The cast of popular comedy Parks And Recreation reunited for a one-off special in aid of the coronavirus relief effort.
Stars including Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Chris Pratt, Nick Offerman and Paul Rudd took part in the episode, which took fans back to the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, for the first time since the show ended in 2015.
The special was set during the current health crisis, with Poehler’s Leslie Knope explaining she had shut down all the national parks under her jurisdiction and created a “phone tree” for her friends.
"A Parks and Recreation Special" is everything we wanted and more. #ParksAndRec pic.twitter.com/Pyr5oCFlg2
— NBC is Watching #ParksAndRec (@nbc) May 1, 2020
There were nods to the pandemic throughout, including references to the anti-lockdown protesters in the US and reminders to wash hands frequently.
Each of the 10 main characters – including those played by the likes of Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott and Rob Lowe, had laugh-out-loud as well as poignant moments throughout the episode.
During an emotional climax, Offerman’s Ron Swanson, a favourite of many fans, reminds Leslie of the importance of taking care of herself, as well as her friends, during the crisis.
And there was a rendition of 5,000 Candles In The Wind, a fictional song from the show.
Reviews for the episode were positive and fans described it as the perfect tonic for the health crisis.
ron teared up at the song, ben was annoyed by it, april waved a lighter around… everything was so on character. this was the most perfect thing i have ever seen. i can’t thank the cast and crew enough for this. adam scott was right, i did love the episode. #ParksAndRec
— macy CRYING OVER PARKS (@wyattperalta) May 1, 2020
5,000 candles in the wind…it’s fine. I’m fine. #ParksAndRec pic.twitter.com/VsnMBUADOp
— Abby (@abigailrae_94) May 1, 2020
Every #ParksAndRec fan right now pic.twitter.com/HVV0S2EZQp
— Irreverend Derrick, M.Div (they/them) (@bioponic) May 1, 2020
This #ParksAndRec episode is *literally* the best thing to happen in quarantine. pic.twitter.com/5rjZqgf3Hx
— Melissa Siegler (@Marie2Melissa) May 1, 2020
A viewer wrote on Twitter: “ron teared up at the song, ben was annoyed by it, april waved a lighter around… everything was so on character.
“This was the most perfect thing i have ever seen. i can’t thank the cast and crew enough for this. adam scott was right, i did love the episode.”
Another shared a GIF of Pratt crying and wrote: “5,000 candles in the wind…it’s fine. I’m fine.”
One fan said the ending of the episode “might have saved 2020” while another commented: “This #ParksAndRec episode is *literally* the best thing to happen in quarantine.”
And one fan wrote: “Hello i cried at the parks and rec special.”
The Parks And Recreation special was in aid of Feeding America’s Covid-19 response fund, aiding food banks across the US.
The episode aired in the US on Thursday.