We always talk about the sadness that comes with Saturday Night Live cast members departing the show, but the truth is every time someone leaves, it also leads to additional opportunities. The most obvious of those opportunities comes in the form of screentime, but there are also additional benefits like more access to writers, better offices and hilariously in the case of Seth Meyers, his preferred cue card holder.

Meyers was recently asked about cue card master Wally Feresten during a Q&A with the audience on his talk show. After praising Wally and calling him “the best ever,” Meyers admitted that when his longtime Weekend Update partner Amy Poehler left SNL, he was elated when he realized that meant he’d get to start using Wally for himself from that point forward. Here’s a portion of his quote...

Saying Meyers has a strong relationship with Feresten would be an understatement. The cue card writer and holder, who has been with SNL since 1990, actually now pulls double duty and works on Late Night With Seth Meyers, as well. In fact, during the same conversation with the audience, Meyers said he thinks at this point, Wally has held up the cue cards for 95% of all the words he’s ever spoken on television. Given his lengthy career, that’s a huge statement.

Meyers and Poehler tag teamed the Weekend Update desk during Seasons 32 and 33 and part of Season 34. After Poehler left the show to star in Parks & Recreation, Meyers then manned the desk by himself (with the help of Wally) until Season 39 when Cecily Strong was added. That turned into Strong and Colin Jost, which turned into Colin Jost and Michael Che, who have shared the desk for the last decade plus since Season 40.

Meyers, of course, transitioned from the Update desk to his own talk show, Late Night With Seth Meyers, that has produced more than 1,800 episodes in the years since. Feresten has been around that entire time, and he remains an active part of SNL, where he’s now one of the longest serving crew members. Meyers himself also still shows up from time to time.

You can watch Meyers gush about Wally in the full video below…

As for what changes we might see at SNL before the next season, that’s still an open question. Rumors, as always, are swirling about everyone from longtime showrunner Lorne Michaels to Weekend Update hosts Jost and Che, but we likely won’t have any official word until much closer to the season. It’ll be sad to see anyone leave, but as always, it’ll just create additional opportunities for screentime and access to beloved employees like Wally.

There’s no question David Letterman left a major mark on the late night landscape, particularly during his time on The Late Show over at CBS. Celebrities over the course of decades interacted with the famously curmudgeonly man, who often kept people on their toes with acerbic observations and pointed questions. Letterman would later say he “had it coming” when it came to any “criticism” lobbed his way, but did you know the late night host was so eccentric that major stars were told not to compliment him?

It’s not the only example of eccentric behavior by late night hosts, but Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling both got candid about their experiences with Dave recently.

Mindy Kaling And Amy Poehler Revealed They Were Advised Not To Be Too Nice To Letterman

Kaling recently gave Amy Poehler a compliment of the highest order when she said she loved the positive vibes the other NBC comedian brings to her now-famous “Good Hang” podcast. You can feel the love in the room, but amusingly Kaling set up this compliment by pointing out she and Poehler used to get told “it’s like an insult” to say something nice about David Letterman.

The warning from her agents really stuck with her for years. In fact, it led her to go on shows over and over again where she spent time worrying about it not being “cool” to say something nice. She’s been working on it, and she wanted to tell Poehler she was a fan of the way "Good Hang" works in light of that.

Amy Poehler was also very familiar with the Letterman advice. Interestingly, when Kaling complimented her, Poehler in her typical way also did deflect the former Mindy Project star’s compliment, joking:

So, maybe not taking a compliment is an epidemic among hosts? Though, I will say Poehler was good-natured about the whole conversation, and it’s always fun when totally unrelated factoids about other people get brought up by celebrities. In this case, David Letterman is famously known for hating compliments, and this specific topic has come up again and again over the years.

Letterman Himself Has Admitted He Hates Compliments

Probably the most specific incident came in 2017, just two years after David Letterman had retired from The Late Show. That year, the former host was given an award: The Mark Twain Prize For American Humor. This meant there was an event and a bunch of celebrities attended. It also meant there were a lot of nice things said about Letterman, who even the Washington Post noted at the time, “hates compliments.” In fact, when asked about people fawning over him, he admitted the whole thing was cringy to him.

David Letterman’s entire comedic persona lives on that edge between funny and uncomfortable. He’s often at his most engaging and amusing when there’s just a sliver of awkwardness between himself and whomever he is talking with, whether that be a celebrity, a journalist, or just someone random he happens to be chatting with. He's always willing to ask the uncomfortable thing, and that sometimes made him the less popular late night host during his run.

No one is perfect, of course, and that means sometimes he doesn't tow that line correctly. Other times he does things like compare The Late Show ending to an adult bookstore coming in, and it works perfectly. No matter what, though, you never really know exactly what’s going to come out of Dave’s mouth. I’m sure that can be very difficult, particularly when you are early in your celebrity career, wearing uncomfortable celebrity fashion, and trying to make a positive impression on late night – without literally saying anything positive to said host.

Tom Holland has more than proven how committed he is to the role of Spider-Man since being cast in the coveted role over a decade ago. Something that was clear from the jump was Holland’s physical prowess and commitment to doing stunts. That devotion has apparently remained with him on his Marvel films and on other projects. However, one of his co-stars seemingly joked about the notion of him needing to slow down. Based on their comments, it sounds like Holland may be getting too old for this sh….

Ahead of Holland’s appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the host spoke with his good buddy, Jacob Batalon, who showered Holland with plenty of love. Talk eventually turned to Holland’s habit of doing a lot of stuntwork, and Batalon seems to be impressed by his friend/co-star’s on-set feats. However, with Holland now having reached the age of 30, Batalon humorously discussed how things have changed just a bit:

Poehler shared that concern and hilariously asserted her intention to implore Holland to stop doing stunts altogether. From there, she and Batalon joked about there not needing to be any kind of big action scenes in the Spider-Man movies at all, with Poehler even quipping that Peter simply “learns to do his taxes” in a future movie. Amid that part of the discussion, Batalon also shared this funny take:

First and foremost, the thought of Tom Holland getting older makes me (someone who has a few years on him) feel even older. So, as I crack my back while thinking about that, I’m reminded of an iconic quote from a beloved action franchise. Based on the headline, some may have made a connection to the Lethal Weapon series. Those who’ve seen any of those films likely know that after anything crazy happens, Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh hilariously utters the following phrase:

Tom Holland obviously isn’t as old as Glover was when he played Murtaugh for the first time back in the mid-’80s, and Holland is also still in relatively good shape. However, the point about him starting to get a little old to do as many stunts is valid. While the British star has performed aerial work as Spider-Man and completed difficult stunts for Uncharted, even he’s admitted that his recovery time takes a little longer now. Just last year, Holland recalled attempting a backflip and, while he nailed it, he pulled every muscle in his stomach.

Even though Holland’s not quite as young as he used to be, BTS videos from Spider-Man: Brand New Day seem to suggest that he’s still committed to doing some stuntwork. I applaud the actor’s commitment, and I’m hopeful that it’ll contribute to what should be an action-packed film. Later in his interview with Poehler, though, Holland did admit that his desire to do stunts had “dwindled” due to him having an amazing stunt team. So maybe he’ll look to rein in just how much he does moving forward. We’ll see but, then again, we do live in a world where Tom Cruise still does massive stunts in his 60s and, given his drive, I’m not sure if he would consider himself too old for this sh… well, you get what I mean.

See Tom Holland’s latest turn as Marvel’s beloved wall-crawler when Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31 amid the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, check out the previous films in the franchise by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription.

So, I feel like I blinked and now I’m already on Season 3 of Parks and Recreation again. I was overwhelmed one day and decided to watch an early episode of the show, and have since continued the rewatch on other nights where I just want to decompress. This time around, I’m feeling reflective about how this show and some other series like it have been there for me like a funny friend in times when I've needed it.

How Parks And Recreation Has Helped Me With My Mental Health

Like so many people, I found Parks and Recreation on a streaming service years after it’d already been on the air. I was actually in my freshman year of college when I decided to watch it. Looking back, I was dealing with a lot of uncertainty over living away from home and practically starting my life over for the first time. That year, not only did I watch every season of Parks and Recreation, but I also got through all of another perfect long-binge show, Friends, too.

In retrospect, that was kind of a lot of hours by myself. But I also had a great freshman year. I literally met the core group of college friends who I don’t go very long without seeing over a decade later.

Even so, it's interesting to think about how having comedy shows in my routine was giving me the dopamine hits I needed to help get through a difficult transition period. I didn’t even really know I was dealing with mental health issues or how to treat them back then, which I’ve since had my own journey with, and still, I go back to comedy as medicine, and I think I always will.

Why It’s My Perfect Comfort Show

I’ve gone back and watched the show quite a few times over during moments where I’ve needed more levity. This time around, I’ve been thinking about how much I’m enjoying Parks and Rec, but I don't really “need” to the degree that I used to. I have a lot more tools that help me with my mental health than the citizens of Pawnee. I find myself very grateful for the time when it was there for me, and that it can be there for me again whenever I need some extra laughs in my life.

Clearly, I’m not alone. Everyone's got their comfort on TV – whether it be scary movies, reality TV shows or whatever. As I rewatch Parks and Recreation, I’ve asked myself, “What is it about it?” One thing I really love is Leslie Knope and her endless strength and optimism to fight for what she believes in at work. Similarly to her, I have an idealistic sensibility, and watching her personality clash with her reality, where things absolutely do not go how she envisions them, not only makes for hilarious moments but is really cathartic for me as well. Then there's the found family of it all. It's so fun to see these characters who are inherently different despite it all get along. It's kind of utopian in a way.

But, honestly, there’s so much I love about Parks and Rec still. I’m loving the slow-burn romance between Leslie and Ben and all the platonic friendships in it. They feel like my family and friends in a sense because it’s been more than a TV show to me, and I think that’s really special.

I have a hard time picking out a more joyous time of year than one in which at least three different versions of Jeopardy! are part of the yearly TV schedule. This week marks the game show’s triple eclipse, where the flagship show and both of its spinoffs are airing daily (with ESPN Jeopardy! on the horizon). Sadly, Celebrity Jeopardy!’s fourth season and its cast of returning all-stars are going away soon, but with a new season already locked in for ABC’s fall lineup.

When I talked to Ken Jennings about this latest celeb-filled season, I had to ask if he had any Hollywood GOATs that he’d want to see holding a buzzer in the future, and I kinda need both of his answers to show up now, because they’re great choices. As the host put it:

Now that it's been said, let's amplify that out to the rest of the universe: "Hey, Donald Glover and Amy Poehler! Agree to be on Celebrity Jeopardy! in Season 5 or 6 or something! Please make Ken's wishes come true!"

That's probably enough. Although if neither the Community vet nor the Parks and Recreation vet are set to compete in the new season this fall, I will assume everyone else out there wasn't giving it their all. Or maybe this psychic helmet I bought from that guy's refurbished school bus isn't actually a psychic helmet at all.

In any case, I also think that both Glover and Poehler would do well on Celebrity Jeopardy! The latter likes to poke fun at herself on her podcast Good Hang, but most comedians are self-deprecating in that way. And to that end, the first three celebrity champions have all been comedic performers —Ike Barinholtz, Lisa Ann Walter and W. Kamau Bell. Ipso facto, both of them should just agree to be on there already. It's been like two paragraphs and nothing yet?

Ken Jennings spoke to the idea that because celebrities aren't usually put in positions where there's a chance for failure, simply agreeing to be a Jeopardy! contestant takes a certain amount of courage.

If the categories and clues on Celebrity Jeopardy! were on the same level of difficulty as the mothership, I could understand being hesitant to get on board, even with charity involved. But the spinoff definitely works on a bell curve in that respect, making it slightly easier to build up bigger paydays across the three rounds of play. Maybe it would help if Donald Glover could play in character as Childish Gambino. Whatever the case, have they agreed yet? Still no, huh? Sigh.

The final week of Celebrity Jeopardy!, wrapping on May 15, airs nightly on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET, with episodes streaming the next day via Hulu subscription and Disney+ subscription. Pop Culture Jeopardy! Is also available to stream daily for a glorious four-week stretch via Netflix subscription.

When it comes to awards shows in the entertainment world, people say that it’s an honor just to be nominated. I’ve begun to believe that more and more over the years, and now I know it’s even more true than I thought, because it turns out sometimes being nominated can be near impossible. That became clear when I learned about an Emmy rule that has made it so one of Meryl Streep's performances can't be recognized this year.

Every award show needs to have rules regarding what it takes to be nominated for a given award, and those rules will always change over time in an attempt to find the most appropriate balance. However, one recent rule change regarding acting nominations for the Emmys really doesn’t seem right, as it's arguably screwed over a lot of great performances.

The Emmys Made A Change To Its Guest Performer Rules

Variety reveals that at the beginning of 2025, the TV Academy, which runs the Emmys, made a rule change that stated that an actor who previously had been nominated for a Lead or Supporting acting Emmy could not submit their name in the Guest Performance category for the same role. The problem, according to one veteran publicist, is that it keeps dramatic performances from multi-season series out, while still leaving the door open to say, a former Saturday Night Live cast member who returns to host the show. They said…

One major example of this is Meryl Streep. She was nominated for Supporting Comedy Actress for Season 3 of Only Murders in the Building. Then, she returned as the same character in a guest star capacity for the next two seasons. However, the rule made her ineligible to submit for Guest Performance for Season 4 of the show, and she isn’t eligible for Season 5 for the same reason.

The rule also bars James Marsden, who was nominated for Supporting Drama Actor for the first season of Hulu’s Paradise. He only appeared in two episodes of Season 2, which wouldn’t qualify him for the supporting category this year, but he can't be submitted for Guest Performance either because of the rule.

At the same time, somebody like Amy Poehler, who was nominated for Emmys more than once for her years as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, can be submitted as a Guest Performance for hosting a Season 51 episode, because as the “host,” she’s not playing the same role.

It has to be said, this rule does feel like splitting hairs. It’s an odd punishment for success because if Meryl Streep or James Marsden hadn’t had their larger performances deemed worthy of nomination, they would be fully eligible to be nominated in the Guest role. It also doesn’t appear that the rule works in reverse. If somebody is nominated in the Guest Performance role and is then promoted to a larger role in a later season, the double nomination appears to be possible.

Emmy nominations for this year will be announced in July. If your favorite Guest Performance isn’t nominated, it’s worth remembering that it may not be because it wasn’t great, it may have just been against the rules.

Through starring in one of the best sitcoms of all time, Parks and Recreation, as well as her directorial work and podcast, Amy Poehler has demonstrated the importance of leading women taking charge. However, she's also been given studio notes regarding whether men will care about the work she's doing. Now, she's shared her strong take on that note and creating work that's by and for women.

Oftentimes, men are treated like the default audience with the assumption that women’s stories do not have universal appeal. Amy Poehler made sure to illustrate that point to Viola Davis on an episode of Good Hang by recalling the studio note she once got about whether men would care about her work:

The Baby Mama star couldn’t be more accurate. While it’s understandable to want to make a project that appeals to a broad audience, there are also plenty of movies that are clearly catered toward men. Seeing as women make up the other half of the population, projects should be made for them too. On top of that, movies and shows made by and for both men and women can appeal to anyone; it's not exclusive.

On the podcast episode, Viola Davis also spoke about notes she's gotten. While making her 2022 movie The Woman King, she was told, “less dirt, more lipstick.” With the historical drama being the true story of the female Agojie warriors who stood together to fight oppression, we need more movies about women supporting women to show that female unity, courage, and leadership are important stories to tell.

Poehler's Parks and Rec character, Leslie Knope, was a kickass female lead, too. Her iconic TV quote of how “it’s time for more women to be in charge” certainly left a mark on me, and the show features tons of examples of her celebrating female friendships and dealing with misogyny and people underestimating her.

Not only did Amy Poehler make a splash starring in one of the best sitcoms in NBC history, but she also created the foundation Smart Girls, which helps young women approach their problems with humor. Its YouTube channel has over 136K subscribers.

The comedic actress also said that when it came to her directorial works, Wine Country and Moxie, she wanted to spend time telling stories that matter to her. Notably, both movies star an ensemble of female characters who navigate friendship and personal growth together.

Amy Poehler's work has proven that people (not just women) care about stories that are led by and made for women. Just look at the success of shows like Parks and Rec and movies like Mean Girls. Now, seeing as she is the co-creator of the upcoming Peacock series Dig, which is about four female archeologists, it looks like her days of creating ensemble female projects are far from over. If male audiences are willing to give the new comedy series a chance, it could once again prove that projects that are led by women are more than capable of generating universal appeal.

Jennifer Lawrence is know for being candid in Hollywood. From occasionally dropping f-bombs, to being open about choosing to drop trou for movies like No Hard Feelings and even her more recent post-partum filmed flick Die My Love, her no-holds-barred takes draw attention. In general, her candor in Hollywood is refreshing and delightful, but even knowing the actress is going to say her piece, I was still surprised she admitted to one nickname her friends have given her. It's not J-Law, either.

Amy Poehler ran down a bunch of Jennifer Lawrence’s personal life stuff in her recent Good Hang episode. Some of what they spoke of is stuff Lawrence has been candid about in the past, things like getting famous at a young age and becoming a mom while still developing her Hollywood career. Somewhat unexpectedly, though, Poehler asked her about various nicknames she has, and I didn’t see one racier nickname coming.

It’s hard for a non-comedian to make Amy Poehler laugh super aggressively, but the podcast host was very amused by the “full government name” comment from the Die My Love star. Lawrence is often very funny without seemingly trying, though she’s said her over-the-top personality being everywhere in the past is a reason fans get “sick” of her from time to time. While Boobs Lawrence is the real funny moment, here, this isn’t the first time she’s brought up the Nitro nickname, though, as she previously said it was short for “nitroglycerine.”

She also admitted another one of the other nicknames her friends have for her that, in my opinion, feels a little bit mean-spirited. She shared her friends troll her with a Barbie-adjacent nickname when she’s being “stupid.”

It’s not like people go around talking about Jennifer Lawrence like they do Sydney Sweeney’s body, so I wish we knew the origin story behind that joke-y nickname. It could be because she’s so open about not caring “about nudity” when it comes to her upcoming movie roles, or it could be something else entirely. Either way, Lawrence’s friends definitely don’t treat her with kid gloves in the nickname department.

Elsewhere in the interview, Lawrence did speak about her fashion sense and how she definitely does not like going frumpy on top and tight on the bottom, though tight on top is fine. So, I suppose that could have prompted the nickname as well. Please note, however, that no one in her personal life comes anywhere close to calling her JLaw, a public nickname that would later inspire a Star Trek character. (Though please also note Amy Poehler did let that nickname slip during this episode, too.)

Along with being a fan of Jennifer Lawrence’s best movies, I am also always here for her viral moments. From JLaw’s viral Housewives takes to hilarious clips like the one of her and Robert Pattinson talking about Gen Z, I can’t get enough. Now, we have another silly interaction to add to this catalog, as she revealed which Shania Twain song is her go-to karaoke track while chatting with Amy Poehler. What makes it even better, though, is that Shania Twain reacted to it.

Jennifer Lawrence Shared Her Go-To Karaoke Song

Jennifer Lawrence was asked what her go-to karaoke song was on Good Hang. And Amy Poehler barely got the question out before The Hunger Games star answered with the following words:

Literally, this answer came without hesitation. Then, without hesitation, once again, Jennifer Lawrence started singing the song, which you must see:

Her commitment to the bit here is reminiscent of how hard comedians commit to an impression on SNL. Lawrence really went for it as she belted “Any Man of Mine,” and I 1,000% believe that she’s ready to get up on a karaoke stage at any time to sing it.

People absolutely adored this rendition of “Any Man of Mine” too. In the comments of Good Hang’s clip, people were writing things like:

• *kicks through door* LETS GO GIRLS 🤠🤠 -HouseOf Dianna
• ANY MAN OF MINNNNEEEE, BETTER WALK THE LINEEEEE 🎶 -miffylvr69_.x.
• Shania is ALWAYS a good idea for Karaoke. Jen understands. -Smartassrosa
• Never felt closer to J-Law as a Canadian 🥰 -The Sheri & Woody Show
• Top tier karaoke song -Allie Minton

That last comment is right, this is a top-tier karaoke song, and I’m glad JLaw made that clear. And to make her claim even better, Shania Twain responded.

Then, Shania Twain Responded

Now, is Jennifer Lawrence singing particularly well in this video? No (even though we know she can, because her singing “The Hanging Tree” was a great music moment from 2014). That’s what makes it so good. She went full karaoke mode here. Fans loved it too, and so did Shania Twain, as she retweeted the clip on X and wrote:

It truly is so perfect. This video totally encapsulates why Jennifer Lawrence is so funny, and it very clearly shows off her love for the “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” singer.

I also love that this is another example of Twain reacting to celebrities who wind up intertwined with her. For example, she had a hilarious reaction to a meme involving one of her songs and Jason Kelce. So, I love that she has a good sense of humor about all this.

Overall, this whole situation does, as Shania Twain would say, “impress me much.” Clearly, it impressed the singer that much too. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go sing “Any Man of Mine” at the top of my lungs.

SPOILERS ahead for Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, now streaming with a Disney+ subscription or Hulu subscription.

Wow, what a finale! While the arrival of Percy Jackson's Season 2 closer sadly means no new episodes for a while, we can rest assured knowing that Season 3 is already underway and will eventually head to the upcoming TV schedule. When CinemaBlend spoke to the series’ showrunners, they spilled the tea on two big casting additions for the upcoming adaptation of The Titan’s Curse.

How Amy Poehler Factored Into Kate McKinnon's Percy Jackson Casting

Back in October, it was announced that none-other-than Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon would be joining the next season as the goddess of love, Aphrodite. During our chat with the showrunners, Dan Shotz told me how he landed on casting the comedian in the role of a Greek god, and it turns out, another SNL alum was inadvertently involved.

He’s talking about Good Hang With Amy Poehler, of course, which was one of the 2026 Golden Globe winners, earning its W for “Best Podcast.” Now we know that the podcast was actually the reason why McKinnon was picked to be in Percy Jackson Season 3, I only love Poehler's interview series more. Shotz also told CinemaBlend what happened after the October episode of Good Hang the actress appeared in.

Percy Jackson meets Aphrodite in the third book, The Titan’s Curse, who is very interested in the demigod’s love life, of course. I can just imagine the funny bits McKinnon is going to create with the character.

Percy Jackson Showrunners Told Me About Getting Marvel's Dafne Keen, Too

In addition to McKinnon, another big get for Season 3 was Dafne Keen, who famously played Laura Kinney / X-23 in Logan and Deadpool & Wolverine. Here’s what Shotz said about nabbing the actress for the role of Artemis:

Artemis is the goddess of the moon, who ends up helping Percy and his friends in The Titan’s Curse when they face the manticore. She has a crew of young women called the Hunters of Artemis. Shotz’s comments about Season 3 of Percy Jackson definitely has us excited about what’s to come. The production recently reprised filming the remaining third of the season that’s left to film, and Season 3 is set to come out later this year.

While we look forward to it, you can check out our interview with Rick Riordan about adapting Thalia’s story this season.

Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most fashionable celebrities in Hollywood, whether she’s showing up to glitzy red carpets in a stunning gown or strolling around New York City. So if you’ve ever wanted to know her best fashion advice, Amy Poehler just asked her. J-Law offered up some great tips, but she also called out what she thinks as her own body-type shortcomings while she was at it.

Lawrence is the latest guest to appear on Good Hang With Amy Poehler, and when the podcast host asked her about how she picks her clothes, here’s what she had to say:

Well, there you go. Jennifer Lawrence shared that one piece of fashion advice she stands by is not wearing a baggy top with tight bottoms, because it makes people look like “a lamp.” She suggests people either go full baggy for their top and bottom, or wear tight on the top and baggy on the bottom. I don’t know about you, but I’m taking notes. She also said this:

As it goes, even if you’re a big-shot movie star like J-Law, the grass always seems greener on the other side for us women, doesn't it? During the interview, Poehler was talking about how being 5’2 makes it difficult to shop for clothes, to which Lawrence (who is 5’9) shared her own perceived shortcomings. Lawrence also said this about how she keeps her style fresh:

Rather than holding on to her clothes for too long, Jennifer Lawrence said she’s always throwing out the old, and bringing in stuff that she likes. And since she’s always being photographed by the paparazzi, she’s often planning her outfits. The Oscar winner said she often hopes to emulate an “effortless” sense of fashion when she leaves her home with a light chuckle.

When it comes to wearing clothes she likes on her, Lawrence said it's gratifying because it makes you "feel like your representing yourself accurately." The actress has been promoting her 2025 film Die, My Love for awards season recently, which she earned a 2026 Golden Globe nomination for, though Jessie Buckley won that category for Hamnet.

While it’s not confirmed, Jennifer Lawrence is said to be a part of The Sunrise on the Reaping, which is the latest of upcoming book adaptations from the Hunger Games movies. Her next starring role is in Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s next movie, What Happens At Night, which is reportedly expected to start shooting next month.

Gwyneth Paltrow is an Oscar-winning actress and business owner who has been in the public eye for decades. During that time her personal life has made headlines, including her relationship with Brad Pitt and famouly consciously uncoupling with ex Chris Martin. But it turns out that she was actually fired from a movie in the midst of that divorce, seemingly due to all the press surrounding the former couple at that point in time.

