the writers/actors/editors were still figuring out the sweet spot of what the show could be during the second season

I would say not just Chris and Ben, the second version of Andy was also one of the reasons this show was saved. These three characters brought some much needed positivity and cheerfulness to the show. Before that, all characters were kinda depressing- Leslie- hard working and yet underappreciated for her passion Ron- hates his own workplace April- hates everything Tom- Tom Mark- Mark Ann- boring and doesn’t really want to be in this position but is forced to be Andy (first version)- mooch taking advantage of his girlfriend Almost all characters had some negative undertones. The additions of Chris and Ben and Andy 2.0 and getting rid of Mark and Andy 1.0 brought some balance to the cast. Now there was a balance between positive and negative and it became more entertaining to watch. Then Donna and Jerry were also promoted to main cast and that helped too.

Giving Chris pratt a more prominent role is what really saved it halfway thru the second season

This is how I’m starting to feel about Abbott Elementary - I feel like they need to introduce some new characters to shake up the dynamics

I have seen this in many series and movies where they try to have one character do many things and have many traits...only a few of such characters were ever allowed entry into pop culture by the fandom most dont make the cut... Sometimes it helps splitting one character into multiple ones and have them interact...it creates many more unique situations to drive character developement or plot progression...

oh man, looks like its time to rewatch parks and rec... again

How refreshing to see two male love interests be the one to highlight the female protagonists for a change 🥰

so true, whenever I rewatch the show I jump immeditatly to when Adam Scott and Rob Lowe show up

End of second season/beginning of third season is when it turned a corner. However, I can now go back and watch the first two seasons and enjoy the good moments. There are some funny moments in the first two seasons, but I only started to appreciate them after the series was complete.

If anyone ever saw the promotion for one of the later seasons where they are all on set out of character and Rob walks in and it’s just an evil psychopath to everyone. It’s the funniest shit in the world given his character in the show.

Whenever i rewatch the series I always start on the episodes that Chris and Ben arrive. I never really enjoyed the series until they joined.

I think Parks and Rec's biggest reason why people love it so much is because unlike most of the characters on The Office, the Parks and Rec characters really love and care about each other and you can feel it when you watch the show. The Office is hilarious don't get me wrong, and because of its success, we've been able to have shows like Parks and Rec and Brooklyn 99 and now Abbott Elementary thrive, but a lot of the humor is very mean spirited.

Ben (Adam Scott) is the most underrated one on the show! He keeps it so grounded and makes the jokes hit even harder. He also makes us feel such a range of emotion for a silly comedy.

How curious! I could never get into The Office it despite appearances from the actor playing Doug Judy. But I loved Parks and Rec from episode one. Rob Lowe sure was amazing and I thought it was so cool he stayed on the show for so long. Thanks for posting this! Loved your note about how things were allowed to learn from mistakes and improve. I bet in today's world Seinfeld would have been cancelled after season 1!

s3 is when I started getting into this show because of Ben and Chris. They definitely saved this show with those two. I have been able to watch the first two seasons after finally enjoying the show and it is funny but It's just not the same. I was so sad when Chris and Anne left.

I honestly rarely rewatch the show wihtout just starting from season 2 episode 23, I loved the show from the beginning but the show truly blossomed when Chris and Ben showed up

I had forgotten about this channel

That was so good, thank you.

Every time I marathon parks and rec I get unreasonably happy when Ben and Chris show up😁

I love the moments when Chris is delightfully aware when people are being rude or sarcastic to him and he just points it out while smiling

I will always have fond memories of watching the show during summer break with my buddy while we stayed up till three or four in the morning.

I have rewatched this show countless times, but from S2 Ep23, I see complations of the series and am reminded of earlier bits that I've totally forgotten despite watching the rest over and over.

I watched the first episodes and thought "just an office clone" and didn't have much hope, but bringing in Ben and Chris made it an entirely different show. That allowed the characters to really flesh out and grow, especially Leslie and Andy. Did Ron Swanson become Nick Offerman, or did Nick Offerman become Ron Swanson? The character is so distinctive that's impossible to think of anyone BUT Nick in the role. I also loved how Pawnee Indiana and it's citizens just became more and more bizarre, yet completely realistic (if you've ever lived in a small town) as the show went on.

Something low key about Ann and Chris is that they don’t feel the need to get married even by the finale, and that’s great to show. Sometimes people are comfortable where they are and don’t need a wedding to validate their love.

