I love Parks and Recreation. It’s one of the best comedies on television, and even if dare I say it may have entered a period of slight decline (Tom and Ann dating reeks of running out of ideas) it’s still great. So this comes from a place of love, but I have a qualm with the program (well, a couple of qualms, but others can wait for later).
April Ludgate is a complete and utter asshole. You know, I tolerated it for some time. I don’t mind her being lazy; I can understand that. I don’t mind her being cynical and pessimistic and disliking people in general; all understandable. But what just crosses over the line is she’s out and out mean, and for no reason. Not like busting someone’s chops, or having a good laugh, but like a serious jerk who no one would want to hang around. She’s actually nice to Andy, and I understand why Ron would like her, but that’s it.
She’s always been pretty mean to people, and particularly Ann, and I was willing to empathize with that, even though it was completely unnecessary and uncalled for, because of the Andy situation. What crossed the line for me was when she, at a party, at her, Andy, and Ben’s place, threw Chris’s car keys in the garbage. This is not fucking funny or okay. This is they keys to his fucking car. Taking someone’s car keys for any reason other than he or she drank too much is totally unacceptable, but if she took them, let him look for them for a minute, and then gave them to him, I’d grant her some leeway, as maybe a good laugh. But, no she throws them out. How the fuck is he going to get home? So basically he’s stuck with no keys, can’t get into his car and home, thinks he lost them, which might be the worst part of all, and has to call a locksmith, which costs money, to get back in, all because April thought it was fucking funny. I’m not saying she has to like Chris. But that’s more than just a mean comment or a snide remark, that’s an asshole-ish action.
An even worse and more line-crossing action occurs in the most recent episode, the second of the fifth season (“Soda Tax”). Ben was nice enough to bring April along with him to work for him in Washington D.C. No one made her go, she had a job in Pawnee, and she absolutely didn’t have to accompany him. There was no pressure on her to go; it was completely her choice. It was nothing but an extremely generous gesture from Ben who thought she might enjoy something in a busier city which could be more intellectually engaging, which again, I point out, she could have easily turned down at no cost.
Ben realizes that his college interns don’t respect him, and unfortunately, it’s largely out of his control because they’re well connected. What prompts this realization is partly their shoddy work product, but also a caricature of Ben with a stick up his ass posted on the wall of the office. Ben is naturally appalled by this totally uncool picture and tries to bond with the well-connected ringleader intern to curry his good favor. Eventually he gives up trying to be liked after seeing a second caricature, even after he worked so hard to be cool. Ben tells the intern to just do his work, and please stop making caricatures. Unfortunately, it turns out that the intern didn’t draw the caricatures at all. April did. This reveal comes right after Ben explains that April is not, as is commonly believed in the office, his daughter, but rather his friend. Some friend.
Yes, April, who Ben did a great favor to by taking along to Washington . Now it’s bad enough that she gives absolutely no effort and is of no help at all to Ben in DC, even constantly giving him guff. But oh no, doing nothing is not enough to fuck over Ben, who is desperate to succeed in his dream job and is working really hard. No, she has to actively sabotage him, making his entire work environment poisonous and stabbing him directly in the back. It’s bad enough to be unnecessarily and unprofessionally lampooned by employees, but by one you brought with you who is supposed to be your ally and who you consider your friend. That’s pretty unforgivable.
And then at the end, she all of a sudden agrees to give 15% and is helpful, using her powers for good to try to intimidate the unruly intern and that’s supposed to fucking make up for it. I’m sorry. Too fucking late. Ben may forgive her just like that, but I don’t.
It’s just so crazily mean spirited. Chris, at least, and I’m not defending the stealing of keys, but he can be annoying. Ben has never been anything but kind and helpful. You cross Adam Scott, you cross me. That’s just the way it is.
Again, I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt – her laziness and bad attitude, and her general dislike of people, I’m plenty willing to tolerate. She still has lots of funny moments. But it’s gone too far and there’s basically only one inescapable conclusion, when you try to actively sabotage someone who has been nothing but generous towards you. April Ludgate is an asshole.
Television, the Drug of the Nation 
youre so dumb oh my god. its a fucking show
Nope you are the dumb one.
Autocorrect
lmao classic moron, “its a fucking show” … top of this website literally reads: “TALKING ABOUT ALL THINGS TELEVISION”
hahahahhhahaha this is hilarious
Wow loser you need to calm the fuck down. Haha.
Its a show dude…
And April is Fucking awesome..
PREACH IT, April is terrible. Her character consistently teeters on the edge of inconceivable rudeness. This TV show is meant to be inspiring in the end and with a surly, pointless character, it takes away from the spirit of the show. She’s like a black hole.
There are plenty of assholes in real life but this ridiculous woman would most certainly not have these friends if she existed in real life. They have definitely quieted her character lately, which I am very happy about. The real star is Leslie, who is a strong, capable woman who consistently battles her own demons and works for the greater good. Now that is a hero.
Agree. Her child-level sarcasm seems incompatible with what the scriptwriters want to push into the audience, which is that she’s pretty intelligent. But in real life she would just be a dumb bitch.
THANK YOU.
It seems TV is really the drug of the nation. People can´t even identify a serious asshole character anymore!
Yours was the only blog, other than mine, that I have seen bashing this pathetic excuse of a character. Other websites all talk about how great she is. Are you freaking kidding me?
Anyway, THANK YOU!!!!
The link will be in my name, please, if you agree, visit it!
Cheers!
Cheap shot to try to get views.