While Paltrow is proud of introducing conscious uncoupling to the masses, it turns out that the press that all the headlines she made at that time did have a negative affect on her acting career. Because while she was already playing Pepper Potts in the MCU (streaming with a Disney+ subscription), one studio tried to distance itself from her. While appearing on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, the Goop founder admitted she lost a job as a result of her divorce, saying:

Ouch. Despite already being an Oscar-winner with a long and impressive resume, it sounds like one distributor was worried her diorce press would negatively affect a movie she was attched to. And as a result, they promptly fired Gwyneth Paltrow. Although now I'm dying to know exactly what the movie was, and how well it ended up doing at the box office.

They say all press is good press, but it seems like that wasn't the belief held about Paltrow as she was divorcing Chris Martin. While speaking with Poehler, she got real about what an emotional gut punch it was being dropped from that unnamed project, saying:

Divorces are difficult for most people, but being a celebrity makes it into a very public matter. Just look at former couples like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Unfortunately for Paltrow, she also had to deal with the disappointment of losing a job at the same time.

While speaking with the star of Parks & Recreation (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription), Paltrow went on to speak about the backlash that came as a result of her famous "conscious uncoupling" comments. She empathized, sharing:

Sound like the actress has had the time to reflect on why some people were mad about the way she approached her divorce from Chris Martin. And rather than feeling defensive, she understands why it might have felt like a personal attack for some folks. As she went on:

In the end, the term conscious uncoupling has been adopted by other famous celebrity couples, including those who are coparenting in the midst of their split. And while Paltrow lost one movie job, she's now in total control over when she returns to acting while working on Goop. So things worked out in the end.

Gwyneth Paltrow is currently in theaters in Marty Supreme opposite Timothée Chalamet. Although I'm still curious about which movie dropped her during the divorce.

Maya Rudolph is a woman who has conquered a lot of mountains in her comedy career. She’s been a Groundling and an SNL star; she made millions laugh with the studio hit Bridesmaids; she even added executive producer to her resume with the TV series Loot. However, one thing she always wanted to do was do a Presidential impression in front of Lorne Michaels and her peers. Yet, she never thought she’d live to see the day.

Recently, Rudolph had a “Good Hang” with Amy Poehler on her podcast, and Rudolph opened up about getting that phone call from Lorne she’d dreamt about for years, though it apparently came after the world already thought she'd said yes. As a POC woman, the funnywoman just never thought there would be a person running on the Presidential ticket who looked anything like her.

The actress told Poehler she’s usually bullish about trying anything her peers throw at her, but in the case of playing a political figure, you really have to “resemble” the person, and she just didn’t see the moment coming in her lifetime.

Then, Kamala Harris came along at a time when a lot of folks from older SNL casts were coming back to make their marks on political figures. Dana Carvey was coming back to play Joe Biden, and she got the chance to do an SNL episode with him.

What Maya Rudolph Realized She'd Learned From Dana Carvey When They Did SNL Together

in the comedienne's own words, Dana Carvey was a part of "her" cast of SNL, the one she'd grown up with and, consciously or subconsciously, emulated in her own comedy style. She was hit on the head with this truth when she finally interacted with one of her idols in person.

It’s always nice when this sort of epiphany moment happens, but it’s also sort of flabbergasting for me as an SNL viewer to just think about the number of things that needed to happen historically in order to get Maya Rudolph and Dana Carvey on a stage together. The end result was nothing short of perfection.

We know eventually Biden dropped out of the race, leaving Kamala as the Presidential candidate after a disaster debate that Dana Carvey said he later knew signaled his “doom.” Later, Rudolph actually got to do a cold open with Kamala Harris, a history-making TV moment. While there have been a lot more of James Austin Johnson's impressive Donald Trump impressions on the show in recent months, Maya Rudolph still sounds grateful for the opportunity and the people she got to work with during the last election.

James Cameron movies are known for being visual spectacles, from Terminator to Titanic to the Avatar films (which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription). While he's currently celebrating Fire and Ash hitting theaters, the visionary filmmaker recently spoke about a joke Amy Poehler made about his former marriage and career at the Golden Globes over a decade ago. And it sounds like he's still pretty offended.

For a few years the Globes were hosted by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, who became synonymous with throwing barbs at the celebrities in the audience during their opening monologue. James Cameron caught a stray back in 2013, and he recently broke his silence about that viral moment. Let's break it all down.

What James Cameron Recently Said About The Globes Joke

James Cameron has been keeping busy promoting the third Avatar movie, and has been musing about his career as a whole along the way. During an interview with The New York Times, he addressed being mocked by Poehler at the Golden Globes over a decade ago. The joke was referenced both his reputation as a "scary" director and his former marriage to filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow. The director told the publication:

It sounds like this dig bothered the director. Not only because of the content of the joke, but because of how viral it went and the way it was received in the room. Indeed, the audience at the 2013 Golden Globe ceremony had a huge reaction, with big laughs and looks of shock happening by the various TV and film stars in attendance. As the director says, this highlighted how some people think of Cameron... even if they haven't actually worked with him.

What Amy Poehler Said About James Cameron

So what exactly what the dig that's still bothering Cameron all these years later? In their opening monologue, the two hosts referenced how his ex Kathryn Bigelow was nominated for her work on Zero Dark Thirty, an acclaimed political thriller which depicted scenes of torture. That's when Poehler made the the joke:

Obviously the star of Parks & Recreation (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription) wasn't the only one responsible for this joke, but she was the one who physically said it years ago. The shady moment quickly went viral and, as Cameron admits, got a huge response in the room. You can check out a clip of that moment below, courtesy of Twitter.

While casual viewers of the Golden Globes might have forgotten about this joke, it's clear that James Cameron himself has not. Despite how this joke was aimed at his reputation, he's stayed busy in the years since, releasing both Avatar: The Way of Water and Fire and Ash.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list, and the previous two movies are streaming over on Disney+.

Bloopers are inevitable when it comes to live television, and Saturday Night Live's gaffes can almost be funnier than the actual sketches when the seasoned cast members can't help but crack up. That's as true as ever in the 2025 TV schedule, but Amy Poehler reflected on an episode with Jason Bateman that had her screaming in fear rather than breaking into laughter on camera. Her story just backs up Bateman's story about his chimpanzee struggles on the series, and both accounts suggest that the situation could have gone much, much, much worse.

Amy Poehler welcomed Ariana Grande to the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast, and the Wicked: For Good star asked about a memorable blooper from Poehler's SNL days. The Parks and Rec vet went all the way back to a sketch called "Monkeys Throwing Poop At Celebrities" in Season 30 in 2005 for her choice, and it really seems more traumatic than silly even 20 years later. She shared:

If "Monkeys Throwing Poop At Celebrities" featured smaller monkeys, the story might have seemed like a laugh rather than a terrifying memory. If you know anything about chimpanzees (or watched Chimp Crazy on HBO), you've likely heard the stories of chimps viciously attacking humans who believed that they were domesticated and safe to be around.

Luckily, that wasn't the case with the primate that came to SNL, and the sketch wasn't such an on-screen disaster that viewers could tell that Amy Poehler got a scare. Take a look below, or stream the full episode with a Peacock subscription:

The camera cut away before any screaming could be heard, and perhaps the fast pace of filming SNL means that there wasn't time for Poehler to fully react to what happened. She was actually only briefly in the sketch, impersonating Sharon Stone while Seth Meyers was playing Carrot Top and Kenan Thompson was playing Bill Cosby. (Let me reiterate here that it was 2005.) Jason Bateman played the host, Darrell Hammond reprised his role as SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy version of Sean Connery, and Will Forte was the chimpanzee handler.

But according to Bateman in his 2020 monologue when he returned to SNL for the first time since that fateful episode, his incident with the chimp didn't happen until the credits were already rolling. Reflecting on when he got much more than he bargained for when he hosted during his Arrested Development days, Bateman shared:

Bateman went on to recount that he'd gotten an apology from the chimp, then joked that "the monkey was destroyed later than night" and it was his "choice." While it's a safe bet that the monkey actor was not in fact destroyed after his time on the 30 Rock stage, it is probably the last time any writers got a pitch approved that would require a live chimpanzee.

If you take a look at the monologue, from a distance it initially doesn't look like the animal did all that much, and the goodbyes carried on. But Rachel Dratch's reaction at around the 2:30 mark in the below clip is a giveaway of how scary it really was, no matter how composed Bateman was able to stay. Check it out:

If you want to revisit Jason Bateman's appearances on Saturday Night Live, you can find the Season 30 and Season 46 episodes streaming on Peacock. The chimpanzee story proves that Amy Poehler and Bateman have much more in common than just sharing the SNL stage for his monologue and Poehler guest-starring on Arrested Development, and it's just a good thing that their stories didn't have much more gruesome endings.

I'm 47 years old. Let's just get that out of the way, if only to establish where I'm at in terms of my own life years. And, I say my age without embarrassment or shame, just gratitude and a sense of... well, that's-how-old-I-am factual accuracy. I grew up well aware of the reality that life offers us no guarantees, including how many years we get, so while I understand some of the reasons why people (especially women) decline to share their age, I'm ok to say mine, especially when it's right before I can share my appreciation for someone else talking about their own. In this case, that appreciation is for Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay and her recent comments about aging.

I like to hear women -- whether they're younger or older than me -- speak openly about their age and provide insight into their experience, as there’s always something to learn. So, when I listened to Mariska Hargitay's interview with Amy Poehler on a recent Good Hang episode, and they talked about age, I absolutely loved hearing Hargitay's words about being sixty.

Hargitay shared her age with pride as she talked about the turns life took for her over the years, and where she's at at this point. She starts out by talking about the decades leading up to now, saying,

And then she gets into how things are going at 60:

When I was younger, I think I imagined everything over the age of like 35 to be this sort of blurred-together portion of adulthood where I would be more or less the same version of me over the next few decades, which would hopefully someday lead into my senior years. Obviously, the older I get, the clearer the sometimes-vastly different stages of adulthood have become to me.

Understanding who I am or who I want to be at whatever age I am is surely a challenge, but it's also become sort of the point. It isn't all flowers and rainbows here in my 40s, and I don't assume it was for Hargitay either, though she speaks positively about that time of her life. I just love how she maps out her own major steps in each of the last few decades of her life, and especially the joy she expresses when talking about being in her 60s.

As I said earlier, I understand why people (especially women) are reluctant to talk about their age. I'm not an actor, but I have no doubt that it presents challenges for people in the entertainment industry, particularly as they move further into adulthood, as it can impact the work they can get – actresses like Maggie Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts have shared their own experiences on the topic.

I'm not judging anyone who prefers to be vague about the exact number of years they've had on this earth if they think it'll hinder their professional options. But, as someone who wants to hear about different perspectives and life experiences, as I continue to try to process my own, I love that Hargitay is being open and talking about the clarity she's experiencing as she steps into what Poehler describes as the "top of Act III."

At this point, before I wrap this up, I’ll add that Hargitay isn’t the first actor to share their thoughts on their age in recent months. Helen Mirren had some delightfully candid insights on the topic when doing press for The Thursday Murder Club, particularly in response to an interviewer who described her as a “young spirit.” As she described, to People, the story of her response to this person:

I can see why the unnamed interviewer might’ve thought they were complimenting her by calling her a “young spirit,” but I can just as easily see why Mirren might be put off by the comment, as it suggests that her general nature gives off something that typically applies to younger people, when in actuality, you can be in your 70s or 80s and display those same personality traits.

The optimistic side of me does hope that the more people speak openly about their perspective at whatever age they are, maybe there won't be so many inaccurate assumptions about what it means to be a certain age. Even if that doesn't happen, I'm grateful for whatever people (celebrities or not) are willing to share, especially if it helps me navigate my own life and whatever years I’m fortunate enough to have in it.

Watch Mariska Hargitay’s interview on Good Hang with Amy Poehler below. Her comments and their discussion about age can be found around the 15 minute mark.

Celebrities aren’t always just like us. They live in million dollar homes; they drive nice cars; they wear French brands on the red carpet that are difficult to pronounce. However, sometimes they are ever-so-relatable, which is what happened when Amy Poehler recently asked a question most fans have had about other A-Lister Keanu Reeves for years: “Is Keanu as nice as he seems?”

It’s a straightforward and honest query, and one I think fans have always wanted to know more about. I feel even more confident guessing that now, as Poehler had the opportunity to speak with Keanu’s recent Good Fortune co-star Aziz Ansari, and she absolutely asked about whether or not the nice guy thing is real or a put-on. Thankfully, Ansari confirmed Reeves is too legit to quit.

Listen, Amy Poehler didn’t seem as enamored with the fact Keanu is still on a motorcycle more than 20 years after his infamous accident. She joked he needs to get off for “insurance” purposes, but I do think Ansari’s point that the actor is able to meld both badassery with being super sweet is exactly what his fans would have hoped to hear about the actor.

Check out the full clip from Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast, below.

This is the guy that did much of his own painful John Wick work over the age of 50. Yet, he’s also the guy who’s quick to give credit to all the stunt guys for making him look so good. He’s the guy on the red carpets with the cool artist girlfriend. But when questions about whether they’ll get married come up, he makes some rare and adorable comments fanboying out about Alexandra Grant. He’s a man with range, and it’s no wonder, the internet has been obsessed with Reeves time and time again.

Celebrities can run the gamut from grumpy to happy-go-lucky, and from genuine to “on” pretty much all the time. The Good Fortune actor has eclectic taste and a an offbeat personality, and it’s nice to hear he’s the real deal. On a personal note, I’m just as obsessed with Amy Poehler being as obsessed with Keanu Reeves as I am. So really, everyone wins here.

The Parks and Recreation cast is full of pros. All of them are comedic geniuses, which means they know how to make people laugh, and they could get each other to break from time to time. To prove that point, Aziz Ansari revealed a story about him and Adam Scott not being able to hold it together during one particular scene of this fantastic sitcom, and I can’t get over why they couldn’t stop laughing.

Aziz Ansari was explaining how he’d try and get his castmates to break with Amy Poehler on her podcast, Good Hang. The Tom actor explained that he would try and get his hilarious Parks and Rec co-stars to laugh, and then he told the story behind the scene he broke the hardest for. Calling it “the hardest scene I’ve ever had to film in my entire acting career,” the Master of None co-creator said:

For context, this all went down during Season 4, Episode 3 – which you can stream with a Peacock subscription – when Tom and Ben took Joan out to lunch to try and woo her into giving Leslie’s book her sticker of approval. After talking about being a woman with “a strong sexual appetite,” Collins’ character excused herself and went to the bathroom after saying she needed to powder her nose, “amongst other things, if you know what I mean.” She got all up in Tom’s space and then crashed into the table as well.

After she’s gone, Ben asked if she meant her vagina in reference to the "other things" before they tried to diffuse this odd situation they’d found themselves in. In the show, they kill the scene and their deadpan reaction is hilarious. However, in real life, they burned a lot of takes because they couldn’t keep it together, as Ansari explained:

He went on to say that every time they came back to it, the second the great Parks and Rec guest star would say “amongst other things,” they’d crack up, and you can see the blooper on YouTube, too. Aziz Ansari and Adam Scott really couldn’t keep it together.

Poehler then explained that Collins was “so funny” during the scene and kept stumbling out of the table...amongst other things. Ansari then said that while they were attempting to film this, she would also “add some other thing” that would make them laugh more. When she’d do that, the Good Fortune star would say:

I truly can’t stop laughing about this. First of all, the scene itself is hilarious. Ben asking if Joan is going to powder her vagina with a straight face is so funny. However, the fact that Mo Collins kept doing something new and the guys couldn’t get through it ever makes it even better.

Now, the next time I watch this great show on Peacock, I know I’ll be laughing even harder because I know the full story behind how hard it was to film for Aziz Ansari and Adam Scott.

It’s been more than 20 years since Rachel Dratch first rolled out Debbie Downer during an episode of Saturday Night Live, and the character is so embedded in pop culture that you still hear everyday people refer to real life pessimists as Debbie Downers. Like all the best SNL personalities, there’s just something about her that rings so true and feels so relatable, probably because she’s based on a real-life moment that happened to Dratch.

The comedienne was recently on her former SNL co-star Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang when the subject of Debbie Downer came up. Dratch busted into the backstory, and it is absolutely wild. Apparently her therapist recommended she go on a solo vacation, and because she didn’t want to encounter honeymooners or traditional vacationers, she decided to take a trip to a really remote part of Costa Rica. While there, she encountered plenty of odd characters, and it was during a shared dinner with these bizarre strangers that she got hit with a really awkward follow-up question. Here’s a portion of the story…

At first, Dratch just thought it was a really uncomfortable moment, but after she got back to New York, she went to a concert and started fixating on what happened. Eventually, she came up with the idea of Debbie Downer, a woman that ruins every conversation by being as negative as possible and ruining the flow. She brought the idea to longtime SNL writer Paula Pell and together, they wrote the first draft of the iconic sketch that turned into Debbie Downer. You can watch the magic below…

The above sketch has been watched more than 21 million times on YouTube alone and millions more across various reruns and best-of highlights. It remains the most iconic moment of Dratch’s sketch comedy career, which is saying something considering she appeared in more than 125 episodes of Saturday Night Live as a cast member and has made numerous cameos on the show in the years since she stepped away.

It’s also worth noting that the original Debbie Downer sketch works so well because it’s both really funny as a concept, and it features the cast members absolutely losing it. Everyone likes when cast members break character, but it’s the moments they break character precisely because something is so funny that truly stand the test of time and become more than just goofy footnotes. We saw that with Will Ferrell’s infamous More Cowbell sketch. We saw that with the recent Beavis and Butt-Head sketch, and Debbie Downer is another great example.

Dratch recently brought back Debbie Downer for the show’s 50th Anniversary Special. Fingers crossed it’s not the last time we see her ruin what should be a perfectly nice conversation.

Anytime a former Weekend Update anchor hosts Saturday Night Live, there’s an anticipation that they might bust out their church clothes and make an appearance behind the desk to read a few jokes. As such, it wasn’t a surprise to see Amy Poehler join Colin Jost and Michael Che this week, but it certainly was a surprise to see multiple other ex-Weekend Update anchors join her for a joke-off.

That’s right. This week featured a good old fashioned joke off between Jost, Che, Poehler and special guests Tina Fey and Seth Meyers. Both Fey and Meyers, of course, were co-anchors alongside Poehler at various points during her tenure; so, the cameos made a lot of sense, even if they were unexpected.

The joke-off set-up was a woman in Tennessee breaking a hospital record by having a thirteen pound baby, and to the surprise of no one, her massive kid proved to be good subject matter for a lot of rapid fire jokes. You watch all the current and former anchors in action below…

Together, these five all place in the top six of total episodes anchoring or co-anchoring Weekend Update. Jost is first with 226 episodes, followed by Che with 219 episodes, followed by Meyers with 154 episodes, followed by Fey with 118 episodes, followed by Poehler with 80 episodes. Only Dennis Miller slots into the above with 111 episodes, though I suppose we should give Jimmy Fallon a shout-out, as well, as he’s tied with Poehler’s 80 episodes.

In addition to being a bit of good fun, this Weekend Update segment is also a good reminder of how similar, yet different the segment can be under different anchors. The basic conceit of reading news stories like a traditional anchor and telling jokes about them has never changed since Chevy Chase launched the segment back in the 1970s, but the tone, subject matter and delivery can change quite a bit with the sensibilities of each anchor.

This current version of Weekend Update has represented the longest period of stability in the long-running segment’s history. Jost and Che have shared the duties for more than ten consecutive seasons, which has never happened before. Exactly how much longer that stability will last, however, is an open question. Rumors swirled near the end of last season that Jost might walk away over the summer, and there were similar whispers about Che, as well. The two are no longer head writers on the show, and with plenty of opportunities for each outside SNL, many fans thought they’d walk away.

Fortunately, they did not. They’re back for another season. At some point soon-ish, however, they’ll exit Studio 8H, and it’ll be fascinating to see whether showrunner Lorne Michaels and company pick someone currently on the cast or bring in someone new. Either way, they’ll evolve the segment to their own tastes, and we’ll get a new and exciting take on the old classic to watch.

The rest of Poehler’s episode was, of course, great. There was even an A+ spoof for a Hunting Wives Season 2 trailer, which featured a cameo from Aubrey Plaza. I’d highly recommend throwing the whole thing up on Peacock or via your DVR and giving it a watch. The show will return next week with an all new episode featuring upcoming guest host Sabrina Carpenter, who, more than likely, will not read the news on Weekend Update.

Comedy is a lot harder to pull off successfully than it's often given credit for. It makes sense that some of the best filmmakers in history began their careers as comics, or at least comedic actors, given how a great comedian's mind works. They see the world in completely different ways, and that way of looking at things often means great movies, like some of the best rom-coms of all time, but they aren't always comedies. Here is our list of great comics who became great filmmakers.

Mel Brooks

You really couldn't have this list without Mel Brooks. His movies, which he's been making for an astonishing seven decades, never fail to disappoint. His career stretches back to the 1940s! He reinvented comedy on film with his early movies like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein, and while he doesn't do as much directing these days, he's still killing it when he does.

Jordan Peele

Of all the comedians-turned-directors on this list, the biggest departure from his acting career to his directing career has to be Jordan Peele. He first entered our collective consciousness with his legendary sketch comedy show Key and Peele, but starting with Get Out in 2017, he's become one of the premier horror directors in modern Hollywood.

Amy Poehler

Like so many comedians over the last 50 years or so, Amy Poehler got her big break on Saturday Night Live. She left the long-running comedy show in 2008 to work on her next hit show, Parks & Recreation. In 2019, she directed her first movie, Wine Country, and followed that up with 2021's Moxie.

Christopher Guest

Some of the most quotable movies of all time have come from the collective minds of the ensemble casts that Christopher Guest has assembled for his movies, like Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind. He serves as the director, but he gives great leeway to his fellow cast members in all of the movies.

Paul Feig

Though he's best known as a writer and a director these days, Paul Feig started as a stand-up comedian when he first arrived in Hollywood in the 1980s. He struggled as an actor before scoring a role in Heavyweights in 1995. While working on that movie, he met writer Judd Apatow and the two co-created Freaks and Geeks. The rest is history.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller's biggest early break came in the Ben Stiller Show on MTV, which blended sketch comedy with music videos. From there, Stiller basically took over Hollywood to the point that it seemed like he was making a dozen movies a year! Okay, maybe not that many, but he was in a lot of movies, including many that he directed, like Reality Bites, The Cable Guy, Zoolander, and Tropic Thunder.

Mike Nichols

EGOT winner Mike Nichols directed some of the most iconic movies in Hollywood history. Movies like The Graduate, Working Girl, and The Birdcage. Nichols started his career as part of the comedy duo Nichols & May alongside Elaine May, who also became a filmmaker of some renown.

Charlie Chaplin

There are few people in Hollywood history who are as important to the growth of the industry as Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin wrote, starred, and directed almost all his major hits from the silent era up until A Countess from Hong Kong in 1967. He even scored many of his movies. He started in show business in the very early 20th Century in comedic roles on stage before movies were even invented.

Rob Reiner

As the son of the great Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner has comedy in his blood. His biggest fame early came as Mike "Meathead" Stivic in All in the Family, but for most of the last half-century, he's been known for his writing and directing, creating such movies as This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally..., among many others.

Chris Rock

Like many SNL alums, Chris Rock has had an incredible career in Hollywood. He started acting as a teenager in New Jack City, but he quickly became known for his stand-up act and his work on SNL. He's long been a writer and producer, and he started directing in 2003 with his directorial debut, Head of State. He's been busy directing ever since, in addition to everything else he does.

Judd Apatow

One of the most successful comedy directors in the last few decades is Judd Apatow. He's a one-man show, in many ways, writing, producing, and directing hits like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, The King of Staten Island, and This Is 40. He's also produced a whole slew of successful comedies, like Bridesmaids, Anchorman, Step Brothers, and Pineapple Express. That doesn't even get into the TV shows he's produced or co-created, like Freaks and Geeks, Girls, and Crashing.

Harold Ramis

Without question, Harold Ramis belongs on the Mount Rushmore of comedy writers and directors. The list of movies he's directed and written (or co-written) is amazing. Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, and Groundhog Day are just the tip of the iceberg. Like so many in his generation of comedians, he started in sketch comedy at Second City in Chicago.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais gained worldwide fame when he co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the original version of The Office in the U.K. He's created a slew of shows since, and could even be credited with helping create podcasts with his early podcast, The Ricky Gervais Show. The stand-up comedian started directing films in 2009 with The Invention of Lying.

Penny Marshall

We lost a lot when Penny Marshall died in 2018 at age 75. She began her career in comedic roles, most notably as Laverne DeFazio, first on Happy Days, then in her own spin-off, Laverne & Shirley. Before long, though, she transitioned to directing. Her first movie, Jumpin' Jack Flash, introduced the world to Whoopi Goldberg as a comedic actor (her lone previous credit was in the drama The Color Purple) and went on to direct beloved hits like A League of Their Own and Big.

Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane started mostly as a comedy writer, which is hardly a surprise. He then created the animated shows Family Guy and American Dad for Fox. He made his directorial debut with Ted in 2012.

Albert Brooks

The legendary Albert Brooks started his career in sketch comedy in collectives like The Credibility Gap and appeared on variety shows in the late '60s and early '70s as a stand-up. His first directing gig was as part of the first season of SNL, before directing his first feature, Real Life, co-written with his buddy Harry Shearer. His later movies include classics like Defending Your Life, Mother, and The Muse.

