Camping (Parks and Recreation)
It marked the reappearance of Rob Lowe, who was originally expected to depart the show after the episode "Indianapolis" after a recurring guest role, but instead joined the regular cast.
"Camping" featured guest appearances by Phil Reeves as outgoing city manager Paul and Annie O'Donnell as the owner of a bed and breakfast.
Prior to the episode's broadcast, Rashida Jones said she liked the new storylines that had developed for Ann Perkins' character, preferring that she remain single than simply get back together with Chris.
During a press conference about the success of the recent Pawnee harvest festival, city manager Paul suffers a massive heart attack.
Meanwhile, the camping trip proves unsuccessful and everybody decides to go home that night, but they are left without transportation because Tom and Ben have hooked all of their electronics to the van's battery, draining it.
Everybody hikes to a strange bed and breakfast filled with cats and dolls called The Quiet Corn, run by a strict old lady named Elsa Clack.
[4][5][6] However, after his original string of episodes were filmed, Lowe was signed as a permanent Parks and Recreation cast member, prompting the writers to find a way to reintroduce the character to the series.
[11][12] During one scene in "Camping", Tom refers to one of the gadgets in his tent as DJ Roomba, an iPod music player attached to an autonomous robotic vacuum cleaner.
[13][17] While watching TV inside his tent, Tom claims to be recording the Food Network show Cupcake Wars, the CBS police procedural drama NCIS: Los Angeles and the sixth season of the Bravo reality series Top Chef.
[1][17][18] Later, while pitching his idea for a Pawnee amphitheatre, Tom expresses hope it would entice performances from such rappers as Lil Wayne, Drake and Jay-Z.
[21] Leslie may be worried about having to live up to the legend of the Harvest Festival, but "Camping" was a sign of the strong shape "Parks and Recreation" is in as it heads into whatever stories we have for the rest of this season.
"Camping" received generally positive reviews, with several commentators praising the performance of Rashida Jones and the new comedic direction her character was taking.
[3] TV Squad writer Joel Keller said the camping trip was a good way to avoid making the show feel stale following "Harvest Festival", and that the outdoors setting created strong potential for character-driven jokes by putting them out of their elements.
[24] Matt Richenthal of TV Fanatic called it a "tremendously enjoyable episode" and "mostly just a chance to sit back and spend time with these goofy, lovable individuals".
[18] Matt Fowler of IGN praised the performance of Rashida Jones and Chris Pratt, and called Leslie's stress over failing to come up with a new idea a "great little story".
