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Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP’s look at the latest Blu-ray discs and DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: Amy Poehler dances to DJ Roomba, Nic Cage admits he’s a wizard and Tom Cruise tries to pass as a spy.

Pick of the Week

For clueless NBC executives, and for that bastard Greg Pikitis: Parks & Recreation: Season Two

Building on the foundation laid in its brief six-episode first season, the second season of Parks and Recreation developed into one of the best written and acted sitcoms in recent years. Amy Poehler really hit her stride as Leslie Knope, a tireless bureaucrat in the Pawnee, Indiana Parks and Recreation department. Poehler has created a character who is mildly self-deluded – but where The Office’s Michael Scott is taken overboard to irritating lengths in this regard, Poehler’s Knope stays endearing as she tirelessly navigates the pitfalls of small-town government.

The supporting cast really shines in the second season. Emerging as a notable in the world of stand-up comedy, Aziz Ansari is brilliant as overcompensating cad Tom Haverford. Underrated Aubrey Plaza turns in an understated performance as April, who lets some cracks of light peek through her varnished cynicism as she develops a crush on clueless lug Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt).





The standout of the second season is Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, the head of the department who wants nothing more than to see the system he works in crumble. Offerman gives a handful of Emmy-worthy performances, playing off his real-life wife Megan Mullally in “Ron and Tammy,” or the brilliantly written “Woman of the Year.” In addition to Mullally, the season features strong guest appearances by Louis C.K., John Laroquette and the real-life Mr. Poehler, Will Arnett.

It’s no surprise to Parks and Rec fans that NBC has less than steady confidence in the series, and this became apparent in the writing of the last episodes of the season. Two state auditors (Rob Lowe and Adam Scott) visit the department to assess its future, just as uncertainty about whether or not the show would be renewed swirled. In its two seasons, Parks and Rec had built a deep bullpen of genuinely funny characters within the show, and a dedicated corps of fans without.

Despite its successes, though, when the fall 2010 schedule came out, Parks and Recreation was left off the slate. Peacock execs instead said that it would return as a mid season replacement – never a good sign for an established show. Since then, NBC had promised that the third season of the show would be a full 22-episode season… but the network’s inability to develop any kind of successful programming as of late makes it hard to put trust in their wisdom. It’s a shame – Parks and Recreation is developing into a gem, and it would be a shame to lose it. (Tony Kollath/BOP)

Disc includes: Deleted scenes (2.5 hours), bloopers, Pratt on Parks featurette, Mouse Rat Performance featurette, ?uestlove on: Parks (RZA Screen Test) featurette

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