Product Details

• Actors: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman
• Directors: Jeffrey Blitz, Greg Daniels, Seth Gordon, Beth McCarthy-Miller, Michael McCullers
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: September 8, 2009
• Run Time: 157 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002DPPH6W
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,846 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Consider season one of Parks and Recreation the series' awkward toddler phase, in which Greg Daniels and Michael Schur's comedy about midlevel town politics not only attempted to stand on its own but separate itself from its parent (of sorts), Daniels's wildly successful take on The Office. Comparisons to that show weighed down much of Parks' freshman year, with critics and fans alike suggesting that deputy parks director Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the series' relentlessly cheerful but socially awkward focus, was a wan carbon of Steve Carell's Michael Scott, with similar charges levied at its single-camera mockumentary style, aggravating office sycophant Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), and the awkward relationship between Knope and city planner Mark Brendanawicz (Paul Schneider, who left the show after its second season). In truth, the similarities were mostly superficial: Parks played closer to a sweet if cracked indie character piece about the hothouse effect on the eccentric if likable personalities who clung to the lower rungs of government, while The Office took a harsher look at the more aggressive flora and fauna of the American workplace. That gentler tone, embodied largely by Poehler's energetic turn and Chris Pratt as Rashida Jones's dim but ingratiating Andy Dwyer, may have put off Office fans hoping for a similarly acidic take which, in truth, was still present in Ansari and especially Nick Offerman, the show's breakout star, as the disgruntled parks director Ron Swanson. Thankfully, its network allowed Parks the time to smooth out the rougher edges and continue to develop its characters (most notably Aubrey Plaza's April, who was largely trimmed from this season), which resulted in one of the more ingratiating and proudly offbeat comedies in recent years.

The season one DVD features commentaries on all six episodes by Daniels, Schur, and directors Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) and Beth McCarthy Miller, who are joined by Poehler, Offerman, and Jones, among others. The tracks are lively and informative about the show's technical aspects and behind-the-scenes relationships. Deleted scenes, many of which are as funny as the broadcast episodes, are also included, as are a pair of amusing videos for "Pit" and "Ann," two hapless songs from would-be rocker Andy (and written and performed by Pratt) that feature several gag-reel moments. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

From the people who bring you The Office comes Parks and Recreation, the hilarious saga of government employees and local citizens turning a neighborhood hole in the ground into a new public park. Comedy superstar Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live, Baby Mama) stars as Leslie Knope, an ambitious and hopeful small town government worker, whose dreams are way bigger than her political talents. Created by Primetime Emmy® Award winners Greg Daniels (The Office, King of the Hill, The Simpsons) and Michael Schur (The Office, SNL), and featuring a stellar ensemble cast, Parks and Recreation is a “genuinely funny comedy” (Daniel Carlson, Hollywood Reporter) about bureaucracy, hope and America at the dawn of the Obama age.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Parks and Recreation" Starts Poorly, Gets Much Better, September 9, 2009

By 

D. Barbour (MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parks & Recreation: Season One (DVD)

When I watched the first episode of "Parks and Recreation", I was let down. It was unfunny, unoriginal, and dull. Being an Amy Poehler fan though, I decided to stick with it to see if it improved. To my surprise, not only did it improve, it became better than most sitcoms out there nowadays. If you reviewed this negatively based solely on the first episode, I would suggest watching the entire season as even I agree with your first episode assessment. If you like "30 Rock" and "The Office", this show fits in nicely to that style of comedy.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Yes-We-Can" Spirit Meets "No We Can't" Bureaucracy, September 19, 2009

By 

Richard Hine "Russell Wiley Is Out to Lunch" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parks & Recreation: Season One (DVD)

Back in 2008 there was much talk of a spinoff of The Office. Rashida Jones was attached. Would her Office character Karen Fillippelli be getting her own show? (Answer: no.)

Then, despite the involvement of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the line became "don't call it an Office spinoff." (Answer: too late.)

Then Amy Poehler quit SNL to headline the show.

Then Parks And Recreation debuted in April 2009 and people immediately ripped it apart for being too much like The Office (mockumentary style, workplace setting) or not like The Office enough (no Michael-Jim-Pam-Dwight... not even a Karen Fillippelli).

I have no idea how the show actually came about. But during the development process, there was also a rather inspirational Presidential campaign playing in the background of everyone's lives. A new day dawned in America. And somehow the non-Office-spin-off show that emerged was set in local government (the Pawnee, Indiana Parks & Recreation department). With a lead character who believes (perhaps, naively) that government can still be made to work for the people. With an emphasis on grassroots citizen involvement. And even a few raised voices at town hall meetings.

