From LA Times:
“Parks,” in its second season, has emerged as a critical darling. Time magazine’s James Poniewozik, a fan from the get-go, called it a “very very good, very very funny” series that “has found its rhythm” and the Star-Ledger’s Alan Sepinwall declared it quite possibly “the best comedy on TV right now.” He could also add “that you’re not watching.” “Parks” averages a lowly 5 million viewers, which puts it roughly in the same neighborhood as first-season audiences for NBC’s reigning Emmy magnet “30 Rock.” The show, as they say in the industry, is gaining traction with the right crowds and has already landed a full second-season order. So what happened between Seasons 1 and 2 that flipped “Parks” from flop to hot?
“We needed to tell a certain number of stories before people got it,” Schur said.
NBC President of Primetime Entertainment Angela Bromstad recalled the early days of “The Office” and said, “I knew Greg was great at self-assessing and evolving a show, and comedies take longer to catch on. . . . Also, I have to say, the cupboards were bare. We really needed to stick with it, and I think it’s paying off.”
From Boston Herald:
Rashida Jones appreciates NBC’s patience. When her show “Parks & Recreation” (tonight at 8:30 on WHDH, Ch. 7) premiered last spring, viewers and critics lambasted the show for being too similar to “The Office,” with a lot fewer laughs.
“It just takes time,” said Jones, who plays Ann Perkins on the sitcom. “For the actors, for the writers, for the audience, you just need some time to settle into what the characters actually are and what’s funny about their dynamics.”
NBC recently picked up the show for a full season.
“I’m super-grateful that people gave us a shot to get there, but I definitely think it takes about 10 episodes to even know what anything is.”
Link: Fun and ‘Recreation’: Jones glad NBC comedy is hitting its stride
