Once again, Mark and Allen were extremely lucky to spend time with another fantastic guest during a Pawnee Spotlight interview, this time around the middle of May 2024. It was fascinating to talk to Jim about not only his take on the always entertaining M.C. Martin Housely, but also voice overs and impressions, his childhood growing up as the son of Marion Ross, and many other interesting topics.  Jim was a tremendously kind and gracious guest on our show, and we are proud to have one of the only occurences in the world of an honest-to-God "Swanson-Off"! If you're confused at this (and you should be), tune in to see what we're talking about! We've said it before, and will say it once more here, this was yet another in a stream of incredible guests we've had the privilege to have on our show ... A fantastic Pawnee Spotlight featuring a tremendous multi-talented guest! We hope you all enjoy this as much as we did.

Visit Jim at https://jimmeskimen.com/ and on Instagram @jimpressions

Okay, look. Let's face facts. The series is ending. This wonderful, beloved sitcom, full of equal parts laughs and heart, is coming to a close. No doubt, it's a hard thing to contemplate for anyone, but it's just POSSIBLE that one of the guys is having a harder time than the other. Look, you have to understand, this isn't just a silly little hobby ... this gig has generated monetary kickbacks, medical benefits, travel opportunities, being asked to speak at conventions, movie deals ... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. We're not even mentioning all of the other fringe benefits, such as working with world class scientists and engineers to build what is frighteningly close to a sentient AI, or even (slightly flawed) time travel! I mean ... wow. It's so much, that it's ALMOST like we're just making this up. To imagine all that suddenly ending, well ... It's a little scary. But fans of the show deserve the truth. So, ugly or not, we're going to give you a peek into what has been going on, as well as our sincere assurance that the finale review is COMING!  We promise.  No, really ... we pinky promise.  Just like Leslie.  And if you can't believe a pinky promise ... well, then I guess the world is in worse shape than we ever imagined.  So bear with us just a few more weeks.  You won't be disappointed, and it'll be worth the wait.  We pinky promise.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we learn Craig sees therapist Dr. Richard Nygard, thereby adding him to the known list of Nygardians! Frustrated, but still looking for a way to defeat Gryzzl, Leslie is surprised when she receives a free gift box at her front door via a Gryzzl "SKYPAL" drone. Leslie and Ben find out later that Donna also received a free "Gryzzlbox", however Donna angrily explains her gifts are based on detail that could only have come from private text and phone conversations. When Leslie opens her box and sees the very personal-related artifacts in it, Ben deduces that Gryzzl must be data mining, which is not only an extreme invasion of privacy, but Ben made sure it was illegal via language he chose for the contract between Gryzzl and Pawnee. A public forum discussing the subject reveals that, for once, the town is 100% behind Leslie. Leslie also hopes to sway Ron, but he is harder to convince, maintaining that it's foolish for people to own and use devices that can be tracked in the first place. Donna sets up a private tour of Gryzzl for Leslie and Ben so that they can snoop around and maybe dig up some dirt, but when Leslie asks Gryzzl vice-president Roscoe about data mining, he openly and cheerfully admits to the practice, talking about how great it is for everyone. At this, Leslie challenges Roscoe to debate these questionable practices on TV, convinced that she will not only win, but humiliate Gryzzl as she presents her evidence. Meanwhile, sensing that Tom is trying to distract himself from Lucy visiting her boyfriend in Chicago, Andy presents him with an opportunity to become his agent and help him renegotiate a contract he was offered by station manager Hank Muntak. Not only is Andy not getting paid much, and tasked with lots of extra duties, the contract clearly says that Andy does NOT own the rights to the character "Johnny Karate". Tom agrees to help Andy with his contract, and the pair end up meeting with station manager Hank Muntak, who is a tough negotiator and offers only minor upgrades, which Tom is just not satisfied with. Finally, Craig asks April to deliver a welcome speech to the new potential Parks Department interns, seeing as she got HER start as a Parks intern. After some badgering by Craig, April reluctantly agrees, but is actually hell bent on making sure none of the candidates are successful, believing that her current "aimlessness in life" all started when she was a Parks intern, and if these youngsters become Parks interns, they will essentially be throwing their lives away, just like she did. While talking to the potential interns, April latches on to a girl named Jen, who is VERY much like she was when she first started (i.e. snarky, morbid, unmotivated, no charisma, no passion for the work ahead, etc). Focusing her energy on Jen, April tells her to not go through with the internship. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Will Roscoe agree to debate Leslie on live TV, and if so, what venue will they use? Can Tom get a better contract for Andy? Does Jen end up quitting the intern program? Is Gryzzl breaking the law, or did Ben miss something in Gryzzl's contract with the city of Pawnee? Does Andy end up owning the rights to the character "Johnny Karate"? Can anyone set April straight regarding how she started and what she's accomplished? Does Ron remain neutral, or does something happen that changes Ron's mind about Gryzzl? What is Tom's secret negotiating weapon? What can April do to make amends to Craig? Loyal viewers, the series may be ending, but things are really heating up! Can Leslie conquer the flying robots? Stay tuned to find out! Many thanks to our incredible sponsor, "The Perdples Court".

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we finally meet Ron's mother! When Leslie discovers Ron is busy preparing for a tax audit served to him by Tammy 1, she rounds up April and Andy to help sort through Ron's assortment of receipt odds-and-ends. Horrified at Ron's recordkeeping, Tammy 1 demands access to every part of his life for the audit. Over the next week, Tammy 1 moves back in with Ron and assumes complete control over him. Ron shaves off his moustache, becomes kind, refuses to do anything without Tammy 1's approval ... basically becoming a neutered wimp. Meanwhile, Tom asks Ben to look over the Entertainment 720 finances, at which point Ben discovers Tom and Jean-Ralphio are wasting huge amounts of money on a state-of-the-art office, high salaries with full benefits, paying NBA players to play basketball all day ... all despite having no income. Ben becomes alarmed, and is determined to make sure they understand the situation they're in. Finally, Ann wants to update the Health Department's Public Service Announcement for diabetes. When Ann asks Chris if he would like to help her make a new PSA, he excitedly agrees, and drops everything to help. Unfortunately, Chris is overly-enthusiastic, his OCD turning something Ann hopes will take 1-2 hours into something that lasts over a week ... Ann is so bored and miserable, she wonders why she even dated him in the first place. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Can Tom and Jean-Ralphio turn things around by printing their own money? Does Chris have the same wardrobe as the Spice Girls? What is Swanson Family Mash Liquor? Why DID Ann ever date Chris in the first place? What exactly is "the party switch"? What do you do if Godzilla attacks the city? Loyal podcast viewers, this episode is truly one of a kind. Come enjoy it in all its Tammy-colored glory! Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, 'Tam-Away'.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we finally learn Ron's full name! Picking up where the Season 3 finale left off, a couple of things happen later that night: Leslie tells Ann about the political scouts and her agreeing to run for office, although she is conflicted due to her relationship with Ben, which could cause a scandal. In addition, upon learning that Tammy One has arrived in town, Ron grabs an emergency survival bag and flees to live in the wilderness. THREE WEEKS LATER ... Ron is still MIA, Leslie still hasn't broken up with Ben, and a penis is emailed to all female employees (and Jerry). Chris and Ben investigate, while Leslie does media damage control via televised interview with Perd Hapley. The interview goes so well, the political scouts decide to use the momentum and move Leslie's announcement up by three months. This causes Leslie to go into a panic about Ben. Meanwhile, Ann informs Chris the genitals in the email show symptoms of mumps. Proud of Ann's diagnosing abilities, Chris announces Ann's discovery to everyone ... causing the male employees to fill Ann's inbox with pictures of their junk, afraid they caught the mumps as well. Finally, despite resigning from his position in the Parks Department, Tom visits the gang multiple times with lots of promotional material and swag from his new job at Entertainment 720. Tom ends up offering Andy a job, which causes Andy to have some rare moments of introspection, wondering if working for Tom would be a good move, and in a more general sense, if there's something more for him out there beyond shoe shining. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Will Ron ever return from his remote cabin in the woods? Do Chris and Ben find out who sent the initial penis email? Does Andy accept Tom's job offer? Can Leslie manage to break up with Ben? Will there be a mumps outbreak at City Hall? Can Tom's Entertainment 720 magnet truly wipe out the debt on Andy's credit card? Whatever happened to Tammy 1? Folks, this is a great start to a great season ... So sit back, relax, and enjoy it with us! Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, Pawnee Computer Pros (PCP).

In this Special Revisited episode, not only do Mark and Allen recap the best of episodes Season 3; but, they share some stats...er, fun facts, and analysis on Season 3 and and relive some of the Seasons best moments! Don't miss out on this chance to catch up and look back before we jump into Season 4! 

