Tom Haverford, moonlighting as a referee in his Lady Foot Locker uniform, uses the game to sabotage Ron out of jealousy over Ron dating Tom's ex-wife, Wendy. Tom eventually goads Ron into a chair-throwing tantrum that gets him ejected. Raising the Stakes
Desperate to restore funding beyond basic park maintenance, Leslie Knope enlists a reluctant Ann Perkins to go on a "strategic" date with the hyper-optimistic state auditor, Chris Traeger.
While Leslie nearly convinces Chris, her excitement leads her to accidentally reveal the scheme, causing Chris—who admits to being a "born-again" optimist due to a rare blood disorder—to leave feeling betrayed. The B-Story: "Bobby Knight" Swanson [S3E1] Go Big or Go Home
April Ludgate returns from South America with a new boyfriend, Eduardo, leaving a heartbroken Andy determined to win her back.
This episode features the debut of iconic code names: Leslie as Eagle One , Ben as Eagle Two , April as Been There Done That , and Chris as If I Had to Pick a Dude . Tom Haverford, moonlighting as a referee in his
In the high-stakes world of Pawnee's local government, the Season 3 premiere of Parks and Recreation , titled serves as both a literal and metaphorical reboot for the series. After a three-month hiatus caused by a government shutdown, the Parks Department returns to find itself on a "shoestring budget" that threatens its very existence. The Central Hustle: Leslie vs. The Auditors
Ann is tasked with using the date to persuade Chris to increase the Parks budget. While Leslie nearly convinces Chris, her excitement leads
Ron Swanson employs a strictly disciplined approach (wearing a red sweater in a nod to legendary Indiana coach Bobby Knight ), while Andy Dwyer allows his team to run wild.