The Master Plan (Parks and Recreation)
Encyclopedia
The Master Plan is the 23rd and penultimate episode of the second season
of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation
, and the 29th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC
in the United States on May 13, 2010. In the episode, Pawnee's major budget problems result in state auditors (Adam Scott
and Rob Lowe
) arriving to make major cuts, much to Leslie
's horror and Ron
's delight. Meanwhile, Andy
contemplates asking April
to be his girlfriend, and Tom
seeks a new girlfriend.
The episode was directed by Dean Holland
and written by series co-creator Michael Schur
. "The Master Plan" featured the first series appearances by Scott and Lowe, who became permanent cast member as characters Ben Wyatt, and Chris Traeger. The episode also introduced Natalie Morales
as Lucy, Tom's new girlfriend, and featured guest appearances by Ralph Richeson and regular series guests Ben Schwartz
, April Marie Eden and Alison Becker
.
The idea of Pawnee's governmental problems were inspired by news reports at the time of a number of states shutting down schools, parks and other services due to the glocal recession. "The Master Plan" marked the end of the romantic relationship between Ann
(Rashida Jones
) and Mark
(Paul Schneider
), which allowed for the eventual departure of Schneider from the series to focus on his film career. A subplot featuring romantic elements between Ann and Chris was a late addition to the script to better connect Lowe to the cast.
According to Nielsen Media Research
, "The Master Plan" was seen by 4.28 million household viewers, a five percent increase in viewership compared to the previous episode, "Telethon
". The episode received generally positive reviews, with several commentators praising the addition of Scott and Lowe to the cast, although some said Scott had more long-term potential as a character than Lowe. "The Master Plan" and the rest of the second season of Parks and Recreation was released on DVD in the United States on November 30, 2010, which included an extended 30-minute "producer's cut" of the episode.
(Amy Poehler
) excitedly prepares to present the parks department budget proposal, or "master plan". However, city manager Paul (Phil Reeves
), announces due to Pawnee's huge budget deficit, all proposals will be postponed indefinitely. State auditors have been sent by the governor to solve the impasse, which makes Leslie fear severe cuts. Ron
(Nick Offerman
) is delighted because he hates any government spending, which leads him to heated arguments with Leslie. Meanwhile, April
(Aubrey Plaza) is turning 21 and is having her birthday party at Tom
's (Aziz Ansari
) favorite nightclub, the Snakehole Lounge. Andy
(Chris Pratt
) debates whether to ask April to be his girlfriend, but worries about the age difference because he is 29. Ann
(Rashida Jones
) has broken up with Mark
(Paul Schneider
), who was left confused because they never fought or even argued with each other. Ann explains their relationship simply did not have the right chemistry for her.
State auditors Chris Traeger
(Rob Lowe
) and Ben Wyatt
(Adam Scott
) soon arrive, and the extremely cheerful Chris paints an optimistic picture of how they will fix the budget, but leaves the details to the more serious Ben. When Ben explains they will need to slash the budget of every department by nearly 40 or 50 percent, Leslie angrily lashes out at Ben, who responds to her that the poorly managed government is to blame. Later, at April's party, Tom desperately tries to pick up women, but to no avail, while Leslie and Ann get extremely drunk together. Andy and April appear to be getting along, but when he goes to the bar to get a drink for April, a drunken Ann flirts with him. An upset April flirts with Tom's annoying friend Jean-Ralphio
(Ben Schwartz
) to make Andy jealous. Andy gets upset, believing he misread April's signals all along, and April later regrets what she did. Ben arrives at the party and tries to smooth things out with a drunken Leslie, but she again angrily lashes out at him.
The next morning, Ann fears she made out with someone at the party but cannot remember. She eventually learns she made out with Chris, who shows a romantic interest in her. Tom returns to the Snakehole Lounge to close his tab, where meets the bartender, Lucy (Natalie Morales
), who makes fun of his efforts to pick up women. The two get along and Lucy gives Tom her phone number, to his immense pleasure. Leslie decides to apologize to Ben, and he invites her out for a beer. As they finally start to get along, Leslie realizes Ben was the mayor of a small town called Partridge, Minnesota. It was national news because he was only 18 when elected, and he promptly drove the entire government into the ground. Ben became a state auditor to prove he can be responsible and restart his political career. Later, at the parks department budget meeting, Chris and Ben reveal Pawnee's budget crisis was far worse than previously thought and that the Pawnee government will shut down until further notice, horrifying Leslie and delighting Ron.
co-creator, Michael Schur
. It was his fifth writing credit for the series after, "Pilot
", "Greg Pikitis
", "Christmas Scandal
", and "Galentine's Day
". The idea of state auditors visiting Pawnee, and the subsequent government shutdown, was inspired by news reports at the time of a number of states considering shutting down schools, parks and other services due to the global recession. In particular, Schur cited stories about Kansas City
closing down several of their public schools, and Idaho
threatening to shut down the state parks department. Similar measures were being discussed in such states as New York
, New Jersey
and California
. This was in keeping with efforts by the Parks and Recreation writers to be more topical with second season episodes. Upon learning of the spending freeze, Ron and Leslie engage in heated arguments over the function of government, with Leslie insisting the government is meant to provide social services and Ron advocating as little government intervention as possible. Throughout most of the second season, much of the relationship between Leslie and Ron focused on the two developing a mutual respect for each other. However, with the introduction of the Ben Wyatt character and the conflict over budget problems in Pawnee, the writers included these arguments between Leslie and Ron to illustrate their conflicting political ideologies and develop tension amid the character and the city hall setting.
"The Master Plan" marked the end of the romantic relationship between Mark and Ann, which had lasted throughout the entire second season. This allowed for the eventual departure of Paul Schneider, who was leaving the series at the end of the second season to focus on his film career. The title of "The Master Plan" stemmed from the fact that real-life municipal planning documents in small American towns are often called the "master plan", like the one Leslie refers to in the episode. Schur said of this, "It seems so funny to call the municipal budgets and planning documents for a small city in Indiana the 'master plan'." Schur said the Parks and Recreation writing staff believed the title of the episode was appropriate because the subplots of "The Master Plan" revolved around the various plans of the characters. While Leslie is dealing with the literal master plan for the Pawnee budget proposal, April's plan is to seek a romantic relationship with Andy, and Tom's plan is to find a girlfriend at April's birthday party.
