RE-RELEASE - Amy Poehler

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: RE-RELEASE - Amy Poehler
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Audacy

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Overview

This episode of Fly on the Wall features comedic powerhouse Amy Poehler in conversation with hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade. The three delve deep into Poehler's iconic tenure on Saturday Night Live, her experiences in showbiz, and the unique challenges and joys of comedy. Spanning SNL war stories, the evolution of women in comedy, memorable impressions, and reflections on aging (comically and physically), this episode is a candid, funny, and at times, poignant look at the creative life.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Amy's SNL Memories & Sketch Life

• SNL “Special Ops”: Amy, Dana, and David compare their SNL experience to being in "Special Forces," alluding to the intense camaraderie and lasting impact ("it's like you were in very specific, like Special Forces, and you all just want to kind of share stories..." — Amy Poehler, 06:52).
• Amy as David’s Stunt Double: Recalling a sketch where Amy played David’s stunt double, showcasing both their similarities and the show's absurd humor (04:24-05:29).
• Starting after 9/11: Amy describes her first show being just after the attacks, resulting in an extra-serious atmosphere and a pressure to keep comedy alive ("for like the first three years or so at the show, you know, the chardonnay was gone. It was very much like serious business to keep comedy afloat..." — Amy Poehler, 10:11).
• Breaking the Tension: Discussion of Will Ferrell’s infamous American flag ‘Speedo’ sketch and how broad, silly humor helped transition SNL out of the somber post-9/11 climate (12:18-12:52).

2. Impact of Fame, Fan Interactions, and Iconic Work

• Different Generations, Different Amy: Millennials recognize Amy from Parks and Rec, Gen X from SNL or films; she reflects on receiving the most love from “nice women” (17:36–18:50).
• On Getting Recognized: Amy is regularly mistaken for fellow comedians Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch, humorously noting the interchangeable "nice funny woman" vibe (18:10).
• Performing Live with Tina: Poehler shares insights about her current tour with Fey, the live show energy, and adjustments to the new standup format (25:20–25:36).

3. Women in Comedy and SNL

• Female Power Surge: Discussion about how Amy’s SNL generation, alongside Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, and others, marked a turning point for women on the show ("the MVP basically, is the women of...Since the 90s, late 90s." — Dana Carvey, 59:41).
• Legacy and Mentorship: Amy credits the community of funny women before and after her, highlighting the energy of “Murderer's Row” in both SNL and her film ‘Wine Country’ ("it was a Murderer's Row on Wine country...Maya, Rachel, Anna" — Dana Carvey, 57:16).
• Breaking Stereotypes: They note how progress has led to women playing even male politicians, joking about the irrelevance of gender to comedic talent (61:11–61:41).

4. Comedy Process: Onstage and Off

• The Art of Having Fun: Poehler emphasizes that if a host or performer doesn’t appear to have fun, the audience becomes anxious (“if you don't look like you're relaxed or having fun, the audience gets very stressed” — Amy Poehler, 19:37).
• Moments When Jokes Bomb: All three discuss handling failed bits mentally and physically, from playful self-deprecation to dissecting setup/vibe like Jerry Seinfeld (22:55–25:20).
• Comparisons to Musicians: Amy laments how comics are always pushed for new material, whereas musicians can repeat beloved songs (52:30–52:50).

5. Physical Comedy, Aging, and Self-Care

• Getting Older & Bodily Woes: Shared stories about “frozen shoulder” (Amy), spasming toes (Dana), and aches, transitioning into a chat about cold plunges and wellness fads (32:56–36:46).
• Cast Health in the 90s: The trio joke about the oblivious health habits of their SNL days—no water, all carbs, and seeing the toll now (34:47–35:55).
• Pre-Show Rituals & Nerves: Amy details how sketch performers rely on collective warm-up, while stand-ups isolate; these disciplines overlap as she ages, adding light stretching to her routine (31:07–32:41).

6. Christopher Walken, Impressions, and Hosting Experiences

• Christopher Walken Stories: Poehler recalls working with Walken—his comfort with silence and his peculiar rehearsal habits, including possibly removing all punctuation from scripts (39:28–41:16).
• Favorite Impressions: Amy recounts playing a young girl doing Walken, using the words “spooky” and “ghosts” (38:46), and the group trades Walken and Lorne Michaels stories.
• Hosting Award Shows: Behind-the-scenes of opening the Oscars with Maya and Tina, the stress of hosting, and why looking like you’re enjoying yourself is vital (20:16–20:40).

7. Comedy vs. Drama & Recognition

• Comedians as Actors: Amy voices frustration that people are shocked when comedians give great dramatic performances, pointing out that humor and acting require overlapping skill sets ("so rarely are good actors funny, but funny people are often very good actors." — 51:45).
• Awards Snubs: Although comedic performances rarely get Oscars, they find solace in the lasting legacy of making people laugh (52:07–53:01).

8. Parenting, Media, and Generational Humor

• Introducing Kids to Classic Films: Amy describes her sons discovering SNL, comedy, and old movies like Willy Wonka, and her simultaneous pride and mom-embarrassment (45:40–46:44).
• Media Exposure in Childhood: Stories abound of watching films like Deer Hunter and The Omen far too young—establishing an early (possibly traumatic) relationship with movies (42:07–44:07).

9. Community, Therapy, and Perspective

• Comedy as a Lifeline: Amy and the hosts reflect on the sense of shared experience, the unique “frequency” connecting comedians, and the relief of being around others who “get it” (63:24–63:47).
• Emotional Wellness: A candid discussion on therapy, the pursuit of happiness, the illusion of “dream lives,” and how letting go of ego pressure is the real key (64:07–65:41).

