NBC says:
When Leslie finds out that Parks Department budget is about to be cut, she convinces Councilman Pillner (guest star Bradley Whitford) to make the cuts elsewhere, which causes unexpected problems for her campaign. Meanwhile, Chris takes Ron to his favorite meditation center.
The teleplay for this one is credited to Dave King & Chelsea Peretti (“Smallest Park”). More in the text invisible.
* “West Wing” star Bradley Whitford’s first scene as a Pawnee politician features him having a conversation with Leslie as he strides down government corridors.
* It’s the Whitford character’s council seat that Leslie hopes to fill. As Councilman Pilner, Whitford gives the episode its title.
* Kathryn Hahn is back this week as Bobby Newport’s campaign manager. (Paul Rudd himself is absent this week but returns as Newport for next week’s debate episode.)
* We learn this week that if Leslie fails to win Pilner’s council seat, it will have major consequences for more than just her.
* The episode begins with Leslie in “sneak-around clothes.”
* Leslie’s actions near the top of the episode prove even less popular than Mitt Romney’s decision to situate his sick dog on a car roof. Even April Ludgate is horrified.
* Now that April has taken over Leslie’s job, she has adopted a more grown-up hairstyle. Tom, Donna and Jerry now call her boss.
* Good line: “Are you sure? Because you look like a hamster penis.”
* Leslie is not the only regular character this week contemplating a move into a more important government job.
* Ron’s eyebrows do a lot of the talking this week.
* We learn Tom fears animal dander.
* Funny line: “I’m just going to leave these here for a second.”
* Funny line: “But, what now?”
9:30 p.m. Thursday. NBC
