In the last few years this NBC series (created by the producers of The Office in the same mockumentary style) has become one of the smartest sitcoms on network TV. In this fourth season, dedicated civil servant Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) hits the campaign trail to run for Pawnee City Council against Bobby Newport (guest star Paul Rudd), the lovable doofus son of the town's biggest employer. While she's the Energizer bunny in a department of underachievers, the entire staff rallies around her out of friendship and camaraderie, and she even finds love with co-worker Ben (Adam Scott), who resigns from his job to both romance her in the open (it's against the rules to date a colleague and Leslie's nothing if not a stickler for details) and to run her campaign. Rashida Jones (as Leslie's best friend, Ann), Nick Offerman (the gruffly paternal, defiantly libertarian boss, Ron), Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Retta, Jim O'Heir, and Rob Lowe round out the cast (one of the funniest ensembles on TV), and the stories are inextricably wound around their personalities and relationships. Other guest stars include Patricia Clarkson and Megan Mullally as Ron's ex-wives, Louis CK as an old boyfriend of Leslie's, and a superb Kathryn Hahn as Bobby's high-powered campaign manager. Compiling all 22 episodes from 2011–12, extras include four extended episodes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, webisodes, a music video, and Knope campaign ads. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Parks and Recreation: Season Four
Universal, 4 discs, 471 min., not rated, DVD: $39.98 Volume 27, Issue 6
Parks and Recreation: Season Four
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