Parks & Recreation: “Bowling for Votes”

For the first time in quite a while, all three storylines of “[easyazon-link asin=”B0072C8UN8″]Bowling For Votes[/easyazon-link]” ‘focus’ (See what I did there?) on the same topic – Leslie’s campaign to become a Pawnee City Councilwoman.

As Leslie’s campaign manager, Ben decides to arrange some focus groups to capitalize on her crusade’s building momentum. We see an uncomfortable moment when Leslie gets to see herself through the group’s participant’s eyes. Leslie has another one of her amazingly good ideas when she inadvertently takes a suggestion that she wouldn’t be good to go bowling with – and suggests they have a Meet & Greet at a bowling alley.

She sends a special handmade invitation to Derek, the man so vehemently against giving her his vote. She is determined to win him over by allowing him to beat her (She also buys him wings and beer). Ben keeps reminding her that she has other constituents to sway, but in true Knope fashion, she just can’t waver from the project upon which she sets her sights. During their match, we becomes increasingly aware that Derek is a sexist jerk. When she concedes her loss, she asks for his vote, to which he responds again – “no”. After some insults are traded, she lets him know that she allowed him to win, and challenges him to another round – in which she will try to beat him.

Leslie finally wins – but he remarks that he will “just write-in ‘bitch'” when he votes for her, which enrages Ben and he knocks the man out. Leslie finds Ben’s gesture romantic and ‘awesome’, and they kiss in front of a photographer – with Derek laying flat behind them. The pair discuss their options at their usual place, J.J.’s diner, and he offers to resign so they can avoid any backlash from the press. She refuses his offer, so Ben gives her simple advice about what she should say.

Leslie goes the standard ‘I’m sorry’ route at the press conference until she decides to tell the absolute truth. When she calls Derek a jerk in front of reporters, he calls her a bitch yet again. That results in an upsurge in her popularity at the next focus group.

I love the theme the showrunners have written for Leslie’s bid for office. That her choices, albeit unconventional and seemingly subversive, are the correct choices for her. Every time she goes with her gut, she edges a little closer to achieving her goals. It’s a fantastic way to see the character’s growth and morality. I know I’d vote for her in a heartbeat!

There are again two B stories, and a very quick two-scene offshoot about Chris’ love life. Ben organized a fund-raising drive to be held at his house – and put Jerry in charge. Already, hilarity is about to ensue. Jerry offers two movie tickets to the person who raises the most money.  The phone banks are manned by Andy, April, Chris, Donna and Jerry himself. I know, I know… it’s difficult to see who will have the most enthusiasm, but wait – I’ll spell it out for ya (sorry, wry humor alert).

Of course, Chris has enough energy to raise enough money for a presidential race and is in the lead for most of the night. April has a couple of asides telling us that she wants to beat him because she wants his happiness to ‘go away’. Chris’ girlfriend, who happens to be Jerry’s daughter Millicent, arrives – and the others have been informed by Jerry that she is breaking up with Chris that night. Millie arrives so she can take Chris for a walk, which allows April to pull ahead and win the tickets. This side-story ends with April showing up at Chris’ office and offering him the tickets, to which she has added a third. She tells him that they (April, Andy and Chris) should see a movie together. It’s a cute and unexpected heartwarming moment from the most unlikely character.

While the other plotlines play out, we get to watch Ron, Ann, and Tom at the Bowling Alley Meet & Greet. They decide to have their own match and Ron watches as Tom bowls granny-style. This sets up a barrage of hilarious comments from Ron, where he disparages Tom’s masculinity. Ron, of course, bowls straight down the middle, as a mirror of his very soul. It turns out that Tom is actually a decent bowler despite his methods. Their banter halts when Ron smashes Tom’s hand between two balls on the carousel. Tom spends the rest of his evening whining and over-exaggerating his injuries. This storyline is wrapped up in the tag, which shows Ron coming back to the bowling alley disguised in a hat and sunglasses. He bowls an entire game granny-style and scores a 300. He leaves in disgrace.

Parks & Recreation is truly one of the best-written sitcoms on TV right now. I suggest it to quite a few of my friends, even though making it through the first season is sometimes slow. I think the show is worth the effort, because as it is now, its entertainment quotient is very high. This episode is a true representation of what Parks & Recreation can offer. As a side-note, Derek is played by Kevin Dorff, who has won several emmys as a writer for Conan O’Brien.

No new episode next week, so [easyazon-link asin=”B002DPPH6W”]Parks & Recreation[/easyazon-link] returns on Thursday, February 2nd with a Valentine’s Day themed outing entitled: “Operation Ann”. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to watch as Leslie tries to find her bestie Ann a new man.

Favorite Quotes:

Leslie: “Some things are helpful, other things are not so helpful, all of the things make me feel a lot of feelings about myself.” (about comments made during the focus group)

Chris: “As City Manager I play no favorites, but as a private citizen I am free to support whomever I choose. And I choose to support ‘Team Knope’, ’cause they are the best. Everybody’s the best… we’re all winners.”

Ron: “When I eat, it is the food that is scared.”

Donna: “Absolutely nothing. What are you wearing?” (while filing her nails and manning the phone bank)

April: “I don’t care about that prize, but I’m gonna win because I want his happiness to go away.”

Tom: “Type in ‘T-Rex’ for me. No, no, no, ‘T-Boz’. Wait, wait… ‘Tommy Tsunami’. No, ‘Tiki Tiki Tom Tom’. No, ‘Flyguy’.”
Ron: “I wrote ‘Tom'”

Ron: “Straight down the middle. No hook, no spin, no fuss. Anything more and this… becomes figure skating.”

Ben: “Okay, I just wanted to remind you that when you’re bowling, try not to fixate on just one pin. You’re trying to knock down a lot of pins.”
Leslie: “I realize that, but I will knock down this pin and then this pin will knock down all the other pins.”

Jerry: “Millie’s gonna break up with Chris”
Donna: “SHUT UP!”
Andy: “Oh my God, that’s gonna be super weird when they move in together.”

Ben: “Hey Leslie? I’d like to introduce you to my good friend… anyone else.”
Leslie: “Not now Ben. I’d like to introduce Derek’s ass to my foot.”

April: “I wished for his happiness to go away. I may be a wizard.”

Leslie: “You should be warned, if you do not vote for me, my boyfriend might beat you up.”

Leslie: “That guy said he didn’t like my earrings. Go punch him.”
Ben: “Sure.”

Ron: “I was never here, and you will never speak of this again.” (to bowling center manager after bowling his 300)