Welcome to Pawnee : stories of friendship, waffles, and Parks and Recreation

Welcome to Pawnee Stories of friendship, waffles, and Parks and Recreation

Jim O'Heir, 1962-

Book - 2024

"For seven seasons, Leslie Knope and the Parks and Recreation gang charmed millions of viewers with their quirky antics and unwavering positivity. The sitcom continues to be a fan-favorite for streaming services today, nearly a decade after its finale. Now for the first time, Jim O'Heir, who played the lovable Jerry (or, well, Garry/Larry/Terry/Barry, depending on the episode), invites readers back to Pawnee for an exclusive look behind the scenes. Joined by some of his Parks and Rec pals, including Chris Pratt, Retta, Rob Lowe, and showrunners Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, O'Heir reveals how this "little show that could" came to be, thanks to the tireless dedication and comedic genius of Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, ...and the rest of the gang. As the show found its footing, the cast quickly bonded into a tight-knit family. Here O'Heir shares all his favorite unforgettable memories both on and off camera, from hilarious unscripted moments and epic dance-offs in the hair and makeup trailers, to iconic birthday parties at Rashida Jones's house and quiet bonfires in Nick Offerman's backyard. Welcome to Pawnee is O'Heir's loving tribute to Parks and Recreation, imbued with the same warmth and humor that endeared the show to millions"--

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Subjects
Parks and recreation (Television program)
Television series.
Situation comedies (Television programs)
Genres
Television series
Published
New York, NY : William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers [2024]
Language
English
Main Author
Jim O'Heir, 1962- (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
260 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm
ISBN
9780063293502
  • Boola Boola Boola!
  • The Incredibly Long-Winded and Exhaustively Untitled TV Project
  • Another Member of the Fam
  • Bond… Parks Bond
  • We're Not Gonna Take It
  • Karen, Richards, and Seaborn… Oh My!
  • Where Are My Guardians?
  • Always a Funnier Bit
  • Meet My Wife… She's a Supermodel
  • A Proposal, a Cancellation
  • The Beginning of the End
  • Near-Crimes and Missed-Demeanors
  • One Helluva Ride
  • That's a Wrap
  • Acknowledgments
Review by Booklist Review

NBC's Parks and Recreation was part of a golden era of American television: the mockumentary-loving Obama years, starring Chicago-bred improv talents straight from Second City and Saturday Night Live who drove some of TV's hottest sitcoms. Chicago comedy actor O'Heir played the lovable Jerry Gergich on Parks and Rec alongside icons Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. O'Heir's memoir is as sweet and sentimental as the character he portrayed, highlighting the joys of ensemble acting with such a talented group. Readers follow O'Heir's journey from small-town radio to guest starring on Friends to playing Christie Brinkley's husband and getting on-screen kissing advice from Rob Lowe. The book is peppered with oral history and photos from the show's creators (Mike Schur and Greg Daniels, also of The Office) and stars, including one of O'Heir's favorite former costars, Chris Pratt. O'Heir loves Pratt and remembers Pratt's character Andy Dwyer's humble beginnings at the bottom of a pit. (Parks fans will remember too.) O'Heir's memoir is a visit back to the optimism of 2000s TV.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In this tender debut memoir, O'Heir reflects on playing office manager Jerry Gergich on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009--2015). Detailing his time on the show, O'Heir recounts auditioning for the role of Ron Swanson (which went to Nick Offerman), his elevation to series regular during season two, and his emotional last day on set. The most illuminating sections discuss the trials of working as a character actor, with O'Heir discussing how he once dragged himself to set while battling food poisoning for fear of getting cut from an episode, and how he reminded himself to "be content" with his supporting role even as he sometimes felt left out (not yet a series regular, he wasn't invited on stage with the rest of the cast at the first season's wrap party). However, the cast bonded as the series progressed, and O'Heir's fond accounts of his friendships with his costars are perfectly aligned with Parks' compassionate ethos. For instance, O'Heir remembers how star Amy Poehler convinced Entertainment Weekly to reverse their decision to exclude him from a cast cover shoot by threatening to withhold her participation, and how Chris Pratt regularly checked in on him to make sure jokes about his character didn't get to him personally. Entertaining and full of heart, this is a must for Parks and Recreation devotees. Photos. (Nov.)

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