No one knew what Pawnee Mayor Walter Gunderson looked like until Tuesday’s episode of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”
“Saturday Night Live” alum and “St. Vincent” actor Bill Murray filled in as the deceased mayor in a surprise cameo with the show headed into its series finale. In a video message before his open-casket funeral, Gunderson offered advice to the town’s residents.
RIP Mayor Gunderson. #ParksandRec pic.twitter.com/i9nz75zyNp
— Parks and Recreation (@parksandrecnbc) February 18, 2015
“And if there is blame,” Gunderson said before pausing. “It’s your fault. Thank you.”
Reeling Murray in to the cast has been a vision of show star Amy Poehler for several years. In 2011, she openly wished for a visit to Pawnee by the “Ghostbusters” alum during a Paley Fest interview and later on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
Show creator Mike Schur said producers arranged a reshoot of Gunderson’s funeral once Murray joined.
“He was just the most delightful person,” Schur told Entertainment Weekly. “Not only was he incredibly complimentary of the show, he went around to every one of the actors and told them how great they were and cited specific episodes and moments. He hung out on the set for three hours, watching us shoot the show.”
NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” will air series finale “One Last Ride” Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 p.m.
Below is a Vine video of Murray’s appearance: