Parks and Recreation Episode 1.05 The Banquet

Today is a great day for the Knope family. Leslie's mother Marlene is being honored with a Tellenson Award for Excellence in Pawnee Public Service. Leslie can't wait to win her own Tellenson Award someday and put the Knope family name up there with the Kennedy and Bush Families. Without the drinking problems, of course.

Leslie is getting ready for the awards ceremony, starting with getting her hair done. She stops by Salvatore's barbershop, since he has the reputation of doing the hair of some pretty big movers and shakers. Leslie is looking for something sassy and powerful for her mother's big night.

Leslie surprises everybody at the banquet with her very short and masculine hairstyle. Meanwhile, Ann is feeling very overdressed for the event because Leslie told her beforehand that it was black tie formal. Leslie cannot believe she's seated only one table away from all the past living Tellenson Award winners.

Leslie spots the head of the Pawnee zoning board and wants to approach her about the pit project, but gets nervous. Mark tries to ease her nerves by letting Leslie practice her approach on him. Laughs ensue as Mark ends up mocking the entire practice approach with some playful nose pinching.

Marlene advises her daughter that in order to reach Janine, she must butter her up first. Leslie is about to give her mother's introductory speech to the audience and takes her mom's advice of using the podium as a way to Janine's attention. Afterwards, Janine tells Leslie to contact her secretary next month to set up a meeting.

Marlene tells Leslie that Janine is a mastermind at blowing people off and if she really wants the attention of the zoning board, she should play dirty. Marlene tells Leslie that Janine's husband got a DUI in Illinois the week before and everybody is trying to keep it quiet. Marlene tells Leslie to take that information and use it to her advantage.

Leslie takes her mother's advice and decides to approach Janine with her information. Instead of Janine arranging a meeting with Leslie immediately, she throws a drink her face. Janine tells Leslie to get out and Leslie apologizes for her behavior and frantically rushes out.

Meanwhile, Tom and Mark head to the bar to flirt with women. Tom gets worried when Mark doesn't seem to be interested in the women at the bar, and Mark admits he's bored. Tom reminds Mark he's the king of hooking up with trashy chicks and he needs to continue his reign. Mark excuses himself and heads back to the banquet, only to find nobody there. He heads home.

Ann calls Leslie "slimy" over her blackmail scheme and Leslie calls Ann out for being Andy's crutch. An angry Ann heads home. After the banquet, Leslie goes over to Ann's house to apologize and says she didn't go through with the blackmail. Leslie and Ann patch things up and end the night with popcorn and TV.