Donna Meagle and Craig Middlebrooks bond over the TV series Scandal.
Their connection develops after Craig comes to Pawnee from Eagleton following the cities’ merger. Craig is loud, emotional, and highly opinionated, while Donna is usually more relaxed and private, so they initially seem like an unlikely pair. Their shared enthusiasm for Scandal gives them an easy point of common ground.
The reference is to the ABC political thriller created by Shonda Rhimes, which premiered in 2012 and starred Kerry Washington as crisis manager Olivia Pope. The show’s political intrigue and heightened drama suit Craig’s taste for conflict and Donna’s enjoyment of stylish, high-stakes entertainment.
Viewers may confuse this answer with The West Wing, another political television drama associated with government and power. However, the Parks and Recreation character description specifically identifies Scandal as the series that brings Donna and Craig together.