Last night marked the end of an era for fans of the beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation as the series finale aired after seven wonderful seasons. For many, including myself, saying goodbye to Pawnee and its quirky inhabitants is bittersweet. It’s especially hard to believe that I’ll no longer have the chance to step into the shoes of the wildly unpredictable Jean-Ralphio Saperstein. Playing this character has been an incredible journey filled with laughter and love.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the phenomenal cast, the brilliant team of writers, the visionary creator Mike Schur, and all the producers, directors, and crew members who made the magic of Pawnee come to life over these past six years. Every single person contributed to making the Parks and Rec experience so special.
And of course, a massive thank you to you, the fans. While Parks and Recreation might not have had the largest viewership, the dedication and creativity of our audience have been truly astounding. I have been saving countless drawings, memes, GIFs, Tumblr posts, tweets, and Instagram photos that you’ve created. Seeing people dress up as Jean-Ralphio for Halloween is still mind-blowing, and the fact that “Jean-Ralphio” trended worldwide on Twitter last night for the second week in a row is just unreal. It’s likely the last time “Jean-Ralphio” will ever trend, and that’s a beautiful thing to witness.
Trying my best not to give away any finale spoilers (but you can WATCH THE FINAL EPISODE HERE if you haven’t already!), I do want to share a little glimpse into Jean-Ralphio’s send-off. For those curious about how Jean-Ralphio’s story concludes, take a look at the clip below.
As a special treat for the eagle-eyed fans, Parks creator Mike Schur snuck a Jean-Ralphio Easter egg into the finale, and incredibly, many of you spotted it within minutes of the episode airing! Below is a screenshot of that Easter egg, hinting at what the future might hold for everyone’s favorite entrepreneur, Jean-Ralphio. Following that is a GIF capturing Jean-Ralphio’s very last frame.
Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart. I love my Parks and Rec family more than words can say. We all miss Harris Wittels deeply.
Jean-Ralphio Easter egg in Parks and Recreation series finale, hinting at his future endeavors.
Jean-Ralphio's final on-screen moment in Parks and Recreation, a GIF capturing his signature comedic timing.
