"Parks and Recreation," much improved

The show is great. It's the most consistently enjoyable show on television.

I was listing half the cast to point out that, while I like him very much, in no way is Ben funnier than any of those characters. My order: Ron Fucking Swanson, Andy Dwyer, Chris Traeger, April Roberta Ludgate, Tom Haverford. Tom was the first character to break through during that very uneven six-episode first season, but he's slipped a little as they've removed him from the office more.

Leslie Knope is an amazing character. Ben Wyatt has really grown on me. Jerry Gergich and Donna Meagle are great foils. Anne Perkins is ... she fills a key role in that she's hot. But those first five are the funniest.

 

The cut shot with Andy exploding in laughter after Pistol Pete fell last week was perfect. Everyone else is concerned that Pete may have paralyzed himself, and Andy just enjoys the moment for what it is. I can see where his one trick could get old quickly, though. But I'm not sure if you can add a whole lot of depth to his character seeing how he's been portrayed throughout the series so far.

 

Superb editing, great acting; its the funniest show on TV right now. None other is close. And who cares who is the funniest character; they all are.

Extra kudos to the show for being funny without being hateful, a trap that a show like 30 Rock often falls into. The newer incarnation of The Office also seems more gentle, and I like it.

As for Parks and Rec, it seems that every week there is at least one scene I need to rewind and watch again. This week, it was Andy's "I put ramen in the coffee pot and broke everything" line and Ben's reaction to his animated film. Loved the horrified realization he had spent three weeks on 3 seconds of film. So funny.

 

Oh, but you just listed all the characters you like? Tom is slightly overrated, as is April. Ben has substance and it's funny how he is just about the most sensible person on the show and how he deals with the others' shenanigans. Ron Swanson is Ron Swanson, which is perfect. Andy hasn't been as funny this season as he was in the other seasons. Ann is annoying.

 

Tom is the funniest person on the show, to me. Ron a close second. And, really, they feed off each other. Stoic Ron and GQ Tom.

Jean Ralphio is the Creed of this show. Terrific when deployed correctly. Or maybe more accurate is the Todd Packer of this show.

 

No, Leslie's my favorite character. I listed the characters who consistently say and do funny things most often. The funniest characters.

 

I miss DJ Roomba.

 

I'll sign on to all of this. Jean-Ralphio is sensational in small doses.

 

For best character, it's a tie between Detlef Schrempf and Roy Hibbert.

 

I find it uproariously funny that Detlef Schrempf occasionally shows up as the token celebrity at Pawnee events. Just such a smart little satire of exurb-ian existence. I can't tell you how many times I see some bar or other business promoting the hell out of the appearance of some random '85 Chicago Bear. One of the smartest little jokes on the show, IMHO.

 

Schrempt should have dunked on the ice, now that would have been epic.

 

It is my favorite show on TV. But they do run the risk sometimes of becoming a series of quirky moments instead of a cohesive plot.