| "Smallest Park" | |
|---|---|
| Parks and Recreation episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 8 |
| Directed by | Nicole Holofcener |
| Written by | Chelsea Peretti |
| Original air date | November 17, 2011 |
"Smallest Park" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation . [1] It originally aired in the United States on November 17, 2011. The episode was written by Chelsea Peretti [1] and directed by Nicole Holofcener.
After Pawnee removed the last of its pay phones Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) turn the patch of concrete where the phones were into the smallest park in Indiana. Still struggling to deal with the couple's break-up, Ben tells Leslie the smallest park will be the last project they work on together. Wanting to spend more time with Ben, Leslie tries to slow down the project, holding a public meeting and later telling local residents the park will host noisy events. After Leslie gets the residents to protest, Ben opens the park and tells Chris Traeger he no longer wants to work with Leslie. Leslie turns to her best friend Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) who tells Leslie she agrees with Ben that Leslie can be a steam roller. Leslie acknowledges she can be overbearing and tries to change. Leslie asks Ben to meet her at the smallest park where she agrees to respect his feelings and give him his space. Leslie tells Ben there is another option; they can violate Chris' rule forbidding them to date and risk jeopardizing her campaign for city council and start dating again. Ben responds to Leslie's speech by kissing her.
Chris asks Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) to pick out a new font for the Parks Department's logo and assigns Jerry Gergich (Jim O'Heir) to help. Tom is frustrated to be performing menial tasks at the Parks department after his business failed. Jerry enjoys the consistency that government work offers and shares with Tom that he still carries his original employee ID from the 1970s. The ID inspires Tom to use the font from the 1970s for nostalgia.
Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) decides to take a college course. April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) and Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) go with Andy as he tries out various courses including a guitar class for beginners and a class on lasers. Andy finally decides to take a women's studies course, but realizes he can't afford it. Ron offers to pay for Andy's class.
"Smallest Park" received 3.680 million live and same day views when it first aired on November 17, 2011. The episode received a 2.0 rating among viewers 18–49. [2]
Steve Heisler of The AV Club gave the episode an A, praising the show for being "unafraid to put everything out there" and leaving the viewer wondering where the show will go next. [1] Matt Fowler of IGN expressed frustration over the Leslie and Ben storyline, although he noted that the episode was funny. [3]
"Media Blitz" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 35th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 17, 2011. In the episode, the parks department tries to draw media attention for the upcoming harvest festival, but the press becomes fixated on Ben's past political mistakes. Meanwhile, Andy Dwyer takes on all of April Ludgate's errands with the hopes of convincing her not to move to Indianapolis.
"Hunting Trip" is the tenth episode of the second season of American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the sixteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 19, 2009. In the episode, Leslie tries to prove she can hang out with the guys by attending Ron's annual hunting trip, where Ron is accidentally shot.
"Tom's Divorce" is the 11th episode of the second season of American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the seventeenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on December 3, 2009. In the episode, Tom gets a divorce and Leslie tries to cheer him up, unaware it was a green card marriage. Meanwhile, Andy challenges Mark to a game of pool with the hopes of winning back Ann's affections.
"Leslie's House" is the 14th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the twentieth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on January 21, 2010. In the episode, Leslie holds a dinner party to impress her boyfriend Justin, but ends up recruiting town employees and potentially abusing her government power.
"Woman of the Year" is the 17th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 23rd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 4, 2010. In the episode, Ron is presented with a woman of the year award, much to the frustration of Leslie. Meanwhile, Tom tries to seek investors in a nightclub ownership share, and April helps Andy look for an apartment.
"Summer Catalog" is the 20th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 26th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 25, 2010. In the episode, Leslie organizes a reunion with the last four Pawnee park directors, but is disappointed when it turns out they despise each other. Meanwhile, Tom tries to take a photo of Ann and Mark for the city's summer catalog, while the budding relationship of Andy and April continues to develop.
"Telethon" is the 22nd episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 28th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 6, 2010. In the episode, Leslie volunteers to host a charity telethon and is given the unappealing 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. shift.
"Flu Season" is the second episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 32nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on January 27, 2011. In the episode, a flu outbreak leaves Leslie ill, but she insists on making a public presentation about her proposed harvest festival. Meanwhile, Andy and Ron bond, and a hospital-bound April torments the nurse Ann.
"Indianapolis" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 36th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 24, 2011. In the episode, Leslie and Ron travel to Indianapolis to receive a commendation, while Ann suspects Chris is cheating on her. Meanwhile, Tom tries to pitch his personal fragrance to a cologne maker while simultaneously bonding with Ben.
"Andy and April's Fancy Party" is the ninth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 39th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 14, 2011. In the episode, Andy and April hold a dinner party, which turns out to be a surprise wedding, much to Leslie's concern. Meanwhile, Ben mulls whether to remain in Pawnee or return to his old job in Indianapolis, and Ann feels extremely uncomfortable while attending a singles mixer.
"Soulmates" is the tenth episode of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation's third season, and the 40th overall episode of the series. In the episode, Leslie is disappointed when Ben rejects her romantic advances, and is surprised when she is matched with Tom in an online dating service. Meanwhile, Ron and Chris have a cook-off to determine which is better: red meat or ground turkey. The episode was written by Alan Yang and directed by Ken Whittingham.
"Road Trip" is the fourteenth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 44th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 12, 2011. In the episode, Leslie and Ben are sent on a road trip together and struggle to keep their romantic feelings for each other at bay due to a policy that forbids office romances. Meanwhile, a Newlywed Game-style game show hosted by Tom leads to a fight between Andy and April.
"The Fight" is the thirteenth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 43rd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 12, 2011. In the episode, the parks department employees become very drunk during a bar outing, where Leslie and Ann have their first major fight. Meanwhile, Chris tells Tom he must sell his share in the bar due to a conflict with his government job. According to Nielsen Media Research, "The Fight" was seen by an estimated 4.55 million household viewers, a drop from the previous original episode, "Eagleton".
"The Bubble" is the fifteenth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 45th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 19, 2011. In the episode, Leslie becomes nervous when her new boyfriend Ben has a business meeting with her tough mother, Marlene. Meanwhile, Chris tries to make some changes in the parks department, much to the chagrin of the staff.
"I'm Leslie Knope" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 47th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on September 22, 2011. In the episode, Leslie Knope faces trouble telling Ben Wyatt that she is running for public office, which will cause them to have to end their secret relationship. Meanwhile, Ron braces himself for the arrival of his first ex-wife, "Tammy I".
"Pawnee Rangers" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. Unlike many episodes during the fourth season that focus on Leslie's campaign for city council, this episode hardly even mentions it. "Pawnee Rangers" garnered 3.99 million viewers, a decrease in viewers from the previous episode. The episode was written by Alan Yang and was directed by Charles McDougall.
"Bowling for Votes" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 59th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on January 26, 2012.
"Bus Tour" is the twenty-first episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 67th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 3, 2012.
"Halloween Surprise" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 73rd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 25, 2012.