The idea of Ann making out with Chris Traeger was not part of the original screenplay, but was added after the first cast read-through of the script. The writing staff felt that while Ben was immediately connected to Leslie and the other characters through his role in eliminating wasteful spending at Pawnee, Chris still needed something to more strongly connect to the cast, and the subplot with Ann was determined to be a funny way to do it. In one scene, after Ben explains the need for severe budget cuts at Pawnee, Ron asks Leslie, "What's a not gay way to ask him to go camping with me?" That line was not in the first draft of the script, but was added during filming as a possible alternative line for the editors to choose from later. The staff found it so funny, however, that they chose to use it and the original line was never filmed.
During another scene at the Snakehole Lounge, a drunken Leslie angrily yells to Ben, "I just talked to everybody in this bar and nobody wants you here." That line was written by Harris Wittels, who wrote past screenplays for other Parks and Recreation episodes. During the end credits, Andy sings a song he wrote for April called "November," which includes the lyrics, "Let's spread our wings and fly on a date." This is also a reference to "Woman of the Year," in which Andy explained every song he writes includes either the lyrics, "Spread your wings and fly" or "You deserve to be a champion." Schur, who wrote the words to "November", said it was especially challenging working one of those phrases into a love song.
" and became a regular cast member during the third season
. Scott left the Starz comedy Party Down
in order to join the Parks and Recreation cast, a decision he made in part because it was unclear whether Starz would renew the series: "It was a matter of me asking Starz if it was going to continue, and them saying they weren't ready to make that decision. I couldn't pass up the opportunity on Parks and Rec for a show that could possibly not exist anymore." Schur said when the Ben Wyatt character was written, Scott was envisioned as the "dream scenario" for casting. Schur described Scott as "brilliant and funny" and praised his comedic range: "There just aren't that many people with a comedic range that spans' Step Brothers
' to ' Party Down.' ". Several commentators said Ben Wyatt closely resembles the character Scott played on Party Down, Henry Pollard. While Ben was a politician who found great success at a young age then suffered a downfall, Henry was an actor who became a caterer after his acting career declined. Scott, however, said he feels they are "vastly different characters and circumstances". The idea of a character trying to rebuild a government career following a humiliating public failure was one of the original ideas for the series of Parks and Recreation in general, but one that was ultimately not used until the Ben Wyatt character was introduced. During the scene when Ben explains his failed mayoral tenure, shots of a newspaper clip with images of the character's prom pictures are shown. Those pictures are the actual high school prom photos of actor Adam Scott.
The episode also featured the first in a string of guest appearances by actor Rob Lowe, who had recently departed from the ABC
drama series Brothers & Sisters. As a joke, Rob Lowe's credit during the opening credits reads "and introducing Rob Lowe". Unlike Scott, Lowe was originally not expected to join the regular cast, but rather make guest appearances in "Freddy Spaghetti" and six third season episodes before departing the show. However, after those episodes were filmed, Lowe later joined the show as a regular cast member. Lowe said he loved playing the part, which he described as "a big fat nerd" and "the most positive person in the world [with] unrelenting enthusiasm", adding, "He is also very, very intense and specific. So whether he's ordering how he would like his water or describing the kind of colors he wants on a graph, everything means the world to him." Throughout the episode, whenever he meets someone new, Chris Traeger points directly at their face and slowly repeats their name. Schur said this habit was the first element the writers conceived for the character. In one line of the episode, while describing his exercise regiment and supplements, "Scientists believe that the first human being who will live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being." That line was inspired by Schur's wife, J. J. Philbin
, who had recently read an article about that scientific prediction and felt it applied to the character. Parks and Recreation was suffering in the Nielsen ratings
when "The Master Plan" aired, and it was hoped Lowe's appearance would help increase viewership. Lowe's performance was heavily publicized in advance of the episode's original broadcast.
"The Master Plan" featured several other guest appearances. Ben Schwartz returned to his recurring role as Tom's fast-talking friend, Jean-Ralphio. Natalie Morales, best known for her role in the ABC Family
science-fiction dramedy The Middleman
, made her first Parks and Recreation appearance in the episode as Lucy, a Pawnee bartender and romantic interest for Tom. The scene between Lucy and Tom at the Snakehole Lounge was the same scene Natalie Morales read during her audition for the part, although the dialogue was rewritten slightly before filming. The line with Lucy asking Tom if he flirted with so many women because he was expected to have a "43-way" was added during the rewrite. Ralph Richeson, best known for playing the unkempt hotel employee Richardson in the HBO drama series Deadwood
, briefly appeared as an unkempt man seeking a marriage license in the Pawnee town hall. Richeson is credited as "Ghoulish Man" in the episode's end credits. April Marie Eden, who played beauty contest winner Trish Ianetta in the episode "Beauty Pageant
", reprised that role in "The Master Plan", in scenes where Tom flirted with her relentlessly at the Snakehole Lounge. Alison Becker
, who played local reporter Shauna Malwae-Tweep in several past episodes, filmed several scenes where she and Andy flirt, but he ultimately rejects her due to his feelings for April. All of these scenes were cut from the final episode due to length restrictions, which Schur said he regretted because he found Becker very funny.
