I will note, there are a few characters that are more complicated within this model, but they still fit on the spectrum of child to adult. It’s what annoys them in the sort of teeth-grinding, nails-on-a-chalkboard way. (on the show and as viewers of the show). His inability to grow up happens to be the source of much of the tension in the latter seasons. John Dorian, embodies childishness, day-dreamy imagination, and immaturity (indeed his name is rumored to be a play off of Dorian Gray). And it’s a hard thing to pull off on TV! Credit where credit is due! Take Scrubs, for example. Playfulness, in the form of ambition, inventiveness, and genuineness, is what makes each above character so damn successful (and unabashedly charming and addictive). Tom, April, and Donna having an office dance party.Īctually, what I love about this show is how much it glorifies playfulness. Nonetheless, her poor (though wildly entertaining) choice in men (for example, Andy eats out of frisbees Tom’s incessant womanizer-ish behavior even Chris, who is made to be the total package, is poorly matched for Ann, who adopts and blends into his habits and characteristics during their time dating) reminds me of my own dating past (the idiot, the cool guy, and the “nothing’s wrong here, but something’s not right” guy). She’s smart, observant, and seems to know when the group’s antics are not the best laid plans. I mean, his main characteristic is immaturity (oh and being devilishly handsome…)Īnn is a little less obvious. Tom, Tom, Tom… I’m not sure where to start with Tom. (She’s Wednesday Adams Goes to College, amirite?) They even have a wonderful scene when they discuss what they want to be when they grow up…. Ron never does his job (admittedly, this is a political statement).Īndy and April, who eat off of frisbees, have the most vivid imaginations, creating schemes and scenarios that combine Andy’s immaturity and lack of common-sense and April’s dead-pan wit and dislike for human beings. Leslie’s ever-optimistic, candy-loving self is the very definition of playfulness and childlike ambition.

He exemplifies adulthood, while every other character has very strong inclinations toward characteristics of children. He’s the only one on the way out of the job. No, he’s the non-play, very serious adult. Jerry just wants to put his head down and put in his last few years until retiring with a full pension.

Jerry receiving a tortuously slow-mo pie in the face from Andy, a reenactment of an earlier pie throwing to help Andy solve the mystery of who threw said pie.īut, let me be clear, what Jerry isn’t is the reprimanding father-figure to counter balance and control all the crazy kids. Jerry’s coworkers are supposed to be grown-ups, but hardly any of them act like it. The party, btw, that 5 grown-ass adults are having instead of unloading the moving truck.

He ruins the fun! He steps on DJ Roomba (the vacuum on which Tom has set his iPod speakers on), for example. The “classic Jerry” is really a moment of being a total buzzkill. But, frankly, other characters are equally clumsy (Andy), overweight (Donna), and fit the role of comic paradigms (Andy, for example, embodies slapstick, complimenting Jerry’s representation of crude humor)… So, what’s the real reason why the staff aligns behind the phrase, “Screw you, Jerry!”? I think the answer may be the juxtaposition the entire show rides on…. He’s clumsy, overweight, and is inevitably in the wrong place at the wrong time, allowing his coworkers to ceaselessly come up with new ways to torment him. Everyone knows why Jerry from Parks and Recreation is terrorized by the rest of the staff.

Jerry parks and rec penis