Keenen Ivory Wayans

The Wayans brothers have certainly left a huge mark on Hollywood over the years, and the oldest sibling, Keenen Ivory Wayans, is the one who got them all started. He created and directed In Living Color, which made him a household name, but he had already directed I'm Gonna Git You Sucka before that. His biggest success, of course, is the Scary Movie franchise.

Carl Reiner

Carl Reiner got his start as a writer and actor in comedy sketches on two shows starring Sid Caesar, Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour. He then teamed up with fellow writer from the shows, Mel Brooks, and together they released comedy albums in the early 1960s. By the end of the decade, he was directing movies, with his two most notable hits, The Jerk and Oh! God, coming in the late '70s.

Cheech Marin

One of the biggest comedy duos of the '70s is, of course, Cheech & Chong. Before long, Cheech Marin was directing movies without his partner, including his directorial debut, Born in East L.A., in 1987.

Woody Allen

WE couldn't have this list without Woody Allen. Setting aside any personal feelings people may have towards the actor for his questionable personal life, Allen is, hands down, one of the most successful comedy film directors in Hollywood history. The list of movies he's written, directed, and starred in is far too long to list here. He developed his famous persona while working as a stand-up comedian in New York in the 1960s.

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton was one of the most successful comedic actors of the 1980s with movies like Mr. Mom, Beetlejuice, and Johnny Dangerously. He started taking on more dramatic roles as the decade came to a close, and of course, he starred as the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton's Batman. He made his directorial debut in 2008 with the drama The Merry Gentleman and, more recently, directed the underrated Knox Goes Away in 2023.

Bob Odenkirk

Along with David Cross, Bob Odenkirk first broke big on Mr. Show with Bob and David, but that was after years in sketch comedy on shows like SNL and The Ben Stiller Show. He has gained his biggest fame more recently as the character Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and the spinoff Better Call Saul (which somehow never won an Emmy).

Jerry Lewis

His comedy might not have been for everyone, but you can't argue with Jerry Lewis' incredible success over decades in Hollywood. Of course, he started as part of a duo with Dean Martin, but he soon took off on his own with movies like The Nutty Professor and The Bellboy. He directed both those movies as well, and would continue to direct his own movies throughout the '60s.

Donald Glover

While still in college, Donald Glover started doing sketch comedy in New York City. After graduating, he became a writer on 30 Rock first came to the public's attention in Community on NBC. His biggest critical success came with the show he created and produced the show Atlant,a in 2013. His first feature film directing gig came with Bando Stone & the New World, which is a companion piece to his album of the same name.

Jeff Garlin

For most people, Curb Your Enthusiasm is where they first saw Jeff Garlin, but his career goes back further than that. He also starred in The Goldbergs before abuse accusations led him to leave the show. Over the years, he's directed a number of movies, like the indie rom-com I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With and 2017's Handsome, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription.

Buster Keaton

Like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton was a huge figure in the silent era of Hollywood. Also like Chaplin, the comedian started in theater at the dawn of the 20th century and then began writing, directing, and starring in his own films in the teens. He was one of the biggest stars of the early film industry, making more than a dozen hits in the 1920s.

Bob Saget

Not only is one of the dirtiest comedians of all time (and his version of The Aristocrats joke proves it), Bob Saget was also so beloved TV dad and wholesome host of America's Funniest Home Videos. Saget's first directorial credit came in the hilarious and underrated Dirty Work, working with Norm McDonald and Artie Lang on what must have been just a wild film shoot.

Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari had his breakout role as a member of the cast of Parks and Recreation, but he was already an experienced stand-up when that show took off. He directed his first film, Good Fortune, which he also wrote and stars in.

Jerrod Carmichael

Jerrod Carmichael is one of the most popular stand-up comedians in recent years and got his first major exposure with The Carmichael Show on NBC in 2015. He made his directorial debut in 2021 with On the Count of Three, which he also stars in alongside Christopher Abbott and an ensemble cast that includes Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, and Henry Winkler.

Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham made his name as literally a one-man show with his musical comedy YouTube channel that he started in 2006 (the very early days of YouTube). His first job as a director came in 2018 with Eighth Grade, which he wrote and stars in, as well.

Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend was groundbreaking as a Black comedian-turned-filmmaker in the 1980s when he wrote, directed, and starred in movies like Hollywood Shuffle, The Five Heartbeats, and Meteor Man, which is a comic book movie that deserves a reboot.

Bobcat Goldthwait

Without a doubt, one of the strangest movies mentioned in this list is Shakes the Clown, which was the first film directed by legendary stand-up comedian Bobcat Goldthwait. He's directed seven independent films since Shakes and they are always unique and funny.

Severance ended on the 2025 TV schedule months ago; however, my mind is still boggled by its ending. Every day, my opinion changes. Some days, I’m livid that Mark left his wife Gemma on the other side of the door, and others, I totally get why he ran back into the building with Helly. Now, Amy Poehler has expressed her frustrations over all this to her former Parks and Rec co-star and the lead of the Apple TV+ hit, Adam Scott, and it perfectly encapsulates my feelings.

Now, before she got “pissed,” Poehler was complimenting Severance’s Season 2 finale during an episode of Good Hang. However, after she called it “incredible,” she stopped mid-sentence and made the funny face below:

Adam Scott was confused by that look, so his former TV wife dived into what caused the reaction, saying:

Listen, Mark’s choice to run away from Gemma was shocking. So, after repeating “I know” while looking at a jaw-dropped Poehler, Scott asked if she was “pissed” about what happened. In response, she said:

Dude, same! No matter what side of the debate you fall on, it was hard not to scream something along the lines of “Dude!” after Mark made his choice. And Amy Poehler didn’t back down from that point either. While she adores Britt Lower, who plays Helly, and has worked with her before, she couldn’t see past Mark running back into Lumon with her, which led to her “But.”

And after saying “but,” the Parks and Rec lead made the face below at her former co-star, fully illustrating her frustration over the whole situation:

What followed was a semi-intense and overall funny debate between Scott and Poehler. And I’m not gonna lie, I’ve had conversations with others where I’ve played both sides of this debate. Here’s the very entertaining back and forth:

• Adam Scott: Well, what other choice was Innie Mark going to make?
• Amy Poehler: Oh, I don’t know, the choice where you go with your wife?
• Adam Scott: So, walk out the door and end your life?
• Amy Poehler: Yes! You go to the door!
• Adam Scott: Really, that’s the choice you would make?
• Amy Poehler: What do you mean end your life?
• Adam Scott: He walks out that door, he doesn’t know if he’s ever coming back. He walks out that door, he becomes his outie. He doesn’t know if that outie is ever going to walk back in that building.
• Amy Poehler: But that building is not great.
• Adam Scott: No, but it’s better than not existing.
• Amy Poehler: But is it?!?

Admittedly, when Mark left his wife Gemma, it was shocking. However, after thinking about it, it’s important to remember that Innie Mark doesn’t really know her; he is also in love with Helly. Oh, and if he leaves, he might never return, meaning he could die. However, now Outie Mark has been left in a way, and so has his wife...

This leads to the final element of the Parks and Recreation co-stars’ conversation. While the Leslie Knope actor joked about how flustered she was about the finale, she also noted that that’s what made it so great.

She explained that she immediately texted Adam Scott after she finished watching the finale, and noted that that kind of cliffhanger and excitement that evokes such a visceral reaction is what makes TV so fun. All-in-all, this was a relatable and hilarious interaction, and I’ll be watching it on repeat (you can too, it starts at 41:55) as we wait for Severance Season 3.

Overall, as a massive Parks and Rec and Severance fan, this whole interaction made my heart happy, and it reignited all the mixed and passionate emotions I have about Mark’s choice. Now, the wait is really on to see what happens in the aftermath of that Season 2 finale, which you can re-watch and feel all the emotions Amy Poehler felt with an Apple TV+ subscription.

Some actors, no matter how long their career or how great their talent, will forever be first known for one iconic TV role. This isn't an indictment of their careers at all. In fact, in many ways, it tells the whole story. They were so good at one particular role that no matter what, that's what people will think of first. To be sure, these are some of the best actors of their generations ,and they deserve praise for all their roles, but especially these.

Kelsey Grammer - Frasier Crane

For a total of an amazing 20 years, Kelsey Grammer has played Frasier Crane. First on Cheers, then on its spinoff Frasier, and again in the reboot of Frasier in the 2020s. There may be no more obvious actor to include on this list.

Mariska Hargitay - Olivia Benson

Mariska Hargitay is Hollywood royalty as the daughter of Jayne Mansfield, and she's carved out on heck out her own career playing Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She has played since the end of the 20th Century, more than 25 seasons in total. There is no other character in prime time history with a longer run than Hargitay's Benson. It's remarkable.

Jessica Walter - Lucille Bluth

The late Jessica Walter had an incredible career, but for many, she'll always be known for one of her final roles, Lucille Bluth on the cult classic Arrested Development. She was so hilarious and quotable that it's easy to see why this is the case.

Peter Falk - Columbo

Peter Falk completely embodied Detective Columbo on the show that carried that character's name. He defined a new kind of TV detective, a style that has been often imitated but never duplicated over the years since Columbo debuted. He was funny and wicked smart. A Holmesian-style detective who never found a dry cleaner.

Tom Selleck - Thomas Magnum

Tom Selleck was a hard one to include here. Thomas Magnum was one of two iconic roles, along with Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, that Selleck has played in his career. That's not to mention Jesse Stone, another fan-favorite. But in the end, it's all about Magnum P.I., one of the best shows ever.

Lauren Graham - Lorelai Gilmore

Lauren Graham is another tough one here, because Lorelai Gilmore is hardly her only big role on TV, but none of her other shows have been nearly as enduring as Gilmore Girls and that isn't likely to change in the future. It'll always be what her fans think of first.

Lucille Ball - Lucy Ricardo

Lucille Ball was a groundbreaking legend, and that is entirely due to her iconic character Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy. The list of what made the show, and the comedic actor, is so long, we could never fill it out here, but she also doesn't really need any explanation. She's the queen of early TV for very good reason, and that can never be taken away.

Peter Dinklage - Tyrion Lannister

Peter Dinklage might not like to hear this... or maybe he would... but Tyrion Lannister is such an amazing role, and Dinklage's performance is completely worthy of such an iconic literary and TV character. Game of Thrones took over the television watching audience completely, and Dinklage's Lannister was almost everyone's favorite. He's done great work all through his long career, but it will be impossible to top Tyrion.

Sean Hayes - Jack McFarland

Jack McFarland from Will & Grace is one of the most underappreciated characters in any sitcom in Hollywood history. Sean Hayes is fantastic in the role, and he'll have people saying "Just Jack!" forever.

Angela Lansbury - Jessica Fletcher

Angela Lansbury had a storied career that lasted decades, and every time she appeared on screen, she lit it up. Jessica Fletcher on Murder She Wrote was her crowning achievement. She's one of the best TV detectives of all time, even if there were way too many murders in Cabot Cove than there should have been.

Henry Winkler - The Fonz

Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli. Fonzie. The Fonz. A character of many names, and one iconic look. Henry Winkler has had a career that most actors can only dream of, but his role on Happy Days will always be what he is first known for. We should all be so cool.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - Buffy Summers

Sarah Michelle Gellar's role in the movie Cruel Intentions may be her most iconic movie role, but it doesn't eclipse her role as Buffy Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Not even close. It'll always be her most beloved role.

James Gandolfini - Tony Soprano

On one hand, it's a shame that James Gandolfini is on this list. His premature death will always have us asking "what if?" On the other hand, he is so freaking GREAT as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, that its impossible not to include him here. Just watching him in anything else, or old interviews, you quickly realize that he completely disappeared into the gangster. It's remarkable.

Gillian Anderson - Dana Scully

Speaking from experience, I can say that many teenagers in the 1990s have a huge crush on Dana Scully on The X-Files. She was smart and capable, but with an air of mystery that really kept viewers guessing, in the best way.

William Shatner - Captain Kirk

Personally, I think William Shatner's best role was on Boston Legal. He was also amaing in TJ Hooker. However, even if he had 1000 legendary roles over his career, he would still be most remember for James T. Kirk in Str Trek. That's how iconic the role, and the show are.

Matthew Perry - Chandler Bing

It was a real tragedy when the world lost Matthew Perry in late 2023. He was a once-in-a-generation talent and, in many ways, was first among equals on Friends. He was in some other great projects, like The Whole Nine Yards and Fools Rush In, but let's be honest, he'll always be Chandler in our hearts.

Amy Poehler - Leslie Knope

Amy Poehler was a star on SNL and in a ton of great movies. However, she was absolutely born to play Leslie Knope on Parks & Rec. It's almost hard to believe she isn't actually Leslie in real life, and that's meant to be the most sincere of compliments.

Michael K. Williams - Omar Little

Of all the amazing characters and actors on The Wire, Omar and Michael K. Williams stand out above them all. He was one of the most honest and complex characters in TV history, and the late Williams, another actor we lost way too soon, will be forever remembered for his portrayal of the Baltimore stick-up man.

George Wendt - Norm Peterson

Cheers had an amazing ensemble of comedic actors, and as a kid, my favorite was always George Wendt and his character Norm. He was the most popular guy in the bar and the most popular with viewers. When Wendt died in 2025, everyone started sharing their favorite moments of his from the show, despite the show ending decades ago.

Mary Tyler Moore - Mary Richards

Mary Tyler Moore made it after all, and all on her own. Her titular show was the highlight of her long, incredible career, and it's a good thing the show was named after her, because she deserves to be remembered forever for it.

Caroll O'Connor - Archie Bunker

Caroll O'Connor's role as Archie Bunker became one of the most iconic and most important in television history. The groundbreaking sitcom, All In The Family, changed TV forever, and Bunker, with his bigotry and chauvinism, reinvented just how much a simple sitcom could say about society.

Rainn Wilson - Dwight Schrute

Of all the characters on The Office, Dwight, played by Rainn Wilson, was the one we all loved to hate the most. It must have been such a fun role for Wilson, because he never phoned it in, and he never let us down; we could count on him driving us nuts every week. I mean that in the very best way.

Wayne Knight - Newman

Wayne Knight has popped up in all kinds of roles in his career. We'll never forget him for his performance in the original Jurassic Park, for example, but it's Newman on Seinfeld that we'll always love him most for. He might not have been a main character, but that is testimony to just how good he was. He's as remembered as the "big four" despite playing a much more limited role. That takes a great actor and an even better performance, and he did over the entire run of the show.

Ian McShane - Al Swearengen

Al Swearengen from Deadwood is one of the best characters of the prestige era of TV. Ian McShane has had a long, distinguished career, and at the top of the list of his great performances is as the foul-mouthed, tavern-owning gangster in the HBO Western.

Danica McKellar - Winnie Cooper

Ask anyone in Gen X about Danica McKellar, and they might mention her Hallmark movies. They might also mention her wonderful guest turn on The West Wing. In the case of both of those, though, they will come after they fondly reminisce about watching her as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years. They grew up with Winnie and Kevin (Fred Savage). It was her earliest role, but it remains her most iconic.

While the podcasting market continues to expand, with everyone and their mom seeming to have one, there truly are some gems on the airwaves. Regardless of your familiarity and regularity in dabbling, where does one start? As someone who dabbles in a few series and loves a good pop culture injection of any form, a celebrity-hosted show can offer a lot! These stars’ pods cover plenty of ground from BTS on favorite sets to politics to emotionally forward conversations. If you’re lost, in a rut or just looking for another stellar title to add to your audio arsenal, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!

Oprah’s Super Soul - Oprah Winfrey

We know her, we love her, and the dynamic Oprah Winfrey continues to evolve and push interviewing bounds. Super Soul is more or less an adaptation of her inspiration and often a spiritual talk show that ran through the early 2020s. Be prepared to hear some deep conversations if you aren’t already, though we all know it tends to come with the unmistakable Hollywood giant.

Literally! With Rob Lowe - Rob Lowe

The 61-year-old Hollywood vet has wide-ranging conversations with plenty of well-known professionals. Whether it's well-established or rising stars in movies and TV, music or sports, Lowe jumps right in with them. And as a member of The Brat Pack, the pull he has with landing guests is pretty impressive and diverse.

Renegades: Born In The USA - Barak Obama, Bruce Springsteen

Though it only ran for one season and has 8 episodes to its name, the former president and The Boss’ collab rocked. Their conversations consisted of the changing dynamics of the USA through the lens of music, personal happenings, fatherhood and future revitalization. They also share their backstory on how the friendship and pod came to be.

Goop - Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow and Goop’s virality continues to regularly break the internet (especially those body-forward scented candles). But the Hollywood A-lister and her empire went to new heights with the addition of their own podcast, which she hosts. Naturally, it dives in holistically to grander topics with today’s ‘brightest thinkers and culture changers’ to dissect the conversation at hand.

Wiser Than Me - Julia Louis-Dreyfus

As always, when Louis-Dreyfus commits to a project, she knocks a role out of the park. One of her most recent titles as host of Wiser Than Me is no different; her interviewing women who are expert veterans in their given career is a true delight. She’s had everyone from Jane Goodall to Jane Fonda, and she’s just getting going.

Good Hang - Amy Poehler

Don’t overlook the Parks & Rec star’s Good Hang, even though it may be one of the newest entries on the list. Poehler’s sunshine bright vibes radiate through the show while she chats with A-list Hollywood names. But the most signature part shines through when she has a mini cameo from a friend of the guest who praises them ahead of the main convo. (If you haven’t seen or know where the viral clip of Rachel Dratch fumbling with headphones on a Zoom, now you do.)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Conan O’Brien

In the comedian’s corner of the interview world, you can certainly expect his signature smart silliness he has brought to the masses over the decades. But why did he jump into the world? As the title implies, and per his summary, O’Brien realized after years of interviewing celebs, ‘the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him,’ and wanted to change that.

Fly On The Wall - David Spade, Dana Carvey

While not an outright Saturday Night Live podcast, two huge alums, Spade and Carvey, lead this industry-leaning show. The pair has their fair share of guests and covers plenty of Studio 8H lore depending on who’s with them that week. Beyond the sketch show conversations, they often jump into current pop culture, current events and even fan-submitted fare.

Bill Gates And Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions - Bill Gates, Rashida Jones

Gates and Jones came together at the beginning of the pandemic in search of musing about some big questions. Though there are only five episodes, nothing seems off the table, from climate change to the psychology behind lying. But the unexpected co-hosts tackle these larger sociological and worldly topics with intentionality and ease.

The Big Podcast With Shaq - Shaquille O'Neal

The dynamic retired basketball player continues to surprise us with his plays (he just confirmed he was a Swiftie on the Kelces’ pod), and did just that when he kicked off his new podcast network by way of his own. Aptly named, Shaq and co-host Adam Lefkoe, of course, talk sports among themselves and alongside guests, but also hit a range of topics.

Minnie Questions - Minnie Driver

The Good Will Hunting actress’ offering sets up each interview through seven thoughtful questions. Though each question is relatively simple, it’s proven time and again that it unearths quite a conversation. Her therapy session meets fireside chat structure stands apart from other celebrity podcasts since its intention dives into a soulful exploration of life’s questions.

All There Is With Anderson Cooper - Anderson Cooper

While plenty of entries on the list cover an array of subjects from casual conversations, behind-the-scenes Hollywood magic and love and relationships, Cooper dives into loss (which he’s experienced multiple times over since childhood). What started as the beloved CNN news anchor processing the passing of his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and the ins and outs that go along with it, has blossomed into something much more. He’s built a safe ground for guests and listeners alike to reflect and process the big topic.

Red Table Talk - Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris

The multi-generational, familial women-hosted show has gone viral a few times over since its inception on Facebook. Nothing, as we’ve seen, is off limits in this conversational style show and doesn’t shy away when things get nitty gritty. Though the OG got the axe in 2023, it got going again with no ties to Facebook, and its episode catalog continues to rank with some of the best Hollywood fodder out there today.

The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart - Jon Stewart

The beloved TV host has a podcast that pairs with his regularly scheduled show. The Weekly Show offers a more expansive look into our ever-developing world with notable minds in essential roles across the professional field. If you’re looking for even more Stewart material, he had a short-lived but excellent 2 season show called The Problem with Jon Stewart that dove into topics that were ‘too big for TV.’ With either, you can count on a laugh paired with some big, thought-provoking discussions.

SmartLess - Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes

SmartLess is like an improv dinner party you weren’t invited to, but somehow snuck into. Each episode brings a surprise guest to the table, and with it comes comedy, curiosity, and the kind of bromantic chaos that three A-listers with zero filters can deliver. It’s part talk show, part therapy session, and all charm—who would’ve guessed the vibe would be achieved by the Michael and Gob Bluth actors with a dash of the Jack McFarland actor.

Armchair Expert - Dax Shepard

Maybe one of the most recognizable and longstanding on the list, Shepard started his series in 2018. Though the premise is relatively simple in terms of chatting with well-known faces, things can go deep quickly. The CHiPs alum has had ex-costars like Lauren Graham, incidentally spill about Parenthood peer, Mae Whitman’s baby daddy, and Oscar-nominated stars like Michelle Williams reflect about her late ex-partner, Heath Ledger. Needless to say, there’s a lot to work with here (and a 300+ episode backlog to sift through).

Office Ladies - Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer

Of course, there was bound to be at least one rewatch pod in the bunch, and with The Office ranking as one of the best sitcoms ever, it’s a natural pick to include. Kinsey (who played Angela Martin/Lipton/Schrute) and Fischer (who played Pam Beesly Halpert) recount excellent tidbits and memories as they rewatch the NBC classic while hosting Dunder Mifflin cast and crew members.

Life Is Short - Justin Long

First and foremost, I’ve got to give the Jeepers Creepers actor’s name for his show is A+ play on words (specifically short and long). But, behind the small chuckle the title of the pod offers is a surprisingly poignant base for Long and his brother, who co-hosts the show. The siblings jump in the deep end with their guests and discuss all there is about life, which includes everything from emojis to their perspective on life.

LeVar Burton Reads - LeVar Burton

Fiction lovers and previous PBS Kids unite! The beloved Reading Rainbow star’s pod is a modern-day take on the classic 26-year run show, but now catered toward adults. Short form stories are the main genre he dives into each week, and the whole thing feels just like a little bit of a time machine, for those who tuned in regularly to RR.

New Heights - Jason, Travis Kelce

No, I’m not talking about their mom, Donna Kelce, landing a spot on S4 of The Traitors US, but it’s worth mentioning. The NFL family show is full of BTS looks into being brothers while also playing football professionally. They also often go out of bounds of the shared ground and discuss everything from pop culture to UFOs.

The High Life - Ricki Lake

The former television host is getting back to her roots with The High Life. And while she still has plenty of Tinseltown names as guests, the focus with her offering is health and wellness. Nothing is off the table within the larger landscape; she hits everything from menopause to energy healing.

Las Culturistas - Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers

In case you’d like to know, this is my ride or die pick of the list. The college besties-turned-Hollywood-darling co-hosts have amassed a cult turned mainstream following thanks to culture catch-ups, regular bits they have A-list guests participate in (what sparked their interest in culture and their wry ‘I Don’t Think So Honey!’ critique of something) and their own award show. Clearly, I could go on about it, but if you need more proof, Tina Fey’s iconic advice to Yang speaks to why we, ‘readers, kayteighs, publicists, finalists and kyles,’ love it all.

WTF With Marc Maron - Marc Maron

The rough around the edges comedian and actor’s podcast is one of the most well-known celebrity series. As a blueprint of public figures' iterations to come, Maron got started in 2009 after his radio show got canned. In the decade-plus he’s been at it, he hosted writers, directors, comedians, actors and many more in the typical style that is commonplace today. But, heads up, he just announced his show will end this fall, so don’t miss out!

Podcrushed - Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari

The Gossip Girl alum’s shared show isn’t a far cry from the hit teen series fodder. They’ve just spun the clock a little further back to schoolyard drama and middle school crushes. Badgley, alongside Kavelin and Ansari, takes on listeners' stories, reads them and explores all the ins and outs of starting to grow up (and all the turmoil that tags along).

Broad Ideas - Rachel Bilson, Olivia Allen

While you may know of Bilson’s other pod, Beyond The O.C., involving ex-castmate Melinda Clarke, Broad Ideas includes her longtime bestie, Olivia Allen. The new duo essentially cover any ground two girlfriends would in any given conversation (mental health to ghosts are promised). But hosting a new guest to join in on the fun each week brings it to the next level.

The Mess Around With Hannah And Lamorne - Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone

If you know anything about where these two co-hosts met, you can probably guess this is a New Girl rewatch series. And if you know that, you probably know they played CeCe and Winston (Bishop), respectively, and the title comes from a bit that the characters shared. Also, plenty of past cast and crew come through to reminisce about all the shenanigans that went down in 4D.

Films To Be Buried With With Brett Goldstein - Brett Goldstein

Though he’s still relatively new to the scene, the Ted Lasso star is hitting it big (and is now on Shrinking). With that success, his unique corner of the recording studio has only found more success. And while the title of Goldstein’s show is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, it has me hooked. I think it’s safe to say he’s just getting started.

At Your Service - Dua Lipa

While I haven’t actually listened to the singer and actress’ show, it may be the hidden gem on the list. Heading into her third season, she continues to host a slew of knockout guests, and her collection of candid conversations runs the gamut of interesting fare. Everything from psychedelics to running Apple.