". The script read-through and filming took place in March 2010. Rob Lowe's first day of filming took place on his birthday, March 17, which was the same day the scene where he kissed Rashida Jones was shot. The original cut of "The Master Plan" was a full 30 minutes and had to be cut down to 22 minutes for broadcast. The staff of Parks and Recreation had difficulty editing the episode down because the script involved so many interconnected subplots between the characters. Screenwriter Harris Wittels said, "As soon as you'd cut one thing, you had to cut something else because it was tied to another piece." Among the scenes cut were an extended cold open
in which Ron gives April a handgun for her 21st birthday, much to the chagrin of Leslie. Also cut was a scene in which Ron chastises Leslie for yelling at Ben at the Snakehole Lounge and orders her to apologize to him so she will not be fired. Instead, the episode was changed to reflect that Leslie decided to apologize to Ben herself, with the line from Leslie "I have to go swallow my pride" added just before she spoke to Ben.
During one scene, Ann and Mark have a discussion at J.J.'s Diner, a Pawnee restaurant that had previously been featured in the episodes "The Reporter
" and "Summer Catalog
". In all three episodes, a different interior set is used, although the exterior building shots are the same. At the Snakehole Lounge, Tom flirts with a woman by giving her a bottle cap "to remember him by", then later unsuccessfully tries to find her again in the nightclub. This was not part of the script, and was conceived and added to the episode about 10 minutes before the scene was shot. During one of the final scenes, when Ben informs Leslie and Ron that the Pawnee government will be shut down, Ron looks directly at the camera and makes a comical grin. Although Leslie is supposed to be horrified by the news, the scene had to be re-shot many times because she kept laughing at Ron's facial expression.
, an actor who appeared in the 1983 drama film The Outsiders
, which also starred Rob Lowe. The line was improvised by actor Chris Pratt. In another scene, Ben tells Leslie the song he played after getting sworn in as an 18-year-old mayor was "Whoomp! (There It Is)
", a 1993 hip hop song by the duo Tag Team. The episode features several quotes from author and outdoorsman Jack London
. Among them, which Leslie reads from her master plan proposal, is, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club," and "So I say the function of man is to live, not to exist. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot." The original script included about one dozen different London quotes, but most were cut from the final draft. Schur said he used London quotes because he believed the author was one both Leslie and Ron would admire. At one point in the episode, while discussing April's birthday, Leslie says, "Damn the wheel of the world! Why must it continually turn over?" to which Ron replied approvingly, "Jack London." The line was improvised by actor Nick Offerman.
", and was the only NBC series on May 13 to show an improvement in ratings over the previous week; the comedies The Office, Community
, 30 Rock
and The Marriage Ref
all saw declines. HitFix writer Daniel Fienberg did not believe Rob Lowe's guest appearance significantly helped the Parks and Recreation ratings, calling the increase "a statistically irrelevant bump". "The Master Plan" received a 2.7 rating/5 share among overall viewers, and a 2.0 rating/6 share among viewers between ages 18 and 49. Parks and Recreation ranked third in its timeslot, behind the CBS
reality series Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and the Fox
crime drama Bones
, but received higher ratings than the ABC
science-fiction drama FlashForward
and the first season
finale of the CW Network
supernatural fantasy series The Vampire Diaries
.
"The Master Plan" received generally positive reviews. Matt Fowler of IGN
said the budget problems created strong character development potential for Leslie and comedic opportunities for Ron. Fowler also enjoyed that the normally-dissolute Tom formed an authentic romantic connection, and said Chris Pratt brought "a certain naturalness" to a role that could otherwise have been overly idiotic. Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
strongly praised the episode, praising Rob Lowe and the entire regular cast. He declared Parks and Recreation the best television show since Arrested Development, and said, "As much as I like the '50 jokes a minute' style of comedies ... I'm a sucker for a show where the characters are as well-wrought and as purely funny as they are on this show." HitFix
writer Alan Sepinwall praised the implementation of the new characters, particularly the fact that the script did not rely too heavily on them. Sepinwall also said the episode balanced well the workplace humor with the romantic subplots between Leslie and Ben, April and Andy, and Ann and Chris.
New York Daily News writer David Hinckley said Lowe and Scott were strong additions to the show, and that Scott's character in Parks was better than his character in Party Down. Hinckley said the humor "remains happily rooted in the show's eccentric characters", although he said some of the jokes, like Andy's "November" song "sometimes feels like a series of short sketches instead of a show". New York
magazine writer Steve Kandell described Lowe was entertaining but "one-note", but said Adam Scott was "much more promising and nuanced", with better potential for a romantic interest for Leslie than previous guest stars like Will Arnett
and Justin Theroux. Kandell felt Schneider's imminent departure from the series seemed unceremonious, and praised Nick Offerman's reactions of "unbridled ecstasy" at the idea of cutbacks and the government shutdown. Eric Hochberger of TV Fanatic expressed doubt about the long-term effectiveness of Lowe's character, and said the April and Andy subplot felt "dragged out for yet another week". However, he praised the script, the addition of Scott, and the performance of the entire cast, especially Rashida Jones and Aziz Ansari. Hochberger said, "I'm not convinced Parks and Recreation could have a bad episode at this point in the season." TV Squad writer Kona Gallagher felt "The Master Plan" was an especially important episode due to the addition of the Lowe and Scott characters, the beginning of Mark's exit from the series and the economic problems for Pawnee. However, Gallagher also said the episode felt mostly like a preparation for the third season.
website. It included eight extra minutes of deleted scenes, which consisted of deleted scenes, an extended ending and additional footage with Lowe and Scott. This version of the episode, along with 22-minute television version and the other 23 second season episodes of Parks and Recreation, was later released on a four-disc DVD
set in the United States on November 30, 2010. The DVD included deleted scenes for each episode. It also included a commentary track for "The Master Plan" featuring Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Dean Holland, Michael Schur, Harris Wittels and Parks and Recreation producer Morgan Sackett.
Parks and Recreation (season 2)
The second season of Parks and Recreation originally aired in the United States on the NBC television network starting September 17, 2009, and ended on May 20, 2010. The season was produced by Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, and series co-creators Greg Daniels and Michael Schur...
of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is an American comedy television series on NBC that focuses on Leslie Knope , a mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the series debuted on April 9, 2009; it has run for three seasons and...
