Parks and Recreation Bids a Fond Farewell to Print

In the past few episodes of the final season of Parks and Recreation, Amy Pohler’s character Leslie Knope has taken a clever walk down memory lane to deliver a wide breadth of closure for the viewing audience. I was thrilled to see that one of the last stops on this journey was to Pawnee’s printshop, Sign-Tology.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about Sign-Tology. As a matter of fact, it was the catalyst for the subject of my first-ever blog on Printing Impressions "Two Wrongs Won't Make It Right." Though much has changed for Leslie Knope and her friends since April 2012, it was nice to see that Sign-Tology was still standing! It was also nice to see the subject of print, and its importance to Leslie, get some airtime!

In the second to last ever episode of Parks and Recreation, Leslie has ordered a rush banner and heads over to Sign-Tology to pick it up. Being a sit-com, some chaos occurs and she needs to have a new banner printed, in 20 minutes. But it’s what she says after the Sign-Tologist sighs at her request that gets the gold star from me...and no spoilers here, you will have to watch the 15-second video above to see the interaction or click here to watch the video!

To most of the outside world, Leslie’s comment might seem like a dig, but she has always been dead serious when it comes to print, binders and communication tools. Although we don’t see Sign-Tology again in the series, I am proud to report that we do get to see the new banner hanging proudly at the event it was needed for. Print and the Sign-Tologists saved the day!

Before the episode ended I knew I was going to write about it, but more so because it got me thinking about all the times my Printers over the years have saved my ass! Whether it was reprinting first and figuring out what went wrong after; pre-empting a potential costly postal issue; finding the best paper for the job; making recommendations to specs for best outcomes and/or to save money; delivering by messenger, by car, by taxi, by HAND, whatever is needed to happen to get it where it needed to be; and a slew of other experiences—that will always be the foundation to what makes some Printers truly partners first, and above all else.

Parks and Recreation may have ended, but Leslie Knope’s love of print, and nod to printers, will live on. As for me, I am on the lookout for the next "print in pop culture" moment to share with you, and desperately hoping it comes from President Frank Underwood!

Have you saved the day for a customer? Share a story with us!

p.s.…before you go into Ron Swanson withdrawal, here is a fun paper doll to download! http://printmediacentr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ronswanson.jpeg