The Stakeout (Parks and Recreation)

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by 4.22 million households, an 800,000-household drop from the previous week's season premiere, "Pawnee Zoo".

"The Stakeout" received generally positive reviews, with several commentators saying it marked a continued improvement over the first Parks and Recreation season.

Back at city hall, Ron remains immobile in his chair all day due to a hernia which causes excruciating pain if he moves.

The intern, April, returns to check on him, and wheels Ron out to the car on his office chair to bring him to the hospital.

He played Dave Sanderson, a Pawnee police officer who develops a romantic interest in Leslie,[1] and speaks about intimate feelings in a deadpan, technical tone of voice.

The reference to Obama's name was originally featured in a scene that was cut from the Parks and Recreation pilot episode.

[3] Offerman, who barely moves and is often quiet throughout the episode, said he learned to use humor amid silence while serving as an altar boy and lector at his church.

"[4] Within a week of the episode's original broadcast, three deleted scenes from "The Stakeout" were made available on the official Parks and Recreation website.

Sepinwall said the episode was funny, but also notable because it developed a stronger personal connection between Leslie and Tom, and because it featured more references to topical events like the Henry Gates controversy.

[3] In two short episodes, we’re already seeing a new push toward topical stories and jokes, more fleshed-out relationships among the supporting characters, and — most importantly — a Leslie Knope that isn’t completely unbelievable.

He said Poehler seemed more at ease with the Leslie character, and thought "the intersection of business and personal stress" served the episode well.

[11] Entertainment Weekly writer Henning Fog said "The Stakeout" showed growth improvement for the series, and praised the guest performance of Louis C.K.

[6] Chicago Tribune columnist Maureen Ryan particularly praised the performance of Offerman, of whom she said, "His pained reactions and stoic silence are hilarious.

"[4] "The Stakeout", 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.