Mark and Allen last caught up with Andy as part of their coverage of Season Three's classic episode "The Fight" but got to talk about a whole lot more that just Parks and Recreation. Check out Andy's impressive resume of TV, Movies and Voice-work including Apollo 13, Fame-LA, Armageddon, Frost/Nixon, Legion of Super Heroes, Austin and Ally, a little show called Weeds...and, of course, our two favorite hard-hitting political shows - West Wing....and Parks and Recreation!  Listen this week to hear the entire interview with Andy and get some great industry insights from the man himself! You won't regret checking out this great full interview!

Join us for the second-half of this GIANT, EPIC 2-Part Episode covering the Parks and Recreation Season 3 Finale! This week Mark and Allen have their lighters...or Candles...out as Mouse Rat is welcomed to the Memorial stage - about to reveal their big number that promises to be 5000x better than 'Candle in the Wind'.  At the same time, the gravity of a full-time Entertainment 720 position tugs at Tom's dream-strings. Meanwhile, Ron is about to light the Ceremonial Torch and Ben and Leslie continue to feel the ripple effects of their deceit and efforts to hide their relationship. And to make the evening's events even more interesting, Tammy 2 shows up to taunt (or tent) Ron in the wake of a major blow-up! Loyal podcast viewers, you won't want to miss our finale...of the finale!

Mark and Allen caught up with Norm this summer during a short hiatus and talked Parks and Rec, Brooklyn 99, King of the Hill, Kids in the Hall, Space Force and many others! If you heard some of the clips from Norm on our coverage of S03E02 Flu Season, come back for this very special Pawnee Spotlight to hear our entire interview and get the inside scoop on some of our favorite shows! We promise it will be worth it!

This week Mark and Allen rock in the corner and weep gently along with the gang as they (and we) learn ***SPOILER ALERT*** of Li'l Sebastian's passing. In response, Leslie, along with help from Tom and Jean-Ralphio, in their first production as the creators of Entertainment 720, produce and put on a Li'l Sebastian Memorial Concert to celebrate the life of the most famous mini-horse in the Midwest! Meanwhile Chris believes he is LITERALLY about to die...from Tendonitis and seeks council from everyone's favorite part-time Nurse/part-time City employee - Ann Perkins! Andy is tapped by Leslie to create a tribute song for the Memorial. And, oh yeah, and Ben and Leslie pretty much make out anywhere and everywhere as the move on from the #dorkflirting stage of their relationship to the #dorksgonnagetfired (if Chris finds out) stage which is the stage that everyone knows comes next! Loyal podcast viewers, this is a HUGE 2-part episode you won't want to miss!

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces our favorite court stenographer, Ethel Beavers!  Leslie and Ben are dating, but keeping it a secret because of Chris' no-dating policy. They are enjoying what Leslie calls "the bubble", the beginning of a relationship when everything's simple and fun. The bubble is threatened, however, when Ben has a meeting with Marlene Griggs-Knope, Leslie's mother, a notoriously tough politician in the Pawnee school system, who wants Ben to approve school bus purchases despite a tight budget. Right before Ben's meeting, Leslie tells him Marlene is her mother, making him nervous, ineffectual, and causing him to capitulate to Marlene's demands. Leslie finds out her mom (who doesn't know they are dating) thinks Ben is a pushover, so Leslie trains Ben for his next meeting with her mother to prove he is confident, capable, and self-assured. Meanwhile, Chris has several new ideas he is putting into action, including promoting Jerry to PR director, making April everyone's assistant, having Tom digitize the city archives on the dreaded FOURTH FLOOR, giving Andy a temporary paid position as Tom's assistant, and putting Ron at a circular desk in the middle of the bullpen to make him more accessible. Tom is absolutely miserable with his assignment, and starts to question everything.  Ron believes everything will eventually go back to normal, as it has with past city managers and their ideas, but Donna is concerned that Chris "the microchip" Traeger will not quit. Folks, we ask the hard questions so you don't have to, such as ... Can Donna learn to use her wacky space-age keyboard? Will Ben win the second round with Marlene? How does the new assignment affect Tom's future job interests? Will Marlene find out Ben is dating her daughter? Why does Ben summon a quote from Calvin and Hobbes? Is the FOURTH FLOOR as terrifying as we remember it? Loyal podcast viewers, we're getting close to the end of the season, and things are heating up - you won't want to miss this episode! In lieu of a sponsor, we have a PSA regarding Pawnee City Hall's 4th Floor. Yeah. You heard right. THAT floor.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode that features Tom's game show "Know Ya Boo"! The #dorkflirting tension between Leslie and Ben is still high, but Leslie is trying to avoid temptation by not being alone with Ben. Unfortunately, Chris asks Leslie and Ben to drive to Indianapolis together to pitch Pawnee as the next host for the Indiana Little League Baseball tournament. Leslie and Ann devise boring music and conversation topics for the trip to steer away from any romance. After an awkward drive to Indianapolis, Leslie and Ben speak before the Little League Commission, which seems reluctant to choose Pawnee for the tournament. Ben delivers a heartfelt speech about the town, but also appears to be secretly speaking about his feelings for Leslie. Meanwhile, Tom asks Andy, April, Jerry and Donna to help him tweak his new game show called "Know Ya Boo" that he is hoping to pitch to networks. It becomes clear Jerry and Donna know more about each other than recently married April and Andy. When April reveals her favorite band is "Neutral Milk Hotel", and not Mouse Rat, Andy leaves the game and storms off. Later, April and Andy have a big fight, which causes Andy to sell his guitar and potentially quit music altogether. Finally, a young 9-year-old girl named Lauren asks to interview Ron for her school's field trip assignment on "Why Government Matters". Ron initially resists, but soon waxes lyrical as he espouses his libertarian beliefs to her. Lauren eagerly accepts his anti-government views, but the next day, Lauren's furious mother confronts Ron about the content he shared with Lauren. As always, we don't shy away from the tough questions, such as ... Will Leslie and Ben convince the Commission to choose Pawnee? Who is Tom's co-host "Bobby the Boo"? Is Lauren smarter than most of the people at City Hall? What happened last time Pawnee hosted the tournament in 1989? Will April turn to anyone for advice? Who now has Ron's claymore land mine? Loyal podcast viewers, this is a great episode you won't want to miss! In lieu of a sponsor, we have decided to play a trivia game - tune in to see how we score!

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode that has alter egos Bert Macklin and Janet Snakehole in the same place at the same time! Tom is unveiling his new alcoholic beverage, Snake Juice, at the Snakehole Lounge that night, and gets the gang to be there to get others to drink it via guerrilla marketing. Snake Juice proves to be delicious and popular with the gang, with everyone getting very drunk as the night goes on. Even Chris shows up - but only to warn Tom that using government employees to promote his own personal ventures is a breach of ethics, and he must sell his shares of the Snakehole Lounge if he wants to keep his job. Meanwhile, having fired the Health Department's PR director, Chris engages with Leslie to help find a replacement. Leslie suggests Ann, and excitedly finds Ann to tell her the news, giving her a ton of homework to help her prepare. Ann is a little unsure, but agrees to an interview scheduled for tomorrow. That night at the Snakehole Lounge, Leslie is surprised and annoyed to find Ann partying instead of prepping for the interview. An increasingly drunk Leslie and Ann start fighting, which escalates throughout the night. We ask the hard hitting questions you would expect from us, such as ... Does Tom sell his shares of the Snakehole Lounge? Is this the end of Leslie and Ann's friendship? Can Tom get Ron to endorse his new beverage? Who will be the new PR Director? Why are Bert Macklin and Janet Snakehole at this event? How many boyfriends does Ann go through in this episode? Folks, get ready for a classic amongst classics... including a few scenes that have become INFAMOUS memes (*cough* Ron dancing *cough*). Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, the Offerman Woodshop.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we learn Craig is now head of the Parks department! Leslie and Ron have been trapped together by the gang in their old stomping grounds, the Parks Department. The gang refuses to let them out until [a] they work out their differences, or [b] 8:00 am the next morning is here. Neither wants to be alone with the other for 10 hours, but are unable to escape. Leslie proposes they simply wait a few minutes, turn on the baby monitor Ben left for them, LIE to him that they made up, and wait for Ben to come release them.  Unfortunately, the two cannot agree on what their fake apology should sound like, and Leslie ends up smashing the baby monitor on the ground, destroying their only means of an early exit. Ron chooses to sit in silence while Leslie pesters him to get him to talk. He eventually can't take any more of Leslie's nonsense, and agrees to speak with her for three minutes. Leslie uses a whiteboard to draw a timeline including a number of key events that may have contributed to the demise of her friendship with Ron, culminating in the infamous "Morningstar" incident. It is revealed that Morningstar was a luxury apartment complex built by Ron's company, positioned adjacent to Leslie's park, Pawnee Commons. Leslie was furious with Ron for not telling her in advance about the plans, especially since it included the removal of many surrounding houses, including Ann's old house. Ron tells Leslie, "that's not the whole story" ... but then Leslie's three minutes is up, Ron goes into his old office, closes the door. As a result of Ron's unwillingness to converse, Leslie begins quizzing him directly outside his office. Ron eventually has enough and commits to using excessive measures to escape. He finds his old "partially defused" claymore mine that Leslie gave him 10 years ago, but is disappointed to discover that what he always thought was an actual landmine was merely a gimmick that Leslie bought as an anniversary gift for being Parks Director for five years—she had bought the empty shell online and filled it with balloons and confetti. A couple of hours go by, and as Leslie is searching through documents, she stumbles across something very interesting ... her original Parks Department job application, including a written description of Ron's very first impressions of her. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... What was Ron's REAL first impression of Leslie? Can Ron forgive Leslie for the fake claymore mine? Is there a way Leslie and Ron can escape before 8am? Why did Ron really leave the Parks Department? Will Leslie and Ron ever be friends again? Loyal podcast viewers, we triple-dog-dare you to not get emotional during this episode. You'd have to be a freakin robot to not cry at this one. (NOTE: No offensive, Robonstantine.) Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, the often imitated but never duplicated "JJ's Diner".