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On SNL Camaraderie:
  “It’s like you were in very specific, like Special Forces... and you all just want to kind of share stories about the nightmares that you continue to have about it 20 years.”
  — Amy Poehler (06:52)

• On Post-9/11 Comedy:
  “Will we ever laugh again? That was basically the headline... And it was like, could we though just a little bit, because I'm here now.”
  — Amy Poehler (11:11)

• On Fan Interactions:
  “I get a lot of nice women. That's, like, my demo—nice [women].”
  — Amy Poehler (18:10)

• On Performing with Relaxation:
  “If you don't look like you're relaxed or having fun, the audience gets very stressed.”
  — Amy Poehler (19:37)

• On Physical Comedy and Health:
  “I’m just getting over this thing, which is... it sounds like a bad cocktail. But I had this thing this year called Frozen Shoulder.”
  — Amy Poehler (32:56)

• On Comedians and Drama:
  “So rarely are good actors funny, but funny people are often very good actors.”
  — Amy Poehler (51:45)

• On the Progress of Women in Comedy:
  “The funniest people I know love other funny people... they get drawn to other people's work, regardless of gender.”
  — Amy Poehler (61:41)

• On Community:
  “I feel honored to be in a group that you guys feel like you're in too. I mean, I feel like I would zoom right to you and Tina, if I saw you out, I'd be like, guys, save me. What's going on?”
  — Amy Poehler (63:35–63:47)

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Notable Segments with Timestamps

• [04:24] Amy and David reminisce about their SNL stunt double sketch
• [10:11] Amy describes joining SNL in post-9/11 New York
• [14:22] Dana praises Amy's Long Island Ladies sketch with Maya Rudolph
• [25:20] Amy shares about her current live shows with Tina Fey
• [32:56] Amy and hosts discuss the realities of aging, pain, and wellness routines
• [38:46] Amy's “Christopher Walken” impression and sketch backstory
• [51:45] Amy's take on why comedians are often strong dramatic actors
• [57:16] The ‘Murderer's Row’ of female SNL cast and ‘Wine Country’
• [61:41] Conversation on progress for women and the genderless nature of funny

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a warm, rollicking ride through the highs, lows, and absurdities of the comedy profession. Amy Poehler’s blend of humility, sharp insight, and infectious joy—paired with the hosts' quick wit and generosity—make for an episode that’s both highly entertaining and unexpectedly deep. Listeners are treated not only to laughter and behind-the-scenes anecdotes but also to thoughtful reflections on what it means to risk, to age, to laugh, and to belong.

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Transcript

[David Spade]

Danny, you know, I'm running around all day as you know.

[Dana Carvey]

You, you actually, that's no joke. You do, you, you do go around. You get in that car.

[David Spade]

Getting my steps. Yeah, I get the steps. I. And if I don't get my 2, 000 steps a day, I get out and walk. I'm not bragging, but that's what I do. So listen, I need a little energy in the day. Of course. Kachava. Okay. It comes in a bag, right? It's a body meal. It's a whole body meal. So you mix it up either plain. You know, I kind of like throwing a peanut butter, right? That's just me. You can do whatever you want. Add stuff. There's a lot of great ingredients in there already. They've got maca root, goji berry, chia seeds. So many things. But if you want to be energized, focused, calm and satiated for hours, throw in one of these. I like chocolate. They have also vanilla chai. Is that a word?

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. I'd say you add a little bit of peanut butter, a little bit of banana, maybe a little bit of yogurt, and then mix it in a blender or with a big spoon and gulp it down. Not hungry and full of energy all day. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[David Spade]

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[Dana Carvey]

That's Kachava K A C H-A-V A.com codefly for 15% off.

[David Spade]

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[Dana Carvey]

Video preview alerts to know what's happening without even needing to go into your phone. These things are amazing. I mean you put the. You put them up, you sleep really well. With Ring, you can see more and do more. Learn [e-mail] Some features require a subscription and are available only on select Ring devices. Exclusions apply.

[David Spade]

Learn [e-mail] okay, we got one of the SNL greats, Amy Poehler, who Has her own podcast on now. And so we were going to give everyone a chance to listen to this one again. Great. Hilarious. Amy. Everybody knows, everybody loves her. She has some fantastic stories, of course, about snl, among other ones, about Christopher Walken, who we all crack up about.

[Dana Carvey]

She's just Amy Poehler. I mean, she's so charming and fun and funny and really one of those came during that age when women cast members kind of took over snl.

[David Spade]

Along with Tina, with Maya.

[Dana Carvey]

Tina and they wig and Kate and everybody. And we're gonna Rachel Dratch. But anyway, Amy is a gem and is so much fun to talk to. I would listen to this.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

If I were you.

[David Spade]

And she didn't come on for a long time. We were so excited to finally get her and it turned out to be such a good one. So here it is for you to listen to Amy Poehler.

[Dana Carvey]

I love your glasses.

[David Spade]

Oh, look at. Those are cool.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, they're kind of 60s or something. Something hip.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I get them off Amazon because now I gotta. I gotta use my reader, my readers, my cheaters.

[David Spade]

Got your cheaters. Give me them cheaters. Look at Dana. Watch him go.

[Dana Carvey]

Would this change the vibe of the interview?

[Amy Poehler]

It makes you. It makes you feel more like, conservative, like you're going to drop some politics.

[Dana Carvey]

Really? Sunglasses?

[David Spade]

Well, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Interesting.

[Amy Poehler]

Would you agree, David?

[David Spade]

Yeah, I think. I think there's a vibe.

[Dana Carvey]

Are you guys forming an alliance?

[David Spade]

I know we are.

[Dana Carvey]

It's a little early, but I get it. You overlapped. Or did you overlap?

[Amy Poehler]

I wish. No, I mean, but David hosted.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah, that's right.

[Amy Poehler]

Wait, can we. We can talk about snl, right?

[David Spade]

Yeah, yeah, because we're not already been on. But Amy did a funny one. I just thought of this. Amy. Oh, you and my stunt double.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes, we did a sketch where I played David stunt double. Because we could probably be brother and sister. Like, we have similar features. So I played your stunt double. And then that's all I remember of the. Of the premise.

[David Spade]

No, I think it was someone played the rock and I was like the rock's buddy in a buddy comedy. And then when we got to like climbing on a building, they brought in Chris and I think Chris, and that was you, which I thought would be a boy. And it was you. And you're like, hey, we're going to do this. We're all good. And I'm like. And Seth, I think, was the director. I'm just remembering as I go, and I'm like, hey, is it. Is it weird that I, you know, I'm a guy, and it's like, no, it's all equal, and it's just stunt people. And I'm like, right? And I'm not loving it. And then when she gets on, she goes, oh, no, Rock. It's so scary. I'm like, I don't think she should talk if she's my.

[Dana Carvey]

You just keep.

[David Spade]

You keep, like, crying and acting like you're me, and I'm like, that's not what I'd say. And no one has any problem with it. No.

[Amy Poehler]

And I think when I. When I put on that wig and I think we looked a lot better.

[David Spade]

It was pretty close.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, it was pretty close.

[Dana Carvey]

I'm gonna say.

[David Spade]

Yeah, Dana, you blew it. You missed out.

[Dana Carvey]

British, Irish, Scandinavian, German, French, British, Irish all the way.

[Amy Poehler]

Mostly Irish. Mostly Irish. My brother lives in Sweden, so sometimes I. People assume there's some Scandinavian, but no, none that we can find.

