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Allow me to start off by setting the record straight: Parks and Recreation is not a spinoff of The Office in any way. Yes, on paper, the similarities are indeed stark — both are beautifully presented in innovative mockumentary format, both are relatively groundbreaking in that their livelihoods revolve around a (seemingly) dull workplace setting, and both have the same two creators and producers, Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. Heck, they aired back-to-back on NBC during their 2009-2013 overlap, and even had the guts to go as far to have a repeat actor star on both series (Rashida Jones).

In an effort to not bury the lead any more than I already have, it is important to note that both shows’ existences are crucial to the corporate lifestyle — that’s just a fact. Independently of each other, both the Dunder-Mifflin and Pawnee City Hall settings embody the quirks of the oft-depressing nine-to-five life far better than any other piece of media of our time, and their collective significance should be celebrated appropriately on this website with a scholarly breakdown from an amateur writer former hourly-paid summer intern writer like myself who has too much insight to provide.

A much-anticipated duel six-plus years in the making, it’s time to decide who wins the overall head-to-head battle royale of characters. Without further adieu, let’s attack this 10-round slobberknocker of The Office and Parks and Rec‘s mutual Greg Daniels-Michael Schur archetypes.