We've heard of Eagleton before, but this week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that REALLY introduces us to "that" Eagleton which we have grown to know and hate!  Eagleton built a fence in a shared park to keep Pawneeans out, which Leslie suspects is the work of former best friend and Pawnee Parks & Rec co-worker, Lindsay Carlisle Shay (now Eagleton's Parks & Rec director). Leslie meets with Lindsay, who refuses to remove the fence and insults Pawnee in the process. Leslie, Tom and Ben attend a fancy, catered Eagleton town meeting to plead their case to its citizens, which does not go well, leaving Leslie frustrated and seeking revenge.  Meanwhile, Leslie discovers Ron's upcoming birthday, which he has kept secret for years, and promises a horrified Ron she will throw a surprise party. Ron becomes increasingly paranoid, especially after overhearing April and Andy discuss outrageous party plans. Ron eventually becomes so paranoid he resorts to sleeping in his office to avoid any potential surprises, at home or otherwise. As always, we don't shy away from the difficult questions, such as ... Why is Leslie letting Lindsay get to her? How hard can you hit someone with a garbage bag? What mistake by Ron allowed Leslie to discover his birthday? Can we build a second fence around their fence? How does one get assigned to "the kidnap squad"? Do they make bouncy castles for adults?  Loyal podcast viewers, grab your favorite podcast snack and tune in to enjoy this amazing episode with us!  NOTE:  Don't go to Baskin Robbins.  They are VERY loose-lipped with their customer information.  Just sayin. Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, the Pawnee Police Department.

Listen in for a special Halloween message from the man, the myth, the legend...Ron Master-of-Disguise Swanson himself! Recorded live in our studio for your listening pleasure!

From all of us at Live from Pawnee and the LFP Worldwide Headquarters, we wish all of you, our viewers, a Happy and Safe Halloween!

As Mark and Allen make elaborate plans for the Live from Pawnee 1-year Anniversary celebration in November, they've left the projector room in Constantine's hands and he is loading up the reel for S02E07 - Greg Pikitis! So, we hope you'll join us for this walk down memory lane the FIRST of three Parks and Recreation Halloween episodes. It is a classic and introduces us to one of Leslie's oldest (but also likely youngest) nemesis...wait, where did all of this Toilet Paper come from?....Pikitis!

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces porn star Brandi Maxxxx!  The gang attends an art show with paintings intended for government buildings. Jerry painted the topless centaur goddess Diaphena, which he accidentally made to look like Leslie. Jerry apologizes, but Leslie is oddly empowered by the painting. The next day Marcia Langman deems the painting unsuitable for government use and demands it be destroyed. Leslie goes on "Ya Heard? With Perd!" to rouse public support for the painting, and Chris convenes the Pawnee Public Arts Commission to rule on the painting.  Meanwhile, now that Ben is permanently in Pawnee, he moves in with Andy and April, since previous owner Burly moved out and left the house to them. The two have only been on their own for a week, but the house is already a wreck, with no items like plates or utensils. Ben decides to teach a reluctant Andy and April how to properly live like adults.  We ask the hard hitting questions, such as ... Are bills somehow less expensive if you freeze them? Will Leslie receive support from porn star Brandi Maxxxx? Will April and Andy each get their own fork? Does the fat little cherub in the painting look like anyone? Can you actually fry marbles?  Grab your favorite podcast snack (Constantine recommends turkey chili in a frisbee) and tune in to enjoy this with us!  Many thanks to our sponsor... er... Art....well, the Pawnee Arts Fair to be precise.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces Tom's crazy names for food and drink items!  Acting City Manager Chris enacts a new health initiative and bans red meat from the commissary. Upset by this, Ron challenges Chris to a burger cook-off, cow vs turkey, with red meat staying if Ron wins. Chris meticulously gathers ingredients for the perfect turkey burger from his favorite health food market, Grain 'N Simple, while Ron simply buys a pound of red meat from Food and Stuff. Meanwhile, Leslie invites Ben to dinner, but is surprised when he turns her down. Ann convinces Leslie to join HoosierMate.com, and her profile finds a 98 percent match! They are horrified and confused to discover... it's Tom!  We ask the tough questions so you don't have to, such as ... Why did Ben turn Leslie down? Can Chris' turkey burger wow the judges with its "umami flavor"? How in the world did Tom match with Leslie? Does Ron allow ketchup on his burger? Who will win the cook-off? Will Tom stop teasing Leslie, or will she kill him to death?  Order yourself some chicky-chicky-parm-parm, relax in your favorite comfy chair, and enjoy this episode with us folks... it's a great one!  Many thanks to our magnificent sponsor, Food And Stuff.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that reveals April and Andy's full names!  Andy and April invite everyone to their dinner party, asking everyone to bring stuff because they don't have anything. At the party, however, Leslie discovers Andy and April plan to surprise everyone by getting married that night! Leslie spends most of the party trying to dissuade them. Ron tells Leslie it is not his place, or hers, to interfere with their decision. Leslie just can't seem to let it go - she plans to object during the ceremony! Meanwhile, Ann goes to Eagleton to attend Single's Night at a bar, but once she gets there is extremely uncomfortable. She runs into Donna, who first views Ann as competition, but after witnessing Ann crash and burn, tries to help by offering some advice. To complicate matters, halfway through the night, Ann receives a call from Leslie telling her about Andy and April about to get married, and asks for her help!  We're paid the big bucks to ask the big questions, such as ... Does everyone bring their assigned items to the party? Who ends up being Andy's best man? Will Leslie end up objecting to the marriage? Can Ann stop acting so awkwardly? Will Donna get Ann to take her advice? Does Ann leave to go assist Leslie?  Folks, be sure not to miss this one!  Equal parts silly and sweet, it's just what the doctor ordered. Many thanks to our amazing sponsor and sister company LFP World Musik: creators of "Mouse Rat, The Deluxe Edition" and "KidzPOP Covers Mouse Rat!". Order them soon on LivefromPawnee.com or pick them up at Food and Stuff!

As the name would suggest, this week Mark and Allen have squashed a lot of stuff into one episode for your listening pleasure - a grab bag, if you will. Or, even if you won't. It is what it is. Buckle in. Some of the stuff they will be going over include, but are not limited to: [a] reviewing all episodes in the first half of Season 3, [b] sharing viewer feedback with all the other viewers (although we THINK maybe you're not viewers), and [c] indulging our unpaid producer, Constantine, by including a new segment he came up with. As Constantine says, "Don't be... Late To The Party!"  (EDIT BY MARK AND ALLEN: Subtle, dude. Real subtle.)

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that heralds the triumphant return of DJ Roomba!  After City Manager Paul Iaresco has a heart attack, Chris comes back as acting city manager, asking Leslie for more revenue generating ideas. Leslie organizes a camping trip where the gang can brainstorm. Nobody comes up with anything good, assuming Leslie's ideas will be used. Leslie is finally forced to confess she's got nothing. Leslie becomes crazed and suggests they keep working straight through the night until they have something, but everyone is ready to throw in the towel, pack up, and head home... but they can't, since Tom hooked up all his electronics to the van battery and drained it!  Meanwhile, Ann feels weird with Chris back, especially given how they broke up. Ann tries to read into an awkward jokey exchange they had, but Leslie shuts that down and invites Ann to go camping with them. During the retreat, Chris shows up on his nightly jog and asks about their ideas. Ann convinces Chris to leave with her so [a] they can talk, and [b] the gang can keep working in peace. Ann and Chris have a nice talk, with Chris suggesting they continue things over dinner at a rustic diner.  Finally, April vents to Andy about how she's dreading the camping trip, but Andy loves camping, and wants her to love it too. He gets balloons, decorations, rose petals, champagne, etc. and sets up a romantic campsite for her... in the wrong place. A miserable April calls him, and when Andy realizes he's in the wrong place, he packs up and treks through the wilderness to find everyone.  As always, we tackle the hard-hitting questions, such as ... Can Tom survive without his SkyMall electronics? Will the rustic diner have healthy food for Chris? Does Andy drink all the champagne during his trek just to stay alive? Will Leslie end up being known as a one-hit-wonder? Settle back with your head massager and your fondue pot, and enjoy this episode with us! Many thanks to our tremendous sponsor, "Wood You Rather".