[Dana Carvey]

Lots of Norway, lots of Scottish, and lots of Irish.

[David Spade]

I'm British, American and Southwest. I'm airlines.

[Amy Poehler]

Have you guys done the. Have you done the 23andMe? Have you done any of that stuff?

[David Spade]

Terrified.

[Dana Carvey]

My son did, and he had a disproportionate amount of Neanderthal, so I don't know, maybe that. Maybe that explains something. I don't know. Was I. He's half Neanderthal, and my wife's half Dutch. There was no Dutch. No, no. His grandfather was 100% Dutch, and there's no Dutch. And a lot of cavemen. Anyway, welcome. We're gonna do this for the rest of the podcast. It's about genealogy today, by the way, love your podcast.

[Amy Poehler]

I've listened to almost every episode.

[David Spade]

You know, probably every single person on the podcast.

[Dana Carvey]

That's crazy.

[Amy Poehler]

So great that I getting. Getting a chance to do it. I'm so grateful.

[Dana Carvey]

You made my day.

[Amy Poehler]

I love it. And, you know, we all. We snl, like you've said many times, is kind of the. It's like you were in very specific, like, Special Forces, and you all just want to kind of share stories about the nightmares that you continue to have about it. 20 years.

[David Spade]

It's all poor, poor, rich people. It is funny. We're like special Ops. We say war, and then people say, don't say that. So we change.

[Amy Poehler]

You're right.

[David Spade]

I should SWAT team.

[Dana Carvey]

I said it once. It's like the Marine and I. And I backed off of it in 10 seconds. I said, please don't write me any letters, because it's fun to say that. I did not mean to equivocate it in that way. I would just say if someone is unknown, maybe in an improv group like yourself and is suddenly on national tv, and then we all, as an audience, we. Oh, what's her name? Amy Poehler. Oh, she's getting really good. It's like a reality show. Oh, she's really confident now. She's right.

[David Spade]

Lots of opinions.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, lots of opinions, yeah. Message boards. Like, I started when message boards came out, so it wasn't. It wasn't. There wasn't any Twitter or anything yet, but it was these message boards that used to spring up, like, the next day. And so I started around when 2001. TiVo. Remember TiVo? TiVo came into place. It was like, ooh, I could fast forward SNL for the first time. Like, that was.

[David Spade]

A million dollar idea.

[Dana Carvey]

I'm not so sure that's a good thing.

[David Spade]

I talked to T. I'd rather have.

[Dana Carvey]

Them to, like, watch the show as opposed to.

[David Spade]

I mean, I'll go for a pause, but that's.

[Dana Carvey]

You record it and then you never. You like, never really watch it. Everyone has a Lauren. You might as well do your 10 seconds of Lauren because you have to have a Lauren.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, my God, I love it. My Lauren is not great, but yes, it's very.

[Dana Carvey]

No, there is no. There's no.

[Amy Poehler]

My Lauren is a little more paternal, which is like when he comes on the floor right before a sketch and goes, like, do you like these wine glasses or these, you know, does this table look right for you? And you're just so nervous you're about to do a sketch in a restaurant. You're like, what? Are you happy with the wine glasses? Okay, okay.

[David Spade]

You're like. I mean, on the table in the sketch. Yeah, yeah. They're like five, four. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

My first season. I don't know if he did that later. It was a glass of chardonnay and he would be outside because then he went under the bleachers. Well, that was for the dress show mostly. But during the live show, you. You're so fucking terrified. And Lawrence went around with a glass of wine, acting so, like, there's not a live TV show going on. It was just amazing to watch him try to by osmosis. Calm us down, I guess, you know.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, it's really. Oh, sorry, go ahead.

[David Spade]

Saying, I'm waiting to get pushed out on update in that chair. I'm in the dark. And he's like, do you know who's winning? The Yankees. I'm like, right now, I don't Know, I got. I have to look at the cards.

[Dana Carvey]

It's a mind trick. The non sec order to distract you from. From the chair turns. There's 10 million people watching you. Go ahead, Amy.

[Amy Poehler]

No, I was going to say when you guys talk about your experiences at the show, too, on your. On this podcast, it kind of feels like the before times. Because my first show was two weeks after 9, 11. So for like the first three years or so at the show, you know, the chardonnay was gone. It was very much like serious business to keep comedy afloat. You know, it was very like, will we ever laugh again? And how can we do comedy? And, you know, New York is under attack. It was all this, like, how do we make fun of politics? Like, it was just this, like, slow build back to get to Palin and Hillary by the end of that run. But it took so long to even, you know, So I can just remember starting that job and being like, my dream job. I was 30 years old. I started. I was like, here we go. And then. Then all that happened and was like, will we ever laugh again? That was basically the headline. It's like. And it was like, could we though just a little bit, because I'm. Because I'm here now. Yeah, it was. It was intense.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. I've been dreaming and working toward this for my whole life. Could I do something funny?

[David Spade]

How could you do such a stupid sketch when what's going on in the world? And you're like, oh, well, this is the idea is to get away from.

[Dana Carvey]

But it went on to your point. It went on for a long time of the idea, when will the next attack come? And where it really are. It wasn't an awesome. So there was a really anxious period. I don't know when it finally we kind of. I guess 2004.

[Amy Poehler]

It felt like 2003, 2004. But don't forget, you know, there was like anthrax in the building when we were there. It was like, you know, it was wild. But I think it felt around 2000. I had one year of overlap with Will Ferrell and he did a sketch, I guess it must have been 2001. 2002, like, about a guy who was really patriotic and he was wearing like.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

In the hot tub.

[Amy Poehler]

He was. He's wearing a Speedo.

[David Spade]

Is going to work. I think Dan. I think it was Matt Piedmont might have wrote.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I think you're right.

[David Spade]

And he wears it.

[Dana Carvey]

He has.

[David Spade]

He's very patriotic. Yeah. Yeah. That was a big one.

[Dana Carvey]

It's Very will. The way he wore the speedo, the way he splayed his legs. I mean, he is. He's brave or whatever you want to call it. He's just out there. But. So that really broke the seal a little bit.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

And he had.

[Amy Poehler]

You know, we had stopped doing any bush stuff. Any. We had. We didn't do any politics during that time.

[David Spade]

Interesting.

[Amy Poehler]

But that was like a big. A big silly, stupid, you know, guy in a speedo sketch. And the audience really loved it. And you were like, okay, maybe. Maybe this is gonna be okay. Maybe so. But we did a bunch of dumb pop culture stuff because, you know, it was like, Britney Spears, snake trainer was like a character I was trying to get on because. Because no one wanted to talk about news politics. So it was. It was weird. But it got.