I watched something like the first six episodes and was just waiting and waiting for it to be funny, and I finally gave up on it. Fast forward a year later and I am having a conversation with friends about must watch television shows. One of my friends mentions Parks & Rec and I just looked at him like he was crazy. I was surprised because this particular friend knows funny and our tastes tend to be similar. I told him that I watched a bunch of episodes and it was remarkably unfunny. He tells me that somewhere around halfway through the first season it starts to get funny. I decided to give it another chance, but, once again, start from the first episode to make sure what I wasn't mistaken about the episodes I did see. I was not mistaken. However, literally the very next episode after the one where I decided to give up on it, it became funny, and the rest of the season was just as funny. Loved the whole run of the show and I am glad that I decided to give it a second chance.

4:36 That was brilliantly used.

Parks and Recs like A Different World is the perfect example of how casting, character development and writing can revamp a series so well in season 2

I'll admit, I almost stopped watching Parks and Recreation on streaming, but their addition got me so hooked I finished every single episode.

I actually really liked Parks & Recreation's first season; I just thought it had a slower start. But I think Parks & Recreation became a better story than The Office did by the time both series were completed.

I’m working through a rewatch and am a couple of episodes away from Ben and Chris’ introduction. While it is slowly coming together Ben and Chris are the puzzle pieces we don’t know we are missing yet.

The real turning point I think was when Parks & Rec chose to take a positive route instead of a negative one. I don't like The Office because of how depressing I find it, and how the characters are all pretty mean to each other, but I love Parks & Rec because Leslie and Chris and Andy generate so much joy and positivity, and everyone actually bonds and becomes good friends who help each other. It's so heartwarming and the lessons and character journeys are just amazing.

I couldn’t get into The Office, but Parks & Rec was great…as long as you give it more than a few episodes. It’s a slow start. Also, Ben is the best character ever. Most adorable nerd character ever.

Love your videos. But why do you say "pragmatist" strangely??

When I rewatch, I start with Ben and Chris' first episode! I know there are some good episodes before that, but I definitely agree that they made it a different show, and in particular the overhaul of Leslie's character was desperately needed.

On recent rewatch, I was surprised that Ben and Chris showed up at the end of 2nd season because I remembered that the show improved only after their arrival. But honestly 2nd season is amazing right from the beginning. Writers managed to make the show great right after rough 1st season and further elevated it with the addition of the loveable auditors.

i watched Parks & rec from the beginning. Love the show. i truly dont remember any episodes from that first season. Lowe and Scott's additions truly reinvented the show.

Not to mention Chris's character making name recognition for the whole case spike

Maybe true but my favourites are still April and Ron

Parks and Rec is one of my all time favorite shows. I did like it before these two characters showed up simply because I've always like the friendship between Leslie and Ann but don't mistake that as me not seeing the other problems in the show's tone or how these two and their addition totally changed everything. There is a reason why season 3 is where that show comes into its own... it is because of Chris and Ben!

I’ll never forget that I had to watch the first season like four times before I could move on, because I would always watch after a long day of school and I kept falling asleep 💀💀 soooo glad I made it through that low key wet cement, because it’s one of my top faaavorite shows of all time, now and probs forever ❤️

Yess sirrrr! The last couple of episodes for Season 2 is when this show really started gel together.

I just watched the whole show with my kids and husband. They were ALL entertained. What a great show start to finish.

Definitely more complicated than this as The Office also had Season 1 issues that they worked out and Season 2 had some great episodes before they joined, but Adam Scott coming in added so much to the show and getting Rob Lowe was just a bonus.

The first season and most of the second was pretty brutal. However, I’ve never seen a show make such a 360 degree turn and transform into one of the most classic shows of ALL-TIME!

I always debate skipping season one when i rewatch this show. This video was cool to watch, gave me some insight to why I do that

as a huge ben wyatt fan (might be my favorite behind april) I thank the showrunners for hiring adam scott every time I rewatch the series

I love Rob Lowe. He's such a great actor. Chris is one of his best characters ever. I was already a fan of Parks & Rec prior to Chris and Ben showing up. They just cemented the series as one of my all-time favorites. I'll take this over The Office anyday.

I watched Parks more times than I can remember and I almost always start on the episode when Ben and Chris arrive! Sometimes I start a bit sooner with “Tammy”

Great video.

There were three things I think. All in combination. Clearly after the show writers realised this isnt working and we need a new direction. 1) Ben Wyatt and Chris Traeger arrive. 2) Mark Brandanowitz departs 3) Lesie becomes Competent and Driven but restrained by her position, instead of incompetent but Idealistic.