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This week, the upper brass at LFP Worldwide Headquarters have been kind enough to allow Mark and Allen to take some much deserved time off, so our onion-loving, unpaid producer Constantine is once more at the helm. (EDIT BY MARK AND ALLEN: Constantine, buddy, all you have to do is hit the bright red button. That's it. We even labeled it "Go For Mo". You can't miss it. C'mon, dude.) Intrepid interviewers Mark and Allen were lucky enough to catch the kind, gracious, and talented Mo Collins between shootings of Fear the Walking Dead, and proceed to enjoy a lengthy conversation with her about a plethora of subjects, including but not limited to her take on Pawnee Today host Joan Callemezzo, as well as the rest of the gang. Tune in - you won't regret it!

This week, Mark and Allen finish breaking down the Episode that concludes the Season 3 story arc involving the Harvest Festival! When we last left our heroes, Leslie was trying her best to put on a wildly successful Harvest Festival, despite Wamapoke tribe leader Ken Hotate suggesting the presence of a curse, and journalist Joan Callamezzo looking for a scandal. To make things worse, Little Sebastian has gone missing! The gang assembles search parties, but has no luck on the ground, so they use the ferris wheel to get a bird's eye view. To contain the chaos, Leslie gives a press conference, and seems to be doing okay, when all of a sudden... the lights go out, machines shut down, the ferris wheel stops. Dogs and cats, living together... MASS HYSTERIA!!! Meanwhile, April took a chance and told Andy she loves him. His response is "Dude, shut up! That is awesome sauce!" April is mortified and humiliated, continuing to snipe angrily at Andy throughout the day, with Andy continuing to be clueless. April even goes so far as to threaten to leave for Venezuela... FOREVER! They show no signs of making up, and things are now even worse with them trapped on the ferris wheel together! Finally, Ann is working the First Aid with Donna, and admits she is not taking her break-up with Chris well, kind of bottoming out. A little later, a Jersey Shore wannabe comes to the first aid tent for dehydration, shamelessly hitting on Ann. When Ann turns him down, Donna suggests Ann follow the advice Grammy Meagle gave her: use him, abuse him, lose him... but Ann doesn't seem sure. We seek out the answers we know you all want, to questions such as ... Does the Harvest Festival turn out to be a failure? Is this the end of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department? Can April and Andy make up, or will this be it for them, perhaps sending April back into the arms of Venezuelian Jhonny? Will Ann take Grammy Meagle's advice, or will she continue to spend hundreds of dollars on candles from Anthropologie? Join us, true believers, for the second half of this mega block-buster episode, and see how it all ends! Once again, many thanks to our PAID sponsor: Reel Life Candles!

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we learn that Jerry has fulfilled a life-long dream and become a Notary Public! Trying to come up with reasons the Newport land parcel should be turned into a park rather than a corporate campus, Leslie examines any historical ties that will help her case. Bill Haggerty from the Pawnee Historical Society tells Leslie that the 9th United States President, William Henry Harrison, had a hunting lodge on that land. Leslie hopes this could make it qualify for Historic Landmark status, but finds out the "hunting lodge" has been reduced to a few remaining boulders and bricks. Determined to make the most of it, Leslie stays positive, and next travels to the nearby William Henry Harrison museum in Vincennes, in an attempt to gather everything she can related to the former president. After hearing that Annabel Porter from Bloosh is on board with Gryzzl (see B-Story), Leslie fights fire with fire, and looks for a face for HER bid. Bill Haggerty tells her that William Henry Harrison has a distant nephew, Zach Harrison, living in the area. Gathering everything together, Leslie plans to have a press conference regarding these new William Henry Harrison-related finds. Meanwhile, When Gryzzl learns about Leslie's efforts to strengthen her case, they call a meeting with Ron, Tom, and Donna, suggesting that they get a local Pawnee celebrity as a minority owner. Ron is reluctant, but when he is made aware of Leslie's further progress, he realizes the potential need to counter, and grudgingly agrees to meet with Annabel Porter of Bloosh (last seen on 6.07 "Recall Vote") to be the celebrity face of Gryzzl's bid. They meet with Annabel at Bloosh company headquarters, and while Tom and Donna are enamored with her, Ron is repulsed by everything to do with Bloosh. However, upon hearing that Leslie is preparing a press conference (see A-Story), Ron accelerates his plans and gives Annabel the green light to prepare their own press conference on behalf of Gryzzl. Also meanwhile, Realizing the land both Leslie and Ron are bidding for lies within Pawnee city limits, Ben (acting as City Manager) has a highly-important Point of Sale document that requires official signatures from both Leslie and Ron. Knowing it will be awkward, due to Leslie and Ron feuding, Ben enlists the help of Jerry, who recently fulfilled a lifelong dream and became a Notary Public. This way Leslie and Ron don't have to be in the same room at the same time - Ben and Jerry can travel to one, and then travel to the other. While this sounds good on paper, things keep going wrong, and Ben has great difficulties getting the signatures he needs - which starts to drive him crazy. Finally, ever since the last episode, when April heard Joan's "Walk of Fame" speech, she has been trying to figure out what she really wants to do with her life. This continues in this episode as well, and we find April brainstorming with Andy about various possibilities. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Can Leslie get Zach Harrison to help with her press conference? Does Annabel Porter agree to spearhead the Gryzzl press conference? Will Ben ever get his documents correctly and officially signed? Can April draw inspiration from the William Henry Harrison museum? Does Leslie manage to get the giant tin-and-paper ball all the way from the museum to the press conference? Will the Gryzzl press conference go well enough to secure their bid for the Newport Land Parcel? Can Jerry ever stop talking about all the cool things having to do with Notary Publics? Does Andy figure out how to help April? Does Ron try to do anything to ambush Leslie? Will Leslie's press conference succeed in getting the Newport Land Parcel preserved? Loyal podcast viewers, the old adage says "what goes up, must come down". Will that hold true for Season 7 here in the 3rd episode? Stay tuned to find out! Many thanks to our fantastic sponsor, "Pawnee Supersuites".

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces the legendary Pawnee mini horse, Little Sebastian! Leslie books Little Sebastian for the Harvest Festival, thrilling everyone except Ben (who doesn't get it). Wamapoke tribe leader Ken Hotate requests the festival be moved, since it's on a Wamapoke burial site. When a sympathetic Leslie explains it's too late, Ken warns them the festival may become cursed. Joan Callamezzo arrives to report on the festival, trying to find a negative angle, but failing... until she overhears Leslie and Ben discussing the curse, which then becomes the focus of her story. In addition, a certain mini horse may or may not have DISAPPEARED! Meanwhile, during the festival setup, April is inspired by how she feels about Andy, and tells him that she loves him. His response is "Dude, shut up! That is awesome sauce!" and gives her a high five. April is mortified, while Andy remains somewhat clueless. April continues to snipe angrily at Andy throughout the day, with Andy continuing to be confused. April even goes so far as to threaten to leave for Venezuela... FOREVER! Finally, Ann is working the festival First Aid tent along with Donna. While prepping the tent, Donna asks Ann about Chris, and Ann admits she has bottomed out. Later, an attractive but dumb guy comes to the first aid tent for dehydration. While Ann treats him, he shamelessly hits on her, but Ann turns him down. Donna suggests Ann not think of him as boyfriend material, but rather use him, abuse him, lose him. We handle the questions so you don't have to, such as ... Does the gang ever find Little Sebastian? Is there actually a curse? Will April go to Venezuela to return to the arms of Jhonny? Can Donna get Ann to take Grammy Meagle's advice? Join us for the first half of this mega block-buster episode, then join us next week for part 2. You won't regret it!  

