This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where our beloved Jerry Gergich retires! Ben has talked Leslie into taking a VERY rare day off and spending it with him. However, when they learn Jerry is retiring ... THAT DAY ... their plans are put on hold, as Leslie furiously works to send Jerry off on the right note. Leslie turns to the goals Jerry originally set for himself when he was first hired ... not that ambitious, but appropriate for him, such as eating in the private city council dining room. Unfortunately, that goal and many others prove to be out of reach for various reasons. As the day rolls on, Leslie becomes worried - above all, she doesn't want Jerry to leave this job with nothing, and go home to an empty life. Finally, Leslie decides that, while they can't name a building after him (one of his original goals), they CAN name the Parks and Rec conference room after him, and she does so with a custom plaque and cake before he says his goodbyes to everyone. Meanwhile, the fertility clinic got the results back from Chris' tests. During Ann and Chris' next visit, they tell them Chris is very healthy, and, that he can give a specimen whenever he's ready, including that day. However, with the concept of artificial insemination no longer just a distant thought, Chris and Ann start to get cold feet and decide to take a few days to think things over before rushing any decisions. Ann invites Chris over to her house so that they can discuss things. Reading the pamphlets, they become rather put off by the medical, emotionless verbiage. This leads them to reminisce about their relationship, and the good times they had ... especially the good times they "physically" had. Finally, when the gang discusses the ramifications of Jerry retiring, Ron shares his philosophical theory that, since nature abhors a vacuum, the office will naturally select someone to assume the role of "punching bag". This makes everyone a little nervous, especially Tom, who takes every precaution to make sure he doesn't become the "new Jerry". Unfortunately, when Tom has a series of verbal flubs during a meeting, his worst nightmare comes true - everybody piles on, gives him a new embarrassing nickname, and makes fun of him non-stop. It gets so bad that, out of desperation, he asks Ron to hire a new intern in the hopes that the mantle of punching bag will pass onto someone else. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Does the room-naming ceremony go smoothly, or does it get "Jerry'd" up somehow? Will Chris still decide to be the sperm donor for Ann? What nickname does the gang give to Tom? Can Leslie try anything else to soften the blow of retirement for Jerry? Is there still a spark between Ann and Chris, physical or otherwise? Can Tom pass on the "punching bag" mantle to Ron's new intern? Will we see Jerry again, or is this really goodbye? Will Ann and Chris consider approaching fertility from a more "natural" route? What else can be done to help Tom avoid the fate of "the new Jerry"? Loyal viewers, we're getting close to the end of Season 5, and it's been a non-stop roller coaster ride ... will it continue with this episode? Tune in and find out! Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, "Pawnee Diagnostic Imaging", or PDI.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode with special guest star Patton Oswalt! The City of Pawnee annually celebrates the great Pawnee tea dump of 1817, but due to how the old-timey script looks, "tea" looks like "ted", so each year the city dumps a man named "Ted" into Ramsett Lake. This year, the "Ted" thrown into the lake becomes very angry, and demands Leslie address the many, many outdated laws still active in Pawnee. To this end, at the next City Council Meeting, Leslie proposes the city purge many of its old and obscure laws. However, citizen Garth Blunden is overtly against changing the laws due to historical significance, and successfully filibusters the meeting to prevent further action. Leslie implores Garth to reconsider. Garth accuses Leslie of having no respect for tradition. Finally, they decide to settle things with a wager: whoever can survive the longest living primitively at the Pawnee Historical House gets to make the other back down from their agenda. Meanwhile, now that April has been promoted to Deputy Director of Animal Control, Chris requires her to complete the Chris Traeger Management Training Seminar, or "ka-tumps". April asks Ron to help get her out of the seminar, but when Chris learns Ron has ALSO never had any management training, it backfires, with Ron getting roped in as well. As one might expect, things do not go well: Chris is overtly cheery, Ron is stoic and grumpy, April is sarcastic and snarky. Ron and Chris completely disagree on the best motivational methods, so Chris challenges Ron to see whose method works best: encouragement/appreciation/smiles (Chris), or money/fear/hunger (Ron). Finally, Ann's custom holiday with Leslie, "Breakfast Day", is coming up, and she found a waffle maker from JJ's Diner on an online auction. Unfortunately, somebody is bidding against her ... and she discovers that someone is Ben, who is shopping for a present for HIS custom holiday with Leslie, "Waffle Day". The two of them battle it out, trying to win the waffle maker, but ultimately lose to the owner of the Pawnee Pawn Shop, who they then have to deal with. While all this is happening, both Ann and Ben come to the realization that they are EXHAUSTED trying to keep up with the thoughtful but never-ending custom holidays Leslie has come up with for both of them. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Who will win their competition, Leslie or Garth? Will Ron or Chris win the competition, and what side will April be on? Who will win the coveted JJ's waffle maker? Is Garth cheating, or is he just really good at old-timey gibberish? Can Ron and Chris find a suitable mindless worker drone for their test subject? Can Ann and Ben continue dealing with all these custom holidays? Can Leslie get all the chickens out from under her dress? Will April and Ron be able to keep their conductor hats from the seminar? Loyal podcast viewers, this is competition cranked up to 11, just like in Spinal Tap! Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, "Ron's One Minute Seminars", or ROMS.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we first visit the office of Dennis Feinstein! When Leslie and Chris visit Animal Control, they find a mis-managed department building and ineffective staff. After Chris accidentally steps on a coyote trap in the middle of the floor, he fires Harris and Brett, the stoners working there. Soon afterwards, Leslie begins discussions at a city council meeting regarding who they should hire as Director of Animal Control, but finds out the councilmen usually just take turns appointing department heads. This does not go over well with Leslie, who insists they all find suitable candidates and bring them in for consideration. This proves challenging, as the list of candidates is short (Harris and Brett even show up just hours after being fired). After throwing out numerous candidates of her own, and seeing what poor candidates the councilmen bring in, Leslie has an idea ... and surprises April by asking her to take the position. Meanwhile, Ben is in the process of getting more big companies to donate to the Sweetums Foundation, and he gets his chance after Tom organizes a meeting with Dennis Feinstein, Pawnee's premiere manufacturer of perfumes and colognes. It becomes clear quickly though that Feinstein is very shallow and has no compassion for anyone or anything. Ben feels uncomfortable with the situation, but could really use Feinstein's money to help needy people. Ben finds it difficult to discuss anything specific with Feinstein, as he rudely insults and rebuffs any attempts to come to a deal. Feinstein takes Ben, Tom and Andy Dwyer to the Pawnee Smokehouse where he continues to be rude and arrogant. Peeved at the way Feinstein is treating Ben and Tom, Andy loses his cool and calls Feinstein "a dick". Finally, after spending the night watching a movie with Diane and the kids, Ron catches whatever Zoe and Ivy had, becoming sick. Ron is determined to get past this in his own Swanson way, but Ann isn't having it, and manages to coerce Ron into going to the hospital, at this point he is examined by the curmudgeonly Dr. Harris, who tells him he has strep throat. Ann also offers the results of his blood tests, but Ron tells her he's not interested, takes Dr. Harris' prescription for penicillin, says "good day", and walks out. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Can Leslie maneuver April into getting the Animal Control job? Can Andy salvage the rest of their meeting with Dennis Feinstein? How does Ron's bloodwork look? Does April even WANT the Animal Control job? Will Ben manage to secure a donation from Dennis Feinstein? Will Ron be able to Swanson his way past this bout of illness? Is there another, better solution out there to the Animal Control situation? If Dennis Feinstein turns them down, are there any other donation paths to victory here? Are there any changes Ron needs to make to his life? Loyal viewers, with Harris, Brett, Dennis Feinstein, and Councilman Jamm to add to the hilarity, how can this episode go wrong? Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, the Pawnee Restaurant Association.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we are introduced to Ben's sister, Stephanie Wyatt! Leslie and Ben head to his hometown of Partridge, Minnesota, where he was mayor at the age of 18, drove the city to 30% unemployment when he attempted to create a winter sports complex called "Ice Town,", and got impeached two months later. As a gesture of goodwill, all these years later, the town is offering Ben the key to the city, a distinction given to all city mayors. Ben is pleased that the city has finally gotten over the Ice Town debacle, and starts to feel at home again. Before the ceremony, they visit Ben's sister Stephanie at her home, where Ben practices his acceptance speech. Out of nowhere, Ben suddenly falls down in pain and is taken to the hospital, where it is revealed he has kidney stones. With Ben hopped up on morphine, the doctor insists he is unable to go anywhere, and needs to stay there. Trying to salvage things, Leslie plans to go to the ceremony on Ben's behalf to accept the key to the city. Meanwhile, Ron is being sued by Councilman Jamm for punching him in the face on the night of Leslie's wedding. He later meets with Jamm and his attorneys where Ron calls upon Andy, April, and Tom as witnesses. Although well intentioned, both April and Tom provide false statements about Ron to make him look better. Ron is not happy about this, ultimately asking them to recant their original testimonies and, instead, tell the truth, even though it will likely portray Ron in a bad light. Finally, now that Chris has officially agreed to be the sperm donor for Ann's baby, both of them are taking a lot of time trying to establish exactly how compatible they will be as parents. This starts with them both taking an online parenting quiz for compatibility, at the suggestion of Ann's doctor, Dr. Van Dyne. They do NOT do well, scoring only 58%. They then proceed to attempt a myriad of other approaches, including carrying around an egg for the day, carrying around a coffee cup for the day, and finally visiting Dr. Van Dyne to help them assess the situation. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Can Ben escape the hospital to be there at the ceremony? How damning will April and Tom's testimonies be? What does Dr. Van Dyne think of Chris and Ann's high level of incompatibility? Will the ceremony in Partridge go smoothly, or will there be hiccups? If he loses, will Ron be able to afford the court-ordered settlements? Is there a final test Chris and Ann can take to determine if the two of them co-parenting is at all viable? Does Ben regret not meeting the Partridge city mascot, Fred The Sled? Does Councilman Jamm win the day, or can April and Tom come up with a plan to help Ron? Will Ann have to start all over with her sperm donor search? Loyal podcast viewers, whether we're in Pawnee or Partridge, Season 5 has never failed to deliver ... so far. Can it continue? Tune in and find out with our review! In lieu of a commercial, Ron is doing a PSA "The More You Know" reviewing Seven Unknown Laws of Pawnee.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we are introduced to Jean-Ralphio's twin sister, Mona-Lisa Saperstein! Leslie is shocked to learn that the Pawnee Video Dome, owned by Dennis Lerpiss, is closing, not a big surprise since video stores are closing left and right, and the Video Dome doesn't even carry mainstream movies. However, Leslie is determined to keep the business afloat and petitions the city council to declare it as a historical landmark. This sends Ron into a tailspin - there's nothing he hates more than the government meddling in private matters. Ron shows up at the city council meeting to express his feelings, stating that this is nothing more than a thinly veiled government bailout. This causes things to get dicey as several other people speak out, some agreeing with Ron, some resentful that the Video Dome was getting a hand out at all, and some wanting a hand out of their own. Meanwhile, Chris has not yet given Ann an answer regarding the "will you be my sperm-donor" question she posed to him in the last episode. Talking with Ben, Chris voices his concerns - the thought of being a father excites him, but Chris is worried he's not qualified to be a parent. Ben suggests that Chris practice his parenting skills on Tom, who could clearly use the help. After some consideration, Chris decides to go with Ben's suggestion, and ends up giving Tom some "fatherly advice" regarding his issues at Rent-A-Swag with Mona-Lisa Saperstein. While all this is going on, Ann is completely on edge waiting to hear back from Chris about whether or not he'll be her sperm donor. In synchronicity to this, Tom's company, Rent-A-Swag, is in full swing and doing well. Due to the high demand, he is forced to hire an assistant. He brings on Mona-Lisa Saperstein, the twin sister of