[Dana Carvey]

I kind of appreciate the big, silly ones more even later on. Big dump. Whatever word you want to apply to them. Broad, really just balls out funny, where you get sort of. You want to get that I Love Lucy kind of role of a laugh if you. You know, I got it with the dog on. It wasn't me. It was that sketch. Massive head moon. Harry just unleashed a whole I Love Lucy type of laughter because I was fighting with a dog over a fake head, fake brains. But it seems like, you know, just as an overview here for a second, you came on the scene, and then by the time you left, you were just as good as anyone had ever done that show. I mean, you. I believe, and I say this to people with all sincerity. I mean, like, the thing you did with Maya, the Long island ladies, you were both brilliant, and you were just so in the pocket of that character, rhythmically. Like, I watched the immersion of that. It was just beautiful to watch that sketch.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, thanks, Dana. That means a lot. That sketch that felt like we could have only done it when we were, like, seniors. Like, we were relaxed enough to do it. We wrote that with Emily Spivey. The great Emily Spivey.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, we hear about her a lot.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, you should have her on this. She would be an incredible guest. And, yeah, we improvised a lot of that. Like, was just a lot of overlappy. The cards were kind of loose, and we kind of knew what we were going to say, but not really. And I don't think we would have been able to do that in the first couple of years. I know I wouldn't have. I would have been, too. Results.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, that's what I mean. I find that a lot. There's maybe Eddie Murphy, the most extreme. The other Way, like, as confident in day one, apparently. And then there's. People have a. A pretty quick run up, but then something that just goes and goes. And then the audience discovers you. And then it's. You know, could you. I mean, I don't. But you don't have to do that character for five seconds. But if you. What would she say to David and I right now? I mean, well, like, she's.

[Amy Poehler]

You know, it's a very important time because it's sweater weather. Like, sweater weather's coming. It's very, very, very.

[Dana Carvey]

She's going.

[Amy Poehler]

Having a lot of hot flashes, and she enjoys the nip in the air. But we. We based those two ladies. We based those ladies off of ladies that were in. Really. One woman who was in the hair department, Jodi Mancuso, who was running the hair department. She was like, Long island. Like. Or Staten Island. I forget. Sorry, Jody, if I forget. And she had, like. She was very, like. And like, gave it to you straight. Just like, come sit, talk. Let's talk. Like, she just had this chatty, fun energy that was kind of flirty, very maternal. And Maya and I used to just talk with her like that and talk like her. And mine was a. My lady had a little bit, just because I'm not particularly great with accents. My lady probably fell into, like, a little Boston at times, just because that's my hometown. But so we played Betty and Jodi, and they were just. It was almost like those women that happened to have a TV show, but they weren't. They were just chatting anyway, so we had a lot of fun where we would just. The camera would just come up on us, and we were already in conversation, and the camera would pull away and we were still talking. So that was the kind of vibe.

[Dana Carvey]

It was being a WASP from California. And then when I started going to New York and meeting characters in New York and they were recognizable in that sense of, come sit, have coffee, please. How are you? It's very. It's warm. It's extroverted. Everything is out in the open. I feel Spilkers this and that, but you guys just nailed it beautifully. I don't know. It just.

[David Spade]

I see. I just saw it on Instagram, Amy. Like, you know how they pull up old sketches? They just. They start traveling around because it is sweater weather. So they. I saw. I saw clips of that, and it's kind of fun when things live on or they make a meme or something pops out.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, it's the best. It's. It's so cool.

[David Spade]

And Then you go, oh, something mattered. Something I did in the old days somewhere, you know?

[Dana Carvey]

Totally. People ask me this sometimes, like, what kind of compliments do you like to get? And I always say specific ones. You know, I like that line and that thing. And so when you're out and about in the world, just what. What do people come up and say to you? May. Maybe they talk about some of your movies or certain sketches or.

[Amy Poehler]

It's funny, you know, you can kind of tell. Like, the millennials love Parks and Rec. That was their show. And that's a show that, like, a lot of teenagers discover during the pandemic. So there's a lot of Millennial and Gen Z love for Parks and Rec. The Gen Xers and above know me more from SNL or, you know, more like movie or, like, hosting stuff.

[Dana Carvey]

Golden Globes.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Like, they kind of know that more, I think, but. Or, like, maybe they saw mean girls 25 years ago or something, but.

[David Spade]

Oh, right.

[Amy Poehler]

But it kind of feels like I get a lot of nice women. That's, like, my demo is nice. You know, Tina and I are on tour right now, and we're having a blast. And, like, we. It's just like, the nicest women in the audience just coming with their friends or their daughters, you know, So I get a lot of just, like, friendly women. So I'm lucky that I don't get, you know, occasionally. And I get mistaken all the time for other women, whether it's Tina or Dratch or, like, I, you know, they kind of mush us all together, which is. Which is fine with me, really. But that happens sometimes, too. But it's okay.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, my wife is not a comedy fanatic or anything, but she. I told her that you and Tina were doing a show, and she goes, oh, I would see that show.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, we're doing that show for your wife.

[Dana Carvey]

I think that. Well, she's a nice woman. I go back to that. But so it's, you know, the Golden Globes kind of cemented it, and we all. We saw you do an update. You know, there's Tina, and you guys have this connection, I assume, really, truly, really good friends and have the chemistry of Steve Martin and Martin short. And so seeing that is like, well, this is going to be fun. Because when I think of you two, even though you did satirical jokes on Golden Globes, it was still always fun.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Just. I think that's a good brand to have. You're going to have fun. It's underrated.

[Amy Poehler]

I think you're right. I think I don't know. I am in no way an expert in hosting things. But one thing I did learn really quick was from SNL too. Like, if you don't look like you're relaxed or having fun, the audience gets very stressed.

[David Spade]

Yeah, they're worried about it.

[Amy Poehler]

When I see hosts and they're either nervous or stressed or even, like, come in angry, like, I don't know why I'm here. Like, that kind of thing, it's like, oh, no. I get so stressed because you are hosting a party. You're supposed to look like you're having fun. Like it's a party. Like, who cares? It's an award show. Who cares?

[David Spade]

You, Maya, it was it you, Maya and Tina. Was that at the Academy Awards?

[Amy Poehler]

We didn't host it. We just, like, opened it.