Getting Better With Jonathan Van Ness - Jonathan Van Ness

Ever since being introduced as the current generation’s hair & grooming lead on Queer Eye, JVN has been stealing the show as they help build up others. By natural curiosity and the drive to learn, the Getting Better podcast helps them grow and build spaces to learn even more. The weekly episodic content comes in all shapes and sizes–from finance lessons to discourse on culture, they’ve got it covered.

Why Won’t You Date Me? - Nicole Byer

The Nailed It! host is also a pro-podcaster. If you go looking for Byer’s love and relationship pod, you may find quite a slew aside from the aforementioned one (Best Friends!, 90 Day Bae and Newcomers). But this humorously titled one is the most well-known and long-standing one, where she has everyone from friends and experts to an occasional ex or two dish all about dating and love.

Lovett Or Leave It - Jon Lovett

While Jon Lovett’s beginnings aren’t traditional Hollywood standards material, the comedian was a former speech writer for Barack Obama. From there, he and fellow Obama peers (Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau–not to be confused with the A-lister) then co-hosted Pod Save America. His newest show is a hybrid of political news mixed with fun, well-known guests, and a bit of shenanigans all tied into one, always providing a laugh.

The Bald And The Beautiful - Trixie Mattel And Katya Zamolodchikova

One of RuPaul’s Drag Race’s biggest winners, Trixie and ride or die fellow queen, Katya, have taken the world by storm together. After meeting on season 7, they quickly went on their way to make creative projects together, starting with their viral cult followed series, UNHhhh, to their aptly titled pod. It’s a lot of the same banter, just funneled into discussing pop culture and Tinseltown-leaning topics.

Over the years, I’ve watched Wet Hot American Summer more times than I can count. Seriously, it has to be dozens of times between random bits on cable or multiple screenings with my wife over the years. I recently went back and rewatched the iconic summer camp movie about the final day of Camp Firewood’s 1981 season, and there are so many random thoughts I can’t get out of my head.

From the absurdity of David Wain’s semi-autobiographical R-rated comedy to the outrageously talented cast to the fact that Paul Rudd hasn’t aged since 2001, there’s a lot to unpack here.

It's Crazy How Many Of The Actors Became Massive Stars

Watching Wet Hot American Summer in 2025 is a wild experience, and not just because this movie is straight-up bonkers. I mean, just look at the cast. You’ve got everyone from The State who’ve gone on to find success, but also Bradley Cooper and Amy Poehler are in the mix, both of whom have become top A-listers since the film’s release.

Andy Killed At Least Four Kids, Right?

Paul Rudd’s Andy is probably the most non-Paul Rudd character the actor has ever given us. Not only is he sassy, sulky, annoying, and flaky, but he also killed at least four kids – two from drowning and two by throwing them out of a van at a high rate of speed. Dude is a menace!

The 'Going Into Town' Scene Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Whenever I go back to watch Wet Hot American Summer, the scene I always look forward to the most is the “Going Into Town” sequence. It starts off harmless enough, but quickly devolves into a manic, depressing, and incredibly dark few minutes.

'It's Always Fun To Get Away From Camp, Even For An Hour' Kills Me

One thing I love about the “Town” sequence is when the counselors come back from robbing old ladies, stealing sixers, and joining a Trainspotting situation, it’s revealed they were only gone for an hour.

I Still Can't Figure Out How Old The Counselors Are Supposed To Be

I’m not talking about the Wet Hot American Summer: First Day at Camp miniseries years after the movie’s release, where the cast didn’t care how old they looked. This is more of an honest question. Are the counselors adults? Teenagers? Both? It’s all over the place here.

Wet Hot American Summer Takes All The Best Camp Movie Tropes And Mashes Them Together For A Gonzo Experience

Wet Hot American Summer takes movies like Meatballs, Ernest Goes to Camp, and countless others, combines them, and spits out some gonzo amalgamation of those classics. It’s off-kilter, and that’s what makes it so weird and fun.

I Still Don't Understand How Henry And The Nerdy Kids Were Going To Change Skylab's Path, But I'll Allow It

Alan Shemper (Michael Showalter) with his standup routine at the Camp Talent Show is great in Wet Hot American Summer, but it’s the response from the campers and counselors that makes it so ridiculous. The exaggerated laughter just gets crazier and crazier as his routine continues.

I Still Don't Understand How Henry And The Nerdy Kids Change Skylab's Path, But I'll Allow It

There are so many random subplots in Wet Hot American Summer, and one of the most bonkers is the one involving ASSOCIATE Professor Henry Newman (David Hyde Pierce) and a group of nerds trying to prevent a piece of Skylab from falling on the camp. I don’t get it, and I think that’s the point.

But Was That Steve Who Saved The Day With His Weather Manipulation?

Henry and company might have had a hand in saving the camp, but I totally think it was Steve (Kevin Sussman) and his wind manipulation that stopped the piece of space junk from falling on the talent show.

'You Taste Like A Burger' Is The Most Ridiculous Way Of Breaking Up With Someone

Andy and Lindsay (Elizabeth Banks) have a budding romance in Wet Hot American Summer until the annoying counselor tells his make-out buddy that she tastes like a burger before calling things off. Ice cold!

I Can't Get Over The Fact That Chris Meloni Was In Wet Hot American Summer, Law & Order SVU, and Oz At The Same Time

At a single point in the early 21st century, Christopher Meloni was playing Gene the cook in Wet Hot American Summer, Chris Keller on Oz, and Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU. I have nothing to add; this is just wild to think about.

Victor's Arc Is Both Hilarious And Heartbreaking, But Mostly Hilarious

Ken Marino’s Victor in Wet Hot American Summer has perhaps the film’s most over-the-top, hilarious, and heartbreaking arc, especially after going from thinking he was going to hook up with a girl to wrecking a van to running back to camp to nearly dying in the woods to finding said girl with another guy. At least he has great hair.

I Love The Fact That The "9, 9:30" Reunion Joke Paid Off 16 Years Later In The Netflix Series

There’s a great scene where the counselors talk about getting back together 10 years later, which they do in the 2017 Netflix miniseries, where they do the greatest thing ever by acknowledging the joke from long ago.

Paul Rudd Playing A Sassy Teenager Is Just Too Good Here

Paul Rudd’s Andy isn’t the most likable character. Heck, he’s not even Rudd’s best role. However, the Clueless actor perfectly pulled off the sassy, arrogant, and rude teenager better than just about anyone else.

Beth Waiting 10 Seconds To Meet Henry At The Picnic Table Is Such A Great Yet Overlooked Moment

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good time-based bit, and Wet Hot American Summer features an all-time great when Henry tells Beth (Janeane Garofalo) to wait around 10 seconds before walking over to him. And she does. It’s silly, it’s unnecessary, and it’s hilarious.

Seriously, The Number Of Kids In Peril Here Is Wild

Kids driving motorboats, kids getting thrown out of cars, kids almost getting crushed by space junk, the movie has it all… including a group of kids on a river trip by themselves that ends with them going over a cliff.

The Motorcycle Chase Scene Is Just Too Much, And I Love It

Neil (Joe Lo Truglio) chasing Victor on a motorcycle after his fellow counselor abandoned him and a van of campers is just too much. The tonal shift of the film, the visual of a man outrunning a motorcycle with little to no effort, tand he obstacles that prove to be too much for Neil. All of it is wonderfully absurd.

The Deconstruction Of The 'Unlikely Team Of Misfits' Trope Is Top-Notch Comedy

Just when you think Wet Hot American Summer is going to take a cue from the great kids sports movies with its “unlikely team of misfits” speech, the movie throws the trope out the window, and the big game with a rival camp is called off at the last minute.

Coop Storming Off, Getting Caught In A Bucket, Slipping On A Banana Peel, And Landing In A Pool Is Peak Physical Comedy

The physical comedy in this movie is top-notch, and that’s especially true in the scene where an upset Coop gets caught in a bucket, slips on a banana peel, and then lands in a small pool is peak form.

Can We Talk About That Training Montage?

There are so many great movies with intense training scenes, and I feel weird including Wet Hot American Summer. However, that’s very much the case here with the random montage of Gene turning Coop from a teenager into a man. It’s just great!

The Talking Can Of Mixed Vegetables Scene Is So Random, But It Makes Sense In A Movie Like This

The incredible H. Jon Benjamin voicing a can of mixed vegetables in Wet Hot American Summer is one of the oddest things I’ve seen in a movie. I know, his backstory is explained in the 2015 Netflix series, but spending the better part of two decades not knowing if this was real or not was quite an experience.

Ben And McKinley's Wedding Scene Is Hilarious But Also Poignant

Ben (Bradley Cooper) and McKinley’s (Michael Ian Black) wedding is both hilarious (Amy Poehler’s flute playing) and poignant, and is handled in a meaningful and purposeful way. No notes.

The Number Of Times My Wife And I Watched This Movie When We First Started Dating Is Shocking

Back when Wet Hot American Summer was a staple on Netflix, my wife and I would watch it all the time. I’ve honestly lost count of how many times we’ve gone back to Camp Firewood over the years. Not so much now with the three kids, but back in our younger days, it was a monthly staple.

Gail Von Kleinenstein Turning Arts & Crafts Into A Therapy Session Perfectly Captures The Adult Experience

Molly Shannon’s Gail Von Kleinenstein turning her arts & crafts hour into an unorthodox and mortally questionable therapy session is honestly one of the quirks about this movie that makes it so great. Yeah, there are some ethical questions to answer, but let’s not think about those.

Arty Solomon Could Very Well Be My Favorite Character

The first time I watched Wet Hot American Summer, I thought Arty Solomon was just your normal radio-obsessed camper. However, he’s anything but. Over the years, the stinky camper who refuses to bathe or live in our reality (his microphone isn’t plugged in) has become my favorite character.

Beth And Henry Looking At Highly Specific Sections In The Library Is Too Good

The budding romance between Beth and Henry is one of the charms of Wet Hot American Summer and a subplot I love to revisit from time to time. What I love about it is the way in which it takes what could be a very straightforward love affair but turns the wonkiness up a bit. One of the best moments in this romance comes when they are both at the library at the same time (not knowing it, though), looking at very specific sections – Beth is looking at astrophysics (which isn’t that odd) while Henry glances over books on being a camp director.

I Didn't Realize Henry And Niles From Frasier Were Played By The Same Actor For Nearly A Quarter-Century

Hi, it’s me, I’m the guy who didn’t know that Niles from Frasier and Henry from Wet Hot American Summer were played by the same guy until 2025. Carry on…

My Summer Camp Was Nowhere As Fun As Camp Firewood, And I Think I Missed Out

I went to an overnight camp in central Louisiana for a few years when I was younger, and things were never as crazy as they were in Wet Hot American Summer. Sure, the counselors were up to no good at times, but we didn’t have a boat, or river trips, or talking cans of veggies. I feel like I was missing out.

Katie's Big Turn On Coop At The End Is Something

The whole movie, it feels like Katie (Marguerite Moreau) has a thing for Coop, and that they’ll eventually end up together before the movie ends. While that is partially true, the love of Coop’s young life informs him at the last second that she just wants to be friends before riding off with Andy in some random guy’s car. Brutal!

Susie's Meltdown About The Talent Show Is Some Of Amy Poehler's Best Work

Susie, the director and choreographer of the musical at the talent show, is one of the most outrageous characters in Wet Hot American Summer, especially when it comes to the production she’s putting on with Ben. Her meltdown when she suspects Beth is trying to sabotage her project is so out of left field. Honestly, it’s some of her best work, which is saying something.

The Search For Victor Is So Chaotic, So Random, And So Awesome

The scene near the end of the movie, where Beth and Neil go insane looking for Victor so he can save the campers from going over a cliff, is nuts. They run wild all over the camp, not listening to anyone or reason, and it creates a chaotic cap on an already wild movie.

I Remember Watching This Movie As A Kid And Just Not Getting It

I first watched Wet Hot American Summer when I was like 13 years old, and I remember just not getting it at the time. Years later, it’s one of my favorite movies.

Saturday Night Live has become a well-oiled machine of bringing up some of the greatest names in comedy. And with SNL 50 fully finished in the 2025 TV guide books, we’ve really seen it all. The historic Saturday night show’s stars have had plenty of infamous Studio 8H moments, sketches that went awry, and certainly some that didn’t age well. Amy Poehler weighs in on the dated angle and shares her feelings about it all.

The Parks and Rec star had fellow alum and pal Will Forte as a guest on her podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler. There, the two shared some good laughs and covered a lot of ground, including the NBC reunion limited series (available to stream with a Peacock subscription), which highlighted this topic of aged skits. Poehler highlighted how the special showcased decades worth of young comedians on the show playing people out of their range, in her words:

SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night Live’s four episodes truly covered a lot of surprising ground from auditions to the writers' room. And the spotlight the Inside Out actress detailed was one of the more tangible elements audiences could recognize, since many of the personas made it to live TV.

Poehler then opened up and got real about realizing how many times an SNL character didn’t have true legs to stand on, due to a specific comedic take. But as she came to learn and more fully recognize the missteps, she has a very positive way to move ahead, saying:

The frank outlook is very on-brand for the funnywoman. She’s always been one to jump in head first, learn from the experience and move ahead with new knowledge. I’m not surprised by how she's gone about it, and I'm glad for her that she’s maneuvering within the subject with intentionality that works for her.

Then, Poehler added her pointed thoughts about growing up within the world of comedy, sharing:

The comment is a thought-provoking one, that’s for sure. But it seems to have helped cement her rank in the ever-changing and developing realm of joke tellers. Alongside her personal trajectory, Saturday Night Live’s stylings have evolved, too.

We’ll have to wait and see what SNL will bring us this fall (aside from the 30 Rock icon who’s retiring), as the show and alumni like Poehler continue to move past those bits that didn’t age well.

Jon Hamm’s debut on one of the best sketch comedy series, SNL, back in 2008 had plenty of memorable moments. Known for leading the cast of Mad Men, he of course brought Don Draper into the mix, giving outdated seduction advice and ran an "A-Holes: Pitch Meeting" in another sketch. As part of your 2025 TV schedule, Hamm returned as host for his fourth time in April. As for memorable behind-the-scenes moments from his first stint more than 15 years ago, Amy Poehler recalls going from “crying to laughing so hard” thanks to Jon Hamm's comments on SNL after she received tragic news.

When Jon Hamm first hosted SNL (which is streaming on your Peacock subscription), he remembered being “scared” before going live, reminding himself not to trip. While the Bridesmaids actor had his share of worries, so did his future Parks and Rec co-star Amy Poehler the day before Hamm’s episode. She recalled on her podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, about her plan to perform on the live sketch comedy on Saturday and then give birth to her son, Archie, the next day. However, the comedy actress received tragic news during rehearsals:

I can’t imagine how terrible that must have felt. One minute you’re having a good time with your Saturday Night Live cast, and then the next, you discover the OB-GYN expected to deliver your baby in just a couple of days had passed away. The shock must have been really overwhelming for Amy Poehler, but moments of tragedy can lead to moments of compassion, like the SNL cast proved to her that day:

I’m sure it must have been really difficult for the SNL cast and crew to see Amy Poehler crying her eyes out over the unfortunate news she got. However, it was really sweet of everyone to come to her aid to see what was going on. If Amy Poehler had to receive sad news, there was one benefit of that happening on the set of a comedy series. Host Jon Hamm had an unconventional method of comforting the Baby Mama actress:

I love that! It’s like Jon Hamm was channeling Don Draper energy to focus her worries on something else: the Emmy Award winner’s SNL debut. Hamm may have been known at the time for his dramatic role in Mad Men, but he proved right there that comedy is a good home for him. Laughter really was the best medicine for Amy Poehler. She continued to talk about what a huge help Jon Hamm was to her:

Who would have thought that making someone laugh to the point of tears would lead to an early birth? I guess Archie has to thank Jon Hamm for making his mother laugh her way into labor sooner than expected.

Jon Hamm is one of SNL’s best hosts, not only for giving his comedy A game live from New York, but for making Amy Poehler go from sad tears to happy tears. Finding out your OB-GYN passed away days before your due date could have stayed a tragic moment, but the Black Mirror actor instead worked his magic to find a way to make his co-star laugh again. That’s a team player right there!

Make sure to catch new episodes of SNL50 Saturday nights at 11:30 pm ET/8:30 pm PT on NBC, streaming on Peacock the next day.

​​​​Wet Hot American Summer is a goofy cult comedy classic movie stacked with (then) rising stars. Two of the cast members from the flick, Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, reminisced about the ample amount of hang time fueled by adult beverages BTS. From sunup to sundown (and beyond), many adults of the Camp Firewood crew partied while off the clock, with one distinct exception. And the odd man out of the bunch in question is humorously fitting.

Amy Poehler recently had WHAS peer Paul Rudd join her on her podcast, Good Hang. The two covered a lot of ground, including his second title on the 2025 movie guide A24’s Friendship, along with many Rudd classics. Then there's the 2001 hit they shared. They recalled how most of their time not in character was dictated by beer runs and not prepping for future scenes. After each day was done, many gathered to drink said brews and party loudly into the night, until things shifted a bit with a late arrival. Via the podcast’s YouTube page, Poehler shared:

It’s wildly fitting that David Hyde Pierce, Fraiser’s persnickety Niles Crane, was the one to question the late-night goings-on. I can only imagine these two, along with Ken Marino, Bradley Cooper and Elizabeth Banks, or anyone who hung out, being taken aback humorously themselves.

The Ant-Man actor piped in, noting it was Pierce’s first evening on set. He mentioned the professional was likely prepping for his first scene the next morning and got interrupted by the partygoers. When the two parties met, no one formally knew the other, and a fellow cast mate broke the awkward tension with the obvious pop culture reference relating to the actor (though it was goofily skewed). The Clueless alum said:

This exchange makes me love the movie and the streaming Netflix subscription show that much more! It all screams the exacerbated drama of Camp Firewood all too well. And of course, Ken Marino’s comment is just the cherry on top of the amusing anecdote.

The podcast host jumped in to say the Fraiser actor was more curious than offended by the get-together, but it still left them all giggling like high schoolers after the fact:

Both Poehler and Rudd agreed he was a wonderful and fun collaborator to have, just a true serious actor opposed to the rest of them during the early ‘00s. I’m a bit obsessed with this brief but hilarious look behind the curtain of one of the best movies set at summer camp. But between these two, and everyone else on the call sheet who’s gone on to kill in Hollywood, it's hard not to be. For me ,at least.

As mentioned, the 56-year-old has a handful of movies coming out this year. In addition to the upcoming A24 movie, he’s already had Death of a Unicorn premiere at SXSW and will have a scheduled horror movie giant come out on December 25th–Anaconda, which is spun as a meta homage to the original of the same name. And of course, Avengers: Doomsday will release the following year.

Who knows if Paul Rudd has as much fun with these casts and crews as he did with Poehler and the gang of Wet Hot American Summer? Or if there was anyone like David Hyde Pierce who wasn’t on the same page as the partygoers? Hopefully, we’ll get those answers in twenty or so years.

Parks and Recreation stands as one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it remains a favorite amongst longtime fans (who can stream its seven seasons with a Peacock subscription). That show worked in large part due to the efforts of the series’ creators as well as lead actress and producer Amy Poehler. Fans will surely now be excited to learn that Poehler is reteaming with the workplace sitcom’s co-creator Mike Schur for a brand-new show. But hold onto your hats, because this series is set in a place far from Pawnee, Indiana.

It’s been announced that Amy Poehler and Mike Schur are reteaming for an upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of DIG. Based on Kate Meyers’ bestselling 2023 novel, Excavations, the comedy-project is being set up at Peacock. Schur will serve as an executive producer on the show, and he’ll also write the pilot alongside Poehler. Speaking of the multi-hypenate, in addition to writing that first episode, she’ll also star on the series and hold down EP duties as well.

The show takes place primarily in and focuses on four women, who are all apparently dealing with varied personal situations. While participating in an archaeological dig, the group stumble upon a major secret that could rock the foundations of history. As a result, they’re thrust into the center of a massive conspiracy with international ramifications. Needless to say, this production could be one heck of a ride.

While I’d love to see new adventures that take place in Pawnee, I’m excited for the aforementioned Parks and Rec alums to tackle a humorous story that seems much larger in scope. Greece makes for a wonderful setting and, on the surface, it provides some excellent sights. Depending on how the narrative swings, this setting could also generate some very engaging set pieces.

This also feels like a perfect production for Mike Schur and Amy Poehler, who have more than enough experience producing comedy for TV. Poehler has held down producing duties on notable shows, including Broad City, Difficult People and Russian Doll. As for Schur, he holds co-creator credits on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place, and he served as a producer on The Office, Master of None and Hacks. With all that in mind, DIG is certainly in good hands.

One of the few downsides to this announcement may be that it would seemingly pour water on the notion of Parks and Recreation coming back in some form. While the show capped off its run with a great series finale in 2015, many have still been pining for more. The Parks and Rec cast has reunited on several occasions since the sitcom ended, though, and they most notably joined forces for a live, one-off special in the name of Feeding America in 2020.

While further antics from Leslie Knope and co. don’t seem to be in the cards, I’ll certainly take a new show from the talented creative forces behind Parks and Recreation. Let’s hope it manages to tickle our funny bones just like the workplace comedy has done for years now. As of this writing, a release window for DIG has not been announced but, in the meantime, you can check out the new comedies premiering amid the 2025 TV schedule.

Over the five decades that Saturday Night Live has been a staple of late-night television, it has been responsible for some of the funniest impressions of political figures in popular culture. It's invented words, like "strategery," and never failed to get the public talking. Some of the greatest cast members in the show's history have played the most famous and infamous politicians in United States history. This list is hardly exhaustive; that would be impossible, but they are some of the best.

Bill Clinton - Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman was one of the most versatile performers in SNL history and had some amazing moments on the show. He could do it all, including impersonating President Bill Clinton. In 1992, he appeared on one of the true classic skits that sees Clinton on the campaign trail, meeting people at a McDonald's. Most of the time, he's just stealing fries and taking bites of people's food.

George W. Bush - Will Ferrell

Who will ever forget Will Ferrell uttering the word "strategery" during an SNL debate? Ferrell's George W. Bush is a classic. He portrayed the former president as a little dimwitted, but generally affable. While "Dubya" is smarter than he lets on, he is certainly easygoing, just as Ferrall played him. He was so good as Bush that he later played him in a one-man show after leaving SNL and has occasionally returned to the show, as well.

Al Gore - Darrell Hammond

Will Ferrell's George W. Bush is legendary, and like all the best performances, he needed a partner to play the foil, and Darrell Hammond's portrayal of Al Gore, Bush's opponent in 2000, was perfect for the role. Like Gore himself, Hammond's take on the former VP was very dry - but make no mistake, it's pitch perfect and hilarious.

Sean Spicer - Melissa McCarthy

When Melissa McCarthy first appeared on SNL as Donald Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer, she completely stole the show. Though she wasn't a full cast member, the impression was so funny, she returned a number of times to reprise it. It's impossible not to die laughing when she starts shoving gum in her mouth, playing on one of Spicer's own habits.

Gerald Ford - Chevy Chase

The first cast member to send up a president was Chevy Chase, who became legendary for his performances as then-president Gerald Ford. Chase basically played Ford as though the president was a complete idiot, and while that might not be exactly what Ford was like, it didn't matter, because it was hilarious whenever Chase played him. Just don't make him do any math.

Vladimir Putin - Beck Bennett

Occasionally, Saturday Night Live branches out into foreign politics, and in recent years, we've had the pleasure of watching Beck Bennett as a shirtless Vladimir Putin. Is it a spot-on impression? No, but no matter, it perfectly mocks Putin's machismo that is so often on display in Russian propaganda, including his lack of shirt in pretty much every appearance.

Janet Reno - Wll Ferrell

Cast members playing across genders has a long tradition at SNL, and that certainly applies to political impressions on the show. Take, for example, Will Ferrell's hilarious impression of former attorney general Janet Reno. Especially the "Janet Reno's Dance Party" skit. Though Ferrell says he regrets the impression these days, it still should be appreciated for what it was in its time.

Ben Carson - Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is hands down one of the greatest impressionists who has ever graced the SNL studio. He never failed to land just about any impersonation he took on, like former Republican presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Pharoah perfectly captured Carson's sleepy appearance and gentle manner.

Michael Dukakis - Jon Lovitz

Like Al Gore, former Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis was often criticized for being too dry and too much of a policy wonk. Jon Lovitz nailed the former Massachusetts governor perfectly by playing him in an almost boring manner. It wasn't boring to watch during the 1988 election, however.

Newt Gingrich - Chris Farley

Saturday Night Live legend Chris Farley wasn't known for his impressions, but that doesn't mean when he did them, they weren't top-notch. In fact, his Newt Gingrich was so good, he was even invited by House Republicans to perform as the former Speaker of the House. Right in front of the man himself! Of course, Farley nailed it.

Donald Trump - James Austin Johnson

Everyone and their brother thinks they can nail an impression of Donald Trump, but none do it better than James Austin Johnson on SNL. A ton of cast members (and guest stars) have "done" Trump in the past, including most famously Alec Baldwin, but if we're honest, none of them come close to Johnson's. It's all about the subtleties.

Sarah Palin - Tina Fey

When Sarah Palin first emerged as a vice presidential candidate in 2008, fans of the show and its former head writer and star, Tina Fey, started clamoring for her to come back to do an impression of the Alaskan governor. Fey did, of course, and in the process made the impersonation legendary. She even returned in 2018 to reprise the role.

