Amy Poehler

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Lore & Background

Amy Poehler portrayed Leslie Knope, the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department in Pawnee, Indiana. The character underwent major changes after the first season in response to audience feedback that she seemed unintelligent and 'ditzy.' The writing staff incorporated current events into episodes, such as a government shutdown in Pawnee inspired by the 2011 U.S. federal government shutdown. Poehler's Leslie Knope is a perky, optimistic bureaucrat whose ultimate goal is to become President of the United States. The series' ensemble cast includes Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Paul Schneider as Mark Brendanawicz, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Jim O'Heir as Garry 'Jerry' Gergich, Retta as Donna Meagle, and Billy Eichner as Craig Middlebrooks. Real-life political figures including Newt Gingrich made cameo appearances in later episodes; Michelle Obama appeared in a video message, but Joe Biden did not appear.

In Their Own Story

In the first season, Leslie Knope, as deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department, promises local nurse Ann Perkins to turn a construction pit beside her house into a park after Ann's boyfriend Andy Dwyer fell in and broke both legs. Despite resistance from parks director Ron Swanson, an anti-government libertarian, and city planner Mark Brendanawicz, who insists the project is unrealistic, Leslie pushes forward. In the second season, the pit is eventually filled in after Leslie takes it upon herself to fill it without permission, not realizing Andy was in the pit. The third season opens with the Pawnee government reopened after a budget deficit led state auditors Chris Traeger and Ben Wyatt to temporarily shut it down. Leslie makes a deal to bring back the Pawnee Harvest Festival; if it fails, the Parks Department will be eliminated. The festival becomes a tremendous success. The fourth season deals with Leslie's campaign to run for city council. In the fifth season, Leslie begins working as a City Councilor, and she and Ben get married midway through the season. The sixth season sees Leslie lose a recall vote and return to the Parks Department full-time, while Ben is voted in as the next City Manager. In the seventh season, set in 2017, Ron and Leslie are shown to be enemies due to Ron's company tearing down Ann's old house to build an apartment building, but they reconnect to correct an issue with a technology company, Gryzzl.

Reader's Guide

The writers researched local California politics for the series and consulted with urban planners and elected officials. The series was part of NBC's 'Comedy Night Done Right' programming during its Thursday night prime-time block. *Parks and Recreation* received mixed reviews during its first season, including comparisons to *The Office*, a sitcom also produced by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. After a re-approach to its tone and format, the second and subsequent seasons were widely acclaimed. In *Time*'s 2012 year-end lists issue, *Parks and Recreation* was named the number one television series of that year. In 2013, after receiving four consecutive nominations in the category, the show won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. The series also received a Peabody Award. The principal cast starting in season one included Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Pratt. Several cast members were introduced or developed after the first season, including Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O'Heir, Retta, and Billy Eichner.

Did You Know?

• Amy Poehler was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance as Leslie Knope but did not win.
• The series aired 125 original episodes over seven seasons from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, with a special reunion episode on April 30, 2020, making a total of 126 episodes.
• A special reunion episode aired on April 30, 2020.
• Real-life political figures including Newt Gingrich made cameo appearances in later episodes; Michelle Obama appeared in a video message, but Joe Biden did not appear.
• In Time's 2012 year-end lists issue, Parks and Recreation was named the number one television series of that year.

Career & Achievements

Amy Poehler starred as Leslie Knope in *Parks and Recreation*, which aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, for 125 episodes over seven seasons. A special reunion episode aired on April 30, 2020. Poehler's performance won a Golden Globe Award and the series received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. The show earned 14 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including two for Outstanding Comedy Series. In 2013, *Parks and Recreation* won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. The series also received a Peabody Award. In *Time*'s 2012 year-end lists issue, *Parks and Recreation* was named the number one television series of that year.

Character Evolution & Writing

Leslie Knope underwent major changes after the first season, in response to audience feedback that the character seemed unintelligent and 'ditzy.' The writers researched local California politics for the series and consulted with urban planners and elected officials. The writing staff incorporated current events into the episodes, such as a government shutdown in Pawnee inspired by the 2008 financial crisis. The first season focuses on Leslie Knope, the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department, promising to turn a construction pit into a park. In the second season, the pit is filled in after Leslie takes it upon herself to fill it without permission. The third season sees Leslie make a deal to bring back the Pawnee Harvest Festival; if the festival fails, the Parks Department will be eliminated. The festival becomes a tremendous success. The fourth season deals with Leslie's campaign to run for city council. In the fifth season, Leslie begins working as a City Councilor and marries Ben Wyatt. The sixth season sees Leslie lose a recall vote and return to the Parks Department full-time. The seventh season, set in 2017, shows Ron and Leslie as enemies before reconnecting.

Ensemble Dynamics & Cast

The series stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope. The ensemble and supporting cast features Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Paul Schneider as Mark Brendanawicz, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Jim O'Heir as Garry 'Jerry' Gergich, Retta as Donna Meagle, and Billy Eichner as Craig Middlebrooks. Numerous actors made recurring guest appearances, including Pamela Reed as Leslie's mother Marlene Griggs-Knope, Ben Schwartz as Jean-Ralphio, Jenny Slate as Mona-Lisa, Jama Williamson as Wendy, Mo Collins as Joan Callamezzo, Jay Jackson as Perd Hapley, Alison Becker as Shauna Malwae-Tweep, Darlene Hunt as Marcia Langman, and Andy Forrest as Andy.

Cultural Impact & Legacy

Real-life political figures, including John McCain, Michelle Obama, Newt Gingrich, and Joe Biden, have cameos in later episodes. *Parks and Recreation* was part of NBC's 'Comedy Night Done Right' programming during its Thursday night prime-time block. The series received mixed reviews during its first season (including comparisons to *The Office*, a sitcom also produced by Daniels and Schur), but after a re-approach to its tone and format, the second and subsequent seasons were widely acclaimed. The show received several awards and nominations, including 14 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, a Golden Globe Award win for Poehler's performance, a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, and a Peabody Award. In *Time*'s 2012 year-end lists issue, *Parks and Recreation* was named the number one television series of that year. In 2013, the show won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.