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If you enjoyed the TV show, Parks and Recreation, you’ll enjoy cast member Jim O’Heir’s new book. O’Heir played lovable oddball Jerry Gergich on the show, and his book delves deeply into the show and his character.

O’Heir actually auditioned for the role of Ron Swanson, the anti-government director of the department. That role went to Nick Offerman, but O’Heir was asked back to audition for Jerry, an undefined role that could become a regular member of the cast.

Jerry was a bit of a doormat on the show: overlooked, insulted and underestimated. O’Heir played him beautifully, and believably. O’Heir never played Jerry as a goof or a loser, Jerry always had dignity, even if others treated him badly. Jerry had a spirit that was never broken, just moderately abused. It took awhile for Jerry to become a regular member of the cast and for the producers to help develop his rhythm.

O’Heir includes sections written by the show’s creators, writers and others on Parks and Recreation’s conception and evolution. O’Heir and his book editor weave statements by producers and cast into the narrative. It’s quite interesting to see the block of granite chiseled and molded into a program that ran for seven seasons. One of the original ideas was a spinoff of The Office, but that idea was abandoned in favor of a show about public service.

Since Parks and Recreation left the air, O’Heir has done many things, including dinner theater. Recently, he performed in Catch Me If You Can at the New Theatre Restaurant.

In 2018, O’Heir won a daytime Emmy Award for his appearance on The Bold and the Beautiful.

If Parks and Recreation was not a favorite show, O’Heir’s won’t be a must read. On its own, Welcome to Pawnee, is funny and try to resist O’Heir’s nice guy affability. Show business has far more jerks and awful people than decent souls.

His story of meeting the late Mary Tyler Moore at an SNL after-party was both funny and relatable. Star-struck and unable to speak, Moore saved him by understanding and showing grace.

There are plenty of heartfelt moments in the book, and some really crappy ones. People was doing a feature on each of the Parks cast members, but only had room for some on the front page. O’Heir was one of those excluded; Amy Poehler put her foot down, People in Clyde’s everyone. There are other slights that came O’Heir’s way, but he showed persevered with dignity.

At the end of Catch Me if You Can, O’Heir addressed the audience and praised his fellow actors and the theatre, he genuinely felt the audience’s love.

It took me several chapters to really get into this book, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great job, Jerry, I mean Jim!

4/5

Enjoy some Jerry.