Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler admits she doesn’t remember the plot of the classic sitcom. Though it did indeed later become considered one of the great comedy shows of of the 21st Century, the series fondly known as Parks and Rec certainly didn’t get off to a very momentous start after it debuted in 2009. But following some tweaking of characters and tone, the show took off creatively in season 2 and soon established itself as a legendary comedy.
Set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, Parks and Rec offered up a unique combination of sharp satire and warm-hearted character comedy as it depicted a group of oddball people toiling away in local government, led by the ever optimistic Parks Department deputy director Leslie Knope (Poehler). In addition to Poehler, the show’s quirky cast featured a group of performers who have all become household names, including Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt and Aziz Ansari. Despite that great cast and loads of critical acclaim, the show never quite took off as a ratings hit and finally saw its run come to an end in 2015.
Poehler and company still talk about the potential of a Parks and Rec revival even five years after it aired its last original episode, but if that revival ever does happen, it seems Poehler will need a refresher on her character and the other goings-on from the show’s 7-season run. As she explained during a quarantine edition of Late Night With Seth Meyers, she has been re-watching the sitcom with her kids but is unable to answer their questions about what happens next because she doesn’t remember (see video of Poehler's Late Night appearance in the space below):
“I don’t just say this because I am on it, it’s such a good show to watch right now cause it makes you feel good and it’s about a bunch of people working together to solve problems. But it’s really funny because my kids are always like, ‘Mom what happens?’ and I’m like ‘I don’t know.’ I don’t remember. I don’t remember any of it. It’s one long blur. I mean, I remember shooting the scenes and how I felt when I was shooting the scenes, but the actual story of episode to episode I couldn’t even tell you, so it’s pretty fun to watch again.”
Of course, being a sitcom, Parks and Rec doesn’t necessarily rely on continuing story arcs week-to-week, so the question of what happens next isn’t quite as pressing as it would be on a drama with an on-going storyline like Breaking Bad. Indeed, the comedy on Parks and Rec grew more out of character than story as the show’s collection of eccentric small town weirdos developed over the years into an interesting ensemble played by a group of comedically gifted actors whose rapport became razor sharp.
Sadly, in the current era of TV with shortened seasons and more emphasis on over-arching narratives, sitcoms like Parks and Recreation that truly adhere to the classic “situation comedy” formula are becoming rarer and rarer. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why shows like Parks and Rec, The Office, Seinfeld and Friends maintain such loyal followings years after running out of original episodes. Though shows with on-going narratives can definitely be rewarding, there’s also something nice about a series you can dive into at any point and enjoy without much context. If new shows aren't being made that satisfy people's craving for quick jolts of commitment-free comedy, then folks will keep returning to the old ones.
Source: Late Night With Seth Meyers