Parks and Recreation is a funny, feel-good sitcom that introduced audiences to the quirky characters of Pawnee, Indiana’s Parks Department. Jam-packed with a slew of talented and dynamite performers, the show helped launch the careers of many of its gifted actors, with Chris Pratt being arguably its biggest breakout star. On the hilarious political satire mockumentary, Pratt portrays the dim-witted but lovable goofball Andy Dwyer in a role that was initially supposed to be a temporary part. However, fans found Andy so likable and endearing that both the character and Pratt became a series regular.
Throughout its impressive seven-season run, Parks and Recreation became famous for many amusing and priceless moments and gags that loyal viewers can’t get enough of. Not just a great workplace comedy, the series was also a beautiful look at local government with incredible character development. Pratt’s character Andy manages to steal almost every scene he’s in, demonstrating the actor’s immense flair for the funny while showcasing the likability of the charming guy. It's been a fun ride to see Pratt go from the soft silly Andy to the endearing action hero of Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, and the buff star of Amazon's Terminal List. Let’s take a look at some of Chris Pratt’s best moments as Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation.
10 Andy Gets Stung By Bees
When Leslie attempts to bring unity between Pawnee and the neighboring Eagleton by tearing down a wall dividing the two towns, those who showed up to witness the event are hilariously attacked by a swarm of bees. Andy bravely protects April by zipping her up in his hoodie and taking the brunt of the barrage, claiming that since he got stung once he is immune.
It doesn’t take long before the lovable goof realizes bees don’t operate by those rules, as he watches his fellow townspeople running to evade the angry insects. Andy’s unwavering love and devotion to April and his endearing naivety is on full display during the scene, and him being foolishly calm while everyone else is running around during the chaos is absolutely perfect.
9 Running is Impossible
To prepare for the police department’s physical examination, Chris helps train Andy so that he can run two miles in under 25 minutes, with Tom literally coming along for the ride in a golf cart. Andy runs for all of two seconds on the track before he cries out in anguish and begins stripping off his clothes until he’s down to his boxers, declaring that “Everything hurts. Running is impossible” and laying face down on the ground in defeat. The likable character already feels crushed by the challenge of running two miles, and side-splittingly expresses how “I’m never going to be a cop. I’m going to have to be a robber.” Chris ultimately helps Andy find the motivation to get up and keep training, using his love for April to propel him forward.
8 Andy Tells Ron His Secrets
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After discovering the existence of Ron’s secret music alter ego Duke Silver, Andy attempts to convince him to perform at the unity concert by revealing some funny little secrets of his own. He goes on and on with his uproarious confessions, revealing to the no-nonsense, mustached man things like how he once forgot to brush his teeth for five weeks and that he doesn’t know who Al Gore is and he’s too afraid to ask. Despite Ron’s protests that he doesn’t need to go on, Andy wants to level the playing field and continues spewing funny personal facts such as how he once threw a beer at a swan, and it attacked his niece Rebecca. Andy’s willingness to divulge his deep, dark secrets is equally comical and adorable. Duke Silver makes some smooth tunes, but Andy's band Mouse Rat is pretty rad as well.
7 Jerry’s Christmas Party
Andy, April, Donna, and Tom are shocked to learn they seemingly weren’t invited to Jerry’s holiday party, with the group making the discovery as they set out to enjoy their annual “Jerry Dinner,” which is funded by all the times the bumbling character did something funny or embarrassing. When Donna decides she wants to do the right thing and treat Jerry to a night out instead of being mean using the money, the gang heads to his house and realizes a large Christmas celebration is going on.
On the car ride over, Andy gives a little too much information and reveals that before they head to Jerry’s house he has to use the bathroom and lists off some basic essentials he somehow left behind. Later on, Andy hilariously gets upset when he sees that not only is there a huge buffet at the party, but there’s also a Santa Claus, who he desperately wants to see.