Many thanks to our PAID sponsor (sorry Ron): Reel Life Candle Co.
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This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces the one and only Janet Snakehole!  Leslie and Ron are traveling to Indianapolis to receive a commendation for reestablishing the Pawnee Harvest Festival, even though Ron only cares about eating at his favorite restaurant, Charles Mulligan's Steak House. Ann tells Leslie her last talk with Chris seemed reassuring, but (now in Indianapolis) he's grown distant, and she's worried he's cheating on her. Promising to poke around and see what's going on, Leslie and Ron visit Chris' apartment, where Leslie discovers a woman's razor and pink swimming cap in the bathroom. Hearing this, Ann drives up to Indianapolis to confront Chris. To Ron's horror, Mulligan's Steakhouse has been shut down by the health department, so Chris invites everyone back to his place for food. To Ron's further horror, Chris prepares vegetarian dishes, Ron threatens to pass out in hunger and despair, and then Ann storms in and demands an explanation for the things Leslie found!  Meanwhile, back in Pawnee, Tom is attending a launch party for cologne maker Dennis Feinstein at the Snakehole Lounge, where Tom hopes to pitch his own cologne "Tommy Fresh". Since Ben's job requires him to move a lot, he turns down the invitation, not wanting to get too attached to anybody. However, Ben relents when Tom invites him again at Leslie's urging. Meanwhile, April and Andy are now dating, and April suggests they go to Tom's launch party. When they get there, Andy becomes bummed out, realizing he is broke and unable to buy anything, embarrassed to admit this to April. Tom approaches Dennis, who insults "Tommy Fresh" and quickly dismisses Tom.  We brave the onslaught of questions, such as ... Have Tom's perfumery dreams been destroyed? Will Leslie receive her commendation? What will April and Andy do on their date with no money? Does Chris explain what is going on? Is Ben really one of the gang, or is the gang just being polite? Can Ron recover from the Mulligan's Steakhouse debacle? How will they get back at Dennis Feinstein?  Grab a Tommy-tini and relax, podcast viewers... this will be a great one!  Many thanks to our paid Public Service Announcement entitled "MoM" (Memories of Mulligan's).

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces Crazy Ira and The Douche!  Leslie, Tom, and Ben start promoting the Harvest Festival, starting with radio show "Crazy Ira and The Douche". Ben is asked about his time as a teen mayor, where he bankrupted the town, to which Ben responds awkwardly, stammering and unable to defend himself. Ben's past continues to come up during Leslie's interview with Shauna Malwae-Tweep (which she manages to downplay), and Tom and Ben's interview with Perd Hapley, during which Ben launches into a furious, incoherent rant. Realizing several businesses may pull their sponsorships from the Harvest Festival due to Ben's behavior, Leslie tries to stay focused on the upcoming interview with Joan Callamezzo on "Pawnee Today" to perform damage control.  Meanwhile, after discussing some details with Chris, April accepts his offer to work for him in Indianapolis. When Andy finds out, he begs April to reconsider, offering to take care of stuff she hates doing for a month. She agrees, but appears to have no intention of changing her mind. When Ron finds out, he volunteers to help, claiming he doesn't care about their relationship, but he does not want to lose April as an assistant. Andy's difficult day of running errands for April culminates with him getting ARRESTED after April's sister Natalie claims he is kidnapping her when he is merely picking her up from school!  Finally, Ann is growing increasingly frustrated not knowing the future of her relationship with Chris, something which is exacerbated by Chris making a point to ask April if SHE will accompany him to Indianapolis. During a pleasant lunch, Ann drops several obvious hints that she is not tied down to anything in Pawnee, including her house, which Chris does not seem to pick up on. Eventually, Chris does mention to Ann that after Indianapolis, he will be sent to a different city.  Loyal podcast viewers, we have answers to all your questions, such as ... How does one handle getting clubbed in the nuggets? Is there actually a bird flying around Perd's studio? Will Sweetums end up cancelling the Fat-Coaster? What even is the spirit of melancholy? What town in Indiana do cows outnumber people 40 to 1? Does Chris end up defining Ann's bagua?  Unpaid producer Constantine highly recommends this one: Sweet moments, funny moments, plot advancements, space farts... this one has it all, folks! Tune in and see if Constantine was right. (EDIT BY MARK AND ALLEN: If he's not, he'll be sitting in the spank chair.)  Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, the C.R.O.P.T. - the Committee to Relaunch Our Pawnee Traditions!

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode with the return of the evil one... that's right... RON'S EX-WIFE TAMMY!!! Tammy once again attempts to sabotage Ron's life, but he resists her wiles, mostly due to his relationship with Tom's ex-wife Wendy. However, later Wendy and Ron break up when she announces she's moving back to Canada. Meanwhile, in order to pull off the upcoming Harvest Festival, Leslie and gang need the Pawnee Police Department to volunteer as security during the event. To this end, they throw a party for the boys in blue, hoping to later ask them for the Harvest Festival favor. At the party, Ben has awkward interactions with Chief Trumple (causing Leslie to postpone asking for the favor), Ron drowns his sorrows about Wendy at the bar, and Tom arrives with Tammy as his date to get back at Ron. After fighting loudly, Ron and Tammy leave the party to try and make amends. However, a night filled with drunken sex and mayhem ensues, ending with the two getting remarried and ending up in jail. The next day, when she finds out about the arrests, Leslie asks for Ron to be released to her custody. This causes Ben to be concerned about "wasting" the earned favor. After getting Ron released, as a last ditch effort the gang holds an intervention for him, even playing a tape Ron made for himself. In a sub-plot, we see April filling in as Chris' assistant until he goes back to Indianapolis. April's cynicism and Chris' relentless optimism clash, driving April crazy. In an attempt to get fired, April purposely neglects to tell Ann that Chris cannot make a lunch date. When Ann arrives to confront Chris, however, she quickly realizes April's ploy. As always, your podcast hosts don't flinch away from the tough stuff, such as ... Will the gang's intervention for Ron work? Can Ron get through to himself? Did Leslie waste her favor with Chief Trumple? Can Ben stop being so awkward? Will Chris drive April crazy? Does April end up buying the dreaded orange post-its? Will Tom and Ron ever made amends? Can FBI Agent Burt Macklin help April out of her predicament? Constantine urges you all to tune your podcast dials and listen in, as during this show, he is presenting to the world his VERY FIRST production clip! (EDIT BY MARK AND ALLEN: It's about time - what was this promotion even for?) Many thanks to our sponsor, and favorite watering hole, O'Shays Irish Pub.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces the infamous JJ's Diner special, the "Four Horse-Meals of the Egg-Pork-alypse"! Leslie is organizing a time capsule filled with items representing the spirit of Pawnee. Citizen Kelly Larson visits Leslie to plead his case for the Twilight books to go in the time capsule. Leslie says no, and in response Kelly handcuffs himself to a pipe in her office, clearly planned in advance. Tom is sad because he got dumped by Lucy (even though he doesn't know why), which Kelly notices. Kelly says Tom will feel better if he reads Twilight, which he initially scoffs at, but is willing to give it a try. Leslie eventually notices the name "Liz Waverly" in one of Kelly's Twilight books, does research, and confronts Kelly with her conclusion that Liz... is his daughter!  Meanwhile... Andy is still pining for April, who is dating the charming and handsome Eduardo. Having recently bonded a bit with Andy over some shoe-shining sessions (making Ann nervous), Chris wants to help Andy. Chris suggests Andy tap into aspects of his personality April initially liked, but Andy can only come up with "I'm nice" and "I'm in a band". A bit later, Andy sees Eduardo by himself, and decides to take the high road, apologizing to him about being a jerk, and promising to be nice from now on. As always, your brave podcast hosts tackle the hard-hitting questions, like ... Is Liz truly Kelly's daughter? Does Eduardo accept Andy's apology? Will Tom enjoy the Twilight books? Can Ann ever stop being nervous about Chris and Andy hanging out? How does Kelly go to the bathroom if he's handcuffed? Does Tom ever find out why Lucy dumped him? Will Twilight get included in the time capsule? Is friendship possible between Andy and Eduardo? Folks, you'll be sorry if you miss this one - be sure to tune in! Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, the Summer Movies Under the Stars Festival.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode where Chris tells himself to ... STOP ... POOPING!!!  The flu is sweeping across Pawnee, with Ann caring for many of the sick, including April (who still resents Ann for kissing Andy). While Ron visits April, she asks him not to tell Andy she's there. With April gone, Ron does ask Andy to fill in as an assistant, believing (correctly) that Andy will be ineffective. Meanwhile, Leslie is preparing for a presentation with the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce, and it becomes clear Leslie is not feeling well, but she won't admit it because of the importance of the presentation. Ben finally takes a reluctant Leslie to the hospital, Ann admits her, and Ben tells her not to worry, he and Tom will do the presentation, which Leslie is not happy about. A bit later, a flu-ridden Chris is checked into the hospital, having a total physical breakdown. Ann has been dating Chris, and really likes him, but fears he is too perfect... until now. Meanwhile, instead of helping Ben prepare for the presentation, Tom abandons him to hang out at a spa. As the day goes on, Ron and Andy bond over many things, including food, drink, football, and politics, with Andy eventually feeling comfortable enough with Ron to tell him about his problems with April. To top things off, a delirious and over-medicated Leslie escapes the hospital and heads back to City Hall to do the presentation herself!  Never fear - as always, we answer all the questions others are afraid to even verbalize, such as ... Will April's constant poking at Ann make her break? Will Andy ever find out April is at the hospital? How will Ann feel about Chris now that he is essentially a puddle of goo? Does Tom ever come back from the spa? Will Leslie make it to City Hall? Will Ben decide to introduce himself musically? Will Ron and Andy ever successfully complete a passing play outside? Will the Harvest Festival fail before it even starts?  Loyal podcast viewers, this is one of the BEST episodes of the series - fight us about it!  Or, just tune in and enjoy it.  Yes, that's probably better.  Many thanks to our awesome sponsor, Big Head Joe's.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces the often imitated but never duplicated Swanson Pyramid of Greatness!  The government shutdown is over, and the Parks Department is back, although on a shoestring budget, with Chris and Ben only letting them conduct existing park maintenance. Wanting to offer and do more, Leslie has a brainstorm when she learns Chris has continued to ask out Ann... convince Ann to go on a date with Chris in order to persuade him to increase the parks budget! (What could go wrong?) Meanwhile, due to popular demand, Ben did allow one exception to the maintenance-only rule, and allocated money for the youth basketball league, although with only two teams (they're gonna be GREAT rivals) coached by Ron and Andy, with Tom chosen to referee their first game. Finally, ever since the disaster when April learned about Ann kissing him, Andy has been calling April non-stop hoping to get in touch with her, explain, and smooth things over.  What Andy didn't know is that April was in Venezuela all this time.  When he finally sees her return, he excitedly jumps at the opportunity to connect with her... only to learn that she is back in town with mysterious, handsome new boyfriend Eduardo.  Holy cow!  Do we have questions to tackle?  You bet we do!  Important questions, such as ...  Will Ann go out with Chris?  Are she and Leslie sneaky enough to pull this off?  Will Ron's team win, or will Andy's team pull a stunning upset?  Whose team has the better battle-cry?  Will Tom learn basketball in time to correctly referee the game?  Is April truly over Andy?  Will Eduardo encourage Andy to follow his dreams?  Loyal podcast viewers, this is a great start to a great season!  Keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times - it's going to be a wild ride.  Many thanks to our mystery sponsor, providing a new product from the makers of the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness - you'll just have to listen to find out!

