Parks and Rec: 10 Things That Happened From Season 1 That We Completely Forgot About

It seems like ages ago that the first season of Parks and Recreation hit screens. With only six episodes to its name, it was the perfect teaser to see if the show had any legs to stand on for future seasons. The idea for the show stuck and viewers completely fell for Leslie Knope and the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department.

It’s been 11 years since the first season so we’re taking a look back at some of the things we totally forgot about season one since the show wrapped up. From different hairstyles to forgotten hookups, keep scrolling to walk back in time to Pawnee, Indiana.

10 Shauna Slept With Mark

We met Shauna Malwae-Tweep when she became the lead journalist on the pit situation. Leslie wanted to create a close bond with Shauna so that the community would rally around a park being created instead of a gaping pit. But after Leslie butchers the interview, she asks Mark to step in and make it right. Mark and Shauna end up spending the night together, which infuriates Leslie because A.) she still had a crush on Mark and B.) she wanted Shauna to care about the project instead of Mark.

9 Andy Pretended To Be Injured So Ann Would Do Everything For Him

The only reason Leslie and Ann became friends is because Ann was dating Andy and he fell into the pit, breaking both his legs. After joining forces with Leslie, we get an inside look at Ann and Andy’s relationship, and it wasn’t too hot.

Andy totally took advantage of Ann and made her do everything for him. Since she was a nurse, she had no time for herself and was constantly taking care of people. In the sixth episode, Ann finds out that Andy could have had his cast taken off weeks ago but he decided not to because he liked her waiting on him hand and foot…

8 The Parks & Rec. Department Failed At Canvassing

In later seasons of Parks and Recreation, we don’t see Leslie and co. going door to door to get their point across about various demands of the parks and rec. department. But in the first season, Leslie is physically doing everything she can to get this pit turned into a park. As seasons go on, the show becomes full-bodied and less about the park but we totally forgot about the time when Leslie was canvassing for what she wanted in Pawnee. Sadly for her, canvassing didn’t go too well, but you could say she learned a lot.

7 Ron And Donna Sported Different Looks

In the pilot episode, we meet everyone in the parks and rec. department and it’s safe to say that the characters have changed dramatically over the course of seven seasons. Ron was sporting an entirely different look than what we’re familiar with.

His hair was neatly brushed to the side and he wore nice suits and ties to work every day. In later episodes, his hair has move volume, his mustache is bushier, he’s less talkative (and angrier), and he definitely doesn’t wear a suit. Donna also had a much shorter hairstyle and glasses! The Donna we know has beautiful shoulder-length hair and a killer sense of style; something season one Donna definitely doesn’t have.

6 Leslie Fell Into The Pit

What a lot of people forget is that Andy wasn’t the only one who fell into the pit, Leslie also fell in! While she was trying to make a point to Shauna Malwae-Tweep about how dangerous the pit was and how badly the town needed a park, she took a dark tumble into the dirt. While the tumble made for some hilarious television, it was sad to see Leslie trying so hard with not much help.

5 Leslie Broke A Major Rule

Leslie is not a rule-breaker but if she does bend the rules, she normally has a good excuse and an even better backup plan for when she inevitably gets yelled at.

In “Boys Club,” Leslie finds out the men in the office get together for a little boys night every once in a while. To prove to the office that she’s cool and capable of letting loose, she crashes boys night. But when there’s no more beer, Leslie opens a gift basket that was given to the parks and rec. department that was over a certain price range. Once a gift is over a certain amount, they’re not allowed to accept it. Leslie felt so bad about breaking the rules that she ended up ratting herself out.

4 Leslie And Ann Had This Amazing Moment

In “The Banquet,” a banquet was held in honor of Leslie’s mom. It was a big moment for Leslie because she wanted to prove that her family was a dynasty in politics and she wanted to make a good impression with the zoning committee for the pit. To get ready for the big night, Leslie got her hair done by a man named Salvatore who does all male politicians’ hair, but he ended up giving her a hairstyle just like theirs. Leslie ends up loving it but Ann wasn’t too thrilled with the ensemble Leslie suggested for her.

3 We Met Andy’s Band

Ah, where it all started! In the sixth episode, Andy was finally able to perform with his band. The whole parks and rec. department showed up for the concert and we got to see what made Andy really shine. As we know, Andy went on to performing at different parks and rec events and even got his own kids’ show, but it was in the first season where were shown his talents. Sadly, this was also the same episode where Ann and Andy broke up…

2 Ann Broke Up With Andy

After Ann found out that Andy was capable of walking and was holding out just so that she would take care of him, she was in a rotten mood. She showed up at Andy’s concert but left in a hurry because she was tired of being disrespected. That night, the two were seen at Ann’s house where Andy admitted to keeping his casts on for longer than necessary and Ann kicked Andy out. Their breakup was for the best though because it led both of them to April and Chris.

1 We Met Leslie’s Intimidating Mother (Who Slowly Disappeared From The Series)

In the second episode of Parks and Rec., we meet Marlene Griggs-Knope, Leslie’s mom. She also worked in the government as the Director of the Education Department for Pawnee. She was a real ball-buster who was pretty hard on Leslie. Leslie spent most of the season trying to make her mom proud before doing things her own way. But after the first season, we didn’t see too much of Marlene. We saw her when she met Ben but her last appearance on the show was when she met Ben’s parents at the engagement party.

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Lynn Gibbs
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Lynn is a nomad who travels the globe on the hunt for her next adventure with her husband. A lover of being outside (and finding the best latte in town), Lynn is typically hiking, walking, or jogging when she’s not focusing on her love of writing. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, Lynn’s your gal.

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