For All 'Parks & Recreation' Fans; What Exactly Is The Obsession With Ron Swanson?!?

[Brian Damage]

Whenever I read about Parks & Recreation, all I read about is Ron Swanson this & Ron Swanson that. I am not a true fan of this sitcom (Yet) so what is the big deal about Ron Swanson???

[Yong Fang]

I am a big Park and Rec fan and this is my favorite show on television and have been waiting months for the new season. I tell everyone, I am telling you, watch the show!

On the subject of Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), he is my favorite character.

* He's is funny.

* His humor is very deadpan, which works well against high strung Leslie and some of the others. But he also works well paired up against April, the young female secretary who is also deadpan (and weird).

* He is a Libertarian, but not written up as a boob. Swanson was based on a real person who was a city official in California (I think San Diego) who was very much a small government libertarian and saw the irony of his job. Swanson is very vocal about his libertarianism, but sometimes is shown to have some drawbacks. I basically share the same beliefs (although Swanson was shown to be anti-pot in one episodes, telling the former dope smoking park director that he disdained that he "doesn't speak hippy."

* Offerman has incorporated part of his real life into the character, such as master woodworking and other intricate wooden crafts. The boats, lyre, and chairs shown on the show made by Swanson were made by Offerman.

* A recurring character is his crazy ex-wife Tammy, played by his real wife, actress Megan Mullalay. Actually Swanson has two ex wives and a mother named Tammy and both of them will be introduced this season.

* The man loves meat and breakfast food. He also has a high tolerance for alcohol, which is in opposition to his boss, the Rob Lowe character who eschews that behavior. (Rob Lowe, who I hated coming on the show, is really good in it. Rob Lowe is actually 7 years older than Offerman.)

* The Pyramid of Greatness (Google this and see image)

* I dont usually like mustaches, but it works on him.

[70s show watcher]

i dont know i love the show but as for ron i can take him or leave him

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

Yong Fan hit a lot of it on the head, but keep watching and I'm sure you'll begin to understand. Nick Offerman portrays him so well and it's a hot, steaming pile of bull**** that he didn't get nommed for an Emmy (of course, that turned out to be a crap show anyway so whatever at this point). It's his strong opinions and deadpan wit that stand out a lot to me, and is perhaps what I love so much about him. But more than that, it's that this character also has a heart, which is the most important aspect of this show. As crazy or ridiculous as any of them might be, they're human and they care about one another.

[EmoJoe]

Yong Fang and Ashlee pretty much got it. His deadpan humor kills, plus the whole ridiculousness of the character is wonderful - a libertarian who works in government. He's a great source for one-liners and memorable quotes. I think Parks is a show where you really have to know and appreciate the characters to truly "get" it though which means it may take a few episodes to warm up to, and that includes Ron - but it's totally worth it.