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Ron Swanson's Best Moments

Some characters transcend the shows they come from to become something more. Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson is one such man. Find out why he's so beloved for yourself. Check out Ron Swanson's best moments.


Ron Swanson is basically Parks and Recreation's all-star character. The director of Pawnee's P & R department is a man with many facets, all of them hilarious. Staunch libertarian, lover of meat and owner of a truly tremendous mustache, he's been responsible for some of the show's funniest bits. In tribute to the magic and majesty that is Ron Swanson, here are our picks for his all-time best moments. I'm sure there will be many more to come. Here are Ron Swanson's best moments.

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11

Dentist

This clip makes a pretty great introduction to the world of Ron Swanson. There's two things he hates more than anything else: meetings and recycling. So when the subject comes up, Ron lets a convenient toothache demonstrate his extreme tolerance for pain. The best thing about this bit is that you absolutely believe that he would yank out his own front tooth with a multi-tool in front of his staff. It's just the kind of guy he is. That's why it leads off our list of the best Ron Swanson moments.

10

Best Friend

Ron Swanson is not known for his interpersonal skills. If he feels himself getting too close to somebody, he'll take action like deliberately mispronouncing their name just to let them know that he really doesn't care. In this clip from the show's first season, he talks about the best friend he ever had - a friend so good that he never knew his name. And that's the way he likes it.

9

Ron And Computers

For a mid-level government employee, Ron Swanson has some sizable blind spots in his knowledge base. Sure, he can kill a dude with his bare hands, but the world of cyberspace is like Vietnam all over again. In this clip, he's attempting to order something off of the Internet when he's accosted by an advertisement that... knows his name. Things quickly get very out of control until the PC needs to pay the ultimate price. One of the best Ron Swanson moments for sure. 

8

Vegan Bacon

If there's one thing that earns Ron Swanson's true love, it's meat. The man loves to consume the flesh of animals, and when a poor dummy dares to present an alternative he's rapidly shown the door. In this clip, a shopping Swanson encounters a poor hapless shill offering free samples of vegan bacon. All good people think that the concept of "vegan bacon" is an abomination, and Ron agrees. You can't have it both ways, you tree-huggers. Some day a pig must die.

7

Privatize The Parks

Swanson's Libertarian leanings sometimes put him at odds with his job description. In his mind, the whole concept of a government-run Parks Department is a ludicrous waste of taxpayer dollars. One of the best illustrations of this philosophy comes during a hilarious monologue about how, if he were in charge, the parks would follow the Chuck E Cheese model, with visitors forced to pay tokens to enjoy nature. It's classic Ron Swanson.

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