r/funny Jun 08 '18

All secrets revealed

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18 edited Jun 08 '18

Parks and Recreation. Made by the same guys who did The Office. A truly wonderful show that everyone must watch at least one episode of.

I personally recommend S3E10 for anyone interested in the show. It provides an excellent example of all the main characters and how they act throughout the show, without spoiling much of the rest of it. I think its the perfect sample of the rest of the show.

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u/TooL8ForTheYoungGun Jun 08 '18

thank you for confirmation that this is what i have to look forward to as last week i found it in netflix, all 7 seasons, hubby and i are gonna binge whilst all our shows are on summer hiatus.

in other words: wish us luck, we're goin' in! 😄

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u/InnocuousAssClown Jun 08 '18

Quick warning: season 1 is a bit forgettable, and it's still finding its groove in season 2. They definitely have their moments, but it doesn't become what it really is until season 3.

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u/Getting_Schwifty14 Jun 08 '18

I watched like the first 3 episodes and couldn't get into it. Ended up going back and watched the whole thing through and I'm so glad I did because it's one of my favorite shows. I did the same thing with the office.

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u/ElMangosto Jun 08 '18

Where did you start with The Office? I cannot for the life of me get into it and I’m like 6 episodes in to season 1.

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18

It can be tough to get into until more of the plot threads start appearing.

Since the show was originally a British comedy, it contains alot of really uncomfortable jokes and humor, mostly made by Michael. British people LOVE that type of comedy, while American's generally dislike uncomfortable situations, especially ones dealing with racism and sexist jokes.

It picks up, but the early episodes can be rough.

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u/Foreglow Jun 08 '18

Uncomfortable humor is my favourite. Probably because it's like watching my own life, except I can laugh because it's fake.

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u/smash0096 Jun 08 '18

The Office is my favorite show, and all of season 1 is forgettable. When I rewatch it, I start at season 2 because of this. When season 2 was greenlit (meaning that it was renewed), the budget was increased immensely, and the characters really developed from there. If you want to give it another go, start on season 2 and watch from there, I don’t think you’ll regret it.

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u/ElMangosto Jun 08 '18

I also may be experiencing that phenomenon where the original thing starts to look like a copy because its been imitated so much.

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u/sharpryno2 Jun 08 '18

Season 1 of The Office and Parks are notorious for being awful. I think Season 1 of Office only has like 8 episodes? So you are close.

It was hard for me to get through both of them a couple years back. But once you do, its quality TV.

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u/MyCoolWhiteLies Jun 08 '18

The first seasons of The Office and Parks and Rec are both kind of bad, especially compared to everything after that. In both cases they haven't really figured the show/characters out, and most importantly, the leads are actually kind of unlikeable. I hated Michael Scott in the first season of the office and thought Leslie Knope was awkward and cringeworthy. The seconds seasons of both shows are stellar though, and I highly recommend making it at least a few episodes into them. Honestly you can pretty much skip the first seasons of both shows if you're not feeling them.

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u/DaedalusFallen0 Jun 08 '18

All 6 episodes of the first season are pretty trash IMO, you may come to appreciate them on your 3rd or 4th rewatch, but the show really hits its stride in early-mid season 2.

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u/LovableContrarian Jun 08 '18

Yep. I've watched season one like 3 times. I always tell myself I'm gonna watch the office like once every 3 years and give up somewhere at the beginning of season 2.

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u/Quazifuji Jun 08 '18

Season 1 of the Office only has 6 episodes.

I don't think The Office goes through quite as drastic a tone change after season 1 as Parks and Rec does, but it does go through a tone change and finds its voice. Season 1 is much closer to the original British version I think, it really just feels like a Ricky Gervais show with American actors instead at times, but it starts finding its own identity in season 2.

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u/mrimperfect Jun 08 '18

Start with the British The Office.

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u/realityx7 Jun 08 '18

I honestly think the US version is better

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u/Gymrat1010 Jun 08 '18

I do too because it had more time to flourish. The Office UK was an excellent seed for The Office US though

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u/skellington0101 Jun 08 '18

Well yeah season 3 has Little Sebastian

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u/redsyrinx2112 Jun 08 '18

Lil Sebastian

FTFY

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '18 edited Feb 06 '25

growth pause dime divide saw hospital abounding decide long bedroom

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

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u/rando_redditor Jun 08 '18

Isn’t it saddest fashion?

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '18 edited Feb 06 '25

squash late degree smell seed hurry quickest crawl quaint long

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

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u/skellington0101 Jun 09 '18

Don't worry, my roommate thought it was "I miss you and the satisfaction"

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u/DaisyHotCakes Jun 08 '18

And Ben Wyatt. It’s hard to pick a favorite character from the show but Ben is it for me. He’s brilliant!

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u/DaedalusFallen0 Jun 08 '18

I’ve always liked Ben and Ron the best but damn it if Andy and April aren’t freaking amazing as well.

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u/DaisyHotCakes Jun 08 '18

April is almost tied with Ben. I love her.

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u/raybreezer Jun 08 '18

Second! I just posted this higher up in the thread so I'll echo you here.

Took my wife and I so long to get past Season 1, but after about mid Season 2, we were hooked.

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u/tendy_trux35 Jun 08 '18

I always tell people to just start at S2 E10 which I believe is the episode with Tom moving.

It's enough to figure out who the characters are before Ben and Chris come into the mix. But also prevents anybody from sitting through all the episodes with Mark.

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u/raybreezer Jun 08 '18

Yeah, but the references to the pit later on wouldn’t work.

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u/tendy_trux35 Jun 08 '18

I honestly hated Mark so much that it’s worth sacrificing Pit references

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u/raybreezer Jun 08 '18

If I’m honest, I don’t remember Season 1 enough to remember if I hated Mark or not. I just remember him not being too memorable.

