Ben Wyatt
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Parks and Recreation Character Guide
Ben Wyatt is a character on the NBC TV show Parks and Recreation. He guest-starred in two episodes in season two, and then became a regular character in season 3. He originally appeared as a state auditor who comes to Pawnee with Chris Traeger to evaluate Pawnee's funds at the end of season 2. Ben is straightforward and willing to tell the truth, even if it could offend someone. He could also be passive-aggressive at times.
Riding a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment, Ben Wyatt was elected mayor of the town of Partridge, Minnesota in November of 1992, at the age of 18. His immaturity and lack of experience led him to be unofficially banned from Partridge after he bankrupted the city by creating a winter sports complex called Ice Town. After maturing, he becomes a state auditor and helps cities escape bankruptcy.
In Season Two when Ben first comes to Pawnee, he and Leslie Knope do not get along. When he asks her out to have a beer, they begin to respect each other more. They become friends and he shares his history in politics with her, and tells her he became an auditor to show that he is responsible enough to run for mayor again.
Ben and Chris agree to re-start the tradition of the Pawnee Harvest Festival at the proposal of Leslie Knope. Ben brings Leslie to the hospital for the flu because she won't admit she's sick in the episode "Flu Season", due to the fact that she has an important presentation with the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce about the Harvest Festival. He brings her waffles from JJ's Diner in the same episode, and chicken noodle soup, hinting his interest romantically in Leslie. The Harvest Festival brings Ben and Leslie closer together because of the teamwork needed for the success of it.
In the episode "Jerry's Painting", he admits to Andy that he has feelings for Leslie and that she might have feelings for him also. In "Road Trip", he and Leslie kiss. Season 3 leaves off with uncertainty as to which the relationship will continue because Leslie is contemplating running for office.
Season 4 starts with Leslie being confused over whether to continue her secret romance with Ben or to follow her dreams and run for office. The pair decides to split amicably, with Ben giving Leslie a "Knope 2012" button. However, this split does not rid the two of their feelings for each other.
Eventually, after several more fights and awkward situations, Leslie and Ben decide to make their relationship official, despite the consequences, in "Smallest Park".
Leslie and Ben then decide it is best to tell Chris about their relationship, which results to Leslie being put on trial to see whether she used her relationship with Ben to get special treatment. Leslie is then surprised when she receives only a two-week suspension with pay. She is then informed that Ben has resigned from his job in order to save hers. Later, when Leslie has Ethel Beavers read the transcript from his resignation (on Chris's recommendation), she finds out that Ben had said he was resigning because he loves Leslie. Leslie then has Ethel read a transcript of her saying she loves Ben to him.
He proposes to Leslie and they move into a house together. Ben and Leslie had a spontaneous wedding ceremony at City Hall, attended only by their close friends.
In "Flu Season 2" Leslie learns that she is pregnant. When Ben does find out, he is happy. Ben and Leslie subsequently learn from Dr. Saperstein that they are having triplets. Ben becomes extremely tense and apprehensive about the cost of raising three children, but Leslie is able to calm him. A time jump of three years shows that Ben and Leslie are now parents of two boys and a girl.
Ben and Leslie decide to move to Washington with April and Andy after Leslie is offered a promotion to work at the Department of the Interior and Ben runs for Congress in 2018.
Through a series of flash-forwards, it is revealed that Ben's congressional campaign was successful and is now a representative from Indiana for the House of Representatives. In 2025, he and Leslie are both given the opportunity to run as Governor of Indiana, Ben ultimately decides to let Leslie run (which she wins). By 2048, it is hinted that either he or Leslie has been elected President of the United States when a member of the secret service approaches both of them and says "It's time to go".
Riding a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment, Ben Wyatt was elected mayor of the town of Partridge, Minnesota in November of 1992, at the age of 18. His immaturity and lack of experience led him to be unofficially banned from Partridge after he bankrupted the city by creating a winter sports complex called Ice Town. After maturing, he becomes a state auditor and helps cities escape bankruptcy.
In Season Two when Ben first comes to Pawnee, he and Leslie Knope do not get along. When he asks her out to have a beer, they begin to respect each other more. They become friends and he shares his history in politics with her, and tells her he became an auditor to show that he is responsible enough to run for mayor again.
Ben and Chris agree to re-start the tradition of the Pawnee Harvest Festival at the proposal of Leslie Knope. Ben brings Leslie to the hospital for the flu because she won't admit she's sick in the episode "Flu Season", due to the fact that she has an important presentation with the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce about the Harvest Festival. He brings her waffles from JJ's Diner in the same episode, and chicken noodle soup, hinting his interest romantically in Leslie. The Harvest Festival brings Ben and Leslie closer together because of the teamwork needed for the success of it.
In the episode "Jerry's Painting", he admits to Andy that he has feelings for Leslie and that she might have feelings for him also. In "Road Trip", he and Leslie kiss. Season 3 leaves off with uncertainty as to which the relationship will continue because Leslie is contemplating running for office.
Season 4 starts with Leslie being confused over whether to continue her secret romance with Ben or to follow her dreams and run for office. The pair decides to split amicably, with Ben giving Leslie a "Knope 2012" button. However, this split does not rid the two of their feelings for each other.
Eventually, after several more fights and awkward situations, Leslie and Ben decide to make their relationship official, despite the consequences, in "Smallest Park".
Leslie and Ben then decide it is best to tell Chris about their relationship, which results to Leslie being put on trial to see whether she used her relationship with Ben to get special treatment. Leslie is then surprised when she receives only a two-week suspension with pay. She is then informed that Ben has resigned from his job in order to save hers. Later, when Leslie has Ethel Beavers read the transcript from his resignation (on Chris's recommendation), she finds out that Ben had said he was resigning because he loves Leslie. Leslie then has Ethel read a transcript of her saying she loves Ben to him.
He proposes to Leslie and they move into a house together. Ben and Leslie had a spontaneous wedding ceremony at City Hall, attended only by their close friends.
In "Flu Season 2" Leslie learns that she is pregnant. When Ben does find out, he is happy. Ben and Leslie subsequently learn from Dr. Saperstein that they are having triplets. Ben becomes extremely tense and apprehensive about the cost of raising three children, but Leslie is able to calm him. A time jump of three years shows that Ben and Leslie are now parents of two boys and a girl.
Ben and Leslie decide to move to Washington with April and Andy after Leslie is offered a promotion to work at the Department of the Interior and Ben runs for Congress in 2018.
Through a series of flash-forwards, it is revealed that Ben's congressional campaign was successful and is now a representative from Indiana for the House of Representatives. In 2025, he and Leslie are both given the opportunity to run as Governor of Indiana, Ben ultimately decides to let Leslie run (which she wins). By 2048, it is hinted that either he or Leslie has been elected President of the United States when a member of the secret service approaches both of them and says "It's time to go".