[David Spade]

Because I think that was a good trick of, like, less pressure. They're not the host, but you're on longer than you should be and you're just joke machine. And then everyone's like, fuck, where are these? Why aren't they here the whole time? It's so great. Yeah, you don't have a month of lead up. Like, what are you going to do? What's so funny?

[Amy Poehler]

Because, you know, those hosting gigs are a lot of work. They're hard. There are a lot of jokes to write and get through. And then also you can get. You can. You know, now they like, are kind of. You can fall into traps and people can get mad. And so you're like, oh, my God, forget it. Then.

[David Spade]

Someone always has a problem with it, no matter what.

[Dana Carvey]

I know. It's okay. It's like when Billy Bob Thornton got his Emmy. I think he goes, I'm not going to say anything because you can get in trouble. I'm substituting Bill Clinton as Billy Bob Thornton.

[David Spade]

I apologize.

[Dana Carvey]

I'm not going to say anything. Because you can get in trouble for saying something these days. It just walked off, you know? But to the fun part, you might find this funny in a way, because Jon Lovitz, I was the one who kept saying, jon, you gotta do standup. So I was kinda. I'm no expert, but I'm coaching him a little bit. I go, jon, the one thing you always have to remember right before you go out. Cause you can forget, just say to yourself, have fun. And he goes, I did it. I tried it. And then I started having more fun. And then I was getting bigger laughs, you know, John. So it's an amazing thing, but sometimes you go, what is going on? I'm not having Fun. I forgot to have fun.

[Amy Poehler]

It's the hardest. I think it's actually like the last piece. It's the hardest piece to learn because you're pushing or you're nervous or your head somewhere else, and then it. Yeah, and then when you actually relax, the audience just relaxes with you. I mean, I learned a lot from Will Ferrell that way because I would watch him perform and he had this, like, mischievous quality where him and the audience were in on it together. You know, it was kind of like this. This bemused quality of like, can you believe we're all here doing this stupid thing? And it would, you know, just like the minute they see you sweat, I know it gets so stress free.

[David Spade]

They tighten up.

[Dana Carvey]

This goes to therapy or something. But try not to try. Try not to push. Try not to be desperate. Try not to rush it. Take your time, but be in the pocket. And of course, when that voice goes silent, then, you know, you and Tina are just on a roll.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, what do you guys do when this rarely probably happens for you anymore? But, like, let's say you're trying new material and it's not working. What do you do? Do you pull back? Do you pull back in that moment? Or do you put, like, do you push? Because I. I'll tell you that what I have to work on is pulling back too hard and, like, getting sleepy.

[Dana Carvey]

Your joke isn't working, and you go to sleep.

[Amy Poehler]

I go to sleep. I go right to sleep.

[Dana Carvey]

You recoil.

[David Spade]

You know, it's funny when I. When something doesn't work, there's. I had it happen on the road recently where the whole show is going well and one joke doesn't click and I go. I had to stop and go. Literally no one bought that. Not one person. And it wasn't a couple of you. Everyone said, no sale. And I feel like you're wrong on this one. And I'm gonna get. I give you one freebie. Yeah. And then they don't know what to make of that. They're like, well, you're mad at us, but it's like joke mad. But when something doesn't work in a regular set or if you're doing a set on tv, what happens to me is you get spooked like a horse. Because my brain goes, what happened? And I can't think of my next joke because it's preoccupied with, what do I do? Why wait? Should I even do the next one? What did it just. Did I say it wrong? And then you're like, that throws you. If you Take one extra second, they think something's up. It's gotta be just so smooth, like a play. Boom, boom, boom.

[Dana Carvey]

I know I have a bit in my act. I won't even say the bit, but whatever. It's sort of like two thirds of the way, like you're trying to bring it to the barn, you know, and the last two times not landing. And I know Jerry Seinfeld, who's this fangali about this. Check the setup, you know, if the setup is, you know, I did this for Steve Marvin. Jerry's going to do a live album on vinyl, and it's going to. He's going to see a picture of him on the COVID and it's called Paperclips. Why? Just like that joke. Jerry, we love him. He's brilliant. But I. I think sometimes you. When you first say it in a joke and you're kind of connected to it or a bit, and then you can get a little bored and you maybe drop just even part of the setup or stuff like that because you're doing. Are you actually out there solo in your show with Tina as well?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, we do some sketch. We do stand up. We do. Do you do update stuff together? We do update. We do. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Really?

[David Spade]

Oh, great.

[Dana Carvey]

So what's your first line, ladies and gentlemen? Here to do some stand up for our show is Amy Poehler.

[David Spade]

No way.

[Dana Carvey]

I'm not doing.

[Amy Poehler]

Are you out of your mind? Not doing.

[Dana Carvey]

I thought your first line would be. Would be. You'd say what? You'd say, what's up? And then the name of the town. What's up, Chicago?

[Amy Poehler]

What's up, Denver?

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, that's a good first line.

[David Spade]

Here's my opener. I'd be. I'd go like this. Hey, guys, Tina will be out in a minute. Just because I.

[Amy Poehler]

It's funny that you say that. I'm like, I'm gonna do a little stand up while Tina gets her IV drip.

[Dana Carvey]

There you go.

[David Spade]

Well, I think Dane and I were talking before we brought you on because we're both on the road here and there, and there's so many things about the road that are so tricky and dicey that you know, it is true. Something about, like, the show is the fun part, obviously. And it's so hard just to get to their city. You just want to get high fived. Like, I got here, I'm in the.

[Dana Carvey]

Theater, get in the hotel. And I know I feel like shit.

[David Spade]

But here I go.

[Dana Carvey]

Let's do this.

[David Spade]

Because you almost never feel great, and you're almost Never like, well, that was easy. It's like, this is problem, problem. And then the hotel and getting there and what's backstage. There's so many interesting questions we were thinking of with you guys. When do you go on?

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, I know. It's so fun because you're right. Every different theater and space has like a vibe and it has like the guy that's in charge, like the one.

[David Spade]

That character.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, there's always the character. It's like, oh, I can't answer that. You have to talk to Dan about that. And you're like, okay, where's Dan? Like, it's always, Dan doesn't come in today. Dan doesn't come in. Dan zooms in from home.

[Dana Carvey]

My guy's usually named Dan as well. I don't know if he travels.

[David Spade]

Do you do a sound check?

[Amy Poehler]

We do, we do.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, you have to have a lot.

[David Spade]

Of stuff going on.

[Dana Carvey]

You got a montage of greatest hits or whatever and you've got whatever. You have a piano player and stuff like that or.

[Amy Poehler]

No, we have some recorded music stuff, but we don't have a live.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, and you sing together.

