10 Most Underrated Parks And Recreation Characters

Odds are you didn't know Mark Brendanawicz (Paul Schneider) was spelled that way until you saw it written right here. The man behind the name, on the other hand, needs no such introduction. But we'll give him one anyway.

The series' straight man before Ben Wyatt was even a glint in the writers' eyes, Mark Brendanawicz was a key cast member during the first season, offering balance and levelheadedness to the more extreme aspects of Leslie, Ron and the gang's personalities. However, as the writing of the show lurched in a different direction going into season two, drifting away from realism and focusing on a more snappy comedy style and madcap adventures, Mark was left with less and less to do.

As the character was gradually edged out of the mix, Schneider fell out of love with him and decided to hand in his notice. Thus, at the conclusion of the show's second season, Mark took a job with a construction company and left Pawnee local government for good.

But, though many feel he was just a bit of a wet towel next to the likes of Andy and Tom, there was something special about Mark – and he left a gap the show never quite managed to fill again.