I watched it for the first two seasons and was going to stop there until Rob Lowe and Adam Scott came on board. Season 3, 4, 5 and 6 were some of the best comedy on TV.

Chris. Traeger. Ben. Wyatt. 2 of LITERALLY the best characters ever conceived.

Not knowing what i know now about the show i did notice a big jump in quality season 2 but i did enjoy 1 still. The biggest change was Andy, even not knowing you can tell they did a major rehaul on his character

Damn I love this show. Might be time for my 20th rewatch

Parks and Rec is my favorite sitcom but I defiantly feel like outside of a few episodes its a chore to get through it until their introduction.

I agree two characters saved Parks and Rec, however it was the development/breakout of Ron Swanson from a somewhat stoic/odd minor player into Ron “effing” Swanson and the shift in character arc of Andy Dwyer. Ron and Tammy episode was where the show really, well, started to gain its own identity imo.

Ben and the Treat yo self and Cones of Dunshire episodes were peak.

It’s cool to know the original idea still shined through with Ben

Biggest miss the finale made was when Ron said something like "I looked around and I didn't recognise anyone working with me" and they showed a bunch of random extras as the new members of the department, they should have got Mark to just be sitting in there with them. I'm sure Paul wasn't busy that day.

The burger cook off between Chris and Ron is a classic!

Ah man now I need to watch parks and rec again

I remember when my wife got me to watch parks and rec and as soon as they made the changes to knope I was hooked. Once she became this passionate optimist who was good at her job the show became so much more enjoyable

parks was saved at the start of season 2, they arrived at the end of season 2, i loved ben and chriss, and they are top tier characters, but the show was saved before them

So what I learned is if I can get through season one I'll enjoy parks and rec as much as the office. Duly noted.

Even at her dumbest, the character of Leslie Knope was always smarter than michael scott. I think the two characters helped the show. I original gave up on the show after the first episode, this is when it was already on Netflix. A friend said the show got better so I gave it a chance. I'm glad I did, the show was so much better than the office ever was to me.

"Stop pooping" Literally, a Top 5 moment. Thank you Rob Lowe.

I admit, season one wasn't my favourite. Season two was way better even before Chris and Andy showed up, but the final two episodes of season two, which they appeared in, I enjoyed more than some of the series' other episodes. I was definitely glad they joined the main cast, and I was sad to see Chris go in the later part of season six. Chris was downright lovable from the beginning. I harboured no angst for him when he nearly destroyed Leslie and Ben's careers. I'm also glad that he and Ann got back together and started a family. I enjoy Ben because he's a nerd like myself who I can relate to. Second, he has gone through hardship after hardship since he was eighteen and got impeached. I admit I wasn't big on him and Leslie as a couple, mainly because I hate Leslie passionately, despite agreeing she's one of the better politicians I've seen. She was the reason Ben had to resign in disgrace from assistant manager, he lost his job at Sweetums, and probably is the reason he may not be president of the United States. My point being, Chris and Ben are awesome characters and I enjoyed them a lot. Their actors are amazing and I thank the writers for bringing them on.

I'll treat myself by watching this video and subscribing

The simple fact is both lowe and Scott brought an energy that was needed. And... tobacco Lowe us one if those stars it is impossible to dislike. We probably ought to dislike him - some of his past stuff is truly unforgivable (sleeping with underage girls included) but somehow he gets away with it by being. Rob lowe.

While Ben and Chris were undoubtedly amazing additions to the show, I would argue Parks and Rec already found its footing for most of the 2nd season, when Leslie's characterization was changed and the show no longer felt it had to be an Office knockoff.

First and 2 nd season were the best stopped watching after that

I also think Ben filled the role of the "straight man" far better than anyone else had, which the show desperately needed. So many jokes landed for me simply because of Ben's reaction.

Parks and rec is my sitcom goat unpopular opinion I know but I never got into the office so getting into parks and rec it was fresh for me and I loved it still do

I like the first season. It starts off slowly but the last two or three episodes are really good.

Yes shows need more time and room to develop!! And not immediately be cancelled. Contrary they need to cancel the drivel that keeps getting season after season!

I always tell people to start this show with the last two ep of season 2, glad to see this isn't just an independent thought.

I like the 6 episode first season idea. The office did the same. It becomes almost an extended pilot episode/idea. The writes can see what works and what needs to be changed and then hit the ground running from season 2. You as the viewer don't need to invest as much time in the series either.