Original Air Date: 05/07/2009
Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller
Writers: Greg Daniels, Michael Schur, and Tucker Cawley
Leslie's mother, Marlene, wins the Tellenson Award and a banquet is being held to honor her. Leslie prepares a speech.
Ann agrees to go to banquet with Leslie, who tells her it is a very dressy event. Leslie then goes to the local barber who has cut many politicians hair in the past.
At the banquet, Ann arrives in a pink ball gown and Leslie arrives with a man's hairdo. It doesn't help they enter holding arms. Another politician there approaches them and tells them he wishes had their
courage. Hah! Leslie does not see that they clearly look like a lesbian couple.
There is another board member present named Janine Restreppo who could help with the zoning of the park Leslie is trying to build. Marlene gives Leslie some advice about buttering up Janine Restreppo during her
speech about her mother. However, during the speech, Leslie goes overboard in buttering up Janine.
When Leslie approaches her, Janine tells her to call her secretary to set something up for next month. Marlene believes she is blowing them off and tells Leslie to blackmail her with information about her husband who got a DUI.
Tom wants Mark to go to a bar with him to hit on chicks. Mark goes. Leslie tells Ann about her plan to blackmail Janine and they get into a fight. Ann tells her that her mom gave her bad advice and Leslie calls
her out on being a crutch to Andy.
Tom wears an ugly, orange hat to try to pick up girls. Mark ends up leaving and tries to go back to the banquet, but it is too late and everyone has left.
Leslie tries to blackmail Janine, but can't go through with it. Ann and Leslie, of course, make up after their fight. This episode is the first mention of Leslie's father, who is apparently dead. The relationship between her and her mother is more closely looked at and it is obvious Leslie respects her too much. Great dialogue!
Quotes
Leslie "I think we could be a multi-generational political dynasty, you and I, you know like the Kennedy's or the Bush's, minus the drinking problem. I mean no disrespect."
Leslie "How important are speeches? I don't know, ask the Gettysburg Address. Oh, it didn't answer your call? Maybe because it was in the Smithsonian."
Leslie "Salvatore Manfalotti has been cutting hair across from Pioneer Hall since 1958. All the movers and shakers who come through Pawnee have sat in that chair at one point or another. I mean, he's the guy who made Larry Bird look the way he does."
Ron "Marlene is a woman. She has worked in the government for three decades. Thirty years! Properly applied, that's how long a good varnish should last. So Marlene, it is true, that you have won this award."
Tom "It's called peacocking. Basically I'm wearing something that kind of makes me stand out like a peacock. So girls will be like 'hey what's with that hat?'"
Leslie "The people who win awards aren't always the best people. I mean, I think Ann and I are really good people. And some day, others will see that and we'll get our due. Would I like to win a Tellenson award like my mom did? Sure, but my dad never won an award and he was always happy. He lives in Florida in a cemetary. The point is, my mom is alive and I love her. She's one tough cookie. That's why everybody calls her the iron **** ***** of Pawnee...fondly."
Tom "Yes, I'm married. But my wife understands that a good politician has to be appealing to the ladies. The fact that I haven't even gotten close to cheating on her is a disappointment to both of us."
