"Smallest Park" | |||
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Parks and Recreation episode | |||
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 8 |
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Directed by | Nicole Holofcener | ||
Written by | Chelsea Peretti | ||
Original air date | November 17, 2011 | ||
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List of season 4 episodes List of Parks and Recreation episodes |
"Smallest Park" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 54th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 17, 2011. In the episode, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) tries to delay the opening of a park in order to spend more time with Ben (Adam Scott), Tom (Aziz Ansari) is asked to update the Parks and Recreation logo, and Andy (Chris Pratt) goes back to college.
The episode received very positive reviews with many critics responding positively to the rekindling of Leslie and Ben's relationship.
Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ben (Adam Scott) have collaborated on a project to establish the smallest park in Indiana. However, Ben tells Leslie that he plans to focus on other departments after it opens because he is sadly reminded of their failed romantic relationship when he's around her. Leslie decides to delay the opening of the park for as long as possible so they can keep working together. Chris (Rob Lowe) asks Tom (Aziz Ansari) and Jerry (Jim O'Heir) to create a new logo for the parks department, which is basically just choosing a new font, but Tom wants to do much more. Andy (Chris Pratt) plans to go back to college, starting with one class.
April (Aubrey Plaza) suggests that Andy take an easy class for a high grade, while Ron (Nick Offerman) suggests Andy challenge himself with a tougher class. Andy finds the easy class and tougher class equally boring, so Andy randomly chooses Intro to Women's Studies, which he finds fascinating. Unfortunately, he cannot afford the money to register, but Ron decides to pay for his class. Meanwhile, Tom goes overboard with Chris' project, making plans to remodel existing parks and pitch a reality show. Jerry warns that Tom's outlandish thinking was what doomed Tom's company, Entertainment 720. Tom is depressed about his future as a mindless bureaucrat, but when he sees Jerry's first ID card from 1977, he becomes inspired by its font. He pitches the font for the new logo, along with a line of limited edition merchandise based on it, which are well-received by Chris.
Leslie holds a public forum on the smallest park and tries to make it as long as possible, but is annoyed when the usually cantankerous Pawnee townspeople are supportive of the park and the forum ends quickly. Leslie distributes flyers the town stating that the park will hold loud events and other falsehoods, prompting a protest demanding an environmental impact report which will take a year to release, allowing Leslie and Ben to keep working together. Ben disperses the protestors by refuting all of Leslie's claims, and tells Chris that he no longer wants to work with Leslie because she never respects his wishes and always demands things her way.
Ann (Rashida Jones) tells Leslie that Ben is right about her overbearing need to have things her way, but after seeing how sad she is, Ann privately asks Ben to talk to Leslie. Ben meets with Leslie at the smallest park where the two reluctantly agree to keep their distance from each other. As Ben prepares to leave, Leslie says that she wants him back and doesn't care if it will jeopardize her city council campaign or her job. The two kiss, ready to face the consequences of their relationship.
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