15 pieces of pop culture that may have been influenced by South Park
By Sundi Rose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfXfOCIIFcY
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is a direct descendant of The Office, but if you continue to look into its origins, you can see how it gathers inspiration from South Park. Although Parks and Rec’s brand of satire was a little more loving and gentle, it nonetheless came after small towns and local government pretty hard.
This show told the story of Leslie Knope, a midlevel local politician in Pawnee, Indiana. She is devoted to her community, and attempts to serve her town and her career by helping fighting local jerks who put their own interests about the collective. She enlists a gang of misfits to help her fight the oafish bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, and governmental red tape and is about as positive and upbeat as anyone could stay in a small Parks and Recreation department. Leslie’s colleagues are both blessings and hinderances to her, as she has to sort through their interpersonal politics as well.
Culling from the real world and actual headlines is not a new concept, but South Park was adept at doing just this. Parks and Rec became skilled at filtering current events through its universe, asking us to examine what is happening in the real world through the lens of Pawnee, Indiana. This technique was perfected in South Park.
Best of: “Leslie And Ron” (season 7, episode 4) and “Telethon” (season 2, episode 22)