"Parks and Recreation's" John Mayer joke

The NBC comedy wins the award for most fortuitously timed one-liner of the week

By Mary Elizabeth Williams

Senior Writer

Published February 12, 2010 11:13AM (EST)

In what must be the most serendipitously timed joke of the week, "Parks and Recreation" last night celebrated Valentine's Day (and its little-known spinoff, "Galentine's Day") with a straight-up bit of romantic advice. Attempting to orchestrate a reunion between her mother and mom's long-lost first love, the frequently misguided Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) looks into the camera and speaks a little truth to power.

Check out the following clip, where Leslie gushes, "How often do you get to reunite soul mates? What if I told you that you could reunite Romeo and Juliet? Or Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston?" Then she turns deadly serious, adding, "Oh, Jen, I really want you to be happy. Stay away from John Mayer."


By Mary Elizabeth Williams

Mary Elizabeth Williams is a senior writer for Salon and author of "A Series of Catastrophes & Miracles." Follow her on Bluesky @maryelizabethw.

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