, and the 29th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the United States on May 13, 2010. In the episode, Pawnee's major budget problems result in state auditors (Adam Scott
Adam Scott (actor)
Adam Scott is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Henry Pollard in the Starz comedy series Party Down and as Ben Wyatt in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation....
and Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
) arriving to make major cuts, much to Leslie
Leslie Knope
Leslie Barbara Knope is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is portrayed by Amy Poehler. Poehler garnered two Emmy Award nominations for Best Lead Actress in Comedy Series for her role.-Background:...
's horror and Ron
Ron Swanson
Ronald Ulysses "Ron" Swanson is a fictional character played by Nick Offerman in the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation on NBC. Ron is parks department director in the Indiana city of Pawnee and the immediate superior of protagonist Leslie Knope...
's delight. Meanwhile, Andy
Andy Dwyer
Andrew Maxwell "Andy" Dwyer is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. He is Ann Perkins' ex-boyfriend, a talented-if-yet-unsuccessful musician, a shoe-shiner at Pawnee City Hall, and April Ludgate's husband. He is portrayed by Chris Pratt.-Background:At the start of the...
contemplates asking April
April Ludgate
April Roberta Ludgate is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is an apathetic college student employed by the Pawnee Department of Parks and Recreation as Ron Swanson's assistant. She is married to Andy Dwyer. She is portrayed by Aubrey Plaza...
to be his girlfriend, and Tom
Tom Haverford
Thomas Montgomery "Tom" Haverford , born Darwish Sabir Ismael Gani, is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. He is a sarcastic, underachieving government official for the city of Pawnee who is revered for his high levels of swagger and unmatched entrepreneurial skills...
seeks a new girlfriend.
The episode was directed by Dean Holland
Dean Holland
Dean Holland is an Emmy Award-winning, American film editor, television director and producer best known for working on Entourage and the NBC comedy shows The Office and Parks and Recreation...
and written by series co-creator Michael Schur
Michael Schur
Michael Herbert Schur is an American television producer and writer, best known for his work on the NBC comedy series The Office and Parks and Recreation, the latter of which he co-created along with Greg Daniels...
. "The Master Plan" featured the first series appearances by Scott and Lowe, who became permanent cast member as characters Ben Wyatt, and Chris Traeger. The episode also introduced Natalie Morales
Natalie Morales (actress)
Natalie Morales is an American actress of Cuban descent.Growing up, she attended St. Agatha Catholic School before going to Southwest High School, and participated in the University of Miami Dow Jones Minority High School Journalism Workshop...
as Lucy, Tom's new girlfriend, and featured guest appearances by Ralph Richeson and regular series guests Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz is a writer, actor and comedian. His feature film credits include Peep World with Rainn Wilson, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman as well as Everybody's Fine with Robert DeNiro...
, April Marie Eden and Alison Becker
Alison Becker
Alison Helene Becker is an American actress, comedian, writer, and TV personality. She is the previous host of VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown and currently the co-host/sidekick on the FuelTV panel talk-show The Daily Habit.-Early life:...
.
The idea of Pawnee's governmental problems were inspired by news reports at the time of a number of states shutting down schools, parks and other services due to the glocal recession. "The Master Plan" marked the end of the romantic relationship between Ann
Ann Perkins
Ann Meredith Perkins is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is a nurse and best friend of Leslie Knope. She is portrayed by Rashida Jones.-Season one:...
(Rashida Jones
Rashida Jones
Rashida Leah Jones is an American film and television actress, comic book author, screenwriter and occasional singer. She played Louisa Fenn on Boston Public and Karen Filippelli on The Office as well as roles in the films I Love You, Man and The Social Network...
) and Mark
Mark Brendanawicz
Mark Brendanawicz is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. He is the city planner for Pawnee, Indiana, one of Ann Perkins's ex-boyfriends, and Leslie Knope's colleague. He is portrayed by Paul Schneider...
(Paul Schneider
Paul Schneider (actor)
Paul Andrew Schneider is an American film actor.-Early life and career:Schneider was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the North Carolina School of Arts...
), which allowed for the eventual departure of Schneider from the series to focus on his film career. A subplot featuring romantic elements between Ann and Chris was a late addition to the script to better connect Lowe to the cast.
According to Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, "The Master Plan" was seen by 4.28 million household viewers, a five percent increase in viewership compared to the previous episode, "Telethon
Telethon (Parks and Recreation)
Telethon is the 22nd episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 28th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 6, 2010. In the episode, Leslie volunteers to host a charity telethon and is given the...
". The episode received generally positive reviews, with several commentators praising the addition of Scott and Lowe to the cast, although some said Scott had more long-term potential as a character than Lowe. "The Master Plan" and the rest of the second season of Parks and Recreation was released on DVD in the United States on November 30, 2010, which included an extended 30-minute "producer's cut" of the episode.
Plot
LeslieLeslie Knope
Leslie Barbara Knope is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is portrayed by Amy Poehler. Poehler garnered two Emmy Award nominations for Best Lead Actress in Comedy Series for her role.-Background:...
(Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler
Amy Meredith Poehler is an American comedian, actress and voice actress. She was a cast member on the NBC television entertainment show Saturday Night Live from 2001 to 2008. In 2004, she starred in the film Mean Girls with Tina Fey, with whom she worked again in Baby Mama in 2008. She is...
) excitedly prepares to present the parks department budget proposal, or "master plan". However, city manager Paul (Phil Reeves
Phil Reeves
Phillip Reeves is an American film and television actor and screenwriter. His major roles so far is that of Charles Swedelson on the sitcom Girlfriends, as General Krieger in Commander in Chief and as the doctor in My Wife and Kids.So far he has written the script for one movie - Happy, Texas,...
), announces due to Pawnee's huge budget deficit, all proposals will be postponed indefinitely. State auditors have been sent by the governor to solve the impasse, which makes Leslie fear severe cuts. Ron
Ron Swanson
Ronald Ulysses "Ron" Swanson is a fictional character played by Nick Offerman in the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation on NBC. Ron is parks department director in the Indiana city of Pawnee and the immediate superior of protagonist Leslie Knope...
