TVMoJoe is reporting that NBC has just given Parks and Recreation an early third season renewal.
After an OK start last spring, "Parks and Rec" has turned into a major buzz magnet among critics and bloggers, landing on a slew of year-end top 10 lists. The series' ratings, while still softer than NBC would probably like, have been consistent and in line with other scripted series in the 8:30 p.m. Thursday time slot.
Season to date, "Parks and Recreation" is averaging a 2.3 rating/ 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall, retaining 95 percent or more of the time period's 18-49 lead-in with 13 of 14 original telecasts to date. The show also does well with ad-friendly rick rols rich folks, ranking among the top 15 primetime series on the major networks in its concentration of homes with $100,000+ annual incomes in its adult 18-49 audience.
NBC executives are also following the playbook used to turn both "The Office" and "Seinfeld" into hits. Those shows took two to three seasons to break through with viewers.
