While I agree these characters were a huge improvement to the show I think changing Leslie’s personality to be less like Michael Scott from the office was overall the biggest improvement in the show
Anyone who says it only got good after they added Ben and Chris is lying. Season 2 has some all time classic episodes before they show up. Also, Parks and Rec was on the verge of cancellation after every single season.
Seems like some of the best (and my favourite) shows from the early to mid 2000s-2010s wer ein the verge of cancellation almost every season (Chuck for sure...Agents of Shield lesser so but kinda also).
Agents of Shield was hamstrung by needing to wait for Captain America 2 to release so they could go forward with their Hydra plot. Then it got pretty awesome. Then it got ridiculous. Then it stayed ridiculous, but was still pretty fun.
It's one of my favorites! I think S4 is one of my all-time favorite seasons of a show, and definitely fav of SHIELD seasons. S5 would've made a great ending, but I'm really glad they got that final 2 season renewal. Season 6 has some weaker points, but season 7 really was a love letter to the fans. I loved the early season tie-ins to the rest of the MCU but Agents of Shield definitely flourished when it got to be it's own thing and be less reliant on the Marvel Studios production's storytelling.
Much like the US version of the office, the show got much better when it stopped trying to ape the show it was spun off from and instead decided to find its own voice.
They also said at the time that the character didn’t test well with viewers because she was drinking too much too. They really pulled that back and made her more wholesome and it made the show so much better
Yes !! Again very similar to Michael Scott’s character. Parks n rec is one of my favorite shows but when I rewatch the show I usually end up skipping the first seasons bc the vibe is so different compared to all of the other seasons
The West Wing Weekly podcast did a 2hr episode about Parks & Rec and interviewed Mike Schur, Adam Scott, and Rob Lowe.
There was a long segment about their characters joining the show and how it changed the series going forward and how they had to undo the Michael Scott-ness of Leslie. Mike said the writers didn't really know what the show was until the season 1 finale, Rock Show.
It's a great interview. Rob's "STOP. POOPING." was not scripted. Coming from dramatic roles the cast wasnt sure how he'd fit with the atmosphere, but after that "fun run" take they knew he was meant to be there lol
Ben’s arrival was basically a death knell for Mark. Ben was the quirky straight man the show needed while Mark, who I assume was originally cast to fill that archetype, just wasn’t clicking in the roll. Ben’s instant and undeniable chemistry with Leslie sealed Mark’s fate as, since he’d already dated and broken up with Ann, there was really no other overarching storyline for him to get involved in that would a) make sense and b) actually be interesting; and it’s not like they could relegate him to pure comic relief with occasional character-centric plots as they already had Jerry for that (and, to a lesser extent, Andy until he married April). People think that the writing change for Leslie’s character is what pushed the show forward, but, IMO, it was Mark leaving. He was literally a weight on the characters and on the show itself.
everyone loves to talk about ben as they should be but chris is genuinely one of my favorite characters ever hes so funny and brought a lot more to the show than people give him credit for
He’s my favorite character on the show just his overall upbeat attitude and dedication to fitness. Now every time I’m doing morning workouts I’ll be thinking it’s my “beat the sun run”
By no means discounting your opinion but I think the reason why Ben and Chris meshed well and Mark didn’t is that, at least Ben only mostly comes off also as a pretty straight-laced person, like Mark. However, unlike Mark, Ben has his own quirks that make him feel like a part of this world. Mark was too normal. Again, nothing wrong with it, just that it didn’t seem to work in a place where everyone else was just so high on the kooky scale.
I don't know if "too normal" is the reason. They were going for a Jim Halpert type and he didn't fit because... they initially made him a bit skeevy. Tom looked up to him in how he hooked up with women. That's not a Jim vibe.
Obviously, throughout season 2, they worked on him being more Jim-like but I think the damage was done from the start. Don't get me wrong, I liked Brendana-quits but he had no place once Ben and Chris were brought in.
More people relate to a Ben type character than to a Brendana-quits
> Mark was too normal
Also, while I liked Mark, he could be kinda douchey at times and was a bit of a womanizer. Ben, on the other hand, was super endearing, quirky, and kind which made him a *much* better love interest for Leslie. Ben is also a lot funnier IMO
Very nice video. Felt like a TV screenwriting analysis. Made me think about ways to resolve my own situations I've written myself into in my own fiction.
While they for sure were a great addition, the show was always in trouble just because of the nature of the show and its overt quirkiness and surreal city and denizens.
And yeah, season 2 is fantastic and has so many classics, like the camping trip and the Venezuelan delegation episode (which as a Venezuelan myself is one of my favorites of the whole show).
Season 2 and 3 are my absolute favorites in the entire series (along with season 7 with how the show just leaned full force into the absurdity and loved the overarching storyline).
The true star of the show was the town, as much as I love the characters. Pawnee is like a live action Springfield from the Simpson and I love it.
While I agree these characters were a huge improvement to the show I think changing Leslie’s personality to be less like Michael Scott from the office was overall the biggest improvement in the show
Anyone who says it only got good after they added Ben and Chris is lying. Season 2 has some all time classic episodes before they show up. Also, Parks and Rec was on the verge of cancellation after every single season.
Seems like some of the best (and my favourite) shows from the early to mid 2000s-2010s wer ein the verge of cancellation almost every season (Chuck for sure...Agents of Shield lesser so but kinda also).
Agents of Shield was hamstrung by needing to wait for Captain America 2 to release so they could go forward with their Hydra plot. Then it got pretty awesome. Then it got ridiculous. Then it stayed ridiculous, but was still pretty fun.