(Nick Offerman
Nick Offerman
Nick Offerman is an American actor best known for his role as Ron Swanson in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. He is also a skilled woodworker.-Early life and career:...
) is delighted because he hates any government spending, which leads him to heated arguments with Leslie. Meanwhile, April
April Ludgate
April Roberta Ludgate is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is an apathetic college student employed by the Pawnee Department of Parks and Recreation as Ron Swanson's assistant. She is married to Andy Dwyer. She is portrayed by Aubrey Plaza...
(Aubrey Plaza) is turning 21 and is having her birthday party at Tom
Tom Haverford
Thomas Montgomery "Tom" Haverford , born Darwish Sabir Ismael Gani, is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. He is a sarcastic, underachieving government official for the city of Pawnee who is revered for his high levels of swagger and unmatched entrepreneurial skills...
's (Aziz Ansari
Aziz Ansari
Aziz Ansari is an American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. He currently stars as Tom Haverford on the NBC show Parks and Recreation....
) favorite nightclub, the Snakehole Lounge. Andy
Andy Dwyer
Andrew Maxwell "Andy" Dwyer is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. He is Ann Perkins' ex-boyfriend, a talented-if-yet-unsuccessful musician, a shoe-shiner at Pawnee City Hall, and April Ludgate's husband. He is portrayed by Chris Pratt.-Background:At the start of the...
(Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt
Christopher Michael "Chris" Pratt is an American actor, best known for his roles as Harold Brighton "Bright" Abbott in the television series Everwood, the recurring character Winchester "Ché" Cook in season 4 of The OC, Andy Dwyer in the television series Parks and Recreation and for portraying...
) debates whether to ask April to be his girlfriend, but worries about the age difference because he is 29. Ann
Ann Perkins
Ann Meredith Perkins is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is a nurse and best friend of Leslie Knope. She is portrayed by Rashida Jones.-Season one:...
(Rashida Jones
Rashida Jones
Rashida Leah Jones is an American film and television actress, comic book author, screenwriter and occasional singer. She played Louisa Fenn on Boston Public and Karen Filippelli on The Office as well as roles in the films I Love You, Man and The Social Network...
) has broken up with Mark
Mark Brendanawicz
Mark Brendanawicz is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. He is the city planner for Pawnee, Indiana, one of Ann Perkins's ex-boyfriends, and Leslie Knope's colleague. He is portrayed by Paul Schneider...
(Paul Schneider
Paul Schneider (actor)
Paul Andrew Schneider is an American film actor.-Early life and career:Schneider was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the North Carolina School of Arts...
), who was left confused because they never fought or even argued with each other. Ann explains their relationship simply did not have the right chemistry for her.
State auditors Chris Traeger
Chris Traeger
Christopher "Chris" Traeger is a fictional character played by Rob Lowe in the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation on NBC. He began on the show as an Indiana state auditor who visits the fictional city of Pawnee to help solve their crippling budget problems, and eventually...
(Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
) and Ben Wyatt
Ben Wyatt (Parks and Recreation)
Benjamin "Ben" Wyatt is a character in the TV series Parks and Recreation. The character guest starred in two episodes of season two and was upgraded to a regular in season three. Ben is a state auditor who comes into Pawnee with Chris Traeger to evaluate the town's funds at the end of the second...
(Adam Scott
Adam Scott (actor)
Adam Scott is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Henry Pollard in the Starz comedy series Party Down and as Ben Wyatt in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation....
) soon arrive, and the extremely cheerful Chris paints an optimistic picture of how they will fix the budget, but leaves the details to the more serious Ben. When Ben explains they will need to slash the budget of every department by nearly 40 or 50 percent, Leslie angrily lashes out at Ben, who responds to her that the poorly managed government is to blame. Later, at April's party, Tom desperately tries to pick up women, but to no avail, while Leslie and Ann get extremely drunk together. Andy and April appear to be getting along, but when he goes to the bar to get a drink for April, a drunken Ann flirts with him. An upset April flirts with Tom's annoying friend Jean-Ralphio
Jean-Ralphio Saperstein
Jean-Ralphio Saperstein is a fictional character played by Ben Schwartz in the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. He is the cocky friend of Tom Haverford and, like Tom, believes himself to be a playboy and pickup artist, although he is looked upon with contempt by most people...
(Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz is a writer, actor and comedian. His feature film credits include Peep World with Rainn Wilson, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman as well as Everybody's Fine with Robert DeNiro...
) to make Andy jealous. Andy gets upset, believing he misread April's signals all along, and April later regrets what she did. Ben arrives at the party and tries to smooth things out with a drunken Leslie, but she again angrily lashes out at him.
The next morning, Ann fears she made out with someone at the party but cannot remember. She eventually learns she made out with Chris, who shows a romantic interest in her. Tom returns to the Snakehole Lounge to close his tab, where meets the bartender, Lucy (Natalie Morales
Natalie Morales (actress)
Natalie Morales is an American actress of Cuban descent.Growing up, she attended St. Agatha Catholic School before going to Southwest High School, and participated in the University of Miami Dow Jones Minority High School Journalism Workshop...
), who makes fun of his efforts to pick up women. The two get along and Lucy gives Tom her phone number, to his immense pleasure. Leslie decides to apologize to Ben, and he invites her out for a beer. As they finally start to get along, Leslie realizes Ben was the mayor of a small town called Partridge, Minnesota. It was national news because he was only 18 when elected, and he promptly drove the entire government into the ground. Ben became a state auditor to prove he can be responsible and restart his political career. Later, at the parks department budget meeting, Chris and Ben reveal Pawnee's budget crisis was far worse than previously thought and that the Pawnee government will shut down until further notice, horrifying Leslie and delighting Ron.
