Parks and Recreation star Chris Pratt would react against"mean"jokes aimed at Jerry, a new book reveals. Created by Michael Schur, the hit NBC sitcom first aired in 2009, airing for seven seasons before ending in 2015. Pratt played Andy Dwyer on the show, while O'Heir played Jerry Gergich, a city employee who was used as something of a punching bag for other people in the Parks and recreation cast of characters.
In a conversation featured in O'Heir's new book, Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation (through Variety), Pratt and O'Heir reflect on Jerry's jokes that may have gone too far. O'Heir recalls that Pratt, more than any other cast member, paid special attention to Jerry's jokes and was always striving to ensure that they never became purely petty. Check out Pratt's comment below when asked if he remembers those moments during filming:
“I want, I want. I was worried in some of those moments because I care about you and I love you, and I knew there were some jokes that were, like, mean. But they were more evil than funny. If it's a joke, it's funny. But if it's mean for the sake of being mean, well, I'm not a big fan of mean-spirited humor and I just wanted to know how you are.
“There was a time when I put my foot in something. There was that time you used the printer and it said something like, 'Jerry sucks' on a piece of paper, and I just said, 'I don't think this is funny. I don't know about that. For the most part, I accepted it, but there were a few times when I thought it went too far and I was worried about you.
Although O'Heir claims that Jerry's jokes didn't bother him and that he didn't take them personally, he admits to Pratt that his colleague's care and attention were greatly appreciated:
“Just so you know, it meant the world to me. You checked me, [Amy Poehler] checked up on me, and it's not like I expected everyone to see me, but the fact that you did that was so special... You have the biggest heart, and I don't mean that from a medical perspective.
What Jerry's Jokes Meant for Parks and Recreation
The NBC sitcom's Jerry jokes were a highlight
Each sitcom has its own jokes or gags that are repeated throughout the show's life. The characters constantly mocking Jerry was one of the Parks and recreationthe most memorable racing jokes, with jokes featured throughout the show's seven seasons. The office had a similar running gag, with Steve Carell's Michael Scott mocking or ridiculing Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein) whenever he could.
As the conversation between Pratt and O'Heir makes clear, it's important that these jokes don't go too far. After all, a character simply being cruel to Jerry in a particularly mean-spirited way wouldn't reflect well on that character, and Having likable and empathetic characters is crucial to the longevity of any show. Clearly, Parks and recreation achieved this balance very well, as it enjoys 93% Rotten tomatoes score and there is still interest in a revival to this day.
Our Take on Parks & Rec's Jerry's Humor
Why Jokes Don't Seem Mean (Even When They Were)
Many of Jerry's jokes in Parks and recreation are based on how forgettable he is, with characters, for example, frequently forgetting his name and calling him names like Lenny, Larry, and Gary. Most characters are not, however, apparently mean to himand the jokes are generally amusing.
There are times when Jerry's jokes could certainly be considered mean, but the show makes it clear that Jerry leads an extremely happy life with his family, and he easily ignores jokes about him. Jerry's attitude towards jokes allows them to be funny to the audienceas it probably would have been much harder to laugh at them if Jerry himself had been negatively affected. Ultimately, Parks and Recreation It successfully navigates Jerry's humor, and it's clear that Pratt played at least a small role in ensuring that what appeared on screen wasn't too cruel.
Source: Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation by Jim O'Heir (via Variety)