Parks and Recreation: 5 Times Tom Was A Terrible Friend (& 5 Times He Was The Best)
Parks & Recreation has often been compared to The Office since both are mockumentary-style workplace comedies created by Michael Schur. But that's where most of the similarities end. Character development is something that has been handled extremely well in Parks and Rec, while the characters of The Office seem to be mostly the same throughout the run of the show.
Tom Haverford is one such character who has shown tremendous growth and maturity as the show progresses. While he was very selfish and arrogant in the earlier seasons, he became a very generous and helpful person by the end (albeit with the same level of swagger). It was very satisfying to watch Tom in the series finale, finally becoming the successful entrepreneur he always dreamt of being.
10 Terrible Friend: Let Leslie Take The Blame For Shooting Ron
In one of the best season 2 episodes, "Hunting Trip," the Parks and Recreation Department (plus Ann), go on an annual hunting trip. However, Ron gets shot in the head, and Leslie claims it was her fault. They quickly take Ron inside and Ann tends to his wounds, but Ron is extremely furious at Leslie for shooting him.
However, Ann knows that it was actually Tom who shot Ron, and he just let Leslie take the blame. Donna is also angry with Leslie as she thinks Leslie damaged her Mercedes, and Tom makes no effort to come clean. It is only when Ann threatens to tell everyone that he admits his mistake.
9 Good Friend - Saved Ann's Halloween Party With His Swagger
In "Greg Pikitis," Ann throws a Halloween party for all her friends, but she doesn't tell Tom about it as he keeps hitting on her. However, she finds out Jerry has already told Tom about the party.
This might not have been the worst thing after all as the party seems like it had been a disaster. Everyone is bored and wants to leave - until Tom shows up. He uses his trademark swagger and turns the party around, blasting pop music and creating a dancing space in the living room. Ann later thanks him for saving the party.
8 Terrible Friend: Promoted His Company At Leslie's Meet and Greet
In season 4, Tom is working on his entrepreneurial venture, Entertainment 7Twenty. In "Meet 'N' Greet," Leslie hires E720 to organize a 'meet and greet' for various business owners in Pawnee, hoping to secure their votes for her in the upcoming City Council elections and to get the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce.
However, throughout the event, Tom keeps promoting his own company while completely ignoring Leslie. He decorates the event with huge pictures of his face and upstages Leslie's speech with a promotional presentation for E720. He uses Leslie's event as an excuse to further his own selfish interests.
7 Good Friend: Gave Mona Lisa A Job
Tom and Jean-Ralphio are best friends and partners in crime, always watching out for each other. After opening his clothes rental business, Rent-a-Swag, Tom hires Jean-Ralphio's sister, Mona-Lisa Saperstein, as his executive assistant.
Even though she's a terrible employee, who keeps threatening to set fire to the store, Tom keeps her on (mostly due to fear, but also because he loves Jean-Ralphio). He's such a nice guy, he even offers to support her when he thinks she's pregnant.
6 Terrible Friend: Made Fun of Jerry For Having A Fart Attack
After learning Ben will be extending his stay in Washington DC, Ann helps Leslie to cheer up by suggesting they prank and scare Tom when he comes out of the washroom. However, they accidentally scare Jerry, who starts farting and clutching his chest. Turns out, Jerry is having a heart attack and exhibiting signs of extreme flatulence.
Tom comes out of the washroom and immediately starts dissing Jerry, and making fun of him. Later, while Jerry is in the hospital room, he keeps trying to get the doctor to say Jerry "had a fart attack," and seemed to be indifferent to Jerry's condition.
5 Good Friend: Took Ben for Treat Yo' Self Day
Every year, Donna and Tom pool some of their money and go to the Eagleton mall for Treat Yo' Self Day, where they spend the day treating themselves. In "Pawnee Rangers," they bring along Ben because he has been mourning the loss of his relationship with Leslie broke up. They listen to his problems and try to cheer him up.
They ask Ben to spend money on something he wouldn't ever buy for himself, and he buys a Batman suit for himself. Tom tells him to treat himself, and it's very clear that Ben is extremely grateful to both of them for not only cheering him up but also teaching him about self-love.
4 Terrible Friend: Tried To Date Tammy 2 To Get Back at Ron
In "Practice Date," it is revealed that Tom's marriage was a sham. His wife, Wendy, was Canadian and he had married Wendy so she could get a green card and continue living in the States. However, after they divorced, he realized he did in fact have feelings for Wendy. The only problem was, Wendy had just started dating his boss, Ron Swanson.
Tom started holding a grudge against Ron. In the basketball match, he heavily favored Andy's team over Ron's when Wendy showed up to support him, and worst of all, he tried to date Ron's ex-wife, Tammy 2, so he could get back at him. It was so childish and petty.
3 Good Friend: Helped Get Sponsors For The Harvest Festival
In the season 2 episode, "Flu Season," the Parks Department is trying to convince local business owners to donate items and services for the Harvest Festival, but Leslie is down with the flu. Tom and Ben are assigned to pick up the slack but Tom ditches him to hang out at the country club spa.
Tom spends most of the episode hanging out with his older friends at the spa's hot tub. However, he shows up at the fundraiser and reveals that his spa friends are owners of several high-end car dealerships, who have graciously agreed to lend vehicles to the festival, free of charge. Even Ben is impressed.
2 Terrible Friend - Made Ben's Man Of The Year Speech All About Himself
By season 7's "2017," Tom has finally become a successful business owner thanks to the success of Tom's Bistro, and he is meant to introduce Ben at the Pawnee Bicentennial Gala since he has been named as "Pawnee's Man of the Year 2017."
However, typical of Tom, he makes the entire speech about himself and his success with his business, leaving no time for Ben to give his speech. Although he does make it up by reading his actual speech to Ben at his office later, he still was very selfish and arrogant.
1 Good Friend: Helped Andy Get The Rights To Johnny Karate
In season 7, Andy has become a beloved kid's show icon, Johnny Karate, and is doing quite well for himself. However, he reveals to Tom that despite creating the character, Andy doesn't have the rights to Johnny Karate, so Tom decides to help him out. He visits the studio head to negotiate with him.
By the end of the negotiation, he not only manages to get Andy the rights to the character, but also a significant pay raise, an upgraded parking spot, and unlimited snacks from the vending machines. It was really nice of Tom to use his business and social skills for someone other than him for a change.