I have two super powers. One is that I can turn any light red just by approaching it. I’m a nightmare to drive with. The other is that I can guarantee a TV show will get low ratings just by enjoying it. If I enjoy it from the beginning, it will get cancelled before two seasons are complete. If I don’t like it at first, but grow to like it, it can be Parks and Recreation.
Parks and Rec was a wonderful show. But, when I watched the show’s premier, my reaction was, “They’ve already made The Office twice. Do we really need another one?” I didn’t watch it again for some time, but ran into it by accident. I was expecting 30 Rock, I think, and I found myself chuckling for 30 minutes straight. I’ve been a faithful viewer ever since. I’d like to apologize to the cast and crew right now. If not for me, you probably would have been the biggest show on TV.
The series finale was great. It wrapped everything up and reminded me why I liked the show so much. But, I couldn’t find anyone to talk to about it because no one I know watched it. That’s kind of frustrating, but it is the way of the world now. There are no more cultural phenomena. The last thing that I can think of that qualifies is Santana’s Supernatural, and that was 15ish years ago (I was going to say Harry Potter, but that started before Supernatural and it was also more than 15 years ago).
The things that are supposed to be huge just aren’t in the same way anymore. I’m not saying that this is a bad thing or a good thing. It’s just different. When I was a kid, Gremlins was a phenomenon. I have never seen the movie, but I know not to get them wet or feed them after midnight. Frozen is a modern phenomenon. That means that if you have regular dealings with a prepubescent girl, you have heard “Let It Go” a billion times. But if you have boys or don’t have kids, you probably don’t know what I’m talking about. Lady GaGa is supposedly a phenomenon, but I’ve literally never heard one of her songs. There was no one alive in 1983 who could say that about Michael Jackson.
Like I said, this isn’t really good or bad. But, after watching the Parks and Rec finale it did make me a little sad. This show was truly one of the all time great shows. It deserved to have people start saying, “Treat yo’ self.” It deserved to have people start calling each other, “workplace proximity acquaintances.” I’m going to miss it. I just wish I had others to miss it with me.