[Amy Poehler]

Live piano player, but it's. What's that?

[Dana Carvey]

Do you sing a song together?

[David Spade]

Maybe you have a good voice. Dana, have you heard her sing in the beginning of the podcast?

[Dana Carvey]

Tonight, before I go to sleep, I'm gonna try to figure out what can't. Amy?

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

It'S called Bombas. Bombas. Bombas, okay.

[David Spade]

Bombas. Of course, they use the softest materials that actually make sense for this time of year. Dana. Uh huh. I'm following arena wool that somehow knows when you're hot or you're cold. Like a psychic grandma. Supima cotton that's softer and stronger than the mystery cotton in your socks in your drawer. And Ragwull, the thick, durable, classic cozy sock that makes you feel like you live in a cabin, even if you're just in a studio apartment. And it's not just socks. Bombas has slippers that make it physically impossible to leave the couch. Sherpa line, Sunday slippers, grippy travel friendly gripper slippers, and waterproof Eva Friday slides for when you must step outside.

[Dana Carvey]

For every item you buy, Bombas donates one to someone experiencing homelessness. Over 150 million items have already been donated. Plus, with their happiness guarantee, if you're not 100% into what you got, they'll make it right. No risk, all reward.

[David Spade]

Oh, by the way, I've got some Bombas on the way. I ordered some quarter length socks with stripes I liked and some chunky kind of cotton ones. More to come on those. Dana, head over to bombas.com flywall and use code flywall for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B A S.com flywall code flywall@ checkout. Are you looking for a podcast about.

[Dana Carvey]

Pro football that doesn't put you to sleep with an avalanche of analytics or insult your fandom with brainless hot takes?

[David Spade]

Well, hi, I'm Dan Hanzas.

[Dana Carvey]

And I'm Mark Sessler.

[David Spade]

Oh, hi Mark.

[Dana Carvey]

And we're the hosts of Heed the.

[David Spade]

Call, the NFL podcast you've been waiting.

[Dana Carvey]

Your whole life for. Heed the Call covers every game, every.

[David Spade]

Storyline, everything that matters, and we do.

[Dana Carvey]

It all with a touch of mirth.

[David Spade]

Football is fun.

[Dana Carvey]

Why shouldn't your football podcast be the same? Follow and listen to Heed the Call.

[David Spade]

NFL Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Listen, Dana, if you're like me, you're like me a little bit.

[Dana Carvey]

I think so. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Adulthood did hit me hard. And you can't run four hours of sleep and cheeseburgers forever.

[Dana Carvey]

Nope.

[David Spade]

That's why there's Tara Origin. Because you know, people want to feel good every single day, not just get by.

[Dana Carvey]

Right? Terra Origin makes premium science backed supplements that actually deliver their healthy gut. Keeps your digestion in check, so don't feel like you swallowed a bowling ball. Their collagen protein keeps my joints from sounding like bubble wrap. Hydration plus is electrolytes without the sugar crash. And they're healthy greens. It tastes so good you'll forget it's packed with over 30 superfoods.

[David Spade]

No trends, no gimmicks, just clean, transparent formulas that upgrade your routine from survive to thrive. Terra Origin helps you show up stronger at the gym, at work and at home. Visit terraorigin.com and use code podcast for 30% off your first order and free shipping. That's T E R R A O r I g I n.com Tara origin.

[Dana Carvey]

Feel better from the inside out? What do you do to relax your giant brain?

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I really like the water. Like that calms me down a lot. I like swimming and in a pool.

[Dana Carvey]

Ocean water.

[Amy Poehler]

Ocean lake and swimming. I like that.

[Dana Carvey]

Can you swim?

[Amy Poehler]

No, I can't.

[Dana Carvey]

But I mean, I go to a hotel pool and I go freestyle and I go the length of the pool and I'm completely wiped out and I'm like sprinting, but I don't know it. And it's. There is a whole technique to it. But you, you've learned It Right.

[David Spade]

How to.

[Amy Poehler]

Actually, I think if I need to get regulated, my nervous system. Water does help me, whether even if it's a bath or just like getting in some water. But before a show, you know, I'm kind of used to. It's. It's funny when I would do shows as an improviser and like sketch comedian with standups, I was always surprised that there wasn't a lot of chit chat, you know, there was. There standups were just kind of trying, like walking around talking or with their headphones, like thinking about their set and really, really. And frankly trying to remember it, which is half the battle.

[David Spade]

Very true.

[Amy Poehler]

And, and you. And with improv and sketch, you know, it's like you want to just like keep doing bits up until you go on stage. It's like you want to just like make a connection with the people you're performing with. And so I kind of tend to like, want to just chit chat and talk and not overthink things. But now that I'm older, like sometimes I just want to like do some like light stretch. Light stretching? Just some light stretching so I don't pull a hammy.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, definitely. You can't go high and then your arms like. Oh, sorry. You know, I mean, I try to do a wide squat and make sure because I might get in that position or move around. Stretch your calves?

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Have you ever had any physical thing or cut yourself on stage?

[Amy Poehler]

Oh my God, yes. I'm just getting over this thing. I talk about it on stage. I'm just getting over this thing, which is. It's so embarrassing. It sounds like a. It sounds like. It sounds like a bad cocktail. But I had this thing this year called Frozen Shoulder.

[Dana Carvey]

Know all about it. Yes.

[Amy Poehler]

I bet your wife, like. Was it your wife that went through it?

[Dana Carvey]

No, no, it was our mutual manager, I think.

[Amy Poehler]

Okay.

[Dana Carvey]

Had a frozen shoulder.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, yeah. It feels.

[David Spade]

What does it do?

[Amy Poehler]

It's the weirdest thing. It comes out of nowhere and it's like from my anecdotally, I find it's mostly women of my age, but it's just like inflammation and suddenly you just like can't lift your arm all the way up. And so it's this. It just feels like you're like. You just feel really old. You just are like, oh, fucking hell, what is this? And it'll take about a year and you're just like, what a year? And it's proven to be about a year.

[Dana Carvey]

So yeah, it.

[Amy Poehler]

It sucked.

[David Spade]

And they're just making up names for Old things. Frozen shoulder. Sounds good. And you're like, well, is it a real thing? Or I'm just falling apart.

[Amy Poehler]

It's a real, real thing.

[Dana Carvey]

I was doing a podcast with David. I never even said this before. We're doing. We've done a few live. And then my. I think it was my left foot. My toes splayed out in a spasm and were and were. I was in massive pain, but I just was riding it out. Just riding it out. We're interviewing someone. Spade, take it. And I'm like, it doesn't happen to me all the time. They just. The toes went out and got really angry. As soon as it was over, I just walked around. It was fine. But we have to. We're supposed to do all this freaking stuff all day long. Pulling and stretching and Pilates, all this stuff to keep us together, you know?

[Amy Poehler]

So I did. I know. And I was so much younger when I was on snl. And I think about how much I just partied and just walked. Like, I didn't do. I didn't worry about any of it. I just wasn't even thinking about any of it. I wasn't thinking about collagen. I wasn't thinking about water.

[David Spade]

Nothing.

[Amy Poehler]

Nope. Wasn't even thinking about water.

[Dana Carvey]

Did we know. How do we. Did we. I know. I. Look, you see. Picture yourself because you're in show business ago. Damn. I. I Did I know how cute I was?

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I know.

[Dana Carvey]

Did we know how young we were? It just. Is it always it on young? Who said that? Cole Porter. I don't know.

[David Spade]

I didn't have a glass of water during snl. I was there six years.

[Amy Poehler]

You never had.

[David Spade]

It just wasn't the thing that everyone. I didn't know what carbs were. I ate pasta every day. Wally and Joseph's ate pizza. And I felt shitty. I never put anything together. I'm like, what is it? What is it? I don't have the Rubik's Cube to figure this out. All I eat is carbs, no water and Diet Coke. And my body is so sore. Damie. When I. Every day, it's like my shoulders going. I open a car door, they're like, what? I'm like, I do this every day.

[Dana Carvey]

And it's like, oh, what are you doing?

[David Spade]

Like, it's. It forgets overnight. I'm doing basic things.

[Amy Poehler]

I know. Well, you know what? I. You know what has helped me with this? And I know this is probably like, people listening are like, oh, my God, be quiet.

[David Spade]

O cold.

[Dana Carvey]

Are you guys.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

But you know, what I've been doing is I've been doing cold dips and they've changed. Change for real game. Yes, I do cold dips and it.

[Dana Carvey]

Changed the game because that's a big deal now. Do you do it in a. In a bathtub with ice in it? You do it. You take the. Or is it in a pool or a lake or. Where are you going?

[Amy Poehler]

I have it. Like I have a cold dip tub.

[Dana Carvey]

Okay. A cold dip. Okay.

[Amy Poehler]

Like a tub that I keep cold. So. And I have a. Like a sauna. Little sauna. So I do 15 minutes of the sauna and then I plunge in the cold dip. And it helps a lot, David.

[David Spade]

Inflammation.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[David Spade]

I think you and Tina should do 10 minutes in a cold plunge. Doing update on stage. Just bring out the ice.

[Amy Poehler]

That's a. I would love. I think our endorphins would be flying.

[David Spade]

Sponsors. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

I'm an undisclosed location, but I have a pool for the first time in a long time. And don't heat it. I like it as cold as I can get it now for that very reason. You know, it's amazing if you get into a cold lake because I always look at it as a lake that's really too warm. How you really suffer for about 10 seconds. But if you're moving all of a sudden you're like, oh, it's fine.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. That's the thing about getting older is like forced austerities. Like, what can I do to myself that a doctor is not telling me to do, but that I can do to torture myself? Like, I have the privilege of cold dipping or like I only eat apples after 5pm and it's like, why? It's like just. That's what I'm doing now.

[Dana Carvey]

Like that it just sounds gotta. It's gotta be good. I know.

[David Spade]

I'm trying something.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, well, it's, it's. It's always nice. You have to get a blood test and stuff and you're wondering, well, did they find something? The doctor's talking to you. And like, it's fine, it's good, everything's okay.

[David Spade]

So my guy, My guy looks at my blood test. I sit there and he goes. Then he goes like this. Don't love that.

[Dana Carvey]

You know the worst thing, your worst thing about you hear from a doctor. I went to a dentist because I had a two thing. This is what we're going to talk about. The rest of the guy comes in and he actually said. He actually said, wow. When he looked at my mouth, he said, wow. I said, wow. What do you mean, wow? Wow what?

[David Spade]

Wow?

[Amy Poehler]

Wow what?

[David Spade]

He said it like. Oh, he said it like walking.

[Amy Poehler]

He said it like walking. Wow, wow, wow.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. 3.

[David Spade]

I just said someone. Were you in a walking family? I never saw that. I said to my friend, I go, look at this ridiculous.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, you all were walking in the sketch, right?

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. And that was so fun because, you know, I think I, I, I benefited from low expectations. I don't think anyone expects me to pull out a good walk in, but I was playing a little kid, like a little girl who was doing a walk in. And I had had, I had had a friend who had told me a story about walk, about Christopher Walken and that, you know, he was, he went to, he was on set one time and he was like, you know, are there any ghosts here? Like, you know, this place is spooky. He kept saying it's spooky. Was such a funny wor say. So I got to say ghosts and spooky. And that was, yeah, that was enough.

[David Spade]

Did he care at all?

[Amy Poehler]

He, he was one of the most interesting hosts because he was really, he's a really, you know, no surprise, eccentric dude. So he was really comfortable with silence. So, you know, most people, when you're just waiting around to run the scene again, you're just sitting on the floor like you chit chat, like. But he would want to just sit quietly between each, you know, so he, he might have been the longest I've ever gone seated next to someone and not talking. Like five, six, seven minutes. It would just be me and him and we wouldn't talk. And it became like a, a contest in my own mind to see how long we could go. And he was, he was fine with it. He was fine with it.

[David Spade]

Get everyone shut up.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, he was super, super talented and.

[David Spade]

Very, very, I swear, he's so interesting. He's riveting.

[Dana Carvey]

The first sketch, I don't know what it was. Maybe a church chat or something. Anyway, we did it all, we rehearsed it, but on air, he never looked at me. He just looked straight at the cue cards and read it. And it worked. Yeah, and it was funnier.

[Amy Poehler]

You know, I heard a rumor that he takes out, I don't know if this is true, but that he takes out all the punctuation in his script.

[Dana Carvey]

Wouldn'T surprise me because his rhythm is so specific. That might get him out of his, get out of his rhythm. Don't like to pause in ways like that. I mean, Jon Lovitz, again, my friend John, he's the kind of guy that goes, is it you? Are you making up that dialect? Is that the way you really talk? And he said, walk and just started laughing. You're making it up, right?