Mark and Allen are enjoying some well-earned time off this week but they've left newly promoted Constantine in charge and are confident he will play the right Episode...this time. After all, he is no longer confusing the 8-Track's with the Digital archives and we've locked up the Vinyl collection just in case too. Join us as the guys interview the very kind and very gracious Christopher Murray! Christopher talks Parks and Rec as well as giving us a special inside look at growing up in Hollywood  and his wealth of experience including co-starting alongside huge movie stars like Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne and Sean Connery - 007 himself! Even our frequent guest pitch-man (who is also off this week) was slightly star struck...You know him better as Swanson...Ron Swanson!

In this Special Revisited episode, not only do we recap the last two-thirds of Season 2; but, we also spend some time introducing and giving first impressions of Ben and Chris as well as being joined by special guest Josh Kraus (@ParksAndRecNow) on for an interview to discuss his terrific spec script "The Return of Mark Brendanawicz”! Don't miss out on this chance to catch up and level set before we jump headfirst into Season 3!

https://twitter.com/ParksAndRecNow

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that bids farewell to Mark Brendanawicz. Due to the government shutdown, the kids' concert featuring Freddy Spaghetti is cancelled - but not without a fight from Leslie! Hosting the concert on Lot 48 by Ann's house, Leslie pulls together the gang to save the day.  Ron has been assigned to the Emergency Budget Task Force, and is initially giddy at cuts proposed by Chris and Ben, but objects when he learns they plan to fire Leslie.  Meanwhile, Andy tries to talk to April, Ann struggles with what's next in her life, Chris and Ben try to shut the concert down, Andy breaks his arm - non stop action folks!  As always, your Prolific Podcast Pundits dive into the questions keeping you up at night, such as ... When should you play Boyz II Men 'On Bended Knee'? What is the proper name for a turkey leg covered in bacon? How many minutes does a Bounce House need for premium bounce? What is Leslie's favorite Freddy Spaghetti song?  Is the song 'Pickle Hair' kid friendy? (Edit by Constantine: NO. The answer is NO.) Tune your podcast dials in for this one, folks, you won't be sorry! Our sincere thanks goes out to our sponsor, BLAH BLAH BLAH, as well as you, all of our loyal Live From Pawnee podcast viewers. (Edit by Constantine: These guys are idiots. We KNOW you're not viewers.)

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we learn that Councilman Jeremy Jamm and Ron's ex-wife Tammy 2 have actually been in a "real" relationship! With the Pawnee city council voting on re-zoning the Newport land for commercial use, Leslie wants them to vote "No", as this will eliminate Gryzzl from the land competition altogether. When she finds out the deciding vote is held by Councilman Jeremy Jamm, Leslie pays him a visit, only to find that [a] he's made himself look like Ron (somewhat), and [b] apparently he's now with Tammy, who completely controls him in all ways, including how he votes. Leslie tries to convince Tammy to side with her in order to torture Ron. This seems like a sure thing, but later when the council heard arguments, Jamm immediately declares his intention to side with Ron and Gryzzl ... a move orchestrated by Tammy to try and win back Ron. Leslie tries to break up Jamm and Tammy, but in the process realizes that Jamm is a broken, miserable shell of a man. Leslie puts her vote agenda on the back burner, instead wanting to help Jamm escape the clutches of Tammy ... even if that means teaming up with Ron to do it. Meanwhile, Ben and April attend a Pawnee "Walk of Fame" inductee ceremony to honor Joan Callamezzo. Despite being quite crazy in many, many ways, Joan delivers a speech which hits April hard, and makes her start thinking about her job, and what she finally wants to do with her life. April ends up confiding in Ben, and he tries to help her figure things out, including having her take an online vocational test, and dialoguing with her about what she might want to do. It then occurs to April that she *might* want to be a mortician ... Finally, Andy celebrates Tom's success with him, but finds out Tom isn't content just being a big-time mogul ... he wants to have someone in his life. As Tom and Andy discuss things (and drink), Andy sees a GryzzlText come through from Lucy, prompting him to drunkenly suggest he and Tom go to Chicago to meet up with Lucy! The pair sober up during the LONG cab ride there, get out, and as fate would have it, immediately bump into Lucy. Andy makes up a story as to why they are there, and they spend the day with Lucy. Tom realizes how much he misses Lucy, and wonders if she could be the one ... but considers how (or if) it could work between them with Lucy living in a different city. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Will Leslie and Ron put aside their differences to help Jamm? What is the result of April's online vocational test? Is Lucy interested in Tom? Can Jamm escape the clutches of the dreaded Tammy 2? Can Ben convince April to not live under a bridge and ask people riddles before they cross? Will Tom ask Lucy to come back to Pawnee with him? How will Jamm vote regarding the Newport land re-zoning? Will April decide to become a mortician? Does Andy finally get to go to Ben & Jerry's? Loyal viewers, Season 7 started out with a bang - will the greatness continue, or will it fall flat? Stay tuned to find out! Many thanks to our fantastic sponsor, "Tam-Away".

