Amy Poehler’s final episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by a game Hugh Laurie, was, as usual, a hit-and-miss evening, with many of the show’s best laughs coming from Poehler herself. Just when it looked like the show had missed a golden opportunity for political comedy with a tepid cold open about recently indicted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Poehler and fellow ‘Weekend Update’ co-host Seth Meyers brought the big time funny with a rendition of "Really!?! with Seth & Amy" all about the foul-mouthed, comically coiffed pol. (Poehler: "The hair? Really?! It looks like you’re wearing a toupee that’s also wearing a toupee!") The bit was so funny, it was that much sadder to realize we’ll probably never see it again — or if we do with a new ‘Update’ co-host, it won’t quite be the same without Poehler’s puckish bite.
When Poehler dropped her trademark smirk to announce her departure from the show, she got all soft and genuine and grateful, and I kinda wanted to leap through the TV and give her a big ole hug for so many years of snarky giggles. That is until Fred Armisen, as visually impaired New York Gov. David Patterson, wandered into Poehler’s shot, and, like Poehler herself, I found myself overcome with snarky giggling. Of course, since SNL alums seem so happy to drop in on the show — like Maya Rudolph appearing last night for one final round of gum-smacking gossip on ‘Bronx Beat’ with Poehler — this most likely really isn’t the last time we’ll see Poehler grace Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Check out her hilarious "Really!?!" routine below.
The holiday episode did manage to pull off two amusing non-Poehlerized sketches — love that not-so-passive-aggressive Christmas dinner — but she’s still leaving some serious shoes (or, really, wigs) to fill. Tell me, PopWatchers, what have some of your favorite Amy Poehler moments been from SNL? What would you most like to see from Poehler now that she’s a free agent? And did you think, like I did, that Kanye West was a stand-up guy for still performing even though he so clearly was feeling all with the flu-y?
More on Saturday Night Live:
Amy Poehler: My crazy characters
Two new cast members won’t help the show’s Obama problem
‘SNL’ adds two castmembers, including Chris Elliot’s spawn
my favorite is when she played that girl with coke bottle glasses who was always annoying her step-dad Rick (horatio sanz)
People are always talking about how SNL was funnier back in the day, and that may be true, but i think Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are the funniest cast members ever. I can’t wait to watch what Amy does next because we know it will funny and charming and you’ll want to give her a hug for being so adorable
“The first time I saw you I thought you were walking away” now thats funny.
I used to love the skit where she played the hyperactive little girl who would run in circles around Horatio Sanz yelling, “Rick! Rick!” Her retainer lisp was classic.
I loved her Nancy Grace.
It was was on the funniest things she ever did!
I too, liked the little girl yelling Rick! However, her Hilary Clinton was pretty good too. She will be hard if not difficult to replace. I think her talent goes beyond comedy. I think she can handle drama or any projects that come her way.
Best ones were “The Couple Who Should Be Divorced” and the great couple of years that it was her and Tina fey on Weekend Update…
SNL & Poler are terrible, meaning not funny, its been several yrs. since SNL was worth watching, its totally irrelevant now.
I’m really going to miss Amy on SNL! I love when she played Kaitlin and Amber! Classic! I really look forward to watching anything she’s in! I MISS YOU ALREADY AMY!
That “Really” sketch was among the funniest of last night’s show?! Really?! I left SNL for Mad-TV about ten years ago, and haven’t looked back. SNL has always been so scattershot with their hit-and-miss shows. Mad-TV’s much more consistently funny, and it will be missed after this season. I never understood why many people are so protective and defensive people about SNL. No matter how unfunny it is, they still support it and most have nasty things to say about Mad-TV. Yet Mad has some of SNL’s former writers, and if you took the same sketches and put them on SNL, these same complainers would be calling them ‘brilliant.’
Everything Amy does is hilarious, honestly. I agree with the other poster, I looked forward to Tina & Amy every Saturday. I’m so sad they are gone! And I loved the “Uncle Rick” skits, too. =P
My favorite character of Amy’s wasn’t an SNL character, but was the character she did on mean girls. The white trash mom who was trying to be cool, I thought that was the funniest thing in the film. I usually don’t watch SNL so I can’t comment on that.
The Couple who should be Divorced!
Seth and Amy together are comedic gold.
Good riddance to Poehler! The woman has not met a scene she did not chew into submission. Of course that is par for the course with this batch of SNL cast members (and has been for several years). Too bad Hugh Laurie’s talents were wasted on the program.
We will miss you Amy! Good luck in the future!