Update Consent

Read Our Recap on the Parks and Recreation Reunion Episode

The Parks and Recreation Episode Was So Good, It's Hard to Pick a Favourite Moment

Fans finally got the Parks and Recreation reunion that they've been hungry for since the series ended in 2015, though probably not the way they expected to. On April 30, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and our favourite Pawnee parks department alumni reunited for a one-time-only special on NBC in support of Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund.

Of course, Leslie spent the episode ensuring that her loved ones were staying safe in a time of social distancing, but she also made sure to spread the word of safety to the rest of the world. If you missed the special, or the Paley Centre tribute to the series that aired before the reunion episode, check out our favourite moments from the entire night ahead!

Image Source: NBC

1. Paul Rudd's Bobby Newport Makes a Comeback

Rudd's infamous, spoiled brat of a candidate who ran against Leslie for city council kicks off the special, making an appearance from his "private fox-hunting estate" in Switzerland. Though he admits to being clueless about whatever Leslie is asking him to announce, he introduces the episode by explaining the details of the FeedingAmerica.org fundraiser to battle "the cronus."

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

2. Ben Wants to Make a Claymation Movie For His Cones of Dunshire Board Game

Leslie and Ben are still happily married, with the former working at the National Parks Service within the Department of the Interior and the latter serving as a congressman, but on this day they are not in the same place. Leslie checks in with Ben as he's home with their kids, and finds him deep in cabin fever mode. Remember Cones of Dunshire? Well, it's back! Ben reveals that he's thought of a claymation adaptation for his custom board game, which is obviously worrying for his wife. No good can come out of Ben Wyatt in that Letters to Cleo shirt.

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

3. Ron Swanson Ignores the Phone Tree

Of course, Leslie has organised a phone tree with her favourite former Pawnee residents, and Ron Swanson is the first on the list. He assures her that he's just fine sheltering in place because he's "been social distancing since I was four years old." Apparently, Lagavulin whiskey is the only mental health aid he needs. Leslie passes on the job of continuing the phone tree to the older man, but to his disgust, he's tasked with calling Garry next.

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

4. Andy and April Are Still Exactly the Same

Instead of calling Garry, Ron calls April and Andy — who are in separate places because Andy has locked himself in the shed for the past two days. When he passes on the job of calling Garry to them, they check in with Chris and Ann instead. Those two are also in separate "wings" of their home because Ann is self-isolating while volunteering as a nurse. Chris reveals that he's been donating blood four times a week because according to the CDC, he's so ridiculously healthy that his blood type "is just positive!"

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

Watch This!

Pop Quiz

Watch the Cast of Fear Street Play a Creepy Game of Horror Movie "Would You Rather"

5. Leslie Reconnects With Her Beautiful Tropical Fish, Ann Perkins

Not even social distancing can keep Leslie Knope and Ann Perkins apart, and the former can't resist video chatting with the latter. Even Chris knows to bow out for their friend-time! After quickly catching up, the two women add Tom to their chat, who they learn is still hurting from missing his Bali book tour stop. If nothing else, all the free time has given him the chance to come up with some interesting ideas for new ventures. We would definitely be intrigued by lasagna that's also toilet paper!

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

6. Tom and Donna Reunite

Of course, Tom isn't trying to call Garry for the phone tree either, so he reaches out to his "Treat Yo Self" partner-in-crime Donna Meagle. She reveals that her husband Joe is now teaching from home because schools are online now. "Every teacher deserves a brand-new Mercedes after this," she tells Tom. (All homeschooling parents would probably agree right now.)

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

7. Garry Is Terrible at Using Video Chat, Because Of Course He Is

Donna decides to be the one to take one for the team and calls Garry. She also sneak-calls Leslie so the former Parks director is forced to join the call with her. Of course, Garry is completely inept at using video chat and keeps accidentally putting ridiculous filters on his face, from puppy ears to the poo emoji. Same old Garry!

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

8. Leslie and Ben Go on a TV Show Tour to Spread Safety Awareness

Like the responsible figures of authority they are, Leslie and Ben appear on At Home With Joan and Ya' Heard? With Perd to talk quarantine survival tips. Local TV personality Joan Callamezzo is very obviously having a hard time while staying at home. She's hosting her show while surrounded by her "friends," which are actually a group of creepy dolls.

While chatting with Perd Hapley, who's always happy to overexplain everything, the couple brings on Andy as Johnny Karate. He's supposed to explain the importance of washing your hands — which Andy, who is a 38-year-old man, just did for the first time — but unsurprisingly he's terrible at it.

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

9. Councilman Jamm, Jean-Ralphio, and Dennis Feinstein Make Appearances

In three random commercials, Councilman Jamm, Jean-Ralphio, and Dennis Feinstein drop in. Jamm is offering home dentist delivery, which doesn't sound like anything someone would want, and Dennis is selling his latest cologne "Miracle Cure." Despite what scientists say, he promises it'll wipe out any diseases.

Of course, Jean-Ralphio has been hit by another vehicle, a Porsche this time, and he bought airtime to get people to call him. He got kicked off of Cameo "for doing my videos naked," and he's just lonely enough to advertise his personal number to find someone to talk to. Guess Mona-Lisa's too busy to call!

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

10. Everyone Sings "Bye Bye, Li'l Sebastian" One More Time

After Ron reveals that he's caught and let loose Tammy 2 (Offerman's real-life wife, Megan Mullally) after she snuck into his cabin unannounced, he gets Leslie to admit that she's exhausted and craving some more human contact. He arranges a group chat with the whole Pawnee crew where Andy plays "Bye Bye, Li'l Sebastian" on his guitar for everyone to sing along to. (Ben still doesn't get the hype.) When Leslie thanks her former mentor for the gesture, he tells her that everyone cleared their schedules to help, and reminds her not to "spend all your time looking after other people. Look after yourself once in a while." A truly timely reminder from some of our favourite folks. Fingers crossed it won't take a pandemic to get them all together again!

Image Source: NBC via Giphy

Want More?

POPSUGAR Would Like To Send You Push Notifications.