Bob Dole - Norm Macdonald

The best thing about Norm McDonald's impersonation of Senator Bob Dole was just how little the SNL star did. It was basically just McDonald holding a pen in his hand, as Dole did, and calling himself "Bob Dole" in the third person a lot. It's absolutely hilarious.

Jimmy Carter - Dan Aykroyd

Jimmy Carter, who some would argue might be the best person to ever be president, but none would argue he was particularly effective as a president. That's exactly how Dan Aykroyd played him, too. He was a great man, willing to help out anyone he could, but maybe a little out of his depth as the leader of the free world.

Hillary Clinton - Amy Poehler

You have to wonder just how much Amy Poehler took from her impression of Hillary Clinton into her Parks & Rec character, Leslie Knope. We know Leslie idolized Clinton, just as it seemed Poehler did, especially when they appeared together on the show in 2016.

Joe Biden - Kevin Nealon

Years before Joe Biden became VP, and hence a regular target of SNL, he was a senator from Maryland leading the Senate's investigation into Clarence Thomas when Thomas was nominated for the Supreme Court. The hearings were front-page news, and SNL landed an amazing skit with Kevin Nealon playing the younger Biden.

George H. W. Bush - Dana Carvey

For Gen X, there is no more famous impersonation than Dana Carvey's George H.W. Bush. His version of the 41st president was a little nerdy, but very forthright. He also copied some absolutely classic lines, like "1000 points of light," that have become cultural touchstones. Carvey has done a lot of impressions for SNL, both as a cast member and later as a guest star, but Bush I remains his most famous.

Ted Kennedy - Phil Hartman

The great Phil Hartman may best be remembered for his version of Bill Clinton, but his take on Senator Ted Kennedy in the famous skit about Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court hearing was at least as good and really, really funny. It's always fun to do a Massachusetts accent, even for Hartman.

Bernie Sanders - Larry David

For over a decade now, Saturday Night Live has been great at bringing in guest stars to do the biggest political players these days. One of the most hilarious was when they convinced former SNL writer and Seinfeld co-creator Larry David to play Bernie Sanders. David seemed to enjoy his time playing the independent Senator from Vermont, but he admitted later he would not have wanted Sanders to win and have to play him more than he did.

Ross Perot - Dana Carvey

The 1992 Presidential election was a wild one. George H.W. Bush, was the incumbent, and he was challenged by and young upstart named Bill Clinton. A third candidate, Ross Perot, jumped into the race with a self-funded career as a financial centrist. Dana Carvey was already famous for his Bush, and he added Perot to his repertoire during this election, too.

David Paterson - Fred Armisen

One of the more underrated impressions has to be Fred Armisen's version of the former governor of New York, David Paterson. To some, it was offensive, but Paterson himself seemed to be ok with it, as he joined Armisen for an appearance in one skit.

Donald Trump, Jr - Mikey Day And Alex Moffat - Eric Trump

Sure, usually the kids of Presidents are off-limits for sketch comedy, but when they are such visible members of the campaign, like Eric and Donald Trump Jr. were, they are fair game. Alex Moffat and Mikey Day aren't really perfect impressions, but they are hilarious.

Ronald Reagan - Phil Hartman

Early in his SNL career, Phil Hartman did an amazing impression of Ronald Reagan. The skit shows Reagan as a kindly old man, much like the image he projected to the public, but things changed when the eyes were off Reagan in the script, and he was a ruthless leader with all kinds of schemes.

Elizabeth Warren - Kate McKinnon

Emmy Award winner Kate McKinnon has dozens of amazing sketches in her SNL portfolio. She was legendary in her time on the show for her impressions, including such political luminaries as Hillary Clinton and Kellyanne Conway. One of her best has to be Elizabeth Warren, who McKinnon got to play for a little bit when Warren ran for president in 2020.

Cory Booker - Chris Redd

Cory Booker was an up-and-coming Senator from New Jersey when he through his hat into the presidential ring in 2020. Chris Redd did a very funny impression of the former Newark mayor that emphasized Booker's wide eyes.

Jeanine Pirro - Cecily Strong

Though she was a local politician early in her career, Jeanine Pirro is most famous for her Fox News talk show. On Saturday Night Live, Cecily Strong nailed Pirro's unique speech pattern and made the impression incredibly effective and funny.

Rudy Giuliani - Kate McKinnon

Before he went overboard after Donald Trump's loss in 2020, Rudy Giuliani was one of the most popular politicians in the country. After his wild claims of election interference in 2020, he lost a lot of that respect. That's the version of Giuliani that Kate McKinnon played brilliantly in the aftermath of the election.

Richard Nixon - Joe Piscopo

Early on in SNL's history, Richard Nixon was played by Dan Aykroyd. In the mid-80s, the role was picked up by Joe Piscopo, who, frankly, was even better than Aykroyd. Nixon is one of those celebrities that everyone thinks they can imitate, but it takes real skill to do it as well as Piscopo did on the show.

Barak Obama - Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is one of the most talented mimics in SNL history, and his most famous impression has to be Barack Obama. He crushes the part every time he does it. Though Pharoah had a falling out with the producers on the show, he'll forever be remembered as the show's best Obama.

Paul Simon - Al Franken

We just had to include this one. Even though Paul Simon, a Democrat from Illinois, isn't really remembered by anyone born after 1990, he was a prominent member of the committee that held the Clarence Thomas hearings in '91. For the now-famous skit on SNL, he was portrayed by none other than Al Franken, who himself would later be elected to the Senate.

Michael Bloomberg - Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen's Michael Bloomberg is pretty much pitch-perfect for the smart, but sometimes whiny-sounding former mayor of New York. Armisen captured both sides of Bloomberg perfectly. It's not as famous as "The Californians," but it was still a spot-on impression.

Jeff Sessions - Kate McKinnon

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions was one of the most prominent members of Donald Trump's first cabinet, and s,o of course, he had to get his comeuppance on SNL. Kate McKinnon had the hono,r and like all the other impressions she did on the show, she nailed Sessions.

Before Colin Jost and Michael Che hosted Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, Seth Meyers hosted between 2006 and 2014. He also served as a writer and one of the longest-lasting SNL cast members on the variety sketch series, beginning in 2001. Having worked at SNL for well over a decade, he’s certainly written a lot of sketches, but he apparently only wrote five that he knew would work. Now, he has finally revealed one of them.

While taking questions from audience members in a TikTok for Late Night with Seth Meyers, one fan asked the host what his favorite SNL sketch was. After getting clarification that the answer could be either for a sketch that he performed or wrote, he went on to tell a story involving Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. With them, he knew he had a hit on his hands, despite being pretty nervous about it, as he said:

Both Poehler and Fey have portrayed Clinton and Palin on more than one occasion, and to this day, these sketches remain some of the most memorable. In fact, the sketch "Sarah Palin and Hillary Address the Nation" is considered one of SNL's best cold opens.

So, I think Seth Meyers' victorious feelings about the sketch he wrote both before and after it happened were warranted.

If I had to guess which specific Palin/Clinton sketch the late-night host was referencing, I'd put my money on "Sarah Palin and Hillary Address the Nation." The sketch aired in 2008 during the Season 34 premiere. It featured Poehler as Clinton and Fey as Palin as they addressed the American public about sexism, the 2008 presidential election, global warming, and their many disagreements. The video currently has 6 million views on YouTube, and at the time, it was highly talked about.

However, there's also a chance he was speaking about any of the other times the two women took the stage as the political figures too.

Now, I want to know the other four sketches he knew would kill. However, he didn't divulge that information...yet.

Meyers has, however, returned to the Weekend Update desk for the SNL50: The Anniversary Special, and it was like nothing had changed. He still occasionally talks about SNL too on Late Night, including telling a story about working with Kermit the Frog and punching a hole in his office wall. And I would give anything to get a whole book about his experience.

Since Meyers frequently takes questions from his studio audience at Late Night with Seth Meyers, it’s very likely there will be more stories to come about his days at SNL. Hopefully, that means we'll learn more about these five sketches at some point. However, in the meantime, you can watch both Late Night and SNL as they air on the 2025 TV schedule on NBC or with a Peacock subscription.

Back when Parks and Recreation was still on, there was an iconic image taken of Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Paul Rudd and Rashida Jones. They looked like they were in a ‘90s legal procedural, and it was titled “Philly Justice.” Now, Poehler has shared more details about this fake show they actually filmed an episode of, and fans are hilariously demanding that this long-lost piece of work from the Parks and Rec cast be released.

Amy Poehler Broke Down All The Work That Went Into Making Philly Justice

Over the years, there have been jokes about Philly Justice. However, recently, Amy Poehler talked about it with Rashida Jones, and confirmed that they filmed an episode! While chatting on her podcast Good Hang, Poehler started her explanation of this goofy idea by saying:

Rashida Jones then chimed in to note that the writers for Parks and Rec took time off writing one of the best sitcoms ever to write an episode of Philly Justice. Honestly, that’s iconic behavior. And to that point, the podcast host revealed just how much work went into this little fake show, saying:

To quote Rashida Jones, “Dude, really!?!” I desperately need to see this, especially since the Leslie Knope actress went on to say that it’s “so good” while revealing some juicy plot details.

Poehler said a producer on Parks sent her the episode and revealed that Jones plays a lawyer named Angie Martinez. She also explained that she thinks the Ann Perkins actress’s character was in love with Kathryn Hahn’s character too, revealing they did "kiss at some point."

This sounds remarkable. Not only does it feature some of the incredible regular cast, but it also highlights two of Parks and Rec’s finest guest stars. So, I agree with all the fans who are demanding that this be released.

Now, The Fans Are Demanding To See Philly Justice

Even though a Parks and Rec revival seems unlikely, there is a rewatch podcast, the cast reunited in 2020 for a special, and they frequently chat about their love for the show. However, while all that’s fine and dandy, I think the world needs Philly Justice.

The fans agree, too. Under the TikTok clip from Good Hang, they were adamant that Philly Justice must see the light of day, writing comments like:

• WE DEMAND (PHILLY) JUSTICE -like.daylightt
• Amy? Amy. AMY. Amy. You cannot toy with us like this. -Rachel
• According to TikTok this was posted 13 hours ago and here we are, still waiting for the Philly Justice premiere. Amy, we are begging you; Save 2025. -justjessonthecape
• What!?! I feel personally offended that you haven’t put this out for me. Clearly this is a one sided friendship. 🤨 -RubyRose
• the people yearn for philly justice PLEASE -Kathryn

The people do “yearn” for Philly Justice, and so do I! In fact, the people want it so badly that they’re pulling out some of Parks and Rec’s finest inside jokes and gags to prove their point, writing hilarious comments like:

• Get on your feet! Get up and make it happen!! 🙏🏻 -recordingwithsam
• IN THE NAME OF LIL SEBASTIAN PLEASE -Erin Rensnick
• In the words of Leslie Knope, please please please please please please please please please please please! -Cajuntexan

So, yeah, the world needs Philly Justice.

Sadly, we don’t know if or when it will be released. However, you can keep listening to Amy Peohler’s podcast Good Hang, and you can see Rashida Jones in Black Mirror when it premieres Season 7 on the 2025 TV schedule. Plus, you can always go back and re-watch Parks and Rec with a Peacock subscription while fantasizing about this hilarious fake show, Philly Justice.

If you’re like me and you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to hang out with comedy legends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, today is your lucky day. In addition to going on tour together, the Weekend Update duo recently recorded a podcast episode. In a now-viral clip, the 30 Rock alum vented about her "problem with rich people," and her fellow Mean Girls actress dished out some straight talk back.

For the first episode of her new podcast, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, the Parks and Recreation star of course had to invite her self-proclaimed work wife on as a guest. The two SNL alums are besties in real life, and they got right to comfortably chatting about what was on their minds. Poehler brought up how she has always encouraged Fey to start her own glasses line, and the Whisky Tango Foxtrot actress got real about why she doesn’t have one:

Ever the quick-witted, self-aware host, Poehler joked that she meant celebrities having a podcast. No, that’s work, Fey replied. Then, the A Haunting In Venice actress quickly made clear that she was talking about rich and famous actors who decided to sell a product, like a rosé.

The point Fey was making was that it seems a little bit exploitative for celebrities with, say $200 million per her example, to ask people to specifically buy their brand because they are famous. Plus, these days a lot of actors and musicians end up attaining exorbitant amounts of wealth not from their main craft, but from a makeup line or alcohol brand attached to their name. So, this is a very relevant topic.

However, Fey's Sisters co-star gave a very straight-up take on her friend’s apprehension:

The Inside Out actress went on to make the point that this is kind of how things are these days. Many celebrities have products attached to their names, whether they promote them or not. It’s normalized in current culture, so why not jump on the wagon? Considering Poehler landed SNL because of the existing cast member, I see where she’s coming from. Do people really care anymore how a person or a brand gets their start in their industry if it ends up being of good quality?

To answer that question, yes kind of. TikTok users took to the comments to share their own thoughts on the famous sitcom stars’ opinions:

• Celebrities used to start charities. Now they start dropshipped alcohol brands and clothing lines -@maria_turdzinski
• Nope Tina 100% correct here. Gen z DOES judge it. -@breadalty
• A celebrity side hustle is only acceptable when it's something they're actually passionate about. -@tam.reads.and.creates
• Gen Z doesn't judge a side hustle BECAUSE normal ppl around our age have to side hustle, we are 1000% judging rich people for wanting to bloat themselves even more. -@janiwenz
• The only one I get is Tom Holland’s non alcoholic beers since that was born from him struggling to get sober, what on earth does Ryan Reynolds know about gin? -@aardmany

One user @bigIttIeIies on X had an especially great take though:

Regardless of whose view on celebrity brands in consumerism culture is correct, it’s an important discussion to have. The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt actress may be known for her hilarious TV lines, but never forget her incredible cultural insight and self-awareness. That’s what made her such a fantastic SNL writer and why I secretly hope she will be the one to take over for Lorne Michaels when he retires.

Until then, you can be sure to look out for her upcoming Netflix comedy The Four Seasons alongside Colman Domingo and Steve Carell. For more interesting hot takes with the comedy besties, their U.S. Restless Leg Tour stars March 29, so see if they are coming to a city near you! Snag a ticket for me, will ya?

At one point in time, if you said Tina Fey or Amy Poehler, the other name likely wasn’t far behind. From their days on Saturday Night Live as the co-anchors of the Weekend Update, the writers/actresses were a comedy force as their careers intertwined, from Fey and Poehler's touring life to outstanding individual projects, all because their long-standing friendship predated widespread fame. Surprisingly though, the Inside Out star revealed that her standing as a "nepo friend" had a direct impact in her rise to stardom.

While the two Baby Mama costars visited The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, they chatted about the second leg (pun intended) of their Restless Leg Tour as well as all things SNL. Via the show’s YouTube page, the trio of Studio 8H alums launched into their beginnings and how Fallon met the Parks & Recreation star at a sketch show she was a part of (Upright Citizen’s Brigade). After the TV show host recounted the anecdote, he and Fey praised Poehler, saying that her landing on the SNL cast was because of her work.

The Blades of Glory alum was quick to say the reason she bagged the gig was because she had a friend (Fey) on the inside, and wouldn’t stand a chance today, stating:

True to form, The House actress sharing the credit, and love, with her longstanding comedy partner doesn’t come as a surprise. While much of their careers are intertwined and affected by one another, and Fey’s best films and shows overlap with some of the most iconic Amy Poehler movies and TV quotes, both shine just as well on their own. There’s no doubt, at least in my mind, that the Moxie alum would’ve found her way into the historic sketch show, with or without her Sisters costar.

As the upcoming SNL 50 hosts and musical guests continue to light up the historic season on our 2025 TV schedule, we’re heading into a weekend full of special reunion events. Between the Friday night homecoming concert, red carpet Saturday and the actual reunion special, Poehler and Fey are likely to make multiple appearances. The pair is on the top of my list to see during this celebratory weekend and I’d be happy to see them a part of anything, though, my fingers are crossed for a special Weekend Update segment.

Both Wine Country actresses have been busy walking down memory lane at Rockefeller Plaza, though. Fey's impending Four Seasons reboot is slated to premiere on our 2025 Netflix movie and TV schedule while Poehler's life-changing Inside Out franchise continues to make waves for Pixar and Disney. And that’s not even mentioning the Disney Pixar star’s organization she co-founded, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, which aims at helping young people cultivate a future they’d like for themselves.

I think it’s pretty safe to say, that regardless of whether Amy Poehler believes she is a nepo pal or not, she’s more than made a name for herself beyond Tina Fey’s work. And their longstanding friendship seems to be more important to her than how she wound up on SNL all those years ago.

Stream the Amy Poehler and Tina Fey Saturday Night Live years with a Peacock subscription. Watch the titular show on Saturday evenings at 11:30 pm EST or stream it the following day with an active Bird account.

Since bursting onto the national stage as a featured player on Saturday Night Live (SNL) over 20 years ago, Amy Poehler has won the hearts of millions. From Parks and Recreation’s uber-organized optimist Leslie Knope to her roles in dozens of movies, Poehler has left a legacy that any actor or comedian would envy. Let’s take a look at 32 of Amy Poehler’s funniest and most inspiring quotes from her movie and TV career.

“I’m not like a regular mom, I’m a *cool* mom.”

By any standard, Mean Girls is a comedy classic. As June George, mother of queen bee Regina George, Amy Poehler had only a few scenes, but she stole them all. In a movie that is endlessly quotable, Poehler contributed one of the movie’s best-known lines when she tried to explain her “parenting style” to Regina’s friends.

“We need to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter, but work is third.”

On Parks and Rec, Leslie Knope was often the hardest working employee in her department, if not in the entire Pawnee city government. She’s always willing to do whatever she can to make her community a better place. But in this quote, Leslie shows that she has her priorities in the right place – and that breakfast should always be a priority.

“When it comes to torture, I trust the woman who spent three years married to James Cameron.”

In 2013, Amy Poehler joined her good friend Tina Fey to host the Golden Globes for the first time. During their monologue, the hosts mentioned the controversy around “Zero Dark Thirty,” a movie directed by Kathryn Bigelow. While alluding to the film's depiction of military torture, Poehler offered the quotable quip above. Taking a shot at Bigelow’s ex instead of the director herself makes the joke even funnier.

“What I hear when I’m being yelled at is people caring loudly at me.”

The citizens of Pawnee, Indiana are an interesting bunch, to say the least. The public wasn’t always on its best behavior during Leslie’s town hall meetings, but the quote above explains why Leslie was able to power through with a smile.

“I don’t know your life!”

After years of collaborating on SNL, buddies Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were finally able to make a movie together. In Baby Mama, Fey plays Kate, a high-strung executive who wants to become a mother, and Poehler plays Angie, a down-on-her-luck trailer park resident chosen to be Kate’s surrogate. The clash of their two worlds is comedy gold, but none so much as when Kate accuses Angie of storing chewed bubble gum under her expensive dining room table. Angie implies that Kate herself did the deed. When Kate protests, Angie offers this amazing comeback.

“Sometimes you have to make the hardest climb to see the most beautiful sunrise.”

Like a lot of producer Michael Schur’s work before and since, Parks and Rec is not just a show about co-workers, it’s a show about people coming together to work for the common good. When they do, Leslie is their chief motivator. This quote is one of her most inspirational.

“Maybe we need a little less Forever 21 and a little more Suddenly 42…”

After the success of Baby Mama, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler reunited for the 2015 comedy Sisters. This time, they play middle-aged siblings Kate (Fey) and Maura (Poehler). The sisters are determined to throw one last high-school-style party in their parents’ house before its sale. While shopping for clothes for the soiree with little luck, Maura makes this great observation.

“What’s Galentine's Day? It’s only the best day of the year!”

When asked about the “best day of the year,” Leslie said, “Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home and we just come and kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies.” Galentine’s Day’s popularity spread from Pawnee into the real world, making Leslie Knope one of the few fictional characters responsible for creating a real-life holiday.

“They came…because of Sadness…”

Inside Out looks at the inner emotional life of a girl named Riley. Amy Poehler plays Joy, the leader of the emotional pack that includes Disgust, Anger, Fear, and Sadness. Poehler obviously nails the comedy, but because it’s Pixar, there’s also an emotional weight to many scenes. Joy spends nearly the entire film insulting Sadness and diminishing her contributions. But then, Joy realizes that one of Riley’s happiest memories only came to be because Riley was upset about losing a game. Her family and friends arrived to cheer her up. Riley indeed experienced Joy, but it would not have happened without Sadness.

“Why would anyone eat anything other than breakfast food?”

Another gem from Leslie Knope. While talking with Ron Swanson at JJ’s Diner, Leslie offers one of the most important observations made in Pawnee or anywhere else.

“And the story has to be true, because the story was reported by Shakira’s hips.”

“Weekend Update” is one of SNL’s longest-running and most beloved segments. Amy Poehler is one of its most notable anchors. Although Poehler left SNL in 2009, she came back to the desk in 2012. One of her stories noted that singer Shakira had reportedly been attacked by a sea lion. Poehler then deadpanned with the quote above, which includes a reference to Shakira’s hit song.

“Ann, you beautiful _______”

Leslie Knope’s friendship with nurse Ann Perkins forms the emotional core of the first few seasons of Parks and Rec. Leslie showers Ann with compliments as any good friend should. Often, they start with “Ann, you beautiful….” and can end with anything Leslie dreams up, including “land mermaid,” “tropical fish,” “rule-breaking moth,” or “powerful musk ox.” We should all have a friend like Leslie Knope.

“Maybe that’s what happens as we get older…We feel less joy.”

Inside Out 2 tells the next chapter of Riley’s story. Because Riley is getting older, a new set of emotions – Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy – join the gang. As Anxiety takes over, Joy (voiced by Poehler) and the other original emotions start to feel that they have less of a place in Riley’s life. This leads Joy to say the above quote - one of the saddest observations in the entire film. Fortunately, Joy and the gang get Anxiety under control and prove that there is a place for Joy at any age.

“I am super chill all the time!”

This quote is funny not just because of the irony. These words coming from the super-organized and Type A Leslie Knope would already be hilarious. But Amy Poehler delivers this line by literally screaming it at Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott). Yelling about how chill you are will never not be funny.

“Freedom of speech! Look it up! It’s in the thing!”

In Baby Mama, Angie (Poehler) and Kate’s (Tina Fey) surrogacy agreement goes awry when they learn that Angie is indeed pregnant - but not with Kate’s child. In the courtroom scene that follows, the judge tells Angie to pipe down. Angie takes the opportunity to remind the attorneys in the room about the free speech rights granted to all Americans in “the thing” (a/k/a the U.S. Constitution).

“Hi, Leslie. It’s Leslie. I love you. Hang in there.”

Leslie Knope has high standards for herself and her employees. Yet she is never angry or rude. She pushes them with gentle encouragement or inspires them simply by being herself. Leslie shows the same gentleness to herself in a voice memo.

“Of course I’m delusional!”

In Inside Out 2, Anger complains to the other emotions – Disgust, Fear, and Sadness – that Joy is being delusional. After admitting that she absolutely is, Joy says, “Do you know how hard it is to stay positive all the time? When all you folks do is complain, complain, complain?!” Poehler’s performance is top-notch, and the quote is a good reminder that even the most positive among us have a breaking point.

“Every girl dreams about winning. But winning is my destiny.”

Leslie Knope is one of TV’s most optimistic characters. Part of optimism is believing in yourself. Here, Leslie shows us that she is a winner because she believes that she is.

“I didn't like Gone Girl. I go to the movies to escape. I didn't want to see myself up there on the screen.”

Most awards show hosts poke fun at the industry or the nominees. But at the 2015 Golden Globes, Amy Poehler invited the attendees to laugh at her as she humorously compared her life to Gone Girl, a movie where (spoiler alert) a woman stages her own kidnapping, blackmails several people, and even commits murder. (Of course, Poehler can make that joke as in real life, she is rumored to be a gracious and friendly person.)

“Maybe it’s time for more women to be in charge.”

Between her advocacy for the women and girls of Pawnee, her adoration of strong women, and her consistently feminist stances, Leslie Knope is clearly a girl’s girl. It’s no surprise that she would want to see more women in leadership roles.

“In Wasilla we chill baby chilla… but when I see oil it’s drill baby drill-a!”

In 2008, Amy Poehler’s friend Tina Fey returned to SNL with an uncanny and hilarious impersonation of Senator John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Palin took the jokes in stride, and even joined the Saturday Night Live crew for a guest appearance. But here’s the twist: During “Weekend Update,” Poehler, not Fey, embodied Palin. While Palin looked on and “raised the roof,” a very pregnant Poehler energetically rapped verses that she claimed were penned by Palin, including the above shout-out to Palin’s hometown. It was an epic moment in SNL history.

“I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.”

Each of us has a unique strength or ability that makes us an inspiration to someone. But the busyness of life – along with the fact that most of us tend to focus on our failures more than our successes – can keep us from seeing it. This Leslie Knope quote reminds us to look toward our best selves.

“I’m not following you. This is a dual storm off!”

In 2019, Amy Poehler made her directorial debut in the hilarious Netflix comedy Wine Country. In addition to helming the project, Poehler also took a prominent role in front of the screen. The movie follows a group of friends (played by SNL alums including Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, and Tina Fey) who visit Napa Valley to celebrate their friend’s 50th birthday. As the weekend goes on, old and new resentments test the bonds of friendship. After a big argument, Naomi (Maya Rudolph) runs away from her friends. Shortly thereafter, Abby (Poehler) also leaves the gathering. But she uses the quote above to make sure Naomi knows she has her own reasons for leaving.

