Parks and Recreation

At the center of this plucky mockumentary series about a quirky band of government workers in the fictional everytown of Pawnee, Indiana, is Saturday Night Live alum Amy Poehler. Her portrayal of Leslie Knope—the über-optimistic deputy director of the local Parks and Recreation Department who bumbles her way through work and relationships—is equal parts Dale Evans and Dale Carnegie. (Anything is possible! Next stop, the White House!) Loyal audiences are passionate about the show, now in its third season and better than ever with the addition of Adam Scott and Rob Lowe. The more the merrier—it’s “The Office [with] a heart and mind all its own,” raves the Hollywood Reporter.