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces Chris Traeger and Ben Wyatt!  We start out learning [a] April is turning 21 and having her birthday party at The Snakehole Lounge, [b] Ann has ended things with Mark, and [c] Leslie has prepared a budget proposal for the Lot 48 Park. However, later that morning city manager Paul Iaresco announces all proposals are postponed indefinitely due to the budget crisis, and state auditors have been sent to solve the issue. Leslie fears severe cuts, while Ron is delighted. Meanwhile, Andy is clearly showing interest in April, but worries about the 8 year age difference. Also, Mark shows confusion about his breakup with Ann because they never fought or argued, while Ann explains they just didn't have the right chemistry/passion. We learn Tom has ulterior motives for April's party to invite (then hit on) every available hottie he knows. Auditors Chris Traeger and Ben Wyatt arrive, with Chris painting an optimistic picture of how they will fix things. When Ben finally explains they need to slash the budget by 40 to 50 percent, Leslie lashes out at Ben, who reminds her the poorly-managed government is to blame. Later at April's party, Leslie and Ann get extremely drunk. Tom is frustrated at his inability to pick up women. Andy and April are getting along, but when he goes to the bar to get April's drink, a drunken Ann flirts with him. This upsets April, who tries to make Andy jealous by flirting with Jean-Ralphio. Ben arrives and tries to smooth things over with a drunken Leslie, but she once more lashes outand tells him to get lost. The next morning Ann enlists Leslie's help in figuring out... who she made out with the prior night!  Holy cow, folks, these are the sort of questions that send others running for cover, but we refuse to shy away from, such as... Will Pawnee's budget crisis get resolved? Can Ann ever forgive herself for flirting with Andy? Does Tom's bottlecap game yield any fruit? Can Leslie ever get along with Ben? Will April make Jean-Ralphio her new boyfriend? Does Ann find out who she made out with?  Loyal podcast viewers, this extra-long, extra special episode is one-of-a-kind, and we encourage everyone to watch it.  Many thanks to our sponsor, JJ's Diner.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that has Joan Callemezzo, Perd Hapley, MC Martin Housely, and Joe from the Sewer Department all under the same roof!  Given a 4 hour programming block (2am to 6am) for the 24-hour "Pawnee Cares" diabetes telethon starting that night, Leslie (who has already been up for 24 hours) gets everyone involved, including sending Tom as the body man for retired basketball player Detlef Schrempf. With time to kill, Tom brings Detlef to the Snakehole Lounge, bringing a LOT of business in, but resulting in owner Freddy refusing to let him go. Several "talents" go on-air, including songs by Mouse Rat, Ron's chair-caning demo, and accountant Barney demonstrating QuickBooks Pro. Remembering that Mark told her earlier he plans to propose to Ann, a desperate Leslie tells Mark he should do it on-air.  Folks, this is what we're here to do, get the bottom of such riveting questions, like ... Exactly how tall is Tom? Will Mark propose to Ann on the air? What precisely is sleep-fighting? Can Detlef Schrempf make it to the telethon? Will Leslie fall asleep before her programming block is over? What the **** IS Perd Hapley doing on-air?  Loyal podcast viewers, this episode is absolutely chock-a-block full of guest stars - you won't be able to keep track of them all!  Many thanks to our sponsor Entertainment 720 and their award-hopeful film: "Identity Crisis: This is Mouse Rat".

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that finally introduces us to April's family and casa Ludgate!  Forced to deal with 93 meetings in a single day (due to a mistake by a guilty and embarrassed April), Ron enlists the aid of April, Andy, and Ann.  As the day progresses, meetings are handled with mixed results: Ron just silently listens saying as little as possible, and is on the verge of snapping; April embraces complete fantasy (e.g. Ron is dead and she's his daughter); Andy struggles to not make promises (and is also just Andy); and after revealing she is a nurse, Ann provides several free medical consults.  Meanwhile, Leslie attempts to help Ron, but her first meeting reveals that Turnbill Mansion is being altered by Jessica Wicks while planning an extravagant birthday party for her new husband, the wealthy Nick Newport Sr, founder of Sweetums. Leslie and Tom spring into action to mitigate the damage as best they can. They find several extreme alterations are already done, and Leslie is outraged to learn Jessica plans to demolish a gazebo in the backyard.  Viewers, we have never avoided the tough questions, and we're not starting now, such as... Will April earn back Ron's trust? How can Leslie prevent the destruction of the gazebo? Does Andy promise away the entire city? Will Tom get sufficient time to suck up to Jessica Wicks? Can Ron make it through the day without exploding?  Stay tuned folks, this will be a doozy!  Many thanks to our sponsor, the one and only Sweetums:  "If you can't beat 'em, Sweetums!"

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces the three men that preceded Ron as Pawnee Parks Director!  Working on the Pawnee Summer Catalog, Leslie puts together a reunion between Ron Swanson and his three Park Director predecessors. She hopes it will be a joyous occasion and plans to write a letter about it for the catalog. However, they all suck. None of the four men get along with each other, and they each have their own less than admirable traits: Clarence (sexist), David (litters, doesn't care about parks), Michael (obsessed with marijuana), and Ron is...well... Ron.  Meanwhile, Tom has been tasked with taking the cover photo for the Summer Catalog, and convinces Ann and Mark to pose for photos at a community park. Tom is repeatedly frustrated with Ann, who has a difficult time appearing happy. When the photos are finished, Ann agrees that she looks miserable and asks that the pictures not be used. Mark appears concerned that Ann's unhappiness is a reflection of their relationship.  Additionally, April and Andy have been hanging out more and growing closer. After helping Leslie set up the Park Director reunion picnic, Andy asks April to get drinks after work, and she quickly agrees. But when they arrive at the bar, the bouncer notices April appears to be underage, and her ID confirms she is 20... which makes Andy uncomfortable.  Loyal viewers, as always we tackle the hard-hitting questions so you don't have to, such as...  How does one accurately convey "slithering"?  Why would anyone eat anything other than breakfast food?  What exactly IS Tom thinking in that hi-res photo?  Will Leslie's letter ever get written?  Does Andy get over his discomfort with April's age?  Folks, you don't want to miss this one.  NOTE: Our intern, Constantine, has requested that those who join us please bring sufficient bacon for trail snacks... we don't want any tantrums.  Many thanks to our inimitable sponsor, JJ's Diner.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that reveals the secret to Jerry's approach to life (you'll have to wait until the very end).  When Jerry gets mugged while refilling the park's hummingbird feeders, Leslie feels bad about how much they make fun of him, and urges the gang to refrain, while also working with LOUD park security ranger Carl to try and make the parks safer. Going on Pawnee Today, Leslie says the Pawnee government failed the parks, security is poor, and they need more funding. Although angering City Manager Paul Iaresco, the TV stunt worked, causing Mayor Gunderson to offer $2,500 towards fixing the park. However, at a press conference Jerry makes a confession to Leslie that perhaps things happened a little differently than he said.  Meanwhile, we observe some odd love-triangle-esque interactions and behavior from Ann (who says Andy is a fun person but completely reliant on others), April (who likes Andy, and plain doesn't like Ann), and Andy (who is a dim-witted but loveable goofball). After Andy is accidentally knocked out by Ron during a self-defense class, Ann brings Andy gifts at the shoe shine stand to help him feel better... also making April jealous. However, we've seen Andy think of others lately... particularly April. Once again, we address the toughest questions known to mankind, such as... What is the confession Jerry makes to Leslie? Will the gang continue to make fun of him? Is it okay to attack a criminal's bean bag? Did the movie Avatar truly live up to the hype? What exactly does "walking Lord Sheldon" mean? Loyal viewers, this is a memorable episode for sure - don't miss it!  NOTE: Our intern, Constantine, asks that if you join us, please refrain from getting breakfast burritos... it could be unpleasant for all involved.  Many thanks to our awesome sponsor, the Ron Swanson Self-Defense and Self-Respect Couse (or RSSDSRC).

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that not only introduces Pawnee Animal Control, but also gives us a sneak peak at Ron's Haven!  When Mayor Gunderson's dog Rufus (everybody loves Rufus) is bitten by the infamous possum Fairway Frank at Pawnee Municipal Golf Course, mayoral representative Evelyn Roushland asks Leslie to take action. Leslie forms a Task Force (including two burnout Animal Control workers) and searches for Fairway Frank at the golf course.  After Andy dives on it and captures it, Evelyn promises Leslie a special favor from the mayor's office. However, Leslie later sees a second possum and fears they have captured the wrong animal.  Meanwhile, Ron wants to expand his home woodshop and seeks a quick approval from Mark, who informs Ron an inspection is needed to ensure it meets zoning code standards. During the inspection, Mark finds numerous code violations, frustrating Ron. Ron tries to bribe Mark with a canoe, which frustrates Mark.  As always, we face the hard-hitting questions straight-on, such as...  Do they confirm Fairway Frank's identity?  Will they send an innocent possum to fry?  Will Andy become known as a famous possum tackler? Will Ron acknowledge his wood shop needs a tune-up? Will Mark canoe his way up the Swanson river without a paddle? Podcast viewers, there's enough content here to choke a possum... maybe literally!  Sit back, relax, and drink it all in.  Many thanks to our awesome sponsor, Offerman Woodshop.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces the inside of the famous Snakehole Lounge nightclub!  A letter to the department makes Leslie think she is being named Woman of the Year, but instead it is going to Ron! While Ron knows this is a dumb mistake, he uses it to tease Leslie for caring about "crap like this", fully intending to later recommend her as the rightful recipient. Meanwhile, Tom is doing his best to invest in the Snakehole Lounge, but the shares are $10,000. Dreaming of being a club owner, Tom seeks assistance from several people, including Donna, Jerry, Mark, and the fast-talking Jean-Ralphio. Finally, Andy has been living with bandmate Burly rent free, and is told to change his living habits or move out. This leads April to help Andy find his own place... perhaps one close to April's place so they can carpool to work together?  As always, we attack the scariest of questions, such as...  How do you create a Bag of Smells, and what would that experiment teach us?  What is a Smurf Girl Trophy?  How would Tom's face look on legal tender?  When will Andy realize April is WAY into him?  Loyal podcast viewers, this is a good one, be sure not to miss it!  NOTE: Constantine asks you not spill your soup all over everything - take it like a man.  Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, Pawnee Super Suites.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that not only introduces Galentine's Day, but also Dennis Feinstein's unforgettable perfume line!  When Leslie's boyfriend Justin hears a story from Marlene (Leslie's mom) about Frank "the one that got away", Leslie and Justin track him down to reunite them at the Valentine's Day dance at the Senior Center.  Meanwhile, Andy and his band are nervous about playing "old fogey" songs for the dance.  As it turns out, the senior center ends up being the stage for several relationships to progress (or perhaps regress), including Mark and Ann, Tom and Wendy, our favorite throuple April/Derek/Ben, Leslie and Justin, and of course... Marlene and Frank!  Once again, nothing is safe from us, as we fearlessly pursue the answers to questions such as...  What is the old lady version of flashing?  Is it okay for someone to blackmail you into a date?  What is Leslie's definition of a nooner?  How should a daughter refer to her new step-dad?  (UPDATE: The scientists at LFP Worldwide Headquarters have done some research, and the answer is "Poo-Paw".)  Podcast viewers, tune your dials accordingly for this iconic episode, it's going to be great!  Constantine asks you also stick with us through the rest of the series.  Please don't be a tourist.  Many thanks to our irreplaceable sponsor, J.J.'s Diner.

