Parks and Recreation

Leslie is torn between Ben and her dreams of running for public office, while Ron braces himself for the arrival of his first wife, Tammy One.

Leslie is pulled into Ron’s personal life as Tammy One (Patricia Clarkson) exerts malevolent influence on him, and seeks out help from Ron’s mom Tammy Zero. Tom tasks Ben with helping out with his grossly mismanaged new company, while Ann and Chris team up for a public service announcement about diabetes.

Promoting a book she has written about Pawnee, Leslie falls victim to Joan Callamezzo’s "Gotcha!" journalism, but also learns a horrifying fact about her personal history. Tom’s flirting with Joan takes a disturbing turn, while Ann strives fruitlessly to make Ron and April enjoy chatting with her.

Ron and Leslie get into a feud over their rival youth camp programs, with Ron’s spartan Pawnee Rangers up against Leslie’s supportive and indulgent Pawnee Goddesses. Tom and Donna invite Ben – still despondent over his breakup with Leslie – to their annual "Treat Yo’ Self" spa and shopping excursion. Jerry takes his daughter and Chris to lunch together.

Ben is mad when Andy and April decide to throw a Halloween party at their house without asking him. Tom emcees an event for Leslie’s campaign but manages to also promote his company. Meanwhile, Ron and Ann give Andy and April an unusual wedding present.

A local Pawnee group predicts that the end of the world is coming, causing Leslie and others to contemplate their lives. Tom decides to throw the best party ever before he loses his office space, while April helps Andy complete his "bucket list" before the world ends.

Leslie and Ben are excited about the opportunity to lead a Model United Nations conference, but their post-dating relationship becomes the major crisis of the event. Elsewhere, Andy and April uniquely lend a helping hand at the conference; Ron goes the extra mile to try and convince a reluctant Tom to return to his government post; and Chris enlists advice from Ann, Donna, and an uneasy Jerry to find out why Millie isn’t returning his calls.

Leslie attempts to delay completion of Indiana’s smallest park in order to spend more time with Ben before he transfers out of the parks department. Andy goes back to college with Ron and April’s support, and Chris tasks Tom and Jerry with designing a new logo.

Leslie and Ben finally tell Chris about their relationship, leading to Leslie’s trial by the board to see whether she took advantage of him to get ahead. Ann, Ron, April, Andy, Donna, and Jerry sit in as witnesses to help prove her innocence, while Chris becomes their enemy.

When Chris bans a suspended Leslie from trying to do her job in any way, Leslie becomes a super-organizer for citizen-based projects in Pawnee. The entire staff endeavors to create the most thoughtful present for Leslie they can think of, in order to pay her back for her many years of unprecedentedly thoughtful presents. Ben Wyatt goes on distressing private sector job interviews before getting good advice from a surprising source. Leslie’s City Council campaign suffers crippling losses–until her friends and colleagues unite anew to help her out.

Leslie must ask for help in order to stage a major event to re-establish her campaign. Ben uses his new-found freetime to explore new hobbies, alarming Chris with their uselessness and causing him to step in and help. April and Andy adopt a new pet dog, without telling Ben.

The race for City Council is shaken up by the entry of Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd), the wealthy and good-natured son of the town’s largest employer, as a candidate. Leslie and Ben have a fight over the tone of their campaign ads. Chris tries to befriend Ron, making him uncomfortable. Andy and April visit the doctor.

Leslie and Ben host a bowling night after receiving feedback about Leslie’s campaign. Leslie chases one vote in particular, culminating in punches being thrown. April, Chris, and Jerry hold a competition to see who can raise the most funds. Ron and Ann are embarrassed by Tom’s childlike bowling technique in contrast to Ron’s straightforward technique and Ann’s terrible technique.

Leslie works to find Ann a Valentine’s date, finding only the run of the muck strange Pawneeans. Ron helps Ben with Leslie’s difficult Valentine’s scavenger hunt, and Chris becomes depressed over his love life.

Leslie and Ben run into Dave (Louis C.K.) while meeting with the Chief of Police. Andy searches for a song to represent Leslie’s campaign.

After realizing everyone forgot Jerry’s birthday, Leslie decides to throw him a party; Tom is shocked to learn Ann doesn’t share his taste in music.

Bobby Newport hires a new campaign manager (Kathryn Hahn). Leslie courts the support of a powerful Pawnee senior citizen (Carl Reiner). Chris informs Ron that if Leslie wins city council, a new deputy director will have to be hired. To prevent this, Ron enlists Ann to take over the department on a water fountain project. However, the conflict between April and Ann, combined with Tom’s overswagginess, Jerry’s incompetence, Donna’s reluctance, and Andy’s overexcited-ness culminates in a department-wide water-balloon war and forces someone to step up.

Indianapolis journalist Buddy Wood (Sean Hayes) selects Leslie as one of the local candidates whom he profiles in an annual special. Andy prepares for his final women’s studies exam, and both Ron and Chris take an interest in his professor.

Leslie discovers that the Parks Department budget is about to be cut, and she later meets the City Council member (Bradley Whitford) she is running to replace. Chris and Ron visit a meditation center. Chris learns that if Newport wins, he’s fired as city manager.

Leslie and Bobby Newport hold a debate.

The father of Bobby Newport dies suddenly while Leslie is on a critical campaign swing through the city. Andy tries to figure out who pie-faced Jerry a few nights earlier, believing the target to be Leslie.

The results of Pawnee’s City Council election are announced.