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AfterParks and Recairedits last episodeon February 24, 2015, O’Heir, who played government emplyoee Jerry a.k.a.
Better to leave the audience wanting more than to give them everything you think they need, she said.
Dressing as a coffeepot was certainly giving them something, though I dont know what.
Jim O’Heir and Aubrey Plaza.NBC
Of course, it helped that he and Amy are dear friends.
It never hurts to have a friend in Hollywood.
You cant get more perfect than that.
Jim O’Heir and his book, ‘Welcome to Pawnee’.William Morrow; Mitchell Haaseth/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
The convivial spirit was fired off before we even got on the soundstage.
That was the magic integral toParks -all for one and one for all.
And we all felt magical that night.
The cast of ‘Parks and Recreation’.Mitchell Haaseth/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Then it came time to do the show.
(Yes, even Mike accompanied us on TV.)
It was like he’d written the summary of this book, and of my life.
And I mean that with all the love, theres no one kinder and more gracious than Chris Pratt.
I love him with all my heart."
But this likely isnt the part you remember, nor the part I intended to tell you about.
Its merely background before the…
Okay, fine, Ill tell you.
It was Aubrey Plaza, who had leaned over Adam Scott and was now whispering in my ear.
“Do you want to make out during the credits?”
No preface, no irony, no bull crap.
A totally straightforward Aubrey/April-like question.
I dont recall what was going through my mind, if anything was at all.
I knew this: if Aubrey Plaza asks you to make out, then you make the heck out.
I just agreed to WHAT?!
The commercial break ended and Seth welcomed back the studio audience as well as the viewers at home.
Pratt had been given a guitar and was now standing front of stage, ready to launch into song.
When your lips meet, its all up to your scene partner.
If she parts her lips, then it’s possible for you to follow suit.
Basically, its whatever your scene partner is comfortable with."
If you watch the video, youll notice that this is no ordinary kiss.
Aubrey and I are engaged in a full-blown make-out sesh, like aCruel Intentionsmake-out.
(In this case, Im the saggy old lady.)
Either way, we were going at it.
The sacrifices I make for a laugh, let me tell you.
Who wouldve known that one hour later, wed be making out?
As a true front man should be.
He joked with me recently that Aubrey Plaza’s life is like performance art.
You see, this bit wouldnt have worked if shed decided to make out with Ben or Chris.
It worked because she made out with Jerry, whom her character was always so dismissive of.
It worked because shed chosen the fattest and oldest guy on set.
It worked because she pursued it with utmost conviction, in the only way Aubrey Plaza knows how.
To this day, Im frequently asked about this decision, whose idea it was and how it happened.
And I am proud to report that it was 100 percent not my idea - as if!
- and that all credit goes to Aubreys brilliance and devil-may-care spirit.
Did you see my face?"
The only time they had before was to get closer to the shows principals, I later learned.
“Jim OHeir,” came a voice, “what was it like kissing Aubrey Plaza?”
This illogical line of reasoning was followed by a third: “Are you two in a relationship?”
Yeah, yeah, I thought,Aubrey and I are getting hitched.
So, if you see me walking the big bad streets of New York, help a guy out!
The producers had rented a restaurant with an open bar with all the amenities.
Tons of great food and the jittery mood of celebration.
I couldnt have known any of that back then, so I took every minute of this party seriously.
By which I mean I partied!
We also watched the finale for the first time, as a cast, together.
We settled into seats as a TV was turned on and the opening credits rolled.
I didnt want to go out with a standard goodbye.
None of us cast members did.
Heck, for seven years, we felt we were always right where we needed to be.
Im not sure who initiated the hug, but it spread among the cast like an adorable octopus.
Once I saw its friendly tentacles approaching me, I received it in kind.
Soon, it comprised the whole cast, and the whole cast comprised it.
One big happy family hug.
I swear that that hug lasted a whole five minutes.
In relationships, you dont leave without hugging goodbye.
You hug and you stay hugging for a min- ute, maybe several.
In this case five.
You say, “I love you.”
You say, “Thank you so much.”
You say, “I cant wait to see you again soon.”
Excerpted from the bookWELCOME TO PAWNEE: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreationby Jim OHeir.
Copyright 2024 by Jim OHeir.
From William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