This week, Mark and Allen utilize the varied talents of unpaid intern Constantine to select the questions. This could be dangerous, but our intrepid hosts are not afraid! As always, Mark and Allen answer some questions that have been on the viewers minds for quite some time, including questions about Mike Schur, podcasting in general, Kevin Symons, our impression of characters so far, and more! As well, we may tackle some tangential questions, such as...  Are the awesome and loyal LFP podcast viewers actually viewers? Will we be interviewing any more Parks and Rec cast members?  This is ten pounds of goodness in a five pound bag, folks. So kick back, get your favorite beverage, tune your podcast dials as needed, and enjoy the ride.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that gives us a greater understanding of one of Pawnee's oldest and best known institutions... Sweetums!  Sweetums tries partnering with the Parks Dept to market NutriYum Bars to park visitors. Ideologies clash as Ron (consumer choice) squares off against Leslie (public safety). Convincing City Manager Paul Iaresco to hold a public forum as a CYA move, Leslie has one last shot at defeating the proposal.  Meanwhile, the rest of the gang helps Tom move out of Wendy's house, which Tom hasn't prepared for at all, to everyone's chagrin.  Additionally, during Tom's move, we see April's loyalties split between Andy and the throuple.  Once again we tackle the hard hitting questions, such as... what is "turf and turf"?  Is it acceptable for one to pour Wild Turkey on their cornflakes?  Can a machine be killed?  If so, can it come back to life and haunt people?  How many boxes can Donna's "baby" hold?  (Don't judge, it has a delicate suspension.)  Tune in, podcast viewers, although you might want to sit down... you WILL be crashing soon.  P.S.  Please ignore the punk ass book jockeys.  Many thanks to our often imitated but never duplicated sponsor, the one and only, Sweetums.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we are first introduced to the "Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show"! Continuing a few seconds after the Season 6 finale concludes ... we see Leslie and Ben exit the elevator and make their way to an assembly in Council Chambers, where lawyer Trevor Nelsson (on behalf of Jessica Wicks) announces the Newport Family Trust intends to sell a 25-square mile parcel of land. While Leslie wants the land for a new national park, tech company Gryzzl wants it for a new Pawnee campus. Furthermore, Gryzzl has hired Ron, who is now a private business owner running the "Very Good" building and development company. During the City Hall assembly, Leslie and Ron see each other, and it is clear they are not on good terms, and haven't been for some time. Leslie learns the land will likely sell for around $90M, and with only $2-4M available to her, realizes she can't go toe to toe with Gryzzl. Later that night, at the Pawnee Bicentennial Gala honoring Ben, Leslie confronts Ron about "stealing" Tom and Donna away from her (Tom is looking to build a new restaurant on the Gryzzl campus, while Regal Meagle Realty was hired by Ron to broker the deal), and when Ron brings up something called "Morningstar", Leslie flies into a rage. Meanwhile, in 2017 we see April and Andy living a stable, normal life together. In many ways this could be considered a good thing. However, the day of the Pawnee Bicentennial Gala, April looks around and has a bit of an epiphany ... she and Andy have gone from spontaneous and weird, to boring and organized. Andy assures her that's not true - they are still young, fun and crazy, and he promises they will prove it that night at the Pawnee Bicentennial Gala. When April and Andy arrive at the gala, they immediately start brainstorming various crazy things they can do, but appear to have some difficulty when their acquired maturity and sensibilities take some steam out of their actions. Finally, Andy comes up with the perfect solution that can't fail ... he's going to streak the stage. Finally, Ben is being honored at the Pawnee Bicentennial Gala, a black tie event taking place that night, for all of his work organizing festivities for the celebration of Pawnee's 200th year.  Tom, who has done extremely well with Tom's Bistro and is a successful business owner, is scheduled to introduce Ben at the gala.  Given Tom's track record, Ben is a little nervous about how Tom's introduction will go, despite Tom assuring him everything will be fine. That night, at the event, Tom gets onstage and begins speaking at the microphone, and at first everything seems to be going well ... but then we see Tom put away the cards with his planned speech, and starts using the stage time in front of Pawnee's rich and famous to promote himself. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Why are Leslie and Ron fighting? Will Andy streak the stage as planned? Does Tom course-correct during his introduction speech? Can Leslie raise enough money to compete with Gryzzl? Does April feel better after the gala? Will the rest of the gala go well for Ben? Is there any other strategy Leslie can employ? What happens the following day that turns their lives around? Can Tom make amends with Ben for grabbing the spotlight for himself? What is "Morningstar"? Loyal podcast viewers, we're here ... the FINAL season of this great series! Will Season 7 be as amazing as the prior seasons? Stay tuned to find out! Many thanks to our fantastic sponsor, "???????".

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that lets us finally peer inside the one area of Leslie's life that has remained a mystery - her house! Having been on several great dates with Justin, Leslie wants to plan their best date ever for when he next comes to Pawnee.  It quickly becomes obvious she has bitten off more than she can chew.  In desperation, Leslie reaches out to her friends, then to the Pawnee Rec Center teachers.  However, the teachers, who days ago had been told the reduced city budget would force 5 classes to close, interpret this as Leslie soliciting a bribe from them in the form of free services.  Combine this with potential awkwardness (Andy/Mark, Mark/Justin, Tom/Wendy), borderline gluttony (Ron bringing his own tray of deviled eggs which he does not want to share), underage drinking (April and her friends), and very hot peppers (wait and see), this party could be a royal gala or a powder keg.  Which way will it lean?  What will happen?  Stay tuned, loyal podcast viewers... the answers will be revealed!  This is ramping up to be a good one.  NOTE:  We're not saying we don't trust you... but leave any chewing gum at the door.  Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, the William Percy Recreation Center.

This week, Mark and Allen break down the Episode that reminds us all just how awkward being setup can actually be! For starters, while Leslie is interested in Justin, an old attorney friend of Ann's, Ann is clearly saving him for herself and sets up Leslie with a really...interesting...doctor she kind of knows. A really awkward dinner date leads to an even more awkward MRI. Meanwhile, Mark is having a bad day as he suspects Ann's motivation vis a vis Justin AND has to endure 'Marley and Me' to make matters even worse. Finally, and most importantly to Ron, Tom helps Ron search for an taxpayer funded assistant to help save Ron from the taxpayers themselves! We meet lots of unmemorable candidates before meeting "The Worst" of them all - the one and only Jean-Ralphio Saperstein!

When we last left our heroes, the brave Mark and Allen (and almost-as-brave intern Constantine) had valiantly broken down Christmas Scandal, the very first Park & Recs Christmas episode.  Five storylines, people!  Five!!!  They walked through the episode scene by scene, discussed the highs and lows, the funny points, the heart moments, and everything in between.  In the second half, they will discuss the episode overall, including Firsts, Tropes, Deleted Scenes, and finally, the all-important and ever-popular scoring segment!  Here at LFP Worldwide Headquarters, we know how much you like your "Sexy Dexy".  Therefore, after the Live From Pawnee "main course", we will provide the perfect "after dinner coffee" with the conclusion of our exclusive Kevin Symons interview!  So to all of our loyal podcast viewers ... get comfortable, tune your podcast dials accordingly, and keep up - this will be a fun ride.  (P.S.  We know you're not viewers.)

Check out Kevin Symons here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEQdbINKqPfzDhm7LFMG\_2g
https://www.instagram.com/thekevinsymons/
https://twitter.com/TheKevinSymons
https://www.cameo.com/kevinsymons1