The real person that plays April Ludgate should be embarrassed and ashamed for playing April Ludgate. I hope she has nightmares when glimpses of her performance from Parks and Rec flash in her memory.
People that like April Ludgate are probably obnoxious, annoying losers. Let me summarize April Ludgate for you.
Hi I’m April Ludgate. Blood’s cool. Everything is stupid. Everything is weird. I’m going to murder you. I look at the camera with my big eyes 90% of the time after every sentence. I talk in a monotone, lazy voice because I’m depressed and hate myself yet I have confidence to do the stupidest crap in public somehow. Having no ambition is cool.
pussy
“pussy” – signed Anonymously by Aubrey Plaza
Although April Ludgate is a rude character, there is no reason Aubrey Plaza should be blamed for the attitude of the character.
She looked at the script, said “this is my break out role” and played it to the worst tee. Chris Pratt looked at his character, originally a one season write off, and played it better than writers or directors could have thought and did make it his break out role.
I’m glad that Aubrey Plaza’s career died with that show.
Although April Ludgate is rude, there is no reason to blame Aubrey Plaza for the character’s attitude.
I seriously hate her too. Can’t stand April. She’s spoiled, inconsiderate, rude, ungrateful, etc.
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that can’t stand her character. I’ve been trying to get into the show lately and have been catching up on all the seasons I’ve missed, and she really brings the show down for me. What an annoying little jerk.
I disagree. Yea she is an asshole but the best of assholes. The kind you can’t be mad at cause her abilility to be cynical is very impressive to the point where you want to be just as cynical. Its your opinion to be a wuss about a TV show character but it’s your job to be super critical about topics that don’t really matter, cause I sadly stumbled upon this idiotic synopsis about a flawless character ( in my eyes ) trying to look up my life model. The greatest thing about America is that I can say your being a bitch about this character and your job really matters.
I understand where you’re coming from, however I just wanted to point out that when April threw out Chris’s car keys, she was doing a nice thing for Jerry. While this response is VERY over the top, she was trying to be a good person.
Same! I just re-watched the episode and I’ve concluded the same thing.
Trying to be a good person doesn’t make it so. She was still in the wrong there.
What is the matter with you? April is awesome. She’s apathetic and she can be mean, but she’s hysterical. Your constant cursing leads me to believe that you don’t really know why you hate her, but you just want to be arbitrary. She’s mean but she’s lovable, and she can be really sweet. Chris is obviously fine. He just had to call a cab, or get a new key made. At that point, I think he was working to fix the budget. I seriously doubt that the money was a problem. And when she was messing with Ben, she was being really mean. I agree with that. But she wasn’t hurting him, like you said. The interns weren’t disrespecting him, so really all she did was mess with his head. It’s a comedy. Lighten up.
Its still very cruel. Plus it’s hard to see meanness and bad characteristics as funny.
What’s the matter with you that you find completely meaningless NASTY acts hysterical?
Yeah A+ acting, saying something ironic/sarcastic/apathetic then looking over into the camera for 5 seconds is really top notch acting. Should’ve won an award. Zero character arch, bad acting and bad writing with her character. I’d rather cut off my jon dory with a dull blade then have to see her big rodent eyes staring into the camera after every second sentence.
100% Chance this person is one of those people that gets pissed everyday at the internet. Enjoy, author.
Thank you! I hate her. She’s such a bitch.
I totally agree. I don’t watch all of this show, but its so clear that she’s the worst character ever!
i agree completely
as soon as i watched that same episode i looked up hating april.. described everything i thought and more. cursing and all. just because it is a tv show doesn’t mean you can’t be invested in the outcome of decision making that characters make. could all be due to the fact that it is the 5th season and it has become a bit stale.. but still. agree with everything you had to say.
Just freaking calm down. Chris was being inconsiderate to Jerry cause he was grinding on his daughter and did not care, April did it for Jerry.
No she didn’t, she’s never given a shit about Jerry. She did it just to be a dick.
Do you need a hug?
Shufup
I just watched that episode with Ben and I came to the internet and googled April Ludgate is a bitch because I wanted to find someone else who also felt she was an overrated asshole. I 100% agree with everything you’ve said, she’s a dick.
Thank you you so much for writing this because there were some moments in the show where I couldn’t stand April’s obnoxious behavior. I also felt so bad for poor Jerry because he doesn’t deserve to be mistreated.
I am glad I am not alone. I was beginning to the think that eeeveryone thought that April is cool and funny and pretty and all that crap. I find her behaviors infuriating.
Agreed. I didn’t really notice it until my 10th or so lap of the series, but she is a fucking asshole. And often for no reason.
You’re so dumb oh my gosh, it’s a fucking opinion
100% agree
Thank you!!! 10/10 agree with you I thought I was the only one!
I agree, what a poorly built character. She was selfish, and self centered and too entitled when she like Andy but Andy was in love with Ann. She didn’t deserve someone like Andy from the beginning
By the 4th season I really can’t stand April at all. The meaner she gets the dumber Andy becomes as well. Definitely a toxic relationship.
The first time I saw the show was some years ago and I thought, well, that probably is a somewhat realistic portrayal of certain young American women. I’m from a whole different part of the world and we do see Americans as spoiled and selfish, so it made sense. Seeing the show 2nd time around when I’m 35, the fact that April exists and people just tolerate that shit just baffles me. Also can’t make out what Amy Poehler, such a champion for young women, was thinking creating and pushing April into the spotlight. Like, how does this character help anyone? If anything it inspires to be selfish and mean since there seem to be absolutely zero consequences. And no reason to grow as a human being.