Writing
"The Master Plan" was written by Parks and RecreationParks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is an American comedy television series on NBC that focuses on Leslie Knope , a mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the series debuted on April 9, 2009; it has run for three seasons and...
co-creator, Michael Schur
Michael Schur
Michael Herbert Schur is an American television producer and writer, best known for his work on the NBC comedy series The Office and Parks and Recreation, the latter of which he co-created along with Greg Daniels...
. It was his fifth writing credit for the series after, "Pilot
Pilot (Parks and Recreation)
"Pilot" is the first episode of the first season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 9, 2009. The episode was written by series co-creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels, and directed by Daniels...
", "Greg Pikitis
Greg Pikitis
"Greg Pikitis" is the seventh episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation, and the thirteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 29, 2009. In the episode, Leslie attempts to catch a suspected teenage vandal in the act of defacing a...
", "Christmas Scandal
Christmas Scandal
"Christmas Scandal" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the eighteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on December 10, 2009...
", and "Galentine's Day
Galentine's Day
"Galentine's Day" is the sixteenth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 22nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 11, 2010. In the episode, Leslie and her boyfriend Justin seek to...
". The idea of state auditors visiting Pawnee, and the subsequent government shutdown, was inspired by news reports at the time of a number of states considering shutting down schools, parks and other services due to the global recession. In particular, Schur cited stories about Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
closing down several of their public schools, and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
threatening to shut down the state parks department. Similar measures were being discussed in such states as New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. This was in keeping with efforts by the Parks and Recreation writers to be more topical with second season episodes. Upon learning of the spending freeze, Ron and Leslie engage in heated arguments over the function of government, with Leslie insisting the government is meant to provide social services and Ron advocating as little government intervention as possible. Throughout most of the second season, much of the relationship between Leslie and Ron focused on the two developing a mutual respect for each other. However, with the introduction of the Ben Wyatt character and the conflict over budget problems in Pawnee, the writers included these arguments between Leslie and Ron to illustrate their conflicting political ideologies and develop tension amid the character and the city hall setting.
"The Master Plan" marked the end of the romantic relationship between Mark and Ann, which had lasted throughout the entire second season. This allowed for the eventual departure of Paul Schneider, who was leaving the series at the end of the second season to focus on his film career. The title of "The Master Plan" stemmed from the fact that real-life municipal planning documents in small American towns are often called the "master plan", like the one Leslie refers to in the episode. Schur said of this, "It seems so funny to call the municipal budgets and planning documents for a small city in Indiana the 'master plan'." Schur said the Parks and Recreation writing staff believed the title of the episode was appropriate because the subplots of "The Master Plan" revolved around the various plans of the characters. While Leslie is dealing with the literal master plan for the Pawnee budget proposal, April's plan is to seek a romantic relationship with Andy, and Tom's plan is to find a girlfriend at April's birthday party.
The idea of Ann making out with Chris Traeger was not part of the original screenplay, but was added after the first cast read-through of the script. The writing staff felt that while Ben was immediately connected to Leslie and the other characters through his role in eliminating wasteful spending at Pawnee, Chris still needed something to more strongly connect to the cast, and the subplot with Ann was determined to be a funny way to do it. In one scene, after Ben explains the need for severe budget cuts at Pawnee, Ron asks Leslie, "What's a not gay way to ask him to go camping with me?" That line was not in the first draft of the script, but was added during filming as a possible alternative line for the editors to choose from later. The staff found it so funny, however, that they chose to use it and the original line was never filmed.
During another scene at the Snakehole Lounge, a drunken Leslie angrily yells to Ben, "I just talked to everybody in this bar and nobody wants you here." That line was written by Harris Wittels, who wrote past screenplays for other Parks and Recreation episodes. During the end credits, Andy sings a song he wrote for April called "November," which includes the lyrics, "Let's spread our wings and fly on a date." This is also a reference to "Woman of the Year," in which Andy explained every song he writes includes either the lyrics, "Spread your wings and fly" or "You deserve to be a champion." Schur, who wrote the words to "November", said it was especially challenging working one of those phrases into a love song.
Casting
"The Master Plan" marked the first appearance of Adam Scott, who also appeared in the subsequent season finale "Freddy SpaghettiFreddy Spaghetti
"Freddy Spaghetti" is the second season finale of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 30th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 20, 2010...
" and became a regular cast member during the third season
Parks and Recreation (season 3)
The third season of Parks and Recreation originally aired in the United States on the NBC television network between January 20 and May 19, 2011. Like the previous seasons, it focused on Leslie Knope and her staff at the parks and recreation department of the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee...
. Scott left the Starz comedy Party Down
Party Down
Party Down is an American comedy television series created and primarily written by John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd that aired on the Starz network in the United States.-Conception:...
in order to join the Parks and Recreation cast, a decision he made in part because it was unclear whether Starz would renew the series: "It was a matter of me asking Starz if it was going to continue, and them saying they weren't ready to make that decision. I couldn't pass up the opportunity on Parks and Rec for a show that could possibly not exist anymore." Schur said when the Ben Wyatt character was written, Scott was envisioned as the "dream scenario" for casting. Schur described Scott as "brilliant and funny" and praised his comedic range: "There just aren't that many people with a comedic range that spans
Step Brothers (film)
Step Brothers is a 2008 American slapstick buddy-comedy film directed by Adam McKay, produced by Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller, and stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, who originally teamed up in Talladega Nights . The screenplay was written by Ferrell and McKay, from a story written by Ferrell,...
The episode also featured the first in a string of guest appearances by actor Rob Lowe, who had recently departed from the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
drama series Brothers & Sisters. As a joke, Rob Lowe's credit during the opening credits reads "and introducing Rob Lowe". Unlike Scott, Lowe was originally not expected to join the regular cast, but rather make guest appearances in "Freddy Spaghetti" and six third season episodes before departing the show. However, after those episodes were filmed, Lowe later joined the show as a regular cast member. Lowe said he loved playing the part, which he described as "a big fat nerd" and "the most positive person in the world [with] unrelenting enthusiasm", adding, "He is also very, very intense and specific. So whether he's ordering how he would like his water or describing the kind of colors he wants on a graph, everything means the world to him." Throughout the episode, whenever he meets someone new, Chris Traeger points directly at their face and slowly repeats their name. Schur said this habit was the first element the writers conceived for the character. In one line of the episode, while describing his exercise regiment and supplements, "Scientists believe that the first human being who will live 150 years has already been born. I believe I am that human being." That line was inspired by Schur's wife, J. J. Philbin
J. J. Philbin
Jennifer Joy "J. J." Philbin is an American television producer and writer best known for her work on the drama series The O.C. and as the daughter of television star Regis Philbin and his wife Joy Philbin.-Career:...
