‘Parks and Recreation’ Episode Commentary: Got to Love Paul Rudd

‘Parks and Recreation’ Episode Commentary: Campaign Ad

After a half-season of hedging on Leslie Knope’s run for city council, “Parks and Recreation” finally gets on with it, to the relief of seemingly everyone. “Campaign Ad” was sharper and more engaging than any episode for a while, a definite improvement over last weeks’ spinning of the wheels. The script was sharp and satirical, knowing just how to frame its story and the actors were clearly relishing the chance to do something besides recapitulate their characters’ profiles, leaving one wondering why exactly the show’s makers chose to wait so long to get the ball rolling. These characters thrive when they have something to do, and suffers when it tries to stall.

No more stalling. At long last, we get a competitor for Leslie, and it’s Bobby Newport, of the Pawnee Newports, who own Sweetums candy. In a welcome surprise, Bobby is played by Paul Rudd. The show has not had a dynamic guest star since Patricia Clarkson as Tammy One, and Rudd tears it up, playing the dopey, self-involved Bobby as a twisted Kennedy/Bush hyperbole of a political fortunate son. Leslie’s race now takes on a greater significance, as another way for the show to point out the need for greater civic engagement in America in the face of an atrophied political process.

But how does Leslie take down Pawnee’s favorite son? That’s the rub. Leslie and her newly-minted campaign manager, Ben Wyatt, have a difference of opinion, as they often do. Ben wants to go negative, and even practices voiceovers with Jerry and Tom, but Leslie won’t have it. She’s dreamed of her first campaign her whole life, and she wants it to be a positive experience. Unfortunately, this dream collides with the reality of being down by 70% in the polls. What’s Leslie to do?

While the episode does have two subplots, it somehow manages to seem less fractured than so many others this season. Amy and Andy goof off at the hospital, which is funny but doesn’t develop their characters in the slightest, not that it really needs to, and Ron may be moving up the ranks of the city government, apparently impressing Chris Traeger with his ability to axe the city budget without compunction. Combined with Leslie’s run for city council, this development begs the question: will the show have to change its name from “Parks and Recreation” to “City Government”?