Pawnee Zoo
They declare her their "hero" for holding the gay penguin wedding, but Leslie insists it was simply a publicity stunt, not a political statement.
Nevertheless, Marcia Langman, a member of the Society for Family Stability Foundation, demands she annul the penguin wedding or resign from the parks department.
The next day, she is invited to go on the Pawnee Today talk show to discuss her supposed stance on same-sex marriage with Marcia Langman and television host Joan Callamezzo.
[6] Hiscock felt a gay penguin marriage was a good way to connect Leslie's character and profession to the issue, since a zoo would be part of the parks department.
[7] Hiscock said in writing the script, he did not intend to make a strong political or social message, and that the staff was more focused on comedy and developing the Leslie Knope character.
Within a week of the episode's original broadcast, two deleted scenes from "Pawnee Zoo" were made available on the official Parks and Recreation website.
[11] When sarcastically asking if Langman wants her to commit harakiri, Leslie accidentally says "harikari," a common mispronunciation of the traditional Japanese cultural term.
And NBC should be ecstatic that Thursday nights, home to two of television's funniest sitcoms in 30 Rock and The Office, got its weakest link fortified into something competitively hilarious.
"[9] Henning Fog of Entertainment Weekly said with "Pawnee Zoo", the series appeared to be finding its rhythm and starting to distinguish itself from its conceptual spinoff, The Office, which was also created by Parks and Recreation co-creator Greg Daniels.
[2] Emily Christianson of the Los Angeles Times said "Pawnee Zoo" improves upon the first season by giving more attention to plot points outside the pit.
[10] Los Angeles Times writer Jon Caramanica said the same-sex marriage subplot only alters the show's dynamic "a smidge", and mainly serves as "another opportunity for misadventure for Leslie Knope".
[15] Matt Fowler of IGN said "Pawnee Zoo" was "more solidly entertaining" than the entire first season, and made a stronger effort to build up the supporting cast, particularly by establishing a romance between Jones and Schneider.
[16] San Francisco Chronicle writer Tim Goodman, who was very critical of the Parks and Recreation first season, said "Pawnee Zoo" brought new life to the series.
Club commented the "Pawnee Zoo" plot was strong, the supporting cast performed well and that Poehler feels "a lot more comfortable in Knope's skin."
Verne Gay of Newsday voiced admiration for Parks and Recreation, but found "Pawnee Zoo" to be "flat, forced and messagey", and did not make proper use of the supporting cast.
[17] Johnny Firecloud of CraveOnline praised Poehler and the "Parents Just Don't Understand" opening, but felt cast members like Jones are wasted.
[18] In March 2010, "Pawnee Zoo" won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character).
[21] "Pawnee Zoo", along with the other 23 second season episodes of Parks and Recreation, was released on a four-disc DVD set in the United States on November 30, 2010.