“I am a goddess.”

One of the best storylines in Parks and Rec happens when Leslie Knope realizes that the Pawnee Rangers (led by Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson) don’t allow girls to join. This inspires Leslie to create a rival group, the Pawnee Goddesses. Leslie’s creed for the group states, “I am a goddess, a glorious female warrior. Queen of all that I survey. Enemies of fairness and equality, hear my womanly roar. Yeah!” Of course, the Pawnee Goddesses become so popular that eventually all of the children in Pawnee - both male and female - want to join in the fun.

“These facts and opinions look so similar!”

In Inside Out, Joy has an opportunity to go deep into Riley’s mind. This quote summarizes one of her keen observations about the pre-teen thought process.

“I have the most valuable currency in America: a blind, stubborn belief that I'm 100% right.”

Leslie Knope is inspiring, but she's not quite perfect. Leslie is so prepared and well-read on any subject that she can sometimes overlook the fact that other people just might have something valuable to say. Still, this quote shows that Leslie at least has some self-awareness about her issues.

“TV is the one that I watch for five hours straight, but a movie is the one that I won’t even start because it’s two hours long.”

While co-hosting the 2021 Golden Globes with pal Tina Fey, Poehler was in rare comedic form. But instead of poking fun at the nominees or Hollywood’s quirks, Poehler took a moment to address something that we’ve all done: refusing to watch a movie because it’s too long but binging five episodes of an hour-long show because we’re hooked. Maybe there’s a reason Netflix asks if we're still watching.

“There's nothing we can't do if we work hard, never sleep, and shirk all other responsibilities in our lives.”

The early days of Parks and Rec showed us that Leslie Knope was a hard worker who was willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. This quote summarizes Leslie’s early view of work and life. Thankfully, as she builds stronger connections with her team and finds love with Ben (Adam Scott), she begins to prioritize friends and family.

“We weren’t intersectional enough … We called our meetings pow wows!”

Amy Poehler’s second directorial turn, the Netflix film Moxie, looks at a group of young girls who use an underground magazine to combat the sexist culture at their high school. In addition to directing, Poehler also portrays Lisa, the mother of the main character. By sharing her lament with her daughter, she encourages her not to follow in her mother’s footsteps but to make a newer, better path.

“I stand by my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things.”

As an employee of Pawnee’s Parks and Recreation Department (and later a member of the Pawnee City Council), Leslie Knope is required to help every person and business in the community – even Sue’s Salads and the veggie vendors at the local farmer’s market. But that doesn’t mean she has to like it. This quote proves that Leslie helps these businesses solely out of professional obligation.

“Cake is, like, a fluffy dessert that people eat on their birthdays.”

At the 2015 Golden Globes, Jennifer Aniston was nominated for her work in the film Cake. Poehler used the above quote to explain the concept of “cake” to the health-conscious Hollywood crowd. Afterward, Poehler’s co-host Tina Fey poked at another sore spot by adding, “And birthdays are a thing that people celebrate when they admit that they have aged.”

“Find your team and get to work.”

This Leslie Knope quote summarizes the ethos of her character and Parks and Rec. No one can do anything worthwhile alone. We all need help. We might not be able to move a mountain alone, but if we put together the right team, we just might succeed.

Saturday Night Live has jumpstarted dozens of comics' careers over its historic fifty-year run on television, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down as it returns for the 2025 TV schedule. However, landing a job on the iconic variety sketch show is a lot harder than one might seem -- just ask Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge, who was rejected after auditioning. In fact, many comedy giants who came out of the show, like Andy Samberg, have expressed how terrifying that particular job audition actually is.

For the first time on this scale, many of SNL’s most famous alumni are coming together to talk about what it was like working on the show in the Peacock original documentary SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night. The four-part documentary will cover everything from the history of the show to deep dives into some of the most popular sketches of all time, but it’s also a chance for current and former cast members to reflect back on how they ended up on the all-time great sketch series in the first place.

Only the best of the best make it to Saturday Night Live, which is why the show has such a tremendous track record; however, with that comes an immense sort of pressure not to blow your audition. Andy Samberg gets perhaps the most candid about his tryout experience in the trailer, sharing:

Samberg spent seven years as a cast member on SNL and is largely credited for popularizing the show’s Digital Shorts but judging by his quote; it wasn’t an easy gig to get. Ignoring the fact that he actually threw up, the more interesting tidbit of his quote is the fact that he had to audition more than once. It’s hard to imagine the SNL casting directors not seeing his comedic talent in one audition, but that’s just how serious they are about only casting the best of the best.

Other SNL greats shared similar anecdotes that indicated how terrifying it is to audition for the show, like Pete Davidson, who shared that his audition process was “terrifying.” Even Kenan Thompson, the longest-running Saturday Night Live cast member, cringes at the thought of his initial audition, saying:

Amy Poehler also appears visibly uncomfortable in the trailer when she’s asked to watch her audition tape, telling the documentary producers, “That’s enough,” after simply watching her introduction.

While the highlight of the trailer for me was listening to the comics reflect on the audition process, there’s a ton of great teases for what’s to come in the four-part series. Check it out:

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will start streaming on Peacock on January 16th, which is perfect timing since the fifth season of the live sketch show has yet to arrive in post-primetime. However, avid fans of the show should mark their calendars for February 16th, when the official three-hour 50th anniversary special is set to air on NBC.

In the meantime, you can relive every episode of Saturday Night Live by streaming them with an active Peacock subscription.

For a lot of people, we’ve recently entered what is known as “party season,” where the holidays lead to numerous invites to shindigs large and small. However, it seems that when you’re a member of the Saturday Night Live cast, party season basically lasts as long as each television season, because those after-parties are pretty legendary when it comes to celebrity celebrations. Recently, Amy Poehler, Jason Sudeikis and more described their perfect SNL parties, and Foo Fighters and a “blizzard” were involved.

Amy Poehler’s Best SNL After Party Was During A Blizzard

I’m sure that if you ask 10 people what their idea of a great party is you’ll get 10 different answers, and that’s essentially what happened when Vulture recently asked a number of SNL luminaries, both past and current, to talk about their favorite Saturday Night Live after parties. Inside Out 2 star Amy Poehler, who starred from 2001-2008, got the best party, um, party started by remembering the event that came after an episode hosted by eventual The Holdovers Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti:

Well, leave it to the actress who portrayed the very detail-oriented Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation to make sure that we all know that her speaking about a blizzard during her favorite SNL party wasn’t a euphemism. This does sound like an amazing time, but I do wonder what she means about it being “some kind” of party. How many kinds of party are there, Ms. Poehler, and what exact kind was this?

Jason Sudeikis’ Most Memorable Post-SNL Gathering Had Foo Fighters And Karaoke

Ted Lasso (which might be on its way to a fourth season) star/creator Jason Sudeikis, of course, really came to fame as a member of the SNL cast from 2006-2013, so he probably saw a good deal of the long-running comedy’s famed get-togethers. However, the one he remembers most fondly involved and a karaoke situation he admits he wasn’t quite prepared for:

I admit that I was also prepared to give Sudeikis some “shit” for this, because I’ve never seen anyone use their phone for lyrics when singing karaoke. Then I realized that everyone can hide the fact that they might not know the words to an incredibly famous song like “Come Together” because during a traditional karaoke session, the lyrics are always displayed on a screen, which clearly wasn’t the case with this, apparently, impromptu sing-along. So, honestly, I don’t think the Ted Lasso Season 3 supporter should be too upset about his lack of knowledge here.

Kate McKinnon Remembered The Time Someone Ate Glass At An SNL Late Night Party

Listen, I’m sure we’ve all heard stories about the wild parties that famous people throw, but I was not prepared for the memory that hilarious SNL luminary Kate McKinnon unearthed, or the matter-of-fact, completely straight-faced way in which she told it:

Yeah, McKinnon knew immediately that nothing about those SNL late night parties is really normal, unless, you know, you happen to go to them on a weekly basis for most of the year. You can watch the full clip, below:

No matter how wild or weird the situation got, I think most of us would at least agree that everyone made these celebrations sound like a lot of weekly fun, which we can all use.

Amy Poehler is one of the brightest stars in Hollywood today. Between her portrayal of Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation and as Joy in the Inside Out franchise, the actor is a ball of sunshine. With the big-feeling Pixar sequel being one of the greater successes on our 2024 movie schedule, it’s undeniable how instrumental this story is to many, including Poehler. She shared that this franchise, and some of the best Pixar movies, have ‘fundamentally changed’ her life for the better.

The Saturday Night Live alum sat down with People to talk about the franchise and how much it’s meant to her to play the most positive element within the main human character, Riley. Specifically, she discussed how diving into the bigger conversations regarding emotions and dealing with them in typical ways has been a touchstone in her career (and beyond). She shared:

It’s undeniable that the series doesn’t shy away from the emotional complexities of growing up and what it is to be human, in general. After it won big at the box office, some say that the sequel is better than the original, and the Wine Country star agrees.

She went on to share that the decade between the original and the sequel changed things drastically in the social-emotional-mental health landscapes. Along with this, she believes it’s important to adapt to the times to best serve the needs of those with mental illness, and learning from younger generations is key.

The Mean Girls alum has always been a source of light but the franchise does seem like it’s rooted her in a really positive way. Just the way she talks about actively advocating for the need for resources, the important conversations and who those chats need to be with seem poignant and intentional is inspiring. Perhaps Poehler will have more time with Joy since a threequel isn't out of the question for Inside Out 2’s director.

It’s undeniable from the interviews with the cast that this movie is something special to everyone behind the scenes, too. For me personally, I’ll always welcome a Baby Mama alum led ensemble of any form.

I’m glad that Poehler has had this experience with the Pixar box office smash. I don’t think there’s anyone else that could’ve done right by Joy like she has. It’s even better to know just how much the fictitious ray of sunshine has fundamentally changed the Blades of Glory alum’s life.

You’ll need a Disney subscription if you’d like to stream the Inside Out franchise, including the upcoming series Dream Productions.

When a performer says goodbye to the Saturday Night Live cast, it does not necessarily mean forever. Often, the sketch comedy TV show will invite an esteemed alum to appear in an episode either as a special guest or as a headliner, sometimes resulting in a hall-of-fame hosting gig. The following are some of our favorite times a former SNL star made a grand impression when they came back to Studio 8H.

Eddie Murphy

After leaving SNL in 1984, Eddie Murphy came back to host (actually his second time, having hosted while still on the cast in 1982) for an episode later that year, on which he debuted, arguably, his best SNL sketch, "White Like Me." After being honored at the 40th anniversary special, the Academy Award nominee came back to host a third time, resulting in one of the most acclaimed episodes of Season 45.

Ben Stiller

You might have forgotten that Ben Stiller was a cast member since he only lasted four episodes in 1989, which he acknowledged when he first came back to host in 1998 after becoming a bigger name in comedy. He would return to host again 2011 in, followed by a series of recurring appearances as Donald Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, in 2018.

Norm Macdonald

Famously, Norm Macdonald was fired from the SNL cast in 1998 for, as the NBC executives at the time claimed, not being funny. Just a year and a half later, he came back to host an episode, during which he joked in his monologue that he had not gotten any funnier but the show had gotten "really bad" since his exit.

Robert Downey Jr.

Before becoming one of the most beloved A-list actors in Hollywood, Robert Downey Jr. was one of the most heavily criticized cast members from one of the most heavily criticized seasons of SNL from 1985 to 1986. He only came back to host once in 1996, during which he proved was the supremely talented performer we know and love and, eventually, became the first former SNL cast member to win an Oscar for Oppenheimer in 2024.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus would not become a comedy icon until after her three-year stint at Studio 8H from 1982 to 1985 when she joined the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes. In 2006, fresh off her Emmy win for The New Adventures of Old Christine, she became the first female former SNL cast member to return as a host, which she would follow with two more gigs.

Jimmy Fallon

After a successful six years at SNL from 1998 to 2004, Jimmy Fallon would return for three hosting gigs and countless cameos. Each time the late-night TV host comes back to Studio 8H tends to be a celebrated affair, especially because there is a good chance that his friend, Justin Timberlake, will show up to participate in a new edition of "The Barry Gibb Talk Show" or some other sketch.

John Mulaney

While he was never part of the SNL cast, John Mulaney would perform a few funny segments on "Weekend Update" during his five years on the writing staff. He would later become one of the biggest names in stand-up comedy and such a beloved host that he joined the Five-Timers Club within only four years.

Dan Aykroyd

Sometimes, for a cast veteran, the key to a memorable hosting gig is to wait an exceptionally long time to come back as an SNL host, much like Dan Aykroyd did. The legendary, Canadian-American comedy star, known for sketches like “The Coneheads” and “Super Bass-o-Matic ‘76” from his tenure as a Not Ready for Primetime Player, headlined an episode in 2003, more than two decades after leaving the show.

Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is actually one of several SNL cast members who only lasted one season but still ended up becoming a huge success in the end. Two decades after she was let go from the series, the acclaimed comedian hosted a funny episode from Season 40.

Martin Short

It is hard to believe that a performer like Martin Short was only an SNL cast member for one season but he has, luckily, continued to demonstrate his dynamic comedic talents through memorable hosting gigs. His first hosting gig from 1986 was shared with his Three Amigos co-stars, Chevy Chase and Steve Martin – the latter of which he would co-host with again in 2022.

Adam Sandler

Surprisingly, despite making a couple of cameos over the years, Adam Sandler would not host SNL until 2019, which resulted in an instant favorite episode in which he sang two memorable songs. The former "SNL Bad Boy's" first tune (including a Chris Rock appearance) was during his monologue and discussed how he was fired after four seasons in 1995 and the other was a tribute to Chris Farley.

Kate McKinnon

After 10 wonderful years at SNL, the great Kate McKinnon would return a year and a half later to host the last episode of 2023, which proved to be a very successful episode, and not just because it featured cameos by Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and her Barbie director, Greta Gerwig. Also, in Season 49, she would also come back for one more appearance as alien abduction victim Colleen Rafferty to make host Ryan Gosling laugh uncontrollably once again.

Chevy Chase

Only two weeks after his final episode as an SNL cast member, Chevy Chase made a hilarious, self-mocking cameo in the cold open as himself, performing music for tips outside of 30 Rock. He would continue to return for more cameos and eventually became the first host to join the Five-Timers Club before the idea of it had been suggested by Tom Hanks.

Billy Crystal

In a unique twist on this topic, Billy Crystal was actually meant to appear on the very first episode of SNL in 1975 but was ultimately cut for time, as depicted in the 2024 movie Saturday Night. As his notoriety increased, the comedian was asked to host twice in 1984 before being hired later that year as a cast member, during which he lit up the screen with his impersonation of Fernando Lamas and other notable characters.

Tina Fey

Having served as both "Weekend Update" host and head writer near the end of her nine-year tenure, Tina Fey was a true SNL MVP but some of her most memorable moments on the show occurred after her 2006 exit. Prior to her Five-Timers Club induction, the 30 Rock creator and star made numerous appearances as Sarah Palin that earned rave reviews.

Dana Carvey

A key element to SNL's new golden era from 1986 to 1993 was Dana Carvey and his wonderful talent for impressions, which he would continue to lend to Studio 8H in the years since his exit. The Wayne's World star is one of the most frequent returning cast members, especially in Season 50 as President Joe Biden.

David Spade

Many of David Spade's funniest quotes originate from his six years on SNL in the early-to-mid-1990s. His blunt, sarcastic, and sometimes unapologetically brutal delivery of mockery at other celebrities' expense would serve him well in his hosting gigs – the first of which included a cold open featuring Brad Pitt as his therapist.

Kristen Wiig

The final episode of SNL's 37th Season was the final episode for a few notable cast members but it ended with a grand send-off purely dedicated to Kristen Wiig's esteemed seven years, which included some hilarious quotes. It was not long before the Oscar nominee was asked to bring back her famous characters as a host and her Season 49 episode saw her induction into the Five-Timers Club.

Chris Farley

After becoming one of SNL's most esteemed icons during his five-season run and proving to be a box office draw with movies like Tommy Boy, Chris Farley was at the height of his fame when he came back to host two years after leaving. However, his October 1997 episode is now remembered more somberly because, only two months later, he would pass away from a drug overdose at the age of 33.

Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph proved herself as an all-time great during her seven years on SNL in the 2000s. She would return for multiple hosting gigs and an innumerable amount of special guest appearances, most notably as her Emmy-winning portrayal of Kamala Harris.

Pete Davidson

For his clever "Weekend Update" commentaries, fascinating personal life, and title as the youngest SNL cast member on record, Pete Davidson was one of the series' most talked about performers when he left at the end of Season 47. He was initially meant to return as a host for the following season but, due to the Writers' Strike, he instead returned for the Season 49 premiere, which featured a viral pre-filmed bit poking fun at his post-SNL career inspired by Barbie's "I'm Just Ken."

Tracy Morgan

Impersonations of the likes of Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey and hilarious original characters like Brian Fellow and Astronaut Jones made Tracy Morgan a force to be reckoned with during his seven years on SNL. As a result, each of the 30 Rock cast member's returns to the Studio 8H stage as a host or guest have been warm celebrations of his best moments as a cast member.

Paul Shaffer

Starting off as a member of Studio 8H's house band, Paul Shaffer later made history as the first person to drop the F-bomb on SNL during his 1979-1980 stint on the cast. Of course, he bounced back from the incident without issue and would make cameos on the show and host an episode from 1987 after being David Letterman's bandleader greatly increased his notoriety.

Damon Wayans

One of the most infamous SNL cast firings is that of Damon Wayans, who changed the nature of a character on the fly in the middle of a broadcast in 1986. The comedian would find even greater success as a member of the In Living Color cast and, in 1995, was asked to come back as a host.

Phil Hartman

It is easy to understand why some argue that Phil Hartman is the greatest SNL cast member of all time and why, just two years after his exit, he was asked to host twice in 1996. We have no doubt we would have seen more of the Emmy winner gracing the Studio 8H stage again if not for his untimely murder in 1998 at the age of 49.

Chris Rock

The first "Bad Boy of SNL" to return as a host was Chris Rock in 1996, which was three years after his departure. At that point, the comedian had found decent subsequent success by making appearances on the show's biggest competitor at the time, In Living Color.

Jason Sudeikis

While he would make several post-exit guest appearances, Jason Sudeikis' first time hosting in 2021 was eight years after he left the show, which was actually a year later than he had intended. The gig was a big moment, given his Emmy-winning success on Ted Lasso at the time and his heartfelt opening monologue celebrating his time as a writer-turned-cast member.

Will Ferrell

Despite a hiccup or two in his early days on the cast, Will Ferrell became one of the most beloved SNL cast members of the 90s and early 2000s. His many appearances since, including five hosting gigs, have resulted in some of the show's most celebrated moments in recent years.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler's impeccable skills of impersonation and arsenal of uproarious characters made her seven years on SNL a one-of-a-kind era. Her many notable appearances since include co-hosting with her friend and one-time "Weekend Update" co-anchor Tina Fey in 2015 and making cameoing as Leslie Knope alongside her fellow former Parks and Recreation cast member, Aubrey Plaza, in 2023.

Darrell Hammond

One of the all-time longest-standing SNL cast members is Darrell Hammond with 14 seasons but his time at Studio 8H would not stop there after all. In addition to making special appearances – most notably in "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketches as Sean Connery – the actor would succeed Don Pardo as the show's announcer when Pardo passed away in 2014.

Molly Shannon

Three-time Emmy nominee Molly Shannon is the driving force behind one of the most iconic SNL characters to earn their own movie, Mary Katherine Gallagher. The misfit Catholic high school student is just one character she has brought back for her numerous appearances on the show since leaving in 2001, including two hosting gigs.

Bill Murray

After Chevy Chase left in 1976, stepping in to join the Not Ready for Primetime Players was Bill Murray, who hilariously acknowledged his struggle to make an impression on SNL early on in a famous sketch. Of course, the Oscar nominee would quickly achieve wild notoriety in the 1980s, which made his subsequent five hosting gigs and additional cameos much-celebrated occasions.

While I know there are viewers out there who cannot wait for upcoming Marvel shows such as X-Men ‘97 Season 2 and Dominique Thorne’s Iron Heart, those like myself who appreciate darker stories are most intrigued by the impending WandaVision spinoff Agatha All Along. The new series will soon thrust fans into its Halloween-friendly quest to travel the Witch’s Road, but not before reminding everyone about its stars’ breakout sitcom Parks and Recreation.

To promote the MCU’s latest spooky shenanigans hitting the Fall TV schedule, Agatha All Along’s cast and creators were present for the big red carpet premiere in L.A. on September 16. (Technically a purple carpet to properly match the horror-comedy’s color palette.) And it’s there where current screen-sharers Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza were joined by their former co-stars Amy Poehler and Adam Scott, as seen in the Marvel IG vid below. Pawnee elites showing out!

How awesome would it have been to be a fly on a wall or a backdrop somewhere at the premiere? Though obviously only with the expressed written confirmation that the event decorations didn't include any live, hungry spiders, though Spider-Man would have been welcomed.

Parks and Rec aired from 2009-2015, with Amy Poehler's optimism-laden Leslie Knope leading a ragtag team of local government employees that earned a spot on CinemaBlend's 100 Best Sitcoms. That squad would serve as an interesting counterpart to Agatha's newfound coven of co-occultists, perhaps in some kind of Challenge-like competition. With WandaVision paying homage to shows like Bewitched and The Brady Bunch, there's no reason why Agatha can't honor Battle of the Network Stars. Well yeah, I guess there are reasons.

In any case, fans were pumped about seeing the reunion, and said as much in the comment section. (Though at least one person wondered why the NBC sitcom was getting all the love without any nods to Hahn and Scott both appearing in Adam McKay's Step Brothers.) Though there were certainly a few comments about Parks and Rec favorites who seemingly weren't present for the Disney+ premiere.

• It’s been Li’l Sebastian All Along - @Oskarate
• Where's Duke Silver 🎷 ? - @elevate.to.resonate
• Hold up, where is Star-Lord? Is Burt Macklin undercover? - @jeffreywale

Lit-rally the only thing that would have made this reunion better is if Rob Lowe's Chris Traeger showed up and made Adam Scott go off and handle some insignificant duty. Well, and obviously a performance from Duke Silver.

Speaking of, Nick Offerman was actually just in his own warped superhero adventure alongside wife Megan Mullally, as part of the shortened fourth season of The Umbrella Academy. So it might have been a little gauche for him to show up on premiere night for Agatha All Along, even for a P&R reunion.

Agatha All Along will make its highly anticipated debut on Disney+ on Wednesday, September 18, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

There’s a perception of Lorne Michaels out there that he's very rigid. People think the longtime Saturday Night Live showrunner hates anything that doesn’t follow the script exactly. That’s the conventional wisdom because numerous cast members have said that over the years, and Lorne himself has given several interviews in which he’s talked about how improv can really mess with the timing of the show, the camera cuts and even the basic rhythm of the sketch. If one of the longest-serving SNL cast members of all time is to be believed, however, the truth is actually more complicated.

Darrell Hammond, probably best known for playing Donald Trump and Bill Clinton during a more than decade long run on the show, stopped by Amy Robach and TJ Holmes’ podcast to talk about comedy, mental health and his career. During the chat, he was asked if he ever broke character on the show, and he said the one person who could consistently make him laugh at inappropriate moments was Amy Poehler. He said the two would do Regis and Kelly sketches, and she’d always save something she didn’t do in dress rehearsals for the show, and sometimes it would get him.

Contrary to what you may think, however, he never once heard anything about it from Lorne Michaels. Here’s a portion of his quote…

I’ve never worked at Saturday Night Live before, but I have seen many hundreds of episodes of the show and read multiple books about it. My guess is the truth is somewhere in the middle. Michaels definitely doesn’t like people going off script during sketches. He famously fired Damon Wayans for changing his role in a sketch without talking to anyone about it, and he’s definitely not encouraging cast members to go rouge.

But it’s also impossible to look at the history of Saturday Night Live and not notice that he’s featured plenty of comedians in key roles who sometimes broke character and/ or got a little goofy (as well as numerous hosts who couldn't keep it together). Poehler had a fun energy about her that could really get other people laughing, but there are also more prominent examples like Jimmy Fallon and Andy Samberg who had trouble keeping it together on a consistent basis. Many of SNL's best remembered sketches also involved some level of chaos, as we saw last season with Beavis and Butt-Head.

If you do your job the majority of the time and the occasional sketch goes sideways, I think it’s pretty clear Michaels is not going to be mad. As Hammond put it, he never heard from his boss a single time about breaking character or laughing a bit during sketches. There’s a difference, however, between laughing, and just improvising lines for the sake of improvising lines. I think it’s that second type that Michaels wouldn’t tolerate, and it’s that line between professional but also goofy that has kept the show culturally relevant for fifty seasons.

You can watch SNL starting later this month as it returns to the TV schedule with some casting changes, and prepares for its much-anticipated 50th anniversary special early next year.

We may remember Amy Poehler for being one of Parks and Recreation’s funniest cast members, lending her voice to the Inside Out movies and her best SNL presidential impressions of Hillary Clinton. However, we also can’t forget when she played Regina George’s “Cool Mom” in Mean Girls. Considering Poehler was such a standout in the teen comedy, it felt like she was in a good portion of the movie. Little did we and the comedic actress know that she was in Tina Fey’s movie a lot shorter than we thought, and we can declare our minds blown.

