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Parks and Recreation Season 5 Episode 1

Ms. Knope Goes to Washington

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Aired Tuesday 8:00 PM Sep 20, 2012 on NBC

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AIRED: Sep 20, 2012

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Parks and Recreation's Season 5 Premiere: Knope vs. Reality

Leslie may have won the city council election in the Season 4 finale, but now she must face her biggest challenge yet: dealing with bureaucratic red tape.

By Michael Svoboda, Sep 21, 2012

Episode Summary

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Leslie and Andy travel to Washington, D.C. to visit Ben and April as they work on a congressional campaign. Leslie is intimidated by the national politicos she meets, and feels like her work is unimportant after she is denied a meeting with a senator, however, she gets to meet some of her heroes. Back in Pawnee, Ron throws the annual employee appreciation picnic in Leslie's absence, and it's not quite what people are used to. Ann and Tom fight with each other as they try to hide their breakup from their friends.

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Fan Episode Reviews (2)

Season 5 Premiere

5.5

By thefanof, Sep 22, 2012

This was my first time watching Parks since the pilot. I decided to give the show another chance, and while they do seem to have solid direction for all of these characters, I just can't get behind them. Amy Poehler is just not fit for a lead role, she's just not funny enough, and Retta may be the most annoying person on NBC.

It was not that bad, but I think it's a matter of whether you love this show or you hate it, and I'm starting to fall into the hate it group. These actors just don't mesh well like an ensemble should. Did like the John McCain cameo.moreless
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Good start, fun guest star interactions

8.0

By patsully, Sep 21, 2012

Lots of great Leslie moments, especially breaking down in front of senators she adores and accidentally telling off John McCain.

Could have done without the Tom and Ann storyline given how short it was... here's hoping they find something more for Ann this season.

April and Andy could also do with something fresh.
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Amy Poehler	Leslie Knope
Rashida Jones	Ann Perkins
Aziz Ansari	Tom Haverford
Nick Offerman	Ron Swanson
Aubrey Plaza	April Ludgate
Chris Pratt	Andy Dwyer (Season 2+, recurring previously)

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Ben Zelevansky	Ranger Patrick	Guest Star
Amy Tolsky	Lucinda	Guest Star
Jessica Hansen	Kate	Guest Star

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Episode Photos

Amy Poehler and Chris Pratt in Parks and...

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Adam Scott, Aubrey Plaza, Amy Poehler an...

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Amy Poehler and Chris Pratt in Parks and...

© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc
Amy Poehler and John McCain in Parks and...

© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- While barbecuing Ron is wearing an apron from Charles Mulligan's Steak House which is revealed to be his favorite restaurant in the episode "Indianapolis." Excited to eat there when they travel to Indianapolis, he discovers it has been shut down for health code violations.
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- The states with towns named Pawnee mentioned in this episode are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
  Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas do all have towns named Pawnee. Nebraska and Iowa have towns named Pawnee City and Missouri has a Pawnee township.
  Pawnee Kansas is a ghost town which is now home to The Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site.
  Pawnee, Indiana is the only fictional town on the list.
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- The relationship name Tom comes up with for himself and Ann is "Haverkins" (a combination of their last names, respectively Harverford and Perkins).
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QUOTES (8)
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- Leslie: I am a city councilwoman from Pawnee, Indiana. but you've probably never heard of us, we're small and unimportant.
  Senator Olypia Snow: I'm sure that's not true.
  Leslie: But it is. We've got tons of problems. We're overrun with raccoons and obese toddlers.
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- Ann: After the first day, we realized we'd made a huge mistake.
  Tom: HUGE!
  Ann: However, everyone was being so smug about it saying there was no way we would last, so we're pretending to still be together. That way no one gets the satisfaction of being right. Even though they are, but still.
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- Tom: Ann, I'm hungry, my legs are tired. Ugh! It feels like I just exercised.
  Jerry: Just sit on the ground
  Tom: No Jerry! It's dirty and I'm wearing my summer linens.
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- Ranger Patrick: Hey Ron, you're not going to slaughter that pig here, are you?
  Ron: Not to worry, I have a permit. (hands ranger a folded piece of paper)
  Ranger Patrick: This just says "I can do what I want."
  Ron: I am the director of the parks department and this is a park.
  Ranger Patrick: It's not a parks thing. It's against like 3 laws and a dozen health codes.
  Ron: Fine. (snatches back "permit")
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- Ron: Which one of you youngsters wants to help me drain the blood from this animal? You do a good job and I'll give you the bladder, you can blow it up for a fun play ball.
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- Ron: Everyone, meet your meat
  Everyone: No! Unuh, Ron!
  Tom: Why are you doin' this to us?
  Ron: Well, in my opinion, not enough people have looked their dinner in the eyes and considered the circle of life. This is your dinner, his name is Tom.
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- Leslie: Romantic reunions, government meetings, self guided museum tours! I mean, am I living the dream? I don't know. Did I also just walk past a food truck and buy myself a waffle sunday? YES!
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- Leslie: Let's hit the national mall.
  Andy: There's a mall? That's awesome, I need to get some flip-flops.
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NOTES (1)
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: September 20, 2012 on Citytv
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- The name of this episode, Ms. Knope Goes to Washington, is a reference to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), a political drama about one man's ability to effect politics. This mirrors Leslie's desire to change Pawnee, America and the World for the better.
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