Jenny Slate and Henry Winkler recently reunited, delighting fans with a callback to a famous scene from their time on Parks and Recreation. The political satire sitcom aired on NBC, which ran from 2009-15, followed the daily lives and misadventures of local government employees working in the Parks department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Slate is known from Parks and Recreation's cast as Mona-Lisa Saperstein, half of the iconic twin duo that also includes Ben Schwartz's Jean-Ralphio, while Winkler plays the duo's father, Dr. Lu Saperstein, who reluctantly finances their schemes throughout the series.
Disguised as a superfan in the audience of The Drew Barrymore Show, Henry Winkler delighted Jenny Slate with a playful surprise Parks and Recreation reunion that immediately struck a chord with fans of the show. In a callback to one of Slate’s iconic lines ("Money, Please!"), Winkler asked, “I was just wondering, can I have some of that money back?” Slate burst into laughter before firmly responding with an amused, “No!” The two then shared a tearful hug as Winkler congratulated Slate on her new book, Life Form. Check out the heartwarming reunion below:
What Winkler & Slate's Reunion Means for Parks & Rec Fans
The Beloved Politically-Satirical Sitcom Left a Lasting Impact on Audiences
The unexpected reunion between Winkler and Slate has sparked excitement among longtime Parks and Recreation fans. Though it’s been nearly a decade since the show ended, the playful interaction between the actors reminds viewers of the chemistry that made Mona-Lisa and Dr. Lu Saperstein’s dysfunctional dynamic so memorable. Winkler’s callback to their iconic on-screen relationship, in which Dr. Saperstein begrudgingly bankrolling Mona-Lisa’s ridiculous behaviors, was a perfect nod to the humor that defined their characters.
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For fans, moments like these keep the spirit of Parks and Recreation alive, tapping into nostalgia while reinforcing the lasting cultural relevance of the sitcom. This reunion also hints at how beloved the show remains within both its cast and audience, preserving hope for future guest appearances, reunions, or potentially new spin-offs featuring familiar characters from Pawnee. Schwartz himself has expressed an openness to a Saperstein-focused Parks and Recreation spinoff, though admitted the biggest hurdle may be audiences putting up with the siblings for more than small snippets:
But I think people have asked me the question of, "Do you think Mona-Lisa"— Mona-Lisa is my twin sister on it, played by Jenny Slate — "and Jean-Ralphio would have a spinoff?" I mean, listen, how fun [it would be] to play in that world again, but I remember [ Parks & Rec co-creator) Mike Schur saying when we were doing interviews during one of the seasons, he loves Jean-Ralphio, and he's like, "But I think you got to have him in tiny little bursts. [Laughs] If you have 30 minutes of Jean-Ralphio, that is far too much Jean-Ralphio." And I think he may be right, but also listen, maybe it's time to do something crazy and try it out. But I do think it's just the energy of Jenny and I in a full episode just on us would be overwhelming, probably. But it would be so fun. Of course, it would be so fun. I love that whole team.
Our Take on the Iconic Callback
Who's Cutting Onions?
Winkler and Slate’s delivery perfectly encapsulates the absurd dynamic of Parks and Recreation's Saperstein family, that of a father continually enabling his self-centered children, only to find himself exasperated by their antics, and the bold and chaotic energy of Mona-Lisa. The authenticity in Slate's immediate "No!" highlights how much both actors still embrace the humor of their roles. It’s not just a funny inside joke between two co-stars, but is a love letter to the fans who continue to quote Mona-Lisa’s ridiculous one-liners many years after Parks and Recreation's ending.
Source: The Drew Barrymore Show
This political sitcom full of humor and heart follows the adventures of Leslie Knope, deputy director of the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Every week holds a new crisis of small-town politics, but Leslie and her friends work tirelessly to make Pawnee — and the world — a better place.
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