Jean-Ralphio Saperstein | |
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Parks and Recreation character | |
First appearance | "The Set Up" (2010) |
Last appearance | "A Parks and Recreation Special" (2020) |
Portrayed by | Ben Schwartz |
In-universe information | |
Occupation | Co-creator of Entertainment 720 Salesman at Lady Foot Locker |
Family | Mona-Lisa Saperstein (twin sister) Dr. Lu Saperstein (father) |
Birth date | December 12, 1985 |
Jean-Ralphio Saperstein is a fictional character played by Ben Schwartz in the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation . He is the cocky friend of Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) and, like Tom, sees himself as a pickup artist and "baller", although he is looked upon with contempt by most people around him except Tom. [1] [2] Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) happily invests in Tom's "Rent-A-Swag" venture when he learns that for once Jean-Ralphio is not involved. He tries to dress stylishly, makes up and raps spontaneous rhymes but usually fails due to adding an extraneous word after the rhyme, and often speaks in slang terms, such as variations of the suffix -izzle as popularized by American rapper Snoop Dogg. For example, while comforting Tom at one point, Jean-Ralphio encourages him to "Turn that frizown upside-dizzity." [3]
At the end of the third season, Tom leaves his city hall job to start an entertainment company with Jean-Ralphio. Their venture quickly falls apart due to extravagant spending, and they both move on to other schemes. Jean-Ralphio's twin sister Mona-Lisa and their obstetrician father are also introduced in later seasons.
Jean-Ralphio is first introduced in "The Set Up,” when Tom brings him in for an interview to be Ron Swanson's new assistant; Jean-Ralphio is quickly rejected. [1] [4] In "Woman of the Year,” when Tom is trying to find investors to help him buy a share of the Snakehole Lounge nightclub, Jean-Ralphio contributes $5,000 of the remaining $6,000 Tom needs. Unable to raise the rest, the two approach Donna Meagle (Retta) about investing along with them, but after a sales pitch from Jean-Ralphio, Donna rejects them and tells Tom, in front of Jean-Ralphio, "I hate that guy." [1] [5]
Jean-Ralphio also appeared in "The Master Plan,” wherein April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) flirted with him at the Snakehole Lounge to make Andy jealous, prompting Andy to say about him, "That Ralph Macchio guy's a total douche." [6] [7] Jean-Ralphio also appears in "The Fight,” wherein he helps Tom raise awareness for his new drink, Snakejuice, at the Snakehole Lounge. At one point, after drinking Snakejuice and having a fight with Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), a drunken Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) demands to Jean-Ralphio, "Dance up on me.” which request he immediately and excitedly fulfills. [3] [8]
In the third season finale, "Li'l Sebastian,” Tom encourages Jean-Ralphio to start a multimedia entertainment company called Entertainment 720. After their first successful job organizing a memorial event for celebrity miniature horse Li'l Sebastian, Tom decides to quit his city hall job to work with Jean-Ralphio and the company, which opens a warehouse-sized modern office with strange decor, completely stark-white walls, and overpaid staff. [9] [10] Within six months, the company blows through its entire $450,000 start-up money, and is quickly defunct.
In the episode "Bailout,” Jean-Ralphio's sister Mona-Lisa Saperstein (Jenny Slate) begins working for, then enters into a sexual relationship with, Tom.
In season 6, Jean-Ralphio and Mona-Lisa's father, Dr. Saperstein (Henry Winkler) – an obstetrician who is often lied to by his children – makes an appearance. Under the impression that Tom unfairly drove Jean-Ralphio out of their business and took Mona-Lisa's virginity, Dr. Saperstein opens a competing apparel store across from Tom's store, Rent-a-Swag, in order to drive him out of business. In the series finale "One Last Ride,” Jean-Ralphio fakes his and Mona-Lisa's deaths, and tries to get insurance money to build a casino in Tajikistan. The twins are spotted by the funeral-goers and run away in panic. In another flash-forward scene in the same episode, Jean-Ralphio's name is visible on a bottle of champagne being served to Craig Middlebrooks and his husband. [11] Jean-Ralphio also confesses that he has been in love with Leslie for years.
In 2016, Schwartz and show creator Michael Schur jokingly confirmed a fan theory that Jean-Ralphio's real father is Stranger Things character Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), [12] given the similarities between the two characters.
