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Amy Poehler Reflects on ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketches That Missed The Mark
In a candid conversation, Amy Poehler recently acknowledged that some sketches from her time on “Saturday Night Live” contained offensive material and instances of cultural appropriation.
Poehler’s Reflections On Comedy And “Saturday Night Live”
During her “Good Hang” podcast, Poehler hosted former “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) co-star Will Forte, where they openly discussed their past experiences on the show.
The conversation took a reflective turn as they considered how comedy evolves and what is considered acceptable over time. Forte initiated the dialog about “Saturday Night Live,” observing that many sketches prioritized humor above all else.
Poehler agreed, adding that gaining experience in comedy involves recognizing that everything has an expiration date.
She highlighted the “In Memoriam” segment, hosted by Tom Hanks during “Saturday Night Live’s” 50th Anniversary special in February 2025, as showcasing examples of sketches that didn’t age well.
One particular sketch from 2004 featured Ben Affleck yelling at Fred Armisen’s character, who was portrayed as disabled.Poehler’s character then exclaimed, “Oh my god, Ben Affleck just yelled at that mentally challenged guy!”
Taking Responsibility For Past roles
Poehler openly addressed the segment, stating, “Here’s all the ways we got things wrong. And they showed way inappropriate casting for people. We all played people that we should not have played.” She further admitted, “I misappropriated. I appropriated. I didn’t know. I did know.”
She emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “It’s very real, and the best thing you can do is make repairs, learn from yoru mistakes, do better – it’s all you can do.”
The complete discussion between Poehler and Forte can be viewed in the provided video.
Did You Know? “Saturday Night Live,” since its debut in 1975, has been
