The Popularity of Parks and Rec

It as fifteen years ago today that Parks and Recreation, perhaps better known as Parks and Rec, debuted on NBC. Its first season of six episodes received mixed reviews, with many comparing it negatively to the American version of The Office. For its second season it was retooled, and it received much better reviews. By its third season it could even be described as critically acclaimed.While reviews for Parks and Rec improved during its initial network run, sadly, its ratings did not. The show came in at no. 96 for the year for its first season, the highest it would ever rank in the Nielsens. For the remainder of its run, Parks and Recreation never ranked higher than 111 for the season. Despite this, Parks and Rec developed a cult following of intensely loyal viewers. What is more, its following grew even after it ended its run on NBC.For 2018 Parks and Recreation was one of the ten most watched shows on Netflix.

While it did poorly in the Nielsen ratings during its initial network run, Parks and Recreation has continued to be popular throughout the years. It is currently available on the streaming services Peacock, YouTube TV, and Philo, and available for rent on yet others. It currently airs on Comedy Central and IFC. For a show that did poorly in the Nielsen ratings during its initial network run, Parks and Rec has proven to be more popular than other shows that were higher rated in the ratings during their initial network runs.

As to why Parks and Recreation has continued to be popular, much of it may well be due to the fact that when it debuted it was a rather unique show and it has remained so ever since. Following the Rural Purge during the 1970-1971 season, very few broadcast network shows have been set outside of large metropolitan areas. In fact, in some seasons it has been difficult to find any show not set in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York City. In contrast, Parks and Rec is set in the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana. Pawnee is hardly a small town (it is much larger than Mayberry, North Carolina on The Andy Griffith Show), but it isn't exactly St. Louis either, much less Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York City. From the show itself and official material associated with the show, it appears to have a population of anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 (I suspect it is probably closer to 60,000 than 80,000). This would make it about the size of Muncie, Indiana or Cheyenne, Wyoming. In fact, an upside down map of Muncie served as the map of Pawnee on the show. This would make Pawnee a mid-sized city.

While Pawnee is hardly a small town, the fact that it is a mid-sized city located in the Midwest makes it easier for viewers in what those on the coasts derisively call "fly over states" to identify with the characters on Parks and Rec. Indeed, Pawnee, Indiana would appear to have more in common with Mayberry, North Carolina than it does Los Angeles or New York City. Indeed, among Pawnee's problems is a nearly constant raccoon infestation. Farming would appear to be one of the major industries in Wamapoke County, the fictional county in which Pawnee is located. Among Pawnee's other industries are soft drinks (Pizzies national headquarters is located there) and candy (the candy company Sweetums). These are the sort of businesses one would expect in smaller cities and even towns as opposed to major metropolitan areas.

Of course, another way in which viewers in the "fly over states" can more readily identify with the characters on Parks and Recreation than, say, the characters on Friends is that it features the sort of characters one would expect to find in small towns and even mid-sized cities like Pawnee. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) is a bureaucrat who loves her hometown and remains eternally optimistic despite working in politics. Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) is the director of Pawnee's parks and recreation department who believes the best government is a small government. Jerry Gergich (Jim O'Heir) is an employee of parks and recreation who is clumsy, overweight, and unable to speak publicly, but who nonetheless remains good-natured. Pawnee is filled with somewhat eccentric characters of the sort often seen on such rural comedies as The Andy Griffith Show and Newhart.

Despite being a mid-sized city, Pawnee has other things in common with smaller towns as well. It has a rival city in the form of Eagleton, which was smaller and a bit more upscale. Sadly for Eagleton residents, their city would eventually incorporated into Pawnee. Many Midwestern cities have rivals and, in some cases, they have more than one (my hometown has two). Pawnee also has a few negative things in common with mid-sized cities and small towns in the Midwest, but aren't often acknowledged on television and more often than not reality as well. Quite simply, Pawnee has a history of both racism and misogyny. Indeed, Pawnee celebrated driving the fictional Wamapoke  tribe from their land on which the city currently sets. While racism and misogyny are hardly things any Midwesterners should be proud of, it would be foolish not to acknowledge that historically they existed.

Ultimately, I think the fact that Parks and Recreation was set in the Midwest, as well as its portrayal of Pawnee and its residents, makes it easier for viewers to identify with the show. While Midwestern viewers might enjoy Seinfeld or Friends, they might not necessarily identify with the characters or their experiences, whereas they can identify with the characters of Parks and Rec and much of what happens on the show. Quite simply, I think Parks and Recreation remains popular because it is one of the few sitcoms that has been set in the Midwest made in the past forty years.