I’ve learned my lesson to give a new show three to four episodes before passing judgment. Yes, your Dominus too can grow and learn. The magnanimousness I exert is that I’ll often be subjected to a lame show for several episodes making sure that it does indeed suck. However, if it’s a good premise, writing and acting – and, while I’m wishing, a multi-ethnic lesbian cast – then it’s less so of a sacrifice and more a pleasure.

Four shows into watching the new comedy series Parks and Recreation, I’ve decided it’s a pleasure … like finding a dollar in your pocket but far from a laugh orgy.

“… whistle blow myself.” Hee … hee … ho. Such comedic obliviousness abounds in this series. Amy Poehler plays Pawnee, Indiana city government employee Leslie Knope, a blonde female Michael Scott from The Office – which is such a great show it’s creators cloned it.

That’s not really fair to say though since the themes are slightly different. Scott is an extreme version of your stupid boss, while Knop’s is an unrealistic idealist in government surrounded by realists, the petty and the apathetic. Michael wants to make work a fun-loving family affair, but Leslie wants to change the world as an empowered woman from a position of extremely little power. These differences aside, it plays very much The Office, complete with documentary style shooting, but whatever got Kath and Kim off the air can’t be horrendous.

The one stand out is Aziz Ansari who plays the ultra douche bag Tom Haverford, such a sell out he changed his name to hide his Indian heritage – as though that could hide his terrorist look. This alone is a satirical comment on the concept of Middle Easterner assimilating to fit into post-911 government. He abuses the little sway his position gives him in everyway as well as Leslie’s peace of mind via incessant mocking of her ideas. Tom makes an excellent foil. Rashida Jones’ Anne Perkins (local citizen nurse) and city planner Mark Brandanawicz (Paul Schneider) are the only two that really help Knop’s from a place of sad sympathy for her kind if ambitious heart. With time the rest of the cast can develop into memorable tropes, but for now aren’t worth mentioning – if I could remember their characters.

If you really like The Office you’ll like Parks and Recreation in the same way that if you like blowjobs you’ll like hummer’s too. It’s really that close.

Popularity: unranked [?]