6 Andy Goes to the Doctor
Andy and April head to the doctor’s office after he hits his head against the wall from sneezing, prompting an awkwardly entertaining conversation with his physician. While the doctor checks him out to rule out any serious injury, he casually asks Andy if there’s anything else bothering him, to which he gets more than he bargained for in response.
The goofy guy begins listing off all his physical ailments, describing a persistent rash on the back of his knee, how he ate a Twix with the wrapper on it and never found it and that he always swallows his gum. Andy’s complete lack of awareness is just one of the many reasons his character steals every scene he’s in and why he’s a fan favorite character on Parks and Recreation.
5 Network Connectivity Problems
During the third season’s hilarious episode “Flu Season,” Andy attempts to identify what is making Leslie sick by typing the symptoms into the computer, doing so incorrectly and causing the always amusing character to utter the famous words, “I typed your symptoms into the thing up here, and it says you could have ‘network connectivity problems.’” The line was not actually in the script and was completely improvised by Chris Pratt in the moment, causing the equally funny Amy Poehler to crack up and ultimately making the final cut of the episode. Pratt’s talents as a gifted comedian are front and center throughout the show, and him innocently telling Leslie what the source of her sickness is was extremely funny for audiences to see.
4 Burt Macklin
Andy first introduces audiences to his side-splitting alter ego Burt Macklin in the second season of the show, during which he attempts to interrogate local teen (and Leslie’s arch nemesis) Greg Pikitis on his vandalism of Mayor Percy’s statue. Though “Burt” walks in with confidence and claims he works with the FBI, it doesn’t take long before Burt is brought to tears by Greg, with the sun-glassed special agent exclaiming, “I’m not crying, I’m just allergic to jerks!”
The whole scene is extremely entertaining and just a little sad, as Burt thinks he can strong-arm Greg into a confession but ends up walking away emotionally wrecked by the ornery adolescent. Burt Macklin makes a slew of appearances throughout the course of the series, but his funny initial introduction is definitely one that stands out among the rest.
3 How Food Becomes Energy
When Ron and Chris have a barbecue battle to create the superior burger, Andy goes along with Chris to the health-conscious grocery store Grain ‘n Simple to pick out snacks for his shoe-shine stand. He is amazed to learn that the food you eat eventually becomes energy, sharing with Ron and April via kicks and punches the different things he’s eaten that allows him to be strong. Andy amusingly lists off all the food as he demonstrates karate moves, describing how spaghetti, nachos and a cookie give him the energy he needs throughout the day. The scene is fun because April proudly expresses “That’s my husband” after Andy’s revelation, while Chris looks excited to help educate him and Ron seems unimpressed by the health-minded Chris.
2 Andy Eats Silver M&Ms
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To pay back Leslie for all her incredibly thoughtful Christmas gifts over the years, the Parks and Rec gang decide to put together a hand-made diorama of the office, with each person making their own little model representing them and their quirky traits. Donna announces that she made her desk out of silver M&Ms, and since they don’t actually make that color she ends up spray-painting the candies to achieve the look.
When Ann announces that the M&Ms are poisonous and no one should eat them, the camera pans to a silver-mouthed Andy who acts as though it's a no-brainer to not eat the chocolate. After declaring that he didn’t eat any (despite the hilarious evidence on his face), both Ann and April order him to go throw up immediately. It's a hilarious quick joke that demonstrates Pratt's ability to inject laugh-out-loud comedy into any scene.
1 Lil' Sebastian
Andy is tasked by Leslie to come up with a tribute song in honor of Pawnee’s beloved horse Li’l Sebastian, and he writes a touching and uplifting song that he performs at a memorial service for the animal. His musical tribute is entitled “5,000 Candles in the Wind” and is full of moving and memorable lyrics that fans of the series know all too well, with Andy declaring “Bye, bye Li’l Sebastian, I missed you in the saddest fashion. Bye, bye Li’l Sebastian, you’re 5,000 candles in the wind.” Not only does the episode highlight Andy’s skills as a musician as he takes the stage with Mouse Rat, but it also shows the other characters at the concert as they mourn the loss of the horse and are brought to tears by the song.