15 Ways "Parks and Recreation" Is Just Like "The Simpsons"
"Parks & Rec" owes a lot to "The Simpsons."
Image via Complex Original
After seven seasons and 125 episodes of Parks and Recreation, one fact is as plain as the stain on Jerry's pants: this show was influenced by The Simpsons.
Of course, The Simpsons is a cultural landmark that's been around for 25 years. You'd be hard-pressed to find a current TV comedy that's not influenced by it. But Parks and Recreation has a special connection: it was co-created by Greg Daniels, a Simpsons writer during seasons 5-7 (he wrote "Bart Sells His Soul" and "Homer Badman"), and the NBC show has seen regular, ongoing contributions from Simpsons veterans Mike Scully, Donick Cary, and Dana Gould.
Maybe that explains why Pawnee reminds us so much of Springfield. Plenty of TV shows are set in medium-sized, quintessential American towns, but how many besides these two have so many instantly recognizable minor characters who can pop up, say a couple lines, get a laugh, and disappear again? How many shows are set in towns small enough that people tend to know each other, yet large enough to have its own TV and radio stations, newspapers, millionaires, and celebrities?
As Parks and Recreation rides off into the Indiana sunset, let us consider some of the ways in which Pawnee is basically Springfield.
Pawnee has Eagleton; Springfield has Shelbyville.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 5, Episode 8; The Simpsons Season 6, Episode 24
Every all-American fictional metropolis needs a bitter rivalry with the town next door—especially if that town is full of snobs and doppelgangers.
Both have their own empty-headed TV anchormen.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 3, Episode 5; The Simpsons Season 22, Episode 12
Both Perd Hapley and Kent Brockman host multiple local news shows. It's little wonder the people of Pawnee and Springfield are so uninformed.
Both have sleazy politicians who are always being caught in sex scandals.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 2, Episode 12; multiple episodes of The Simpsons
Yet somehow Councilman Dexhart and Mayor Quimby keep getting elected.
Pawnee and Springfield are both home to characters who live by strict ideologies and are readily identified by their identical mustaches.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 3, Episode 1; multiple episodes of The Simpsons
Would Ron and Ned like each other? Discuss.
You'll also find a lovable, doughy man-child who takes his long-suffering wife or girlfriend for granted…
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 2, Episode 3; The Simpsons Season 3, Episode 20
Is Andy Dwyer the new Homer Simpson?
…uses a reaching stick to get stuff…
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 1, Episode 5; The Simpsons Season 5, Episode 7
(whether due to injury or dramatic weight gain)
…and also occasionally runs down the street naked.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 1, Episode 4; The Simpsons Season 4, Episode 14
Apparently both Springfield and Pawnee are pants-optional towns.
Pawnee and Springfield both have horrifying town histories – often marked by cowardice – that are fondly, admiringly remembered.
Episodes: multiple episodes Parks & Recreation; The Simpsons Season 4, Episode 20
Whacking Day is the new Put Foreigners in Zoo Cages Day!
Pawnee and Springfield are two of America's fattest towns, thanks to sugar.
Episodes: multiple episodes Parks & Recreation; The Simpsons Season 13, Episode 8
The conglomerate Motherloving Sugar Corporation helps make Springfield the world's fattest town. Pawnee is America's fourth-fattest town, which is partially the fault of local candy manufacturer Sweetums.
Both towns are full of simpletons who are easily dazzled into voting against their own best interests.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 2, Episode 15; The Simpsons Season 4, Episode 12
Like putting Sweetums in charge of the water supply, for example, or building a monorail just because somebody sang a song.
Each town has a legitimate daily newspaper, plus a tabloid.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 2, Episode 18 & Season 5, Episode 15; The Simpsons Season 5, Episode 4 & Season 18, Episode 16
People actually still read them, too, which is weird.
Local TV news does things like this…
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 3, Episode 5 The Simpsons Season 1, Episode 13
Somebody in the control booth is having fun.
…and has “technical difficulties” signs that look like this:
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 2, Episode 22; The Simpsons Season 7, Episode 6
Most problems in these towns are caused by animals.
In both cities you will find a painting of a local decrepit millionaire stark naked.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 2, Episode 21; The Simpsons Season 2, Episode 18
Like we said, they're pants-optional places to live.
Pawneeans burned a magician at the stake for pulling a rabbit out of a hat; Springfielders almost burned Principal Skinner at the stake for saying the Earth revolves around the sun.
Episodes: Parks & Recreation Season 3, Episode 7 The Simpsons Season 6, Episode 18
"You've stolen my soul!" added Grandpa Simpson when someone took his photograph.