Jean-Ralphio. Mona-Lisa slacks off on the job, and in general, Tom lets her walk all over him. After witnessing this a few times, Ben urges Tom to fire Mona-Lisa immediately. Tom has to consider Ben's advice, in addition to the "fatherly advice" given by Chris. Finally, April begrudgingly comes to Ann, asking for a favor. She's applying to veterinary school, and she needs a letter of recommendation. Ann is thrilled to finally have the upper hand in her relationship with April; she agrees to write the letter under one condition ... April has to be her friend for one whole week and do everything she says. April has no choice but to agree to Ann's terms and takes part in Ann's parade of girly activities, like manicures and boy talk. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Does Leslie's historical landmark initiative pass, or will it get squashed? How does Chris suggest Tom handle the Mona-Lisa situation? Can April put up with all of this gross Perkins-love? Can the Video Dome be saved, or will it fade away like the Blockbusters around it? What will Chris finally decide with regards to being Ann's sperm donor? Will Tom take Chris' advice, or does he go rogue with his own plan? Will Ann write the letter of recommendation for April? Will there be any negative backlash from Leslie's plan? Is there any possible way Jerry could help Chris? At the end of the episode, does Mona-Lisa still work at Rent-A-Swag? Do Ann and April ever have a genuinely sweet moment? Loyal viewers, Season 5 is an unstoppable freight train approaching your station ... all aboard! Many thanks to our incredible sponsor, Strackwell Hardware.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where Nick Offerman has his directorial debut! Back from her Hawaiian honeymoon with Ben, Leslie prepares for her upcoming speech at the Pawnee Correspondents' Lunch, where every year the government and media get together to roast each other ... and Leslie is determined to give it to the Pawnee Sun tabloid with both barrels. At the luncheon, Leslie confronts Pawnee Sun reporter Kim Terlando and boasts about how she's going to kick ass and take names with her speech. However, Kim is called up on stage ahead of Leslie, and when she gives HER speech, it becomes clear she somehow stole all of Leslie's jokes, leaving Leslie with nothing to present. Leslie ends up bombing on stage, and even worse, is completely perplexed as to how Kim Terlando got hold of her notes. Meanwhile, still on her quest to have a baby, Ann has chosen Chris (who just broke up with Shauna Malwae-Tweep a week ago) as her potential sperm donor. Unfortunately, Chris does not yet know this, as Ann struggles to gain the courage to speak to him about it. After avoiding several interactions with him at City Hall (and venting to Ron about her insecurities), Ann once again tries to summon the nerve to talk to Chris at the Correspondents Luncheon. However, she becomes intimidated when she not only sees Shauna present at the luncheon, but witnesses Shauna and Chris engaging in pleasant small talk ... causing her to continue to vent to Ron. Finally, Ben begins his new job as President of the Sweetums Foundation. Jessica Wicks gives Ben his first assignment: pick a charity for the company to fund. Unfortunately, she only gives Ben a day to do so, and there are hundreds of charity applications to sift through. Desperate for help, he recruits Tom, April, and Andy to help him out. April encourages Andy to do this with them, as Andy has been depressed lately after failing to become a police officer. The team generates mixed results: Tom just cares about Sweetums' fancy lunches and luxurious perks, and April (true to her nature) doesn't care a whole lot about charity ... or helping out Ben. Andy, however, gives it his best try, and actually picks out an interesting after-school music program for at-risk children. Ben is impressed by Andy's choice, and likes the idea, but is still considering other choices as well. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... How did Kim Terlando get hold of Leslie's notes? Is Shauna Malwae-Tweep a genuine concern to Ann, or just a minor annoyance? What does Ben end up choosing as Sweetums' first charity? Can Leslie get her revenge on Kim Terlando? How does Ron handle Ann constantly venting to him? Will Andy ever snap out of his depression? Were Leslie's stolen jokes at least funny? Will Ann ever summon the courage to ask Chris to be her baby daddy? Are there any donations to "Tommy's Tummy Foundation"? Loyal podcast viewers, we've got new storylines, new careers ... things continue to barrel straight ahead in the little town of Pawnee, and we're all lucky enough to have a front row seat! Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, Pawnee Supersuites.

