Parks and Recreation Recap: Ron and Tammys

This week on Parks and Recreation boasted the much-hyped Tammys showdown: Tammy Zero (Ron’s mother) vs. Tammy One (Ron’s first ex-wife). As expected, it made for a new classic episode, thanks not only to Patricia Clarkson and Paula Pell’s hysterical guest spots, but reliable genius from the regular Parks and Rec staff.

When “Ron and Tammys” opens, Leslie is eagerly preparing for the so-called battle royale, a.k.a. a big budgetary meeting. Ron is her secret weapon since, as she gleefully explains, he just stares down naysayers until they back off or “wet themselves.” Unfortunately, Leslie’s secret weapon is incapacitated at the moment, due to the whole audit fiasco Tammy One dropped on him in the season premiere. Leslie quickly launches Operation Rescue Ron (better title coming) to help him avoid jail. It involves herself, April and Andy. Andy who, by the way, isn’t sure what a calculator is.

Tom asks to meet with Ben so he can give him “nerd” work for his new company. Ben agrees, because break even analysis tables are kind of fun, but is totally overwhelmed when he enters the new HQ. Entertainment 720 boasts NBA players on retainer as well as secretaries with no real work but $100,000 salaries. He’s understandably concerned about the company’s finances, but Jean-Ralphio is more concerned with his name. He first rechristens him Angelo and then Jello Shot. (Jean-Ralphio also snags one of the best lines of the night: “Get a thicker tie, it looks weird on you. Makes your head look like a fish.”) The two moguls refuse to listen to Ben’s advice, insisting they’re well-supported by the money they…print. Ben storms out, totally breezing by the complimentary iPads.

Back at Operation Rescue Ron, the gang has been having trouble sorting through Ron’s gentleman’s agreements and handwritten notes of purchases. Tammy One swoops in, telling Ron to take a week off and they’ll sort his taxes out. Patricia Clarkson is especially great in this scene, swiftly shutting Leslie down without even a glance and terrifying Andy. April, on the other hand, is in love with Tammy One, calling her the “cold, distant mother I never had.”

One week goes by, and Ron returns to the office. Only this Ron has no mustache, wears bright short-sleeved polo's and talks to “Jer” about the hump-day. Everyone’s pretty disturbed about it. Turns out Tammy One has moved in with Ron and completely overtaken his life, not even allowing him to go to lunch with Leslie without her presence. Leslie, April and Andy go beg Tammy Two for help, but she turns them down, revealing that Tammy One once poured acid on her foot out of jealousy. So Andy, in a rare moment of inspiration, suggests they go to Ron’s mother. She agrees to help them get Ron back, but does, however, refuse to answer “stupid questions” about her arsenal of guns on “her property.”

What ensues is a new battle royale: an old-fashioned prairie drink-off. The liquor is apparently a Swanson family recipe, whose only legal use is stripping varnish off speed boats. When Tammy Zero reveals the stakes are actually winner takes Ron for herself, Leslie jumps in to get her boss back. Only it’s predictably ill-advised. She gets super schwasty, forcing Ron to chug about half the jug just to end the competition. He sends both Tammys packing, and leaves his coworkers even more scarred than ever before.

In the middle of all this, Tom also begs Ben’s forgiveness, realizing the nerd may have had some sound judgments about the fiscal responsibility of a party button. Ann and Chris also share an utterly pointless subplot where she films a new diabetes PSA starring her painstakingly perfectionist ex-boyfriend. That’s irrelevant. What “Ron and Tammys” so vividly illustrates is the greatness of Ron Swanson-centric episodes. Anytime we get a glimpse into his past, the result is always gold. We learned in this episode, for instance, that Tammy One was a candy striper who helped deliver Ron and later taught him everything – Sunday School, math, driving and sex. Sure, it’s pretty gruesome, but it’s also pretty damn hilarious. And really, what else could you ask for?

Check out some deleted scenes: