10 Most Underrated Parks And Recreation Characters

Though his fragrances had been referenced throughout Parks & Rec's second season, perfume magnate Dennis Feinstein (Jason Mantzoukas) wasn't actually introduced as a character on the show until "Indianapolis", season three's sixth episode. And boy does he arrive with a bang.

Launching his new cologne Allergic ("Cause a Reaction") at Pawnee's number one after-hours joint, the Snakehole Lounge, Dennis manages to insult everyone he comes into contact with and crush Tom's dreams in one fell swoop. He's a miser and misogynist, with no interest in charity or anything but promoting his own self interests.

As morally and personally repugnant as he is, Dennis is also one of the show's richest minor characters (literally and metaphorically) with plenty of curious and unexplored quirks. Take, for example, his real name – Dante Fiero – which was considered too ordinary for the Pawnee market, or the fact that he may or may not hunt people for sport. And we shouldn't even get started on his fragrances; Attack, Blackout, Insert... these speak for themselves.

Dennis is, however, far more essential than anyone gives him credit for being. Acting as a mirror to Tom's loftier aspirations, he provides a salient warning of what Tom could become in his pursuit of the business mogul lifestyle.