“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Don’t teach a man to fish and you feed yourself. He’s a grown man. Fishing’s not that hard.”
– Ron Swanson

For those of you who don’t know, Parks and Recreation is not just an office in your local city hall—it is also the best comedy currently on television. And it may not look like it, but I’ve been trying to write a post about this show for a while. Every time I started, though, I’d get caught up in watching clips and realizing that the characters of Parks and Recreation can say why it’s the best a lot better than I ever could.

So without any further ado, here they are, your favorite bureaucrats of Pawnee, Indiana:

Leslie Knope, Deputy Parks Director

Ron Swanson, Director of Parks and Recreation

Tom Haverford, Parks and Recreation Administrator

Ben Wyatt, Deputy City Manager

April Ludgate, Intern

Andy Dwyer, assistant to Leslie Knope, also known as Johnny Karate, former frontman of Mouse Rat, former aspiring police officer, former shoe shiner

Ann Perkins, Public Relations Director of the Health Department

Chris Traeger, City Manager

Donna Meagle, Office Manager

And, of course, Li’l Sebastian, town hero and miniature horse extraordinaire.

Questions? Concerns? I’ll be eating waffles at JJ’s Diner if anyone needs me.

Oh, I forgot about Jerry Gergich. Or Gary. Or maybe it’s Larry? Meh, doesn’t matter.

Catherine Kramer

Catherine Kramer (’14) has a degree in English and works in publishing. Her continued existence is made possible by grace, warm hugs, and iced chai lattes.