, who had recently read an article about that scientific prediction and felt it applied to the character. Parks and Recreation was suffering in the Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
when "The Master Plan" aired, and it was hoped Lowe's appearance would help increase viewership. Lowe's performance was heavily publicized in advance of the episode's original broadcast.
"The Master Plan" featured several other guest appearances. Ben Schwartz returned to his recurring role as Tom's fast-talking friend, Jean-Ralphio. Natalie Morales, best known for her role in the ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
science-fiction dramedy The Middleman
The Middleman (TV series)
The Middleman is an American television series. The series, which was developed for television by Javier Grillo-Marxuach for ABC Family, is based on the Viper Comics series, The Middleman, created by Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine...
, made her first Parks and Recreation appearance in the episode as Lucy, a Pawnee bartender and romantic interest for Tom. The scene between Lucy and Tom at the Snakehole Lounge was the same scene Natalie Morales read during her audition for the part, although the dialogue was rewritten slightly before filming. The line with Lucy asking Tom if he flirted with so many women because he was expected to have a "43-way" was added during the rewrite. Ralph Richeson, best known for playing the unkempt hotel employee Richardson in the HBO drama series Deadwood
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
, briefly appeared as an unkempt man seeking a marriage license in the Pawnee town hall. Richeson is credited as "Ghoulish Man" in the episode's end credits. April Marie Eden, who played beauty contest winner Trish Ianetta in the episode "Beauty Pageant
Beauty Pageant (Parks and Recreation)
"Beauty Pageant" is the third episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the ninth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 1, 2009...
", reprised that role in "The Master Plan", in scenes where Tom flirted with her relentlessly at the Snakehole Lounge. Alison Becker
Alison Becker
Alison Helene Becker is an American actress, comedian, writer, and TV personality. She is the previous host of VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown and currently the co-host/sidekick on the FuelTV panel talk-show The Daily Habit.-Early life:...
, who played local reporter Shauna Malwae-Tweep in several past episodes, filmed several scenes where she and Andy flirt, but he ultimately rejects her due to his feelings for April. All of these scenes were cut from the final episode due to length restrictions, which Schur said he regretted because he found Becker very funny.
Filming
"The Master Plan" was directed by Dean Holland, his third directorial credit after "Greg Pikitis" and "SweetumsSweetums
Sweetums is a very large, imposing and hairy Muppet of about eight feet. Despite appearing menacing, he is often depicted as friendly and harmless.-Description:...
". The script read-through and filming took place in March 2010. Rob Lowe's first day of filming took place on his birthday, March 17, which was the same day the scene where he kissed Rashida Jones was shot. The original cut of "The Master Plan" was a full 30 minutes and had to be cut down to 22 minutes for broadcast. The staff of Parks and Recreation had difficulty editing the episode down because the script involved so many interconnected subplots between the characters. Screenwriter Harris Wittels said, "As soon as you'd cut one thing, you had to cut something else because it was tied to another piece." Among the scenes cut were an extended cold open
Cold open
A cold open in a television program or movie is the technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown...
in which Ron gives April a handgun for her 21st birthday, much to the chagrin of Leslie. Also cut was a scene in which Ron chastises Leslie for yelling at Ben at the Snakehole Lounge and orders her to apologize to him so she will not be fired. Instead, the episode was changed to reflect that Leslie decided to apologize to Ben herself, with the line from Leslie "I have to go swallow my pride" added just before she spoke to Ben.
During one scene, Ann and Mark have a discussion at J.J.'s Diner, a Pawnee restaurant that had previously been featured in the episodes "The Reporter
The Reporter (Parks and Recreation)
"The Reporter" is the third episode of the first season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 23, 2009. The episode was written by Daniel J. Goor and directed by Jeffrey Blitz...
" and "Summer Catalog
Summer Catalog
Summer Catalog is the 20th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 26th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 25, 2010. In the episode, Leslie reunited a reunion with the last four Pawnee...
". In all three episodes, a different interior set is used, although the exterior building shots are the same. At the Snakehole Lounge, Tom flirts with a woman by giving her a bottle cap "to remember him by", then later unsuccessfully tries to find her again in the nightclub. This was not part of the script, and was conceived and added to the episode about 10 minutes before the scene was shot. During one of the final scenes, when Ben informs Leslie and Ron that the Pawnee government will be shut down, Ron looks directly at the camera and makes a comical grin. Although Leslie is supposed to be horrified by the news, the scene had to be re-shot many times because she kept laughing at Ron's facial expression.
Cultural references
Andy says of Jean-Ralphio, "That Ralph Macchio guy's a total douche." This is a reference to Ralph MacchioRalph Macchio
Ralph George Macchio is an American actor, best known for his roles as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, Bill Gambini in My Cousin Vinny, and Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. He is also known to American television audiences for his season five recurring role as Jeremy Andretti on the...
, an actor who appeared in the 1983 drama film The Outsiders
The Outsiders (film)
The Outsiders is a 1983 American drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, an adaptation of the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. The film was released in March 1983...
, which also starred Rob Lowe. The line was improvised by actor Chris Pratt. In another scene, Ben tells Leslie the song he played after getting sworn in as an 18-year-old mayor was "Whoomp! (There It Is)
Whoomp! (There It Is)
"Whoomp! " is a number two Billboard Hot 100 single by the Miami bass group Tag Team.The song sampled a beginning synthesizer line from the 1980 Italo-disco hit "I'm Ready" by Kano. The chorus is almost the same as the song "Whoot, There It Is" released by 95 South a month earlier, however the...