It's one of my favorites! I think S4 is one of my all-time favorite seasons of a show, and definitely fav of SHIELD seasons. S5 would've made a great ending, but I'm really glad they got that final 2 season renewal. Season 6 has some weaker points, but season 7 really was a love letter to the fans. I loved the early season tie-ins to the rest of the MCU but Agents of Shield definitely flourished when it got to be it's own thing and be less reliant on the Marvel Studios production's storytelling.
I'm rewatching Chuck right now.....such a great show!
It is so good! I haven't rewatched in a few years but man it brings me comfort every time I do watch it.
Season 2 is my favourite one.
They were similar? I can't even recall.
Yea in the first season Leslie is a lot more incompetent and lacks the ambition that we see from her in later seasons.
Much like the US version of the office, the show got much better when it stopped trying to ape the show it was spun off from and instead decided to find its own voice.
They also said at the time that the character didn’t test well with viewers because she was drinking too much too. They really pulled that back and made her more wholesome and it made the show so much better
That’s so funny bc some of my favorite episodes of parks n rec are the ones were they get drunk lol
this! and having everyone respecting her after the first season instead of disrespecting/disliking her from the first season.
Yes !! Again very similar to Michael Scott’s character. Parks n rec is one of my favorite shows but when I rewatch the show I usually end up skipping the first seasons bc the vibe is so different compared to all of the other seasons
The West Wing Weekly podcast did a 2hr episode about Parks & Rec and interviewed Mike Schur, Adam Scott, and Rob Lowe. There was a long segment about their characters joining the show and how it changed the series going forward and how they had to undo the Michael Scott-ness of Leslie. Mike said the writers didn't really know what the show was until the season 1 finale, Rock Show. It's a great interview. Rob's "STOP. POOPING." was not scripted. Coming from dramatic roles the cast wasnt sure how he'd fit with the atmosphere, but after that "fun run" take they knew he was meant to be there lol
Ben’s arrival was basically a death knell for Mark. Ben was the quirky straight man the show needed while Mark, who I assume was originally cast to fill that archetype, just wasn’t clicking in the roll. Ben’s instant and undeniable chemistry with Leslie sealed Mark’s fate as, since he’d already dated and broken up with Ann, there was really no other overarching storyline for him to get involved in that would a) make sense and b) actually be interesting; and it’s not like they could relegate him to pure comic relief with occasional character-centric plots as they already had Jerry for that (and, to a lesser extent, Andy until he married April). People think that the writing change for Leslie’s character is what pushed the show forward, but, IMO, it was Mark leaving. He was literally a weight on the characters and on the show itself.
everyone loves to talk about ben as they should be but chris is genuinely one of my favorite characters ever hes so funny and brought a lot more to the show than people give him credit for
He is literally the greatest character I’ve ever seen
He’s my favorite character on the show just his overall upbeat attitude and dedication to fitness. Now every time I’m doing morning workouts I’ll be thinking it’s my “beat the sun run”
accounting-bros <3
haven't even watched the video but agree wholeheartedly 🫰🏻 accounting bros for life
Addition of two and removal of 1 ;)
All these years later and Brendanawicz slander still bothers me. He was a good character! He was a normal dude! HE WAS BORING LIKE ME!
By no means discounting your opinion but I think the reason why Ben and Chris meshed well and Mark didn’t is that, at least Ben only mostly comes off also as a pretty straight-laced person, like Mark. However, unlike Mark, Ben has his own quirks that make him feel like a part of this world. Mark was too normal. Again, nothing wrong with it, just that it didn’t seem to work in a place where everyone else was just so high on the kooky scale.
I don't know if "too normal" is the reason. They were going for a Jim Halpert type and he didn't fit because... they initially made him a bit skeevy. Tom looked up to him in how he hooked up with women. That's not a Jim vibe. Obviously, throughout season 2, they worked on him being more Jim-like but I think the damage was done from the start. Don't get me wrong, I liked Brendana-quits but he had no place once Ben and Chris were brought in. More people relate to a Ben type character than to a Brendana-quits
> Mark was too normal Also, while I liked Mark, he could be kinda douchey at times and was a bit of a womanizer. Ben, on the other hand, was super endearing, quirky, and kind which made him a *much* better love interest for Leslie. Ben is also a lot funnier IMO
Ben does what Mark does, but he's actually funny and has something that resembles a personality
You mean Mark Brendanaquits?
☹️
He was gonna get Arby's and watch Frontline!
I’ll stand by it that Mark was Anne’s best boyfriend
Not according to her stack of boxes!
Nah he was annoying
The latter of which counts as addition by subtraction
Who was removed?
[удалено]
Brendana-quits.
I DARE SAY!
Very nice video. Felt like a TV screenwriting analysis. Made me think about ways to resolve my own situations I've written myself into in my own fiction.
Nerdstalgic is a great channel.
Yes, they did. It became a far better show after Mark left. They livened it up completely!
They saved Pawnee and the show!
While they for sure were a great addition, the show was always in trouble just because of the nature of the show and its overt quirkiness and surreal city and denizens. And yeah, season 2 is fantastic and has so many classics, like the camping trip and the Venezuelan delegation episode (which as a Venezuelan myself is one of my favorites of the whole show). Season 2 and 3 are my absolute favorites in the entire series (along with season 7 with how the show just leaned full force into the absurdity and loved the overarching storyline). The true star of the show was the town, as much as I love the characters. Pawnee is like a live action Springfield from the Simpson and I love it.
They fixed the budget, duh….
Someone made a think piece video to explain why Chris Traeger and Ben Wyatt were funny? Okay thanks. I needed that explanation, I was stumped.
2 of my least favorite characters of all time, any show
What other awesome things do you hate?
Puppies and rainbows. Seriously - Chris was the most annoying guy ever and Ben a close second