Parks and Recreation started off slow but ended up being a crowd favorite and running for seven seasons. With over 120 episodes, we got to know the government workers of Pawnee's Parks and Rec. Department. With Leslie Knope as the city's (former) Deputy Director, we get to know the people she works with and relies on. And while fans have a love/hate relationship with every character on Parks and Rec (just like every other sitcom on TV), many seem to despise Aziz Ansari's character Tom Haverford.
Haverford doesn't seem to work when he's under Leslie's watch but we do see him working hard when it benefits himself. Furthermore, his obsession with women, his personal appearance, and his disregard for the feelings of others is what makes this character so uncomfortable to watch. He also has this child-like sense about him that doesn't make a single viewer pity him when he goes through a rough patch. While Tom does have some redeeming qualities about him, we're taking a look at 10 of the worst things he's ever done.
HE DID WHAT BENEFITED HIM A LESLIE'S MEET 'G GREET
When Leslie runs for office, she has the support of her fellow parks and rec. department. After she loses her professional team, her friends step in so that Leslie can live out her dream.
However, in the episode "Meet N Greet," Leslie asks for the help of Entertainment 7Twenty (Tom's newest business venture). But instead of helping Leslie, he took the time to advertise and market himself, which ended up embarrassing Leslie. To make a big moment for Leslie all about himself really showed his true colors.
HE MADE FUN OF JERRY'S HEART ATTACK
In the Parks And Recreation episode "Halloween Surprise," we see Leslie going through a hard time with Ben (who was working long distance in Washington DC). To lift her spirits, she and Ann decide to scare Tom when he exits the bathroom. However, instead of scaring Tom, it was Jerry that exited the bathroom first who was so caught off guard that he actually went into cardiac arrest.
In classic Jerry fashion, he proceeded to fart during his heart attack, which Tom decided to poke fun at. Call us crazy but one shouldn't be made fun of for how their body reacts during an uncontrollable heart attack. Shame on you, Tom.
HE HID THE FACT THAT HE SHOT RON IN THE HEAD
In the second season, we see the gang going hunting. It's typically a "guys only" trip but Leslie protested, which allowed her, Ann, and Donna to tag along. In this particular episode, we see Ron really come alive in his element. He's an outdoorsman who appreciates being in the solitude of nature but he seems pretty annoyed by the tomfoolery going on with his co-workers.
Eventually, we see that Ron's been accidentally shot in the head but by who? Leslie, as usual, takes the blame even though it wasn't her. It was actually Tom. Tom does step forward eventually but the fact that he let Leslie take the fall really showed his character.
TRIES TO BLACKMAIL HIS EX-WIFE
It was concerning for fans to find out Tom was married to a gorgeous doctor like Wendy after seeing him try to flirt with every woman who looks his way. As we find out though, his marriage to Wendy was actually a green card marriage to help her from being deported to Canada.
It's obvious that Tom has feelings for the beautiful woman who took his last name but he took those feelings too far when he tried to blackmail her from leaving their relationship. Again, this kind of action shows Tom's maturity level is at an all-time low.
WHEN HE BECOMES A JUDGE IN THE MISS PAWNEE PAGEANT
In the earlier seasons, Pawnee is gearing up for the Miss Pawnee Pageant. Leslie announces that she's a guest judge which peeks Tom and April's interest. April learns that the winner can take home a cash prize so she decides to enter.
Likewise, Tom decides to join the pageant as well but as a judge alongside Leslie. Why does he care about who becomes Miss Pawnee? Well, he gets to be around beautiful women in bikinis which really shows his creep factor. He wheels and deals his way to be on the panel where he's then seen giving the ladies a copy of his house key for an "after-party." Sure, Tom.
HE TOOK BEN'S 'MAN OF THE YEAR' SHINE
I don't know why Tom feels the need to make every single event about him (even when it doesn't involve him in any way), but that just shows that Tom is a needy little man who can't stand when the spotlight is on other people.
In the seventh season, we see everyone getting ready for the Pawnee Bicentennial Celebration where Ben is being given the Pawnee’s Man of the Year award. Oddly enough, Tom is presenting the award to Ben but instead of using that time to boast about what an amazing person Ben was, he talked about himself. To make matters even more awkward, Ben's speech was even cut short so his time to shine was never really his.
CRASHED RON'S CAR
In the episode "Sex Education," we finally see Tom's addiction to technology come to a fiery end. He runs his car into a fire hydrant while tweeting and driving so Ron decides to make him endure a week of no screens.
To help Tom, Ron takes him to his secluded cabin in the woods where Tom can't seem to hack it, steals Ron's car, and crashes it while looking at his phone once again. Ron and Tom work out a deal to fix his broken Buick, but it's pretty telling how Tom handles his downfalls and how he respects his friends.
DOESN'T TAKE BEN'S HELP SERIOUSLY
After going bankrupt, Tom enlists the help of Ben to take a look at their books to see where they went wrong and how they can improve his business. Ben stops by Entertainment 720's headquarters which shows NBA players shooting hoops, fake money being printed, multiple receptionists who claim to make six figures a year, and multiple dance parties throughout the day.
Ben literally took the time out of his busy schedule to help Tom and for Tom to not take it seriously just so he can keep up with his status is disheartening.
HIS SEXIST BEHAVIOR
It's interesting that Tom has so much outward confidence even though he doesn't do too well with the ladies. Sure, we know he was married to a stunning doctor but that was a green card marriage. We later see him dating Lucy who was an awesome example on him but he ruined that by talking about Wendy too much.
Throughout the seven seasons, it appears that Tom only does things that make him seem cool to the ladies, which is rather sad. And when he does attract a woman, he tends to demoralize and sexualize them in every way possible.
HE LOST LIL SEBASTIAN AT THE HARVEST FESTIVAL
In the third season, we finally see the Harvest Festival come together, thanks to the hard work of the Parks and Rec. Department. Leslie, pretty much, planned the entire event herself and made it a grand success when she was able to get Lil Sebastian to make an appearance! She left Tom in charge of keeping an eye on Lil Sebastian, but in classic Tom fashion, he left and appointed Jerry in charge.
Somehow or another, Lil Sebastian escaped and Tom passed the blame on to Jerry. Knowing how important this mini horse is to the city of Pawnee, you would think Tom would have put more pride into this job. Sign. Will he ever learn?