Parks and Rec

“Armstrong is an engaging writer, and her enthusiasm for the series is enormously contagious…. More fun than watching Li’l Sebastian chow down on a waffle from JJ’s Diner.” - Kirkus “Making Parks and Rec Parks and Rec was fun, pure fun, achieved through joyous collaboration with an incredible collection of writers and actors and creative people. I miss it every day, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s book is as close as I (or anyone) can get to actually being there, working and laughing and making something we all loved so much.”- Michael Schur, cocreator of Parks and Recreation “What an incredible work. I was on the show for six seasons, and reading the book gave me an entirely new understanding and appreciation of Parks and Recreation. This book truly is a study on how Hollywood sitcoms are envisioned, engaged, and then enjoyed. It makes me even prouder to have been a part of it.” - Jay Jackson (aka Perd), actor on Parks and Recreation “This was such a joy to read and to relive my years working on Parks and Rec. Jennifer Keishin Armstrong created the ultimate companion guide for superfans—it meticulously chronicles the trials and tribulations that came with writing and producing this piece of TV history (and keeping it on air).”- Jen Statsky, staff writer on Parks and Recreation and cocreator of Hacks “Armstrong’s writing is as heartfelt as her subject, and she eloquently details the show’s unlikely survival and its portrayal of an alternative work-life balance” - Library Journal The insider account into the sitcom that barely survived its first season - but went on to become a modern classic. When Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, creators of The Office, came together to write a new comedy, they wanted to create something that would celebrate the power of community. Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson and the rest of the Pawnee gang became the escape we all needed, balancing sharp political commentary with heart, optimism and top-notch comedy. But the road wasn’t smooth, despite one of TV’s most lovable casts. Featuring exclusive cast and creator interviews and unmatched insider knowledge from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Parks and Rec gives the untold story of how the iconic show came to be. With a foreword from Offerman himself, Armstrong gains access to new and exclusive interviews with Michael Schur , Greg Daniels , Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman , as well as other cast and crew members.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia , the definitive story of the creation and legacy of Parks and Recreation , with exclusive interview content from its cast, crew, and creators, as well as an introduction by Nick Offerman More than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered, it has become a streaming and pop culture staple. It's beloved for its jokes, characters, and expressions--the show even created a now widely observed holiday, Galentine's Day. How did it all happen and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong reveals all this and more in the definitive history of the show, which is as full of humor, optimism, and heart as Parks and Recreation itself. Through new and exclusive interviews, as well as deep insight and smart and entertaining pop culture analysis, Armstrong tells the story of how Parks and Recreation came to be: how it grew from The Office 's success and Obama-inspired optimism, how producers assembled one of TV's most lovable casts but barely survived a mediocre first season, how the show found its voice by getting more political and more romantic, and how it became a cultural force despite middling ratings during its network run, going on to become a television savior of the Trump era and a modern classic. Lovingly told and deeply researched, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what's important in life: friends, waffles, and work.

“Armstrong is an engaging writer, and her enthusiasm for the series is enormously contagious…. More fun than watching Li’l Sebastian chow down on a waffle from JJ’s Diner.” - Kirkus “Making Parks and Rec Parks and Rec was fun, pure fun, achieved through joyous collaboration with an incredible collection of writers and actors and creative people. I miss it every day, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s book is as close as I (or anyone) can get to actually being there, working and laughing and making something we all loved so much.”- Michael Schur, cocreator of Parks and Recreation “What an incredible work. I was on the show for six seasons, and reading the book gave me an entirely new understanding and appreciation of Parks and Recreation. This book truly is a study on how Hollywood sitcoms are envisioned, engaged, and then enjoyed. It makes me even prouder to have been a part of it.” - Jay Jackson (aka Perd), actor on Parks and Recreation “This was such a joy to read and to relive my years working on Parks and Rec. Jennifer Keishin Armstrong created the ultimate companion guide for superfans—it meticulously chronicles the trials and tribulations that came with writing and producing this piece of TV history (and keeping it on air).”- Jen Statsky, staff writer on Parks and Recreation and cocreator of Hacks “Armstrong’s writing is as heartfelt as her subject, and she eloquently details the show’s unlikely survival and its portrayal of an alternative work-life balance” - Library Journal The insider account into the sitcom that barely survived its first season - but went on to become a modern classic. When Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, creators of The Office, came together to write a new comedy, they wanted to create something that would celebrate the power of community. Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson and the rest of the Pawnee gang became the escape we all needed, balancing sharp political commentary with heart, optimism and top-notch comedy. But the road wasn’t smooth, despite one of TV’s most lovable casts. Featuring exclusive cast and creator interviews and unmatched insider knowledge from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Parks and Rec gives the untold story of how the iconic show came to be. With a foreword from Offerman himself, Armstrong gains access to new and exclusive interviews with Michael Schur , Greg Daniels , Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman , as well as other cast and crew members.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia , the definitive story of the creation and legacy of Parks and Recreation , with exclusive interview content from its cast, crew, and creators, as well as an introduction by Nick Offerman More than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered, it has become a streaming and pop culture staple. It's beloved for its jokes, characters, and expressions--the show even created a now widely observed holiday, Galentine's Day. How did it all happen and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong reveals all this and more in the definitive history of the show, which is as full of humor, optimism, and heart as Parks and Recreation itself. Through new and exclusive interviews, as well as deep insight and smart and entertaining pop culture analysis, Armstrong tells the story of how Parks and Recreation came to be: how it grew from The Office 's success and Obama-inspired optimism, how producers assembled one of TV's most lovable casts but barely survived a mediocre first season, how the show found its voice by getting more political and more romantic, and how it became a cultural force despite middling ratings during its network run, going on to become a television savior of the Trump era and a modern classic. Lovingly told and deeply researched, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what's important in life: friends, waffles, and work.