The Banquet (Parks and Recreation)

"The Banquet"
Parks and Recreation episode
Leslie, with her new boyish haircut, arrives with an overdressed and embarrassed Ann
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 5
Directed by	Beth McCarthy-Miller
Written by	Tucker Cawley
Original air date	May 7, 2009
Guest appearance(s)
Loretta Fox as Jeanine Restrepo Bruce Jarchow as Frank Schnable Jim Meskimen as Martin Housely Jim O'Heir as Jerry Gergich Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer Pamela Reed as Marlene Griggs-Knope Retta as Donna Meagle Cletus Young as Salvatore
Episode chronology
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List of season 1 episodes List of Parks and Recreation episodes

"The Banquet" is the fifth episode of the first season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 8, 2009. It was written by Tucker Cawley and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller. In the episode, Leslie attends an award banquet for her mother, a veteran of local government politics, who encourages Leslie to resort to blackmail in order to get her way with a zoning board official.

The episode received positive reviews, with Entertainment Weekly claiming the series appears to have grown more "settled and focused" after this episode. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was watched by 4.64 million households in its original airing, continuing a downward trend in ratings since the pilot episode, although NBC had already committed to renewing the show for a second season. "The Banquet" and the rest of the first season of Parks and Recreation was released on DVD in the United States on September 8, 2009.

Leslie (Amy Poehler) is proud that her mother, school system employee Marlene Knope (Pamela Reed), is to receive a public service award during an upcoming banquet. Ann (Rashida Jones), excited to go to a social event after spending so much time taking care of her injured, freeloading boyfriend Andy (Chris Pratt), is told by Leslie to dress very formally. Leslie visits an old-fashioned barber, who unbeknownst to her only gives men's haircuts; she is given a very short, mannish hairstyle, which she is very proud of. Leslie and Ann, who is extremely overdressed in an expensive pink dress, arrive together at the banquet, where they are mistaken for a lesbian couple by many of the attendees. Tom (Aziz Ansari) sucks up to Marlene during his banquet speech, while Ron (Nick Offerman) sticks to a "fact-based" speech ("It is true that you have won this award.")