The show centers on Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope. And Poehler nails it. She's created a character who is intense, focused, tenacious, clueless and annoyingly lovable. Her efforts to turn a dangerous abandoned construction project (a.k.a. "the pit") into a community park are, in her mind, a launch pad for a future presidential bid. Her efforts are alternately helped and thwarted by an anti-government boss (played by Nick Offerman), her complicated feelings for her "ex-lover" colleague (Paul Schneider) who barely remembers their drunken, anciently historic one-night stand, and her fast-talking sub-committee partner-in-crime (Aziz Ansari), a walking bundle of ethical and marital immorality who is perpetually (but unsuccessfully) seeking an outlet.

Rashida Jones features prominently as Ann Perkins, the nurse who grudgingly gets drawn into the project and then pulled along by Leslie's can-do spirit and manic drive. Ann also has Andy, an injured boyfriend (Chris Pratt) to nurse. He broke both his legs falling into the pit and his been milking the situation ever since. Leslie is also using the project to help inspire April (Aubrey Plaza), the departmental intern (who knows how to create social networking embarrassments) and to impress her mother Marlene (Pamela Reed), who is far bigger player than Leslie in local politics.

Throughout Season One, Leslie and Ann become the double act who work most closely to move the project forward. It's an Abbott and Costello-like pairing, with Jones playing the straight foil to the antic Poehler. But as we get to know all the characters, more layers are revealed, especially as Schneider's character Mark Brendanawicz gets more drawn into the action and inspired by Leslie's undaunted spirit.

I wasn't always wowed by Amy Poehler on SNL. And I still haven't forgiven her for the fact that anytime I hear the name "Rick" I have to run around a couch for five minutes repeating the name incessantly. But Parks & Recreation is both a great ensemble show and the perfect showcase for Poehler's comic talents. In an age of recycled ideas in every TV format, from reality shows to regular sitcoms to primetime soaps to police procedurals, I'm not sure why people are so eager to dump on the "mockumentary" format. I happen to love mockumentaries. Some people thought the first episode of this series was the pits. But over the course of six episodes, Season One of Parks & Recreation turned into an uplifting tale with finely drawn characters and a whole lot of laughs. Hopefully one day, there will also be trees and benches and grass to enjoy.

Perhaps even a water feature.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stick with it and you'll be rewarded, August 27, 2010

By 

Ben - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parks & Recreation: Season One (DVD)

Season 1 of Parks and Recreation is difficult to recommend for several reasons. For starters, it's incredibly short. At only 6 episodes, I almost wish they waited and just released a set with both seasons 1 and 2. Secondly, for people that are interested in the show, the six episodes presented here are simply not enough to give an accurate representation of what the show would blossom into. Lastly, 29.99 is a bit steep for a DVD set this small (and by set I mean...it's only 1 DVD).

I enjoy The Office. I'm not a huge fan by any means, but it's a good show that I'll turn on from time to time. The first couple episodes of P&R are a little too 'Officey.' By that I mean Amy Poehler's character spends too much time being the butt of every joke thrown her way. This 'awkward' style of humor is okay in short bursts. It even has the potential to be side splitting. However, most of it here comes across as mean spirited and irritating.

Now that I've said that, rest assured Parks and Recreation picks up VERY quickly. If you can trudge through the first few episodes, you will be rewarded with some great characters, madcap story lines, and a refreshing view of what government *could* be if more people like Leslie Knope were involved. Leslie soon evolves from the show's goat to being a very sweet, positive, outgoing, and occasionally naive person...which is definitely much more (and much better) than just 'female Michael Scott.'

Aziz Ansari and Nick Offerman regularly steal scenes as Leslie's employee and employer, respectively. The intern April, played by Aubrey Plaza, has little else to do in season 1 other than scowl and whine. Rashida Jones has the delicate task of playing many parts: Upset citizen, Leslie's best friend, worn-down girlfriend, and at many times the series straight man (woman in this case). Instead of being boring and tacked on, her character is genuine, warm, and often funny.

Then there's Chris Pratt...all I have to say about that is thank God he became a series regular in season 2.

Despite the short episode order, Season 1 thankfully has some good bonus features. Cast commentaries, deleted scenes, and a producer's cut of the season finale round out the package. The producer's cut is GREAT, and is a tradition continued in season 2 as well. The extra minutes aren't wasted on hokey exposition or longer camera-staring; there's actually good, funny material here.

So it all comes down to this; is Season 1 worth purchasing? If you can get a good deal (I'd say around 15 bucks or so), then yes. Parks and Recreation quickly grows beyond it's Office roots into something much more pleasant. Season 2 caused it to become one of the few shows I looked forward to the most every week. If you need a change in pace from all the depressing dredge on TV, give P&R a try. This is optimistic, feel-good television...and that right there is a rarity.