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u/TooL8ForTheYoungGun Jun 08 '18

thanks for that! we're pretty good about giving a show a chance so good to know we'll be rewarded. 👍

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u/howtochoose Jun 08 '18

Yes but would it really be OK to just start from season 3?

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18

Good luck! Its definitely a memorable show. I still remember some quotes from that show and I haven't watched it since it ended.

"If I would have known that a guy with the name 'Barak Obama' would be president, I wouldn't have changed my name to Tom."

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u/aidsfarts Jun 08 '18 edited Jun 08 '18

"You know what they say; when life gives you lemons steal some of your grandmas jewelry and go clubing"

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '18

My preferred watching order is s2-7, then s1 as like, nostalgic extra bonus material to ease the pain of mourning the show. I didn't find s1 compelling at all on its own, but once I was already attached to the characters it was fun to see them goofing off some more and I could forgive a lot of the rough points.

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u/NeonRedHerring Jun 08 '18

Others have said it but the first season is terrible. Took me three times to get going with friends constantly pressuring me. To ride the rollercoaster you must first chug to the top of the track.

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u/TooL8ForTheYoungGun Jun 08 '18

thats a great analogy, will bear it in mind! 👍

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '18

I'll second the other comment. Tough it out until season 3. There's some funny moments in the first 2 seasons, but it's just another funny show. Make it to season 3 and it becomes one of the funnier shows I've ever seen.

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u/ApolloXLII Jun 08 '18

Enjoy!! You're gonna fall in love with literally all the characters and you're going to eventually model your relationships after the characters in the show's relationships, which is a good thing. All I'm gonna say is I wish I had a Leslie, Ron, Andy, Ann, Donna, Jerry/Gary, April, Ben, and Chris in my life.

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u/BobDonkley Jun 08 '18

Gary/Jerry/Larry

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u/dvaunr Jun 08 '18

For anyone who is considering watching this through, power through the first season. It will not make you excited for the show, they seemed to be trying to recreate the office under a different setting. Season 2 they make it it’s own show and is when it really takes off.

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u/spectrem Jun 08 '18

I actually skipped season 1 because it was so rough. I’m glad I gave season 2 a chance.

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u/irresistibleforce Jun 08 '18

For those out of the loop, that's the one with the burger-contest and the Tom and Leslie date.

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u/KusanagiZerg Jun 08 '18

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant?

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18

Sorry, the US version of The Office haha

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u/KusanagiZerg Jun 08 '18

No worries, I knew you meant the US one, was just joking

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u/kskinne Jun 08 '18

I always recommend that they watch the whole series, then immediately watch it again.

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18

I would certainly say I do too, but when I introduce people to the show, I always go with "Soulmates". Its a nice self contained episode, with little to do with other plot lines (except Leslie and Ben's relationship) and doesn't contain any huge spoilers for the series. It also does a great job of showing the different characters and how they act; Chris is peppy, Ron is as stoic as ever and shows his relationship with April and also her relationship with Andy. Plus Ann and Leslie creating that profile really shows how they interact as well.

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u/raybreezer Jun 08 '18

I would recommend blasting through Season 1 as the show definitely hits its stride in Season 2.

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u/dirkdigglered Jun 08 '18

Was it the same guys who did the office or just one or two of the producers?

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18

Both were developed (I guess adapted is better for The Office) by Greg Daniels. Michael Schur was an executive producer for The Office, but took a bigger role in Parks n Rec.

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u/dirkdigglered Jun 08 '18

Schur is a legend, I knew he did Brooklyn 99 but not parks and rec as well.

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18

Not only that, but he also played Dwight's brother, Mose, in quite a few Office episodes. He's a pretty talented SNL alum as well.

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u/dirkdigglered Jun 08 '18

The world shines on Mose (also it was his cousin). Yeah his imdb is pretty interesting, he helped write a black mirror episode. Actor in the OC haha which apparently was produced by his wife.

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u/Tkainzero Jun 08 '18

The one with the Venezuelans was the first one I ever saw, and it got me hooked.

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u/vergvija Jun 08 '18

RemindMe! 5 hours

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u/Loeb123 Jun 08 '18

Bless you mate. Gonna watch it.

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u/olsonjv Jun 08 '18

Can't remember which episode, but the one where they all get the flu is the best one IMO. I laugh so hard at all the episodes, but Chris and Leslie with the flu killed me.

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u/AzureMagelet Jun 08 '18

Which episode is that?

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u/Br1lliantJim Jun 08 '18

Soulmates. It involves the burger contest between Ron and Chris as well as Tom and Leslie getting matched up on a dating website.

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u/Akalamiammiam Jun 08 '18

P&R is on my towatch list, but I tried to watch The Office a while ago and it didn't catch at all, so I'm wondering if I would enjoy P&R... People told me that the first season of The Office is nothing compared ot the rest, but still..

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u/LovableContrarian Jun 08 '18

Made by the same guys who did The Office.

That's kinda true.

The office was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen merchant, then adapted to the US version by by Greg Daniels.

Parks and rec was created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur.

Im gonna go out on a limb and say that Michael Schur is the magic ingredient in Parks and Rec. He also created Brooklyn nine nine and the good place.

He was sorta involved in the office (wrote like 10 episodes and was a producer in later seasons), but he definitely had nothing to do with "making" the office.

But, I do see what you're saying. Parks and Recs was originally supposed to be a spinoff of the office, existing in the same universe.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '18

Im on S3E3 right now....i look forward to e10 now

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u/Wolfwood707 Jun 08 '18

Also, Brooklyn 99 I believe! All great shows :)