Amy Poehler was part of the Mean Girls cast as Mrs. George, who always felt like she was one of the girls, to the chagrin of her daughter Regina. Still, Poehler made the role so funny and memorable that it’s hard to believe it was a small part. If you want to know how small, the SNL alum thought she knew her runtime in the high school comedy until Capital Buzz blew her mind with the answer below:

There you have it, folks! Amy Poehler made us laugh in Mean Girls for two minutes and 10 seconds. Like the Inside Out actress, I can’t even believe it was that short. Her longest scene, when you think about it, was when Cady and The Plastics met her at the George residence and she gave them some virgin Happy Hour drinks. After that, Mrs. George takes Regina’s photo of her in her Halloween costume and prom dress, as well as dances to "Jingle Bell Rock" in the crowd at the Christmas show. But as Poehler joked to Capital Buzz, her screen presence is so big that it feels like an hour.

It’s amazing when you think about all of the surprising trivia that’s centered around Amy Poehler in Mean Girls. For example, did you know that even though she and Rachel McAdams play a mother/daughter duo, they’re actually only seven years apart? Or that in the hilarious scene when Mrs. George’s dog is chewing on her nipple, it was accomplished by having a cocktail wiener put into her bra. We can even thank the Baby Mama actress for the Kevin G. rap in coaching Rajiv Surendra on his choreography. Even if Poehler’s part was small in Mean Girls, she still contributed plenty to the role.

Mrs. George may not have pulled off being one of the teens, but I still think she’s a cool mom in her own right. As embarrassing as she may be to Regina, she traded Regina her and her husband’s bedroom for a smaller one. Plus, she’s dedicated to showing up in all of Regina’s proudest moments. That sounds like a cool mom to me.

The runtime of Amy Poehler’s hilarious role in Mean Girls wasn’t six or three minutes like the American actress thought, more like two minutes and ten seconds. I know, right?! If you’d like to revisit the “Cool Mom” scenes, the 2004 flick is available with your Peacock subscription and your Paramount+ subscription.

Sometimes, all it takes is one joint appearance in a movie or television show for two popular actors to become known as an acting duo, and sometimes they prove to work so well together that they go on to star in even more projects together. We’ve come up with a list of 32 acting duos who have worked together multiple times, so you can see if you’ve watched all of the times these talented stars have been on screen with each other.

Tina Fey And Amy Poehler

Obviously, this funny duo began their most famed time together while starring on Saturday Night Live, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn’t let the good times end there. The women were both in Mean Girls, starred in the movies Baby Mama and Sisters, and used their talents to great effect when co-hosting the Golden Globe Awards for several years.

Robert De Niro And Al Pacino

Two legendary actors make for a legendary acting duo, and while Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are frequently mentioned in the same breath, they’ve only been featured in four films together. Two of those movies, however, are absolutely the reason people often talk about them together as they count The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman as their joint efforts.

Julia Roberts And George Clooney

Now, these two actually have made quite a few movies with one another, and largely with both in on-screen roles. Of course, it’s hard to forget that George Clooney and Julia Roberts are in all three of the Ocean’s Eleven films, but they’ve also starred in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney also directed), Money Monster and the 2022 rom-com Ticket to Paradise. The erstwhile Danny Ocean also produced August: Osage County, while Roberts starred.

Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin

Frequently we see an acting duo together multiple times because they really are buddies in real life, and that’s true for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After first starring together in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, of course) they eventually re-teamed for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (which ran for seven seasons), as well as the dark comedy Moving On and 80 for Brady.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

This duo has produced some well-known and beloved comedies and dramas over the years, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling first starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011, moving on to Gangster Squad in 2013 and the Oscar-winning musical La La Land in 2016. Stone even once said she couldn’t “imagine” her life without Gosling, so these two will probably be friends forever.

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas sharing the screen in Desperado caused considerable heat, along with igniting a very real friendship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve now worked together a number of times. They’ve also been in the casts of Four Rooms, Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and both Puss in Boots animated movies. That’s a lot!

Dwayne Johnson And Kevin Hart

We’ve already born witness to a rather lengthy history of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart ripping on each other during their (apparently) laugh and roast-filled friendship, and the two megastars have, indeed, brought that chemistry to the big screen multiple times. The duo counts Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, Hobbs & Shaw and DC League of Super-Pets as the titles they’ve appeared in together.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck

If this isn’t a classic acting duo by now, there are none. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been “bizarrely close” friends since childhood, and they first joined forces to great effect by penning and starring in Good Will Hunting (after having both appeared in School Ties), which won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They also worked on Dogma in the 1990s, then, after nearly 25 years, they joined forces again to write and star in The Last Duel, and since then have also worked together on Air and the upcoming RIP for Netflix.

Denzel Washington And Don Cheadle

If only these two powerhouse stars had already been in more movies together…Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle’s first pairing was as P.I. Easy Rawlins and his loyal but unpredictable friend, Mouse, in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. While their work in the film garnered critical acclaim, it would be over 15 years before they teamed again for Flight.

Sanaa Lathan And Taye Diggs

We should never underestimate the power of a franchise when it comes to popular on-screen pairings. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs appeared in The Wood together in 1999 and then went on to star in The Best Man, its sequel and the Peacock mini-series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The duo also played the lead couple in the rom-com, Brown Sugar in 2002.

Scarlett Johansson And Chris Evans

Co-starring in a franchise with the same people will take an acting duo far, but Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have surpassed even the typical standard where that’s concerned. Thanks to their joint time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’ve appeared in a whopping seven movies together (including their mid-end credits cameo in Captain Marvel), and prior to their time as blockbuster movie-making superheroes they starred in The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries, bringing their current total to nine.

Anthony Mackie And Chris Evans

If you did enjoy many of those MCU movies, then you know that Chris Evans rubbed elbows with Anthony Mackie quite a bit there. But, did you also know that the two have been in XX non-Marvel movies together? Playing It Cool, What’s Your Number, and Ghosted also star/feature both actors and if you add in all their shared time in tights on screen, their total is also at nine.

Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson

The first time was a hit, so why not join forces again, right? Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson famously delivered winning chemistry in Jungle Cruise, and are coming back together for the upcoming drama The Smashing Machine. The two are also said to be willing to return for Jungle Cruise 2, whenever that can finally get off the ground.

Chris Pine And Ben Foster

The third time has been the charm so far for Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The duo famously portrayed bank-robbing brothers in Hell or High Water, joined up for The Finest Hours, and made it a three-peat in 2022 for The Contractor.

Margot Robbie And Will Smith

If it seemed that there could have been a little something extra going on between Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot when you watched 2016’s Suicide Squad, then it might have been because you picked up on the chemistry the duo first built in Focus from the year before.

Margot Robbie And Brad Pitt

This big screen coupling made quite a showing for themselves across less than a decade, as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have starred in The Big Short, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Babylon. 

Margot Robbie And Leonardo DiCaprio

Just imagine, had it not been for this pairing, we might not have the megastar who is Barbie actor/producer Margot Robbie right now. Her role in Wolf of Wall Street as the second wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s corrupt fraudster propelled her career, and by the time they starred in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood together Robbie was a major star.

Halle Berry And Hugh Jackman

We, again, have a superhero franchise to thank for bringing two great talents together, as Oscar winner Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman both have four of the X-Men movies among their credits. The duo also starred in Swordfish and Movie 43.

Awkwafina And Michelle Yeoh

This duo counts two megahits in their joint credits, with Awkwafina and Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh both having starred in Crazy Rich Asians (and we’re still waiting for that rom-com sequel) and the MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Michelle Yeoh And Jackie Chan

Michelle Yeoh has been a star for several decades, and part of that reason is because of her breakout role in the 1992’s Supercop, which also starred Jackie Chan. But, they’ve made a number of other films with each other, including Supercop 2, and Hong Kong action films Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars, Project S, and both voiced characters in Kung Fu Panda 2, along with having starred in a 1984 watch commercial together.

Angela Bassett And Laurence Fishburne

While Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were famously nominated for Oscars for their lead roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?, the duo was actually first together on screen for Boyz n the Hood in ‘91. They then later teamed up for Akeela and the Bee in 2006.

Julia Roberts And Richard Gere

If this isn’t a famous acting duo, then none are, despite their only making two movies with each other. Of course, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the mega-hit classic rom-com Pretty Woman and teamed up again for Runaway Bride in 1999.

Jennifer Aniston And Jason Bateman

For a while there, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, who are friends in real life, were kinda on a roll. Their first joint film was The Break-Up in 2006, and since then they’ve filmed four additional movies with one another: The Switch, Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and 2016’s Office Christmas Party.

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

Who can forget the glorious chemistry created by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? No one, that’s who! This is why they made a second rom-com, Fool’s Gold, just five years later.

Kirsten Dunst And Jesse Plemons

It’s not unusual for an acting duo to become friends in real life, but Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons took that a few steps further after working on the TV series Fargo together. Not only have they since starred in the film The Power of the Dog (which netted each their first Oscar nomination) and the A24 drama Civil War, but they married in 2022 and have two sons.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

We could hardly leave Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks off of this list, as the famed actors have co-starred in two of the biggest romantic comedies of all time. Everyone knows them for making Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail hits, but before all of that, they led one of the weirder rom-coms made with Joe Versus the Volcano, and reunited for the 2016 drama Ithaca, which Ryan directed.

Drew Barrymore And Adam Sandler

People often mention Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler as an acting duo they want to see more of and with good reason. The two have made magic in the classics The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended.

Adam Sandler And Chris Rock

This pairing goes back decades, to the time when Adam Sandler and Chris Rock starred on Saturday Night Live together in the ‘90s. Since then, the real-life buddies have appeared in seven movies together, with The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and its sequel, The Week Of and Top Five counted among that number.

George Clooney And Brad Pitt

Of course, George Clooney and Brad Pitt helped to make the Ocean’s Eleven franchise a hit, but the friends additionally teamed up for the live TV movie 8, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney directed), Burn After Reading and the 2024 films If and Wolfs.

Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele

The duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who first became recognizable during their time on MadTV, eventually went on to their own acclaimed sketch comedy series, Key and Peele. But, while making names for themselves on other series and in a number of movies, they continue to work with one another on projects like Keanu, Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild.

Awkwafina And Simu Liu

It was the MCU that first brought Awkwafina and Simu Liu together in the hit film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while we’re still waiting to see when that franchise will bring them back together, 2024 saw them team up again for the action comedy, Jackpot!.

Jane Fonda And Robert Redford

Dedicated film fans probably know that legends Jane Fonda and Robert Redford starred together in Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman, but their joint movie appearances do go beyond that. They also starred in The Chase in ‘66 and reunited for Our Souls at Night in 2017, and both had their film debuts in 1960’s Tall Story.

As you can see, film history is packed with acting duos who’ve worked together more than once, and that will probably always be the case.

For many, Amy Poehler is a guiding light. Her comedic influence is a big one for lots of young comedians, and she is known for often working with some of her closest friends. This was true for Andy Samberg, who starred on SNL with her and made one of the best guest appearances on Parks and Recreation. Apparently, something the Sisters actress said to him during this experience on her NBC comedy ended up being formative for the actor, who went on to star in his own beloved sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Samberg recently sat down with Kevin Hart on his Peacock talk show, Hart to Heart, where he opened up about his experience working on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and what led him to starring in a sitcom. He explained that guest starring on Parks and Rec was very important for him, and it was Amy Poehler who recommended the sitcom life to the Lonely Island frontman. He said:

Saturday Night Live is famously a grind, with crazy schedules that include all-night writing sessions and the pressure of getting your sketches on air. Even the best SNL alums have reflected on the exhausting experience of working on the show, and how it was sometimes anxiety-inducing. The experience and consistency of working on a sitcom is much less taxing, and many comedians have turned to the format after their tenure on the show. It makes sense why Parks and Rec would’ve been a nice reprieve for Poehler after SNL, and why she would recommend the same experience to Samberg.

Also, the Palm Springs star knew he was in great hands with creatives like Mike Schur and Dan Goor. Schur is a modern-day sitcom legend, being one of the minds behind shows like The Office, The Good Place, and Parks and Rec. Dan Goor also had a great reputation for being a comedy writer on shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, and later Parks and Rec. With such a great experience on Poehler's comedy in the rearview and her words in his mind, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was probably a no-brainer.

The decision ended up being a fantastic one. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is still beloved, and when the show was initially canceled by Fox, a fan campaign quickly led to it being picked up on NBC.

Like the cast of Parks and Rec, the ensemble of Brooklyn Nine-Nine seemed to love working together too. It established Samberg as leading man material, and the actor has since branched out into other creative projects like Palm Springs, Celeste and Jesse Forever, and is about to take on a dramatic role in Lee, which stars Kate Winslet.

Overall, Poehler seems to have had Samberg’s best interest at heart, and we should all be eternally grateful to her that she, in a small way, helped Brooklyn Nine-Nine come to fruition.

Fans of Andy Samberg can revisit him in Brooklyn Nine-Nine now with a Netflix subscription. You can also see his guest appearance in the first episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation titled “Park Safety,” with a Peacock subscription, along with episodes from both their Saturday Night Live tenures.

While it’s well-documented that being on Saturday Night Live can really take a toll on its cast members, it also seems like it would be a blast. Just look at the comedic talent that oozes from that stage. Many of SNL’s alumni have shared stories about the grueling workload and how it was balanced with plenty of fun — apparently sometimes too much fun. Kenan Thompson recalled one specific instance where he partied all night with Amy Poehler and Will Forte before they had to film a sketch, and the hangover sounds brutally painful.

Kenan Thompson — SNL’s longest-tenured cast member — said in a recent segment of Late Night with Seth Meyers that they really “used to go after it” with the partying and recalled a particularly infamous night out drinking with now-former cast members Will Forte and Amy Poehler. The Good Burger 2 star and his colleagues didn’t leave the bar until 4:30 a.m., he said, just an hour before a car picked him up to shoot a sketch. Check out what Thompson had to say: 

I am dying over Amy Poehler’s alleged sentiment about how they could be miserable and sad but still always laughing. As for Kenan Thompson in that Black Eyed Peas sketch, I can imagine few things more miserable than having to put on a heavy costume and dance around in the street after a night of drinking and no sleep. Thompson recalled: 

If misery loves company, Kenan Thompson had plenty of it that day, as Will Forte couldn’t hide the effects of his hangover when the cameras weren’t rolling. Thompson continued: 

It sounds like there were some regrets to be had that morning, but at least a great story came from it. Kenan Thompson’s got plenty of Saturday Night Live stories saved up — including his favorite afterparty memory, which involves Maya Rudolph. 

The sketch comedy is prepared to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and Kenan Thompson has been there for 22 of those seasons. That’s a feat that perplexes Andy Samberg — not just that the All That! alum has stayed with SNL for so long, but that he’s still killing it. Thompson’s such a pro, he somehow didn’t even break during Ryan Gosling’s viral Beavis and Butt-Head sketch from the most recent season.

These days Kenan Thompson might be listening more to Shoulda Kenan and not staying out drinking till the wee hours of the morning, but whether it’s him that shows up or Crazy Kenan, we’ll be excited to see him when Saturday Night Live returns to the 2024 TV schedule this fall. In the meantime, you can stream previous seasons on Peacock, one of the best subscription streaming services. 

Many of comedy’s most esteemed legends were once part of the Saturday Night Live cast, but that does not necessarily mean that NBC’s long-running series marked the beginning of their career. Some Studio 8H veterans first cut their teeth as part of The Second City — a Chicago-based improv troupe that also served as a jumping-off point for the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, and more. As for the many SNL stars who performed with Second City, we have them listed for you below.

Dan Aykroyd

Famous for co-creating the Blues Brothers and the Festrunk Brothers (arguably his single best SNL sketch), Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player Dan Aykroyd is also a veteran of Second City. In fact, the future Ghostbusters star and writer performed with the troupe in both his native Canada and Chicago.

Amy Poehler

Second City was actually just one of a few places where Amy Poehler studied improvisational comedy in the early 1990s before becoming an SNL all-star. The future Parks and Recreation cast member also trained at iO (then called ImprovOlympic) and was a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Martin Short

Some of Martin Short’s funniest characters from his one-season stint on SNL actually originated from his time at Second City and on the troupe’s own sketch comedy series, SCTV. The most notable example would have to be childish pop culture obsessive, Ed Grimley.

Tina Fey

The dynamic power duo of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler first came to be when they performed at Second City together. Before becoming SNL’s first female head-writer, Fey also made history as a member of Second City’s first gender-equal cast.

Bill Murray

Before Bill Murray became Chevy Chase’s replacement Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player, he practiced improv at Second City. He recalled to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that he started at the same time as John Candy and described his first-day performance as “pretty bad.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Despite her subsequent success in the Seinfeld cast, leading Veep, and other accomplishments, there are still many people who are not aware or have forgotten that Julia Louis-Dreyfus was on SNL. Even fewer people probably know about her early days studying improv at the Second City.

Rachel Dratch

During an interview with Today, Rachel Dratch — known best for playing Debbie Downer on SNL — discussed her days as part of Second City. She said — while noting how every Second City performer probably feels this way — that she believes she was part of a “golden age” for the troupe’s touring company, during which future icons like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert were involved.

Cecily Strong

One of the few SNL stars who lasted at least 10 years on the show, Cecily Strong developed her impeccable comedic skills as part of Second City. The Emmy winner spoke to The Chicago Tribune about touring with the troupe on a cruise line of all places.

Chris Farley

Bob Odenkirk was the writer of the iconic SNL sketch in which Chris Farley first performed as motivational speaker Matt Foley at Studio 8H. However, the late comedic first introduced his character at Second City, which is where he was first discovered by SNL creator Lorne Michaels.

John Belushi

Before John Belushi made history on SNL, his rise in the comedy world began at Second City. It was at the company’s Chicago club where Belushi met Dan Aykroyd, starting a legendary partnership that led to the creation of, arguably, the best SNL-inspired movie, The Blues Brothers.

Bill Hader

Bill Hader’s experience with show business dates back to when he worked as a production assistant on the set of movies like the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Collateral Damage, as he told Conan O’Brien once. However, it was his days performing with Second City that really paved the way for the star and co-creator of Barry to eventually join SNL.

Tim Meadows

Tim Meadows’ Second City stint began in 1989, when he began writing and performing revues like The Gods Must Be Lazy. Two years later, he began what would be a record-breaking run on SNL at the time, lasting 10 seasons, during which he made Leon “The Ladies Man” Phelps a household name.

Gilda Radner

Even before debuting on SNL (then called NBC’s Saturday Night), Gilda Radner became acquainted with fellow Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players like Dan Aykroyd as part of The Second City. It was there that she created Emily Litella, who went on to become an all-time great “Weekend Update” guest for her tendency to misunderstand the topic she was editorializing.

Mike Myers

Many of Mike Myers’ best characters who are most often associated with SNL were actually first introduced during his time with The Second City. The Canadian-born comic debuted Wayne Campbell and German talk show host Dieter as part of the troupe, specifically.

Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis actually had a fair amount of experience with improv even before he joined Second City, having trained at Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre and iO and forming J.T.S Brown early on. The future Emmy-winning Ted Lasso cast member was even a founding member of Second City’s Las Vegas branch before becoming an SNL writer in 2003 and, eventually, joining the cast.

Vanessa Bayer

As part of The Second City Touring Company, Vanessa Bayer performed in productions like Jewsical: The Musical and Girls’ Night Out: Uncensored. Soon after, she was on SNL impersonating Miley Cyrus, playing Jacob, the Bar Mitzvah Boy, and other memorable performances that eventually earned her an Emmy nomination the year she left Studio 8H.

Mary Gross

The versatile Mary Gross had a very successful run at Second City, having won a Joseph Jefferson award for her performance in the company’s revue of Well, I’m Off to the Thirty Years’ War in 1981. That same year, she joined the SNL cast, alongside fellow Second Citizen Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tim Kazurinksy, and would later star alongside other veterans in Christopher Guest’s music movie favorite, A Mighty Wind.

Tim Robinson

Tim Robinson would actually find even greater success following his SNL exit as the star of his Netflix sketch comedy series, I Think You Should Leave. His pre-SNL career involved a stint at Second City when he was just a teenager, according to Vulture.

Aidy Bryant

Aidy Bryant’s time with The Second City started when she enrolled in Columbia College’s comedy studies program, which allowed her to train full-time with the company. She would perform with Second City Theatricals on Norwegian Cruise Line alongside Cecily Strong before they both were cast on SNL in 2012.

David Koechner

After studying under iO co-founder Del Close, David Koechner — also known from the Anchorman movies and despicable The Office character, Todd Packer — joined The Second City and performed in revues in Rolling Meadows, IL. Alongside fellow future SNL performers Nancy Carell and Rachel Dratch, he performed in the company’s very first long-form improv show, “Lois Kaz.”

Alex Moffat

As a Chicago native, Alex Moffat has quite a bit of experience with the city’s improv scene, having been a part of iO, Annoyance Theatre, and, of course, The Second City. In 2016, he joined SNL and became best known for impersonating the likes of Tucker Carlson and Eric Trump during this six-year stint.

Jim Belushi

Jim Belushi followed in the footsteps of his older brother, John, by performing on SNL from 1983 to 1985, but similarities between their careers do not stop at Studio 8H. While John was a Not-Ready-For-Primetime Player, the future According to Jim star performed with Chicago’s Second City group from 1977 to 1980.

Mike O’Brien

Some might call Mike O’Brien an actor SNL never quite figured out how to use in sketches, save his funny pre-taped fake biopics, like The Jay-Z Story. Despite this, his Studio 8H stint is predated by plenty of improv studies in Chicago, including training at Second City and performing in a mainstage production of “America: All Better.”

Robin Duke

Robin Duke is one of the few SNL alums who had previously starred on The Second City’s SCTV. Her best-known work from Studio 8H is, just about, the perpetually annoying Wendy Whiner.

Chris Redd

There is actually a bit of a gap between Chris Redd’s time as a Mainstage understudy at The Second City (with which he toured both the United States and Europe) and his 2017 SNL debut. After leaving Second City, he had roles on TV shows like Empire and appeared in The Lonely Island’s 2016 mockumentary, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Brian Doyle-Murray

Bill Murray’s older brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, is an alum of both the Toronto and Chicago branches of The Second City, having served in the troupe in the early 1970s. In the early 1980s, he was a featured player on SNL, most notably as a “Weekend Update” host. 

Tony Rosato

Tony Rosato is probably best known for playing bumbling kitchen chef Marcello on SCTV. The late, Italian-born comedian never quite achieved an SNL moment as memorable, having joined the cast during the much-maligned first season without Lorne Michaels as EP.

Horatio Sanz

Horatio Sanz became a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade with other comedians he met while taking classes at The Second City. Some of those same comedians wound up sharing the stage with him on SNL, during which he appeared in multiple sketches that did not go according to plan, sometimes due to his own laughter.

Peter Aykroyd

Peter Aykroyd briefly became an SNL cast member in 1980 after his older brother, Dan, left the show. The late Emmy-winning writer and actor also had a stint at The Second City in common with his sibling.

Jerry Minor

While living in Detroit, Jerry Minor started writing and performing with other local sketch comedy groups before getting into improv at The Second City’s mainstage. In 2000, he was cast on SNL for what would be one season, during which he, most notably, played Grand Master Rap and impersonated notable figures like Al Sharpton.

Tim Kazurinsky

Tim Kazurinsky might be better known for his time at The Second City in the 1970s than his SNL stint in the early 1980s. In fact, he might even be better known for writing movies like About Last Night and starring in the likes of Police Academy than both.

Nancy Carell

It was while they were both performing for The Second City where a woman then known as Nancy Walls met her future husband, Steve Carell. However, between the two of them, she was one who became an SNL cast member for a year in 1995.

While a spot on SNL is something most aspiring comedians long for, it is still an amazing honor to have The Second City as their first gig.

When Inside Out was released in 2015, it quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, earning over $850 million at the box office and winning an Academy Award. But while Inside Out is widely considered to be one of the best Pixar films and has captured the hearts of millions, we musn’t forget that our hearts were also broken. I’m of course talking about the traumatizing death of Riley’s imaginary friend Bing Bong, voiced by Richard Kind. Almost a decade later, it still hurts, but thankfully the delightful voice of Joy, Amy Poheler, recently provided me with some much-needed catharsis.

Catching up with Amy Poehler to discuss the upcoming release of Inside Out 2, she said this:

Given that Amy Poehler’s response had a tinge of “Get over it” energy, I’m going to assume I wasn’t the first person at this press junket to ask about Bing Bong. Regardless, her answer was very sweet, and I’ve been waiting 10 years to hear it. See the interview for yourself in the video at the top of this article.

In case you don’t remember Bing Bong, he's a big pink elephant oddly enough inspired by John Candy from Planes, Trains and Automobiles. But if you’re at the point where you even need a refresher, you should really just rewatch Inside Out. Bing Bong’s death scene is embedded below, and if you think this is sad, just try to imagine the original cut, which featured a much longer and more devastating version of the scene:

New to the emotions gang for Inside Out 2 is Anxiety, hilariously voiced by Maya Hawke. Hawke was also present during the interview and seconded Amy Poehler’s sentiment, though it seemed that the wound was more fresh for her. She went on to explain that the scene was like a “knife to the heart,” and it even reminded her of another major death in recent Hollywood history:

I wish I had the answer to that question, Maya. Sometimes life is just unfair. Hopefully she was able to experience her own catharsis when J.K. Rowling apologized for the death of Dobby, but chances are that one lingers, just like our pain has carried on since that fateful day in 2015. Rest in peace, Bing Bong.

