Christie Brinkley was a famous model long before she joined the cast of 'Parks and Recreation.' For many fans, just seeing her appear on the show was pretty surprising.
Most viewers were just as surprised as Garry/Jerry's coworkers to see Christie appear as Gayle Gergich. And maybe it was the promise of a solid paycheck that lured her in, but fans really had to wonder -- why did Christie join the sitcom cast?
How Did Christie Brinkley End Up On 'Parks And Rec'?
The short answer is that Christie wound up on the show because she was invited to join the cast. There apparently wasn't an audition to go through or any other 'test' before Brinkley was brought on board.
In fact, the crew was apparently so shocked to even get the chance at nabbing Christie for the show that they didn't believe they really had her signed on at first. The casting directors wanted "a Christie Brinkley type," they admitted, but no one thought the Christie would be willing to portray Jerry's wife.
They were shocked when she signed on, but they were also thrilled.
So Why Did Christie Brinkley Agree To Appear On The Show?
Ultimately, it may not have been Brinkley's dream gig to play the gorgeous wife of the often-underestimated Jerry. But as it turns out, one person was dead-set on Christie becoming the TV wife the cast dreamed of: her daughter.
Christie's daughter Sailor "was a huge fan," per Howard Stern, and she always appeared on set with her mom when it was Brinkley's time to shoot.
In fact, Sailor "urged" her mom to say yes to the opportunity. So while it might not have earned her megabucks in comparison to other gigs, Christie likely agreed to the role to charm her daughter, who also happens to be a model.
Then again, Brinkley has appeared on other sitcoms, too, so maybe this is a part-time hobby for the model and entrepreneur. Or maybe she just gets a kick out of her kids enjoying seeing her on shows like 'The Goldbergs.'
What Is Christie Brinkley Doing Now?
Now that 'Parks and Recreation' has long since ended, does Christie have any other plans to appear on TV shows? Though she had a guest role on 'The Goldbergs' most recently, Christie doesn't seem too keen to appear on TV again; her most recent role before that was on 'Nightcap' in 2017.
Of course, she's stayed plenty busy, launching a Prosecco brand and lounging on the beach on holiday. In fact, her Instagram followers are constantly asking Christie where she is and how she's found such gorgeous beaches to sunbathe on.
Clearly, her time as Gayle Gergich is closer to real-life than fans thought!