We know you are a giant Parks and Recreation fan otherwise you wouldn’t be here! But just in case you got lost, this episode celebrates one of the best sitcom relationships in the history of ever: Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt. 

In their recent coverage of the Season 5 episode, ‘Leslie and Ben’, Mark and Allen covered the episode that finally made them husband and wife. Spoiler alert: the guys gave this landmark episode a score of 10 Llttle Sebastians - marking only the second  time in five seasons that they’ve given a perfect score! So, make sure to listen to that episode first, and then come back here and check out our special tribute based on the article ‘Parks and Recreation: Leslie and Ben are the Best‘ by Matt Fowler published the day before the episode aired in 2013 on IGN.com.

The article’s author and the guys both argue that Leslie and Ben are, if not the best, among the top few sitcom couples in the history of television. Why are they different? What makes them work? Check out this first ever special Pawnee Short and all will be revealed! Leslie and Ben, we love you and we like you! Enjoy!

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we learn Leslie lost her father when she was 10 years old! When we last left our heroes, Leslie and Ben decided to get married that very night at the gala, giving them only 2 hours to get everything ready prior to the gala's 11pm finish. The gang gathers at Ann's place for an emergency strategy meeting, and the Pawnee Chapter of the Avengers once again Assembles, as they divide and conquer the tasks in front of them: Ann (wedding dress), Ron (walk Leslie down the aisle), Ben + Chris (wedding rings), April + Andy (marriage licenses), Tom (wedding officiant), Donna + Jerry (keep gala running smoothly). As time rolls on, we see the following happen ... Since Leslie needs her dress 3 months early, it is not ready, so Ann makes some last-minute changes ... Ben and Chris have no luck with finding suitable rings, so Ron attempts to use his woodworking skills to create two rings from a wall sconce ... April + Andy successfully locate the marriage licenses at City Hall, then go to Ethel Beavers' home to have her sign it ... Tom runs into a snag, since it takes 24 hours to get a minister certification, but it turns out Jerry is actually already ordained, so the two team-up to co-host the celebration. Everything seems to be going pretty well. The gala ends, they start the wedding, everything is awesome and wonderful, until ... the gang gets "Drunk Jammed", as a very inebriated Councilman Jeremy Jamm shows up at the gala, peeved at Leslie for stealing Lot 48, and sets out to ruin everything ... by any means possible. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Does Ron successfully create the rings? How many quotes from the movie "Hitch" will Tom use during the ceremony? What does Jamm do to try and ruin everything? Does Jamm succeed, or does the gang stop him, and if so, how so? Does Leslie really see a ghostly apparition of her beloved Li'l Sebastian? Will Leslie and Ben actually get married? Podcast viewers, we double dog dare you to watch this episode without a handkerchief - it's a good 'un. No, seriously! Curious exactly HOW good? Tune in and see! In lieu of a commercial, Mark and Allen have decided to air their first ever "Pawnee Short", covering the interesting (and weird) Lerpiss dynasty within the town of Pawnee, IN. Enjoy!

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where the future of Lot 48 is finally decided! Leslie and Councilman Jeremy Jamm are finally going head-to-head, pitching their proposals for Lot 48 to the Planning Committee. Despite Jamm plying them with fast food during the meeting, Leslie is told in private her Pawnee Commons project is MUCH better for the town, and that they can't approve it because it is short $50,000 ... but if she can come up with that money in the next week, they'll vote for her. To this end, Leslie and Ben plan a black tie gala fundraiser, the gang all work together, things seem to be going well ... until the day of the gala, Leslie finds out the surprise annual Emergency Preparedness drill is happening, and as appointed Pawnee Emergency Czar, she must go to the Command Center immediately. The chosen simulated disaster is avian flu, which Leslie loves, since it is simple, and she's already prepared for it. Leslie attempts to breeze through the proceedings, but just when it looks like they have triumphed, Councilman Jamm (who was supposed to deal with Transit Authorities) dropped the ball, causing the epidemic to spread instead of being contained. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang does their best to get things ready for the gala: Ben coordinates things at Lot 48, including delegating tables and chairs to Donna, as well as dealing with firemen using Lot 48 as a triage center for the drill; Tom travels around Pawnee, desperately looking for caterers willing to supply free food for the event; Ron decides to take Leslie's place on Pawnee Today to promote the gala, which proves challenging once it becomes clear Joan Callamezzo is INCREDIBLY hung over, finally passing out on the floor before the interview can really get started. Meanwhile, the day has finally come for Andy to take the Pawnee PD exam. Very excited (but nervous), he makes his way to the police station, accompanied by April, who gives him a good luck charm and helps him with last minute cramming. After anxiously waiting in the lobby for Andy to finish, April finally sees him come back to the lobby, excited and confident that he did really well on the written exam! A bit later, Andy is once again taken into the back office, this time for his personality exam. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Can Leslie help Pawnee survive the avian flu, or is the town going the way of the dodo? How did Andy really do on his written exam? Will Ron effectively promote the gala event? Can Tom find any caterers willing to provide food for free? Is Andy prepared to take the personality exam? Where in the world did Jerry go? Does Ben talk the firemen into moving the triage center? Will Andy truly become one of Pawnee's finest? Will the gala happen, or is it destined for doom? What is "The Knope Protocol"? What is the good luck charm April gives Andy? Loyal viewers, Season 5 is on a roll ... will it continue? Stay tuned to find out, dot dot dot ... Many thanks to our wonderful sponsor, Chez Chez La Rue.

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where Ann wants to be a mother! Empowered by her newfound independence, Ann decides to date herself for a while instead of getting swept up in a new boyfriend's personality. Six weeks into the experiment, she comes to a realization: she's ready to be a mom. It's a big decision, but she tells Leslie she's ready to go to the sperm bank and look into having a child on her own. Leslie tries to be supportive, but is quietly convinced that Ann is making a huge mistake. At the sperm bank, they run into Sewage Joe, who claims to be a frequent donor, and his patronage is enough to scare Ann off. Leslie inadvertently helps Ann realize that her ideal sperm donor should be someone she knows. With a new wave of enthusiasm, Ann narrows it down to three potential sperm donors and brings them into the office, pretending she's interviewing them for a blog. Meanwhile, Ben tries to make headway on his task for the wedding: finding a caterer. He arranges a taste testing of the three best catering companies in Pawnee, and has invited his own personal panel of experts: Chris (the veggie lover), Ron (the meat lover), and Tom (the foodie who takes photos of food instead of eating it). Ben breaks the three-way tie with his own input, deciding on the caterer who served an appetizer of "mini calzones." The day after the taste testing, Chris, Ben and Ron are all completely crippled by horrible food poisoning, and they haven't even seen Tom yet - god knows what this is doing to that poor little bird-like man. Finally, while Leslie is busy with her councilwoman duties, April is tasked with her worst nightmare: leading a public forum for the Pawnee Commons every day that week. She decides the best way to survive the ordeal is to imitate Leslie; she even dons one of Leslie's famous pantsuits to tackle the task. But Leslie's chipper methods just aren't suitable for April, and the first meeting quickly spirals out of her control. April tries to persist, continuing to channel Leslie, but with little or no success. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Will Leslie try to take control of the situation? What ended up happening to Tom? How does April get along with the crazy Pawnee residents? Who are Ann's three potential sperm donors? Do they ever figure out the exact source of the food poisoning? Can April figure out how to effectively handle the public forum? Does Ann end up picking a winner? Who does Ben end up selecting as the wedding caterer? What is Andy's mistake that stresses out April, but provides great snacks? Loyal viewers, whip yourself up a tasty dish, tune your podcast dial, and come along on our journey! Have we ever let you down before? Many thanks to our fantastic sponsor, often imitated but never duplicated ... JJ's Diner.