You can watch Inside Out with your Disney+ subscription right now, and Inside Out 2 in theaters tomorrow, June 14! As for everything else coming to theaters, check out our 2024 movie release schedule.

When I watched Inside Out for the first time, I immediately started thinking about who would voice the emotions in my head. And as a fellow human named Riley, I’ve always thought Amy Poehler would be my voice of Joy, just like she is in the movie. However, I’ve also always wondered who would voice the happy emotion in the Parks and Rec alum’s mind, and she recently revealed that answer. Let me tell you, it’s actually the best choice ever. 

With Inside Out 2 right around the corner on the 2024 movie schedule, the voice of Joy has been out and about chatting about the sequel and the new emotions Riley gets in it. While chatting about some of the things we know about the Inside Out sequel with Seth Meyers on Late Night – like the incorporation of Anxiety – the actress took a second to fantasize about her own emotions’ voices. When her SNL co-star asked her who would voice Joy, she said:

As we learned from the Inside Out 2 trailer, the movie is continuing its streak of A+ casting by adding Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, and more into its ensemble. However, it’s also fun to fantasize about who else could voice the emotions. 

Martin Short is actually a perfect choice for Joy! He is bursting with energy, and I could totally see him buzzing about Amy Poehler’s head as he tried to make sure she was always happy. Much like Oliver Putnam in Only Murders in the Building, I think Short’s Joy would be eccentric, silly and who knows, maybe he’d be constantly trying to get the other emotions to start a podcast. I don’t know about you, but I could see it. 

Seth Meyers agreed with his “Weekend Update” co-anchor’s choice, and he also threw out that in his head, Anger would be voiced by Bill Burr – which, again, is a fantastic choice. You can see their full discussion about this delightful topic below:

Inside Out is one of the best Pixar movies, and the voice actors behind the emotions are a big reason why. They all embody Riley’s feelings so well, and with the sequel coming out soon as well as other Inside Out sequels not out of the question, I have no doubt that the new people brought in to voice various emotions will only add to this amazing universe. 

I, for one, would love to see Martin Short as the voice of someone’s Joy in a project like this. Amy Poehler’s reasoning for him being her happy voice is incredible, and I feel like now the comedian needs to find his way into one of these projects.

If that ever happens, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. However, when it comes to what we know for a fact, I’ll be smiling about Martin Short voicing Joy in Amy Poehler’s head, and I’ll be checking out both their projects coming out this summer, and you should too.

You can catch Short being his joyful self in Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building with a Hulu subscription when it premieres on August 27. In terms of Amy Poehler, you can hear her back as Joy when Inside Out 2 hits theaters on June 14, and you can go back and stream the OG animated movie with a Disney+ subscription. 

Leslie Knope is the antithesis of the stereotypical politician. Played by Amy Poehler on the beloved NBC sitcom Parks And Recreation, she is one of the most dedicated civil servants in pop culture history, as she regularly goes to some extreme lengths in order to improve the city of Pawnee, Indiana, and support its residents. In most cases, her efforts are admirable… however, there are certain instances where she inarguably goes a bit overboard.

Whether she is helping her friends, advocating for new city policy or expressing her unique brand of love, “trying too hard” is a big part of Leslie Knope’s brand as sitcom character, and we’ve put together this feature celebrating 32 of the best instances in Parks and Recreation’s seven season run.

Polls A Little Girl About Parks As She Plays In The Sandbox (Season 1, Episode 1)

Parks And Recreation wastes no time letting the audience know exactly who Leslie Knope is. Her very first scene in the show has her hanging out with a young girl attempting to poll her about her park experience.

Gets A Terrible Political Haircut (Season 1, Episode 5)

In the first season of Parks And Recreation, Leslie makes a lot of extra effort to try and fit in among the higher-ups in the Pawnee government – which is a group that happens to be mostly populated by men. There is an episode where she bends her personal ethics to fit in with the government’s “boy’s club,” but that pales in comparison to her going to an all-male barber for a haircut prior to a big local event.

Tries To Kaboom The Pit, Ends Up Dumping Dirt On Andy (Season 2, Episode 6)

Given how frustrating government bureaucracy can be, one can empathize with the “don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness later” philosophy that Leslie tries to employ while trying to turn Lot 48 a.k.a. The Pit into a park. In “Kaboom,” she goes as far as to personally rent construction equipment to get the job done… but that plan almost instantly backfires after the start of work when a bulldozer dumps a load of dirt on Chris Pratt’s Andy Dwyer (who was secretly living in The Pit).

Tries To Make Peace Between Ron And Tammy (Season 2, Episode 8)

By the end of Parks and Recreation’s run, it’s well established that the combination of Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) and his ex-wife Tammy II (Megan Mullally) is toxic… but Leslie has to learn that the hard way in Season 2’s “Ron And Tammy.” She makes the mistake of trying to reunite them as a couple, and the consequences are serious (and ridiculous).

Tries To Fit In With The Boys On The Hunting Trip (Season 2, Episode 10)

Leslie’s desire to be a part of the government boys club returns in Season 2 when the men of the Parks and Recreation office plan their annual “trail survey” a.k.a. Hunting Trip. Leslie gets way too intense about the whole thing, not only inviting herself and all of her co-workers along but using chewing tobacco and pantsing Tom (Aziz Ansari).

Hires Teachers As Party Performers While On A Date (Season 2, Episode 14)

Leslie doesn’t make a habit of abusing her powers as a government employee, but she definitely does so in “Leslie's House.” In order to try and throw the most fun dinner party possible for the man she is dating (Parks and Rec guest star Justin Theroux), she ends up personally employing Recreation Center teachers as entertainment.

Tries To Reunite All Of The Former Park Directors For A Park Catalogue Feature (Season 2, Episode 20)

While she isn’t deluded, Leslie likes to think that there are at least some people in government who are as passionate as she is… but she is sorely disappointed to find none of that attitude when she brings all of the living Parks and Recreation Department Directors together for a picnic. Ron, as ever, is antisocial and aggressive and the other three prove to be sexist, crotchety, and airheaded.

Chains Herself To A Gate To Stop The Bulldozing Of A Gazebo (Season 2, Episode 21)

The attempt by Leslie to stop the bulldozing of a historic gazebo in “94 Meetings” would be a lot more heroic if she had planned it out better. She tries to impede contractors by chaining herself to a gate, but the gate isn’t the kind that opens in the middle, so she finds herself helpless as machinery rolls by.

Hosts A Four Hour Block From 2am To 6am If A Telethon For Diabetes Awareness (Season 2, Episode 22)

There is nothing wrong with volunteering to host four hours of a telethon for local diabetes awareness, but it becomes too much when that time block is in the middle of the night and you expect all of your co-workers to help you out.

Tries To Orchestrate The Engagement Between Mark And Ann (Season 2, Episode 22)

As though it weren’t bad enough that Leslie ropes Ann (Rashida Jones) into helping with the telethon, she crosses a whole lot of lines when she hopes to orchestrate her best friend’s engagement to Mark Brendanawicz (Paul Schneider) while live on cable access television.

Takes Her Staff On A Camping Trip To Come Up With Post-Harvest Festival Ideas (Season 3, Episode 8)

Leslie expects a lot out of the people around her, and that tends to get a bit worse when she is feeling insecure. Hence, when she can’t think of a big idea to follow up on the success of the Harvest Festival, she forces all of her co-workers to join her on a brainstorming camping trip.

Tries To Pressure Ann Into A Job At The Health Department (Season 3, Episode 13)

Leslie and Ann have a deep and loving friendship, but there are occasions where the former’s efforts to improve said relationship drift into selfish territory. This is a major storyline in Season 3’s “The Fight,” which sees Leslie try to get Ann to leave her job as a nurse and take a job in the city hall health department.

Gets Ben So Well Prepared For A Meeting With Her Mom That Her Mom Flirts With Him (Season 3, Episode 15)

Anybody in a relationship wants their parent to like the person that they are dating, but results clearly show that Leslie takes things too far when it comes to preparing Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) to meet her mother (Pamela Reed). Marlene Griggs Knope doesn’t just end up liking Ben – she ends up aggressively flirting with him.

Founds The Pawnee Goddesses, And It’s Way More Fun Than Ron’s Pawnee Rangers (Season 4, Episode 4)

In creating the Pawnee Goddesses, Leslie creates an awesome group for young girls that is full of fun activities and candy… but it’s an act of revenge against sexism that gets too out of hand. Ron tries to teach useful skills to his group of Pawnee Rangers, but the fun that the Goddesses have proves to be far too alluring.

Tries To Keep Ben Away From Shauna Malwae Tweep After They Break Up (Season 4, Episode 6)

Nobody likes to see an ex start dating after a breakup, but Leslie takes things to a very strange place when she tries to prevent Ben from going to a party with Shauna Malwae Tweep (Alison Becker) by taking him to a gas station that she wildly speculates was once owned by Mick Jagger.

Takes Over A High School Model UN As She Gets In A Fight With Ben (Season 4, Episode 7)

There’s nothing inherently wrong with the extreme passion Leslie has for Model U.N. in Season 4’s “The Treaty” – but where things get out of control is when she tries to take over the high school activity and use it as a weapon in a fight that she is having with Ben after they end their relationship.

Starts A Citizen Committee During Her Suspension From Work (Season 4, Episode 10)

Leslie Knope isn’t a person who is wired to stop doing work even if they are legally required to do so, and the City of Pawnee learns that the hard way in “Citizen Knope.” It turns out that if Leslie didn’t have her Parks job, her time would be dominated by harassing politicians while leading her action committee known as the Parks Committee of Pawnee (P.C.P. for short).

Tries To Run A “Pro” Campaign Ad Instead Of A Negative Ad Against Bobby Newport (Season 4, Episode 12)

Ever the optimist, Leslie Knope is not the kind of politician who would run a negative campaign ad… but her attempt to make an all-positive TV spot proves to be disastrous. She makes a lot of her opinions and policies clear, but she completely forgets to mention the fact that she is running for a seat on the local city council.

Becomes Fixated On A Single Focus Group Guy And Bowling (Season 4, Episode 13)

During her campaign for city council, Leslie is meant to try and appeal to the most number of voters possible, but she loses sight of that goal in “Bowling For Votes.” Following a focus group, she becomes obsessed with getting the approval of a single person (Kevin Dorff), which proves to be a fool’s errand because the guy is a through-and-through jerk.

Sets Up A Crazy Scavenger Hunt For Ben On Valentine’s Day (Season 4, Episode 14)

Leslie Knope loves to love and to express that love, but she has a history of doing far too much. In Season 4's “Operation Ann,” she puts together a ridiculously ornate and complicated scavenger hunt for Ben to solve on Valentine’s Day, and it’s only by getting help from Ron and Andy (and by doing a bit of cheating) that he is able to find her before the end of the night.

Adopts A Full Animal Shelter’s Worth Of Animals During A Budget Crisis (Season 4, Episode 19)

Even the most passionate animal lovers reading this list would hesitate before adopting dozens of would-be pets from a closing local shelter, but that’s exactly what Leslie ends up doing in “Live Ammo” when the budget of the parks department is threatened.

Tries To Unite Ben’s Parents (Season 5, Episode 6)

Leslie’s confidence is one of her superpowers, as it regularly pushes her to move heaven and earth to complete her goals… but there are occasions when it drives her to run into a brick wall. One such example is in Season 5’s “Ben’s Parents,” which sees her try to create peace between Ben’s mother (Glenne Headly) and father (Jonathan Banks), which proves to be an impossible task despite her awesome Knope/Wyatt Unity Quilt.

Buries Wamapoke Artifacts In Lot 48 To Stop Paunch Burger Construction (Season 5, Episode 10)

It’s obvious that a local park would be better for Pawnee than a new fast food restaurant, but Leslie goes about trying to force that issue in a bad way in “Two Parties.” While she typically tries to show a lot of compassion for the local Wamapoke Native Americans, she does a dumb thing when she scatters artifacts on Lot 48 to stop plans for the construction of a Paunch Burger.

Made Special Videos For All The Emergency Preparedness Drills (Season 5, Episode 13)

Leslie loves to create complicated binders and scrapbooks, but she really goes the extra mile when it comes to emergency preparedness drills. Not only does she map out all necessary protocols, but she even produces fake news reports where she plays both the journalists and the interview subjects.

Overwhelms Ann And Ben With Special Anniversaries And Great Gifts (Season 5, Episode 19)

It’s nice to be friends with someone who is great at buying presents, but not to be ignored is the pressure that such a talent transmits to the recipient. Leslie Knope is one of these gifted gift givers, but as we learn in Season 5’s “Animal Control,” it’s behavior that drives Ben and Ann somewhat bonkers as they try and keep pace with her.

Tries To Give Jerry A Perfect Last Day At Work (Season 5, Episode 20)

To be kind, Jerry Gergich (Jim O’Heir) is a goofball and not a particularly talented government employee, but that doesn’t stop Leslie from trying to give him the best last day possible as he plans to retire. She ends up ruining her own day off, and it doesn’t even end up mattering that much to him because he cares more about his family than his work.

Tries To Get Parks Department Employees To Sign Loyalty Contracts (Season 6, Episode 4)

One of the downsides of Leslie loving hard is that she finds it terrifically hard to let things go, and she is forced to confront that personal flaw in Season 6’s “Doppelgängers” when she learns that Ann is planning to move to Michigan. In addition to being emotionally devastated, her knee-jerk response is to try and demand forever friendship from her Parks & Rec co-workers with 50-year loyalty contracts.

Battles With Ben Over Censoring Saucy Vegetable Promotion At The Farmers Market (Season 6, Episode 12)

Whether or not Leslie is right to stop the provocative promotion at the Pawnee Farmer’s Market is up to individual viewers, but what can’t be denied is that it results in her relationship with Ben getting a bit unstable. Serving as the new city manager, he refuses to discuss the issue outside of work, but that just leads her to hunt for loopholes and get-arounds.

Gets Too Involved Trying To Manipulate A Poll For A New Town Slogan (Season 6, Episode 16)

In Season 6’s “New Slogan,” Leslie puts a lot of trust in the citizenry of Pawnee when she opens a poll to let people pick the new city slogan. There’s nothing wrong with that… but she does engage in problematic behavior when she tries to manipulate the vote and access people’s contact information.

Tries To Cast A New Ann In Her Life With A Galentine’s Day (Season 6, Episode 17)

I don’t think anybody would recommend auditioning as a means of finding a new best friend, but that’s exactly what Leslie tries to do on “Galentine’s Day” after Ann moves away.

Fights With Ron Over The Summer Employment Of A Promising Teen (Season 6, Episode 18)

Leslie sees a lot of potential in teenager Allison Gliffert (Kelly Washington), but she has a bad habit of ruining important events for her. First, she accidentally sabotages the Model U.N. (which Allison presides over) and then she ends up ruining prom night when she gets in a battle with Ron over Allison’s summer employment.

Tries To Get April To Live Out A Five Year Plan In Politics That She Has Planned (Season 7, Episode 8)

Leslie only wants the best for April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) as she matures from a cynical teen into a motivated adult, but her personal interest in the young woman’s future blinds her to April’s own interests. In Season 7’s “Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington,” it’s revealed that Leslie has a full five-year plan for her protégé in politics, but it’s not a path April wants to pursue.

Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation is a simple man. Or at least, that's what he would have you believe. While the show had amazing cast members and even more amazing guests, the head of the parks department, played by Nick Offerman, has some of the funniest and most ridiculous lines. From words of advice to cutting insults, his quotes are some of the best from the show, so here are 32 of our favorite Ron Swanson quotes from Parks and Rec. 

Well I’ve never been one for meeting new people, or doing new things, or eating new types of food, or traveling outside of southern Indiana. I’ve had the same haircut since 1978 and I’ve driven the same car since 1991. I’ve used the same wooden comb for three decades. I have one bowl. I still get my milk delivered by horse.

If there is any quote that perfectly sums up Ron Swanson, it's this one. He's a man of principle and a man stuck in his ways. He's also a man stuck in the 1800s, apparently. There's a lot to criticize Ron over, but you can't call him inconsistent.

Please talk more about how you hate Europe and Bicycles.

When Ron is forced to find a new barber for the first time in decades, Donna, played by Retta, takes him to her hairdresser, Typhoon. At first, Ron thinks he'll have little in common with the new-age stylist, but they soon bond over their shared hatred for Europeans and bicycles. How nice for them. 

Crying: Acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon.

The Ron Swanson Pyramid of Success is full of hilarious, if questionable, life advice. Apparently, to be "a man" or "a Swanson" you can only cry in two places. Ron does live up to this standard, mostly. He does occasionally cry when he's happy too, though. Besides at the Grand Canyon, that is. 

Capitalism is the only way… It makes America great, England OK and France terrible.

If there is one thing that is pretty distasteful about Ron's set core of beliefs, it's his jingoism. It's not pretty. It's on full display when he heads to England, but that's not the only we see it. Do better, Ron. 

Any dog under 50 pounds is a cat, and cats are useless.

At the risk of offending small dog owners (and I am one myself), Ron is 100% correct here. Dogs should be big and dopey, not small and yappy. The smaller the dog, the more cat-like they are. Like Ron, I'm not a cat person. I still love my tiny dog though. 

I’m impressed with Andy, pulling himself up by his bootstraps. Reminds me of a young me. I got my first job when I was nine working at a sheet metal factory. In two weeks I was running the floor. Child Labor Laws are ruining this country.

Andy (Chris Pratt) doesn't seem like the kind of person Ron would tolerate, yet he does, for some reason. Andy is a hard worker and dedicated to his job, (and a breakout role for Pratt) unlike Ron, but he also moonlights as a musician, playing in his band Mouse Rat, just like Ron moonlights as jazz musician Duke Silver. 

I like Tom. He doesn’t do a lot of work around here. He shows zero initiative. He’s not a team player. He’s never wanted to go that extra mile. Tom is exactly what I’m looking for in a government employee.

Tom (Aziz Ansari) is someone whom Ron Swanson barely tolerates. Everything Tom does seems to drive Ron nuts, except what Tom doesn't do. By being generally terrible at his job and worrying more about this personal life, Tom is Ron's perfect employee. 

There’s only one thing I hate more than lying: skim milk. Which is water that’s lying about being milk.

Ron Swanson hates lying. He talked about it more than once. He also doesn't like what he sees as health trends. Or anything healthy to eat, for that matter. Skim milk holds a special place of disdain in the heart of Ron. 

The less I know about other people’s affairs, the happier I am. I’m not interested in caring about people. I once worked with a guy for three years and never learned his name. Best friend I ever had. We still never talk sometimes.

Something else Ron Swanson is consistent about it is his narcissism. While he probably wouldn't call it that, we just call 'em like we see 'em. Of course, he does care about people, a little. 

Fishing is for sport only. Fish meat is practically a vegetable.

Another bit of "advice" from the Ron Swanson pyramid of greatness. While Ron doesn't seem to like fish, he sure does love shrimp, especially if it's wrapped in bacon. Bacon makes everything better. 

The whole point of this country is if you want to eat garbage, balloon up to 600 pounds and die of a heart attack at 43, you can! You are free to do so. To me, that’s beautiful.

Again, Ron really isn't into being healthy. He's also not interested in other people. That's why this quote is so perfect, it combines both of the things he seems most interested in. 

Fishing relaxes me. It’s like yoga, except I still get to kill something.

It's safe to say that anything Chris does is going to upset Ron in some way, but Ron holds a deep mistrust of yoga. He mentions it on a number of occasions, but it's the most ridiculous when he compares it to fishing. Though, he's not wrong, both activities are relaxing. 

Just give me all the bacon and eggs you have. Wait … I worry what you heard was, ‘Give me a lot of bacon and eggs.’ What I said was, give me all the bacon and eggs you have. Do you understand?

After being served what he thought was an underwhelming steak, Ron switches gears in one of the funniest scenes in the whole show. You can't help but be horrified and impressed by Ron's dedication to breakfast foods.  

You had me at ‘Meat Tornado'

While Ron doesn't really "go for ethnic food" he is stopped in his tracks when Andy tells him about the burrito called a "Meat Tornado." Maybe there is hope for Ron yet. 

It's a hamburger made out of meat on a bun with nothing. Add ketchup if you want. I couldn't care less.

At one point, Chris Trager (Rob Lowe) and Ron decide to have a competition over who can make a more delicious burger. Chris' burger is a beacon of healthy options, with all kinds of buzzy food options, like a brioche bun. Ron's is a burger. On a bun. Turkey can never beat cow, Chris. 

You’ve accidentally given me the food that my food eats.

Ron doesn't really go for salad and when he's served one, he makes it clear that it is not enough to satisfy him. He's also incredibly consistent when it comes to how much he hates vegetables. In that way, he's like a little kid who has to choke them down after being scolded by an adult. 

Normally, if given the choice between doing something and nothing, I’d choose to do nothing. But I will do something if it helps someone else do nothing. I’d work all night, if it meant nothing got done.

On some level, you can't help but admire Ron Swanson's dedication to his principles. He believes in small government. Strike that, Ron believes in no government. Anything he can do to stop government from doing anything at all, he'll work hard to achieve that.  

There are three acceptable haircuts: high and tight, crew cut, buzz cut

Even though it doesn't appear that Ron Swanson actually served in the military, he does appreciate a good, precise haircut, clearly. 

Birthdays were invented by Hallmark to sell cards.

Ron doesn't like making a fuss about anything and when the rest of the office is determined to celebrate his birthday, he makes it clear where he stands on the issue. 

Give 100 percent. One-hundred-and-ten percent is impossible. Only idiots recommend that.

One thing Ron Swanson cannot abide is fools. Of course, anyone who doesn't fit into the narrow parameters of his life views is a fool. Like people who exaggerate things, which is literally the one thing Chris Trager does best.  

When people get too chummy with me, I like to call them by the wrong name to let them know I don’t really care about them.

He doesn't care about other people's problems, that's for certain. He also doesn't want to be friends and this is how he goes about it. He even teaches April, played brilliantly by Aubrey Plaza the same trick and she takes to it like a fish to water. 

America: The only country that matters. If you want to experience other ‘cultures,’ use an atlas or a ham radio.

Not all of Ron's beliefs are healthy, or advisable. His jingoism, which he thinks is patriotic, is actually idiotic. Still, ham radios and atlas are fun, so that but of advice is pretty decent. 

It’s always a good idea to demonstrate to your coworkers that you are capable of withstanding a tremendous amount of pain.

You might think that when Ron takes pliers and pulls his own tooth out, a tooth the dentist had already extracted, it was meant as a practical joke. Ron Swanson never jokes though, and he was really just doing it to shock his coworkers and it works. 

I would rather bleed out than sit here and talk about my feelings for 10 minutes.

Let's be upfront, Ron Swanson doesn't care about your problems, and he doesn't want to talk about his either. It may not be healthy to bottle everything up, but you know he's not budging on this one. 

I think that all government is a waster of taxpayer money. My dream is to have the park system privatized and run entirely by for-profit corporations, like Chuck E. Cheese. They have an impeccable business model.

The biggest source of conflict between Ron, the head of the parks department, and his deputy Leslie (Amy Poehler) is that Leslie believes that government can do good for people. Ron thinks it should be run by a pizza restaurant.

I hate metaphors. That’s why my favorite book is Moby Dick. No frufu symbolism, just a good simple tale about a man who hates an animal.

On some level, I'd like to believe that Ron is smarter than this. In a great bit of comedic irony, Ron talks about why he loves Herman Melville's Moby Dick, but the reason is... questionable. The book is full of metaphors, and is, indeed basically one big one. A big white whale of one. 

I love Food and Stuff. It’s where I buy all my food… and most of my stuff.

Ron Swanson is a simple man, with simple needs. Mostly meat, but a little stuff too. Luckily, his favorite store has both. He rarely "treats himself" like some of the other office workers. 

There is only one bad word: taxes.

A libertarian in the most extreme version, Ron really hates government. What he hates the most, it seems, is the taxes that the government collects. They may pay his salary, but that doesn't mean he appreciates them. 

History began July 4, 1776. Everything before that was a mistake.

Here we go again with the extreme patriotism. Ron Swanson just doesn't care about anything other than the United States, even the history that led to its creation. It's still not a good look and never will be. 

The key to burning an ex-wife effigy is to dip it in paraffin wax and then toss the flaming bottle of isopropyl alcohol from a safe distance. Do not stand too close when you light an ex-wife effigy.

If there is anything in the world that Ron hates as much as government and taxes, it's both of his ex-wives, Tammy 1 and Tammy 2. He holds nothing back when it comes to slandering them, without any respect whatsoever. Yet, he still believes in love. Good, I guess?

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Don’t teach a man to fish…and feed yourself. He’s a grown man. And fishing’s not that hard.

Fishing is important to Ron. Making friends and helping people is not. Case in point? This quote. Lighten up, Ron! 

The Human Resources department requires that I be available once a month to discuss workplace disputes with my employees. The rules do not specify whether or not I am allowed to listen to Willie Nelson on my headphones.

This is yet another example of Ron not caring about anyone other than himself. Willie Nelson is great, but try to set a better example, Ron! 

Another word for 'jokes' is 'lies'. I do not lie. Therefore, I do not joke.

Oh, but you do joke, Ron. Some of the very best jokes on Parks and Rec come from the mind of Ron Swanson, whether he appreciates them or not. Like all 32 of the jokes here. They are all gold, though you probably don't want to take his advice very often.