", a 1993 hip hop song by the duo Tag Team. The episode features several quotes from author and outdoorsman Jack London
Jack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
. Among them, which Leslie reads from her master plan proposal, is, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club," and "So I say the function of man is to live, not to exist. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot." The original script included about one dozen different London quotes, but most were cut from the final draft. Schur said he used London quotes because he believed the author was one both Leslie and Ron would admire. At one point in the episode, while discussing April's birthday, Leslie says, "Damn the wheel of the world! Why must it continually turn over?" to which Ron replied approvingly, "Jack London." The line was improvised by actor Nick Offerman.
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "The Master Plan" was seen by an estimated 4.28 million household viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. It marked a five percent increase in viewership compared to the previous episode, "TelethonTelethon (Parks and Recreation)
Telethon is the 22nd episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 28th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 6, 2010. In the episode, Leslie volunteers to host a charity telethon and is given the...
", and was the only NBC series on May 13 to show an improvement in ratings over the previous week; the comedies The Office, Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
, 30 Rock
30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
and The Marriage Ref
The Marriage Ref
The Marriage Ref is a TV reality show and panel game hosted by comedian Tom Papa and produced by Jerry Seinfeld, in which a rotating group of celebrities decides the winners of real-life marital disputes. The show premiered on NBC on Sunday, February 28, 2010 on the final night of the Olympics...
all saw declines. HitFix writer Daniel Fienberg did not believe Rob Lowe's guest appearance significantly helped the Parks and Recreation ratings, calling the increase "a statistically irrelevant bump". "The Master Plan" received a 2.7 rating/5 share among overall viewers, and a 2.0 rating/6 share among viewers between ages 18 and 49. Parks and Recreation ranked third in its timeslot, behind the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
reality series Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
crime drama Bones
Bones (TV series)
Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent...
, but received higher ratings than the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
science-fiction drama FlashForward
Flashforward
A flashforward is an interjected scene that takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film, television and other media. Flashforwards are often used to represent events expected, projected, or imagined to occur in the future...
and the first season
The Vampire Diaries (season 1)
The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural–fantasy horror television series created by Kevin Williamson based on the novels of the same name by author L. J. Smith. It was officially picked up for the 2009-10 season on May 19, 2009...
finale of the CW Network
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
supernatural fantasy series The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries is a young adult vampire horror series of novels written by L. J. Smith. The story centers around Elena Gilbert, a high school girl torn between two vampire brothers. The series was originally a trilogy published in 1991, but pressure from readers led Smith to write a fourth...
.
"The Master Plan" received generally positive reviews. Matt Fowler of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said the budget problems created strong character development potential for Leslie and comedic opportunities for Ron. Fowler also enjoyed that the normally-dissolute Tom formed an authentic romantic connection, and said Chris Pratt brought "a certain naturalness" to a role that could otherwise have been overly idiotic. Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
strongly praised the episode, praising Rob Lowe and the entire regular cast. He declared Parks and Recreation the best television show since Arrested Development, and said, "As much as I like the '50 jokes a minute' style of comedies ... I'm a sucker for a show where the characters are as well-wrought and as purely funny as they are on this show." HitFix
HitFix
HitFix, or the HitFix.com is an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information and providing reviews and critiques of film, music and television...
writer Alan Sepinwall praised the implementation of the new characters, particularly the fact that the script did not rely too heavily on them. Sepinwall also said the episode balanced well the workplace humor with the romantic subplots between Leslie and Ben, April and Andy, and Ann and Chris.
New York Daily News writer David Hinckley said Lowe and Scott were strong additions to the show, and that Scott's character in Parks was better than his character in Party Down. Hinckley said the humor "remains happily rooted in the show's eccentric characters", although he said some of the jokes, like Andy's "November" song "sometimes feels like a series of short sketches instead of a show". New York
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
magazine writer Steve Kandell described Lowe was entertaining but "one-note", but said Adam Scott was "much more promising and nuanced", with better potential for a romantic interest for Leslie than previous guest stars like Will Arnett
Will Arnett
William Emerson "Will" Arnett is a Canadian actor and comedian best known for his role as George Oscar "G.O.B." Bluth II on the Fox comedy Arrested Development. He is also known for his role as Devon Banks on the NBC comedy 30 Rock. Since his success on Arrested Development, Arnett has landed major...
and Justin Theroux. Kandell felt Schneider's imminent departure from the series seemed unceremonious, and praised Nick Offerman's reactions of "unbridled ecstasy" at the idea of cutbacks and the government shutdown. Eric Hochberger of TV Fanatic expressed doubt about the long-term effectiveness of Lowe's character, and said the April and Andy subplot felt "dragged out for yet another week". However, he praised the script, the addition of Scott, and the performance of the entire cast, especially Rashida Jones and Aziz Ansari. Hochberger said, "I'm not convinced Parks and Recreation could have a bad episode at this point in the season." TV Squad writer Kona Gallagher felt "The Master Plan" was an especially important episode due to the addition of the Lowe and Scott characters, the beginning of Mark's exit from the series and the economic problems for Pawnee. However, Gallagher also said the episode felt mostly like a preparation for the third season.
DVD release
After "The Master Plan" aired, a producer's cut of the episode was featured on the official NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
website. It included eight extra minutes of deleted scenes, which consisted of deleted scenes, an extended ending and additional footage with Lowe and Scott. This version of the episode, along with 22-minute television version and the other 23 second season episodes of Parks and Recreation, was later released on a four-disc DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
set in the United States on November 30, 2010. The DVD included deleted scenes for each episode. It also included a commentary track for "The Master Plan" featuring Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Dean Holland, Michael Schur, Harris Wittels and Parks and Recreation producer Morgan Sackett.
External links
- "The Master Plan" at the official Parks and Recreation site