Jim O’Heir, who played the lovable but often mocked Jerry Gergich on Parks and Recreation, shared how his co-star, Chris Pratt, helped ensure that the jokes about his character didn’t cross the line into meanness. In his new book, Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation, O’Heir recalled a moment when Pratt checked in on him, concerned that some of the jokes about Jerry might be too harsh.
O’Heir remembered Pratt asking him, “I remember you, particularly more than some others, being worried about some of the Jerry bits being… mean.” He then asked Pratt if he remembered feeling concerned about it. Pratt admitted that he sometimes felt uneasy because he didn’t want the jokes to feel “meaner than they were funny.” As Pratt explained, he was careful about humor that might come off as too cruel. “If it’s a joke, it’s funny. But if it’s mean for the sake of being mean,” he said, adding that he’s not a fan of humor that targets people too harshly.
Pratt recalled a specific moment when he drew the line—when a printer at work spit out a sheet with “Jerry sucks” written on it. He didn’t think the moment was funny and made sure to voice his concern to O’Heir. “For the most part, I rolled with it, but there were a couple times where I think it went too far, and I was concerned for you,” Pratt said.
O’Heir, for his part, explained that while he was mostly focused on having fun and doing his job, he appreciated Pratt’s care and checking in with him. He described the support from Pratt and Amy Poehler as “unexpected and special.”
Pratt also reflected on how their bond grew from their shared Midwestern roots. “People from the Midwest — their love language is, like, teasing. You learn to take your lumps and roll with it,” he said, showing how their friendship and mutual respect developed, even amid the light-hearted teasing on set.