Season 1 Episode 1

Pilot

Original Air Date:  04/09/2009
Director: Greg Daniels
Writers: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Leslie hosts a town hall meeting.  When she first arrives, the doors are locked.  Later, in the school theater, Leslie begins to speak, but the lights are turned off.  The meeting is moved to a classroom. 
The residents of Pawnee are ridiculous!  What are they even talking about?  Who is Laura Liney?  Ugh.
Ann (Rashida Jones) tells Leslie about a pit next to her house.  Apparently some condo builders bought it and dug out the pit for the basement.  Then, they went bankrupt and ended up leaving the lot as a pit.  Tom Haverford, Leslie's aide and fellow parks and recreation co-worker hosts the meeting with her and heavily hits on Ann. 

After hearing Ann's complaint about the pit next her house, Leslie vows to fix it and put a park where the pit is currently. 

Leslie decides to form a committee to turn the pit into a park.  She meets up with Ann and they survey the pit.  Leslie vows to get the pit filled in, but that doesn't stop Mark, her co-worker/ex-lover, from falling into the pit as well!!!

Ann, the nurse, rushes to his side, while Andy goes back into Ann's house and watches some television.   

I LOVE this show!  It is officially my new favorite show!  The comedy is just right, the characters act in just the right way...love it!  I know nothing about politics and it still made me laugh OUT LOUD multiple times. 

Quotes

Leslie   "You know when I first tell people I work for the government, they say  'oh the government the government stinks.  The lines are too long at the DMV', but now things have changed.  People need our help and it feels good to be needed."

Leslie   "Government isn't just a boys club anymore.  Women are everywhere.  It's a great time to be a woman in politics.  Hilary Clinton, Sarah Palin, me, Nancy Pelosi.  You know, I like to tell people: get on board and buckle up 'cuz my ride's gonna be a big one.  And if you get motion sickness, put your head between your knees 'cuz Leslie Knopes stopping for no one."  

Leslie   "This is where the rubber of government meets the road of actual human beings."

Tom   "Ann let me speak with you for a minute.  So, your boyfriend fell down into this pit right?    And, um, this guy, is it pretty serious?  You guys living together?...Wow, I'm sure this must be pretty tough for you, ya know.  This guy sounds like he didn't have much going on for him to start with and now both legs broken.  He's just weak, you have to take care of him.  You probably feel like you have to move on.  Just become more adventurous in relationships with your body...I feel like we might be taking up too much of the forums time.  Maybe we should just exchange numbers.  You know, maybe go away one weekend and kind of talk about this.  I'd love to do it."     

Ann   "The bottom line is, I've been trying to get this thing fixed for months and nobody's done anything.  And it's ugly and it's dangerous and it's government owned.  And you need to do something about it."

Leslie    "It's more than a promise!  It's a pinky promise!"

Leslie   "But this pit- the chance to build a whole new park from scratch-- this could be my Hoover Dam."

Tom   "No, that sounds great!  But, the problem is, anything over $25, I have to report.  So, uh, maybe give my wife a call and give her the suits.  And then, if they don't fit her, maybe she'll give them to me."

Leslie   "I need more firepower...I need bigger guns.  Committees are the lifeblood of our democratic system."

Tom   "Committees cover our democracy in blood."

Leslie   "Well if you want something done in this town, you call Mark Brendanawicz because he's a city planner.  Well, he's kind of more than that, he's kind of a fixer.  He fixes things.  He's a smart, capable guy.  He just...he knows where the bodies are buried."

Leslie    "City hall is like a locker room.  You gotta get in there.  You gotta snap towels at people."

Leslie   "Dream with me for a second, Ann.  Doesn't this neighborhood deserve a first class park?  Imagine a shiny, new playground with jungle gyms and swings, a pool, tennis courts, a volleyball court, raquetball courts, basketball court, regulation football field, an amphitheater over there with Shakespeare in the park... We could do some of those things."

Soundtrack

Lady Marmalade (as made famous by Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Mya & Pink)  -Amy Poehler