Schwartz originally met with Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur to discuss playing a different role on the show, [13] and Schur liked him so much that the character Jean-Ralphio was created specifically for Schwartz. [14] Schwartz said the character had "just a couple of lines" at first, but was eventually expanded. [13] After making his first few appearances in the second season, Schwartz began to appear less frequently because he was cast in the NBC action spy series Undercovers , but he was able to return more often after it was cancelled. [13] [15] Schwartz was later cast in the Showtime series House of Lies , but Schur said they hoped to have Schwartz back "early and often.” [14] Like other cast members, Schwartz improvised a great deal during filming. [13]
In May 2011, Jean-Ralphio was placed number 7 on SplitSider's "The Ten Funniest Recurring Characters Currently on TV.” [16]
Parks and Recreation is an American political satire mockumentary sitcom television series created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. The series aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, for 125 episodes, over seven seasons. A special reunion episode aired on April 30, 2020. The series stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a perky, mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. The ensemble and supporting cast features Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford, Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Paul Schneider as Mark Brendanawicz, Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger, Jim O'Heir as Garry "Jerry" Gergich, Retta as Donna Meagle, and Billy Eichner as Craig Middlebrooks.
"Media Blitz" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 35th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 17, 2011. In the episode, the parks department tries to draw media attention for the upcoming harvest festival, but the press becomes fixated on Ben's past political mistakes. Meanwhile, Andy Dwyer takes on all of April Ludgate's errands with the hopes of convincing her not to move to Indianapolis.
"The Set Up" is the 13th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the nineteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on January 14, 2010. In the episode, Leslie is set up on a blind date with an MRI technologist, played by Poehler's then-husband, comedic actor Will Arnett.
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Ann Meredith Traeger, née Perkins, RN, portrayed by Rashida Jones, is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is a nurse and Leslie Knope's best friend.
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Ronald Ulysses Swanson is a fictional character portrayed by Nick Offerman in the political satire sitcom Parks and Recreation. The character was created by Michael Schur and Greg Daniels with inspiration from a real-life Libertarian elected official. Offerman provided creative input, and aspects of his own personality were folded into the character. Despite the creators' intentions, NBC was initially reluctant to cast Offerman in the role, until the network finally agreed five months later.
April Roberta Ludgate-Dwyer, née Ludgate, is a fictional character in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She is portrayed by Aubrey Plaza. She is first seen as an apathetic college student working as an intern in the Pawnee Department of Parks and Recreation, before being hired as Ron Swanson's assistant. She later becomes the Deputy Director of Animal Control. April, along with Plaza's performance, garnered universal acclaim and has gained popularity for her goth-like behavior and deadpan-style comedy.
"Woman of the Year" is the 17th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 23rd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 4, 2010. In the episode, Ron is presented with a woman of the year award, much to the frustration of Leslie. Meanwhile, Tom tries to seek investors in a nightclub ownership share, and April helps Andy look for an apartment.
"The Master Plan" is the 23rd and penultimate episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 29th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 13, 2010. In the episode, Pawnee's major budget problems result in state auditors arriving to make major cuts, much to Leslie's horror and Ron's delight. Meanwhile, Andy contemplates asking April to be his girlfriend, and Tom seeks a new girlfriend.
"Freddy Spaghetti" is the second season finale of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 30th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 20, 2010. In the episode, as Ron helps state auditors make governmental cuts amid a government shutdown, Leslie tries to save a children's concert starring musician Freddy Spaghetti. Meanwhile, Andy asks April to be his girlfriend, while Ann tries to cope with her renewed feelings for Andy following her breakup with Mark.
The third season of Parks and Recreation originally aired in the United States on the NBC television network between January 20 and May 19, 2011. Like the previous seasons, it focuses on Leslie Knope and her staff at the parks and recreation department of the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee. The season featured 16 episodes, most of which were approximately 22 minutes long each and aired at 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The season stars Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, and Rob Lowe, with supporting performances from Jim O'Heir and Retta.
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"Andy and April's Fancy Party" is the ninth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 39th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 14, 2011. In the episode, Andy and April hold a dinner party, which turns out to be a surprise wedding, much to Leslie's concern. Meanwhile, Ben mulls whether to remain in Pawnee or return to his old job in Indianapolis, and Ann feels extremely uncomfortable while attending a singles mixer.
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