Parks and Recreation: "Media Blitz" Review

"Rectangle, America, Megaphone, Monday, Butthole..."

Yes, I've gone on record by saying that I preferred Andy and April when they were palling around together, but the kiss at the end of this episode was so damn sweet that I just couldn't resist it. And Andy is probably one of the most lovable dimwits in TV history. There's just such a tremendous naturalness to the way Chris Pratt portrays him. So great.

I also liked how Ron came to Andy's aid and helped him with his "April Hates Doing This" list. I was a great call-back to their bonding from a few episodes ago. "It's art. Anything is anything," Ron said, taking a picture of Sad Floor. Yes, Ron said that he was doing it because he didn't want to lose April ("I would never be able to find a worse assistant"), but his words to April at the end -- his fishing analogy -- suggest that he cares more than he lets on.

I also haven't been the biggest fan of Tom's shmoozing in the past either, but when it was paired up with Ben's awkward interview behavior it came of really well. "What's wrong with you?" Leslie asked Ben. "You look psychotic." Ben's strange meltdown on "Ya' Heard, With Perd" was pretty damn good, but up until then, his exaggerated stammering-slash-stoic behavior wasn't all that funny. Ben was, essentially, a "deer in the headlights" when Crazy Ira and the Douche cornered him on their drive-time radio show. "You're embarrassing me in front of the Douche," Tom cried out. It might have all been hit-or-miss, but it was still nice to see an episode take the time to focus on Ben a little more and not just have him be someone who's increasingly impressed with Leslie.

Plus, when Ben does finally "King's Speech" his way to forming actual sentences during their final media appearance, there was nothing in place to make us believe that he could have pulled that off. He did, after all, just come from having a complete insanity attack on Perd's show. No inspirational words from Leslie. He just, sort of, fixed himself.

"Media Blitz" was a fine episode, but it was one of those Parks episodes that was dominated, in a good way, by its softer, sweeter moments. Are Ann and Chris hilarious? Not really. But I sure as hell love watching them together. Ann spent the episode mostly fretting over Chris moving away and then we ended their story with them merely deciding to talk about their relationship. We didn't get to see it though, so it was all set up.

I'll tell you this though. With the Harvest Festival just two weeks away (in Pawnee time and our time) I cannot wait to see what goes down. You must be this wide to ride!

*fart noise*

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