[David Spade]

Oh, that's funny.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, that's funny.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

He seemed like he had a good sense of humor about himself.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. And who knows? You know, there's certain actors who just extenuate their rhythms as they become film stars over the years. Like Al Pacino, when he feels like it.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

And walking, too. He was in that Woody Allen movie as the psycho driver. It was in the 70s.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

First time I saw him.

[David Spade]

Yeah. You know, and he goes, sometimes I like to turn the car. I think of turning into the headlights.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And he goes, I wouldn't on this trip, maybe put a pin in that. And we'll. You know, it's like a crazy.

[Dana Carvey]

Just when. As soon as you drop me off, you can indulge your picadillos if you want to go into the hat and get some rhubarb and, you know, grind. But, yeah, he's just one of the thrills of doing Saturday Night Live is just doing sketch comedy with someone like Christopher Walken.

[Amy Poehler]

And, you know, seeing him in the Deer Hunter, like, you know, growing up in the 70s, like, I just saw every movie way too young. I would. So many violent images.

[Dana Carvey]

You saw that at what?

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, I can't even imagine. I think I was 7.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, my God.

[Amy Poehler]

And it was like, I learned about. Yeah, I learned about Vietnam. I learned about prisoners of war. I learned about, you know, Russian roulette. I learned it all from Christopher Walken. And it was like, you know. And then I went to first grade. Like, that's.

[Dana Carvey]

I got it.

[David Spade]

I'm heading to first grade, guys. I'm tired. I was at the Deer Hunter last.

[Dana Carvey]

Night that they were getting slapped in the face.

[David Spade]

And now I'm going to the Exorcist.

[Dana Carvey]

And they're forced to play Russian roulette. And they would slap them and say mao and slap them. And I don't know what that word meant in Vietnamese, but it's one of the most riveting, darkest scenes in film history. I saw the reefers with Steve McQueen when I was. I saw Bonnie and Clyde when I was, like, 11.

[David Spade]

Well, it's a little tamer.

[Dana Carvey]

Little tamer. But there was a sex scene. It was a little, you know, so. But, yeah, you've seen those 70s badass movies. As a little girl, we.

[Amy Poehler]

And, you know, I was the generation that got like, H&MTV, like, in our House, and no one was paying attention. So suddenly you just. There are movies on that you should not. I should not have been watching.

[David Spade]

It's just that. Yeah, no one knows. Just the next movie on, and everyone's gone. You're like, oh, what's this? Oh, the Omen.

[Amy Poehler]

Yep, the Omen. Let's see what this is about.

[David Spade]

Oh, this might be fun.

[Dana Carvey]

Hopefully. I hope you both didn't see this movie, because it stayed with me and disturbed me very much. And I think it's Dustin Hoffman. I know it's Dustin Hoffman. It's the first Straw Dogs. Look it up, kids. I don't even want to talk.

[David Spade]

Fucking Lovett sent me that the other day. Are you. Is that crazy? He sent me a preview.

[Dana Carvey]

Watch this movie, Straw Dogs with Dustin Hoffman.

[David Spade]

Yes.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, is that.

[David Spade]

What is that?

[Dana Carvey]

But it is dark.

[Amy Poehler]

Well, I was just watching Midnight Cowboy the other day. They had a showing of it in New York, and I was like, oh, I love Midnight Cowboy. I love Dustin Hoffman and that. And I love. Then I'm like, oh, my God, I forgot this giant, horrible, you know, assault scene. There's so many, you know, there's so much assault in that movie. Like, flashbacks of what happens to Jon Voight's character and his girlfriend. And I just, like. I forget. With 70s movies, you just be cruising along, and then there'd be, like, a really violent scene that you're just, oh, no. And when. Now I'm the mother of teenagers. And I like, oh, you should watch this movie. And then there's just this scene that's always, oh, I forgot this scene was in this movie. It's brutal.

[David Spade]

I even got. I got scared at Tommy. Dana. I was young, and my brother took me. Oh, and. And the gypsy acid queen. And then they. She threw, like, ass in the guy's face. So there's fire at the beginning, and it burned his face. And I was like. And I go, I have a stomachache. And I went to the lobby, and then I never came back because I got scared. They go, what's up? I go, no, I'm fine. I just have some stuff to do out here. Literally nothing to do.

[Dana Carvey]

What's the first. Have you showed a movie to your. To your kids where it blew their mind? It was kind of satisfying because at one point, I don't remember how old they were. This is my example. I put on Jaws for them, and maybe they were sort of 12, 14, whatever. Okay, see you later, kids. So I come back 10 minutes later, and they're. They're not moving they're not. They're just staring.

[David Spade]

Whoa.

[Dana Carvey]

They just hit them at the right, you know, like, oh, man, this is amazing. So, yeah, that was.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, that's. I mean, I have two boys. They really like a lot of sci fi, you know, action adventure stuff. But they. I remember when they were really young, I. Willy Wonka was the first one that I was like, I think you're going to love this. And they loved it. And I felt really. And as far as comedy, like, it, you know what? You don't love what your mom likes. Like, your mom is lame. Like, you don't want to like what your mom likes. But. So I almost had to let them discover SNL on their own. And they're at the age now they're 13 and 15, where they're. They're at that age where they're like, I wonder what SNL is going to do about this? Like, that's what you know. And, you know, definitely their favorite anchors are Jost and Che. And of course, they. Of course. And they just don't want to watch. They barely want to watch stuff.

[Dana Carvey]

I'm in.

[Amy Poehler]

It's like, it's embarrassing. Like, it's their mom.

[David Spade]

Like. Right.

[Amy Poehler]

Do they want to watch their mom on tv?

[David Spade]

Have you recommended comedies that they give the thumbs down? Like, that you grew up with?

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. There's been so many things where I'm like, that's funny now.

[Dana Carvey]

That is.

[Amy Poehler]

You should watch that. That's funny.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, that's funny. Mom, you gotta check this out. This is really funny, Mom.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And I'm always like, turn that off. That that guy is you. But I remember the Simpsons was a first crossover where we could all watch it, and they were kind of learning how to structure a joke and. And they. And, you know, I was laughing too. But yeah, it's always that. That group on SNL, for example, when you're 12 or 13, and you know, not to make you feel old, Dana, but that was you for me, which.

[David Spade]

Me too. Me too. I don't.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, I feel terrific. I'm the youngest I've ever been at this particular age.

[Amy Poehler]

Your toes. Your toes are not spasming at all. Everything is fine.

[Dana Carvey]

No, no, nothing is spasm during. And if they were spasming, I would cover for it. I would just get kind on the zoom, slunk down a little bit. I'd be like in the frame.

[David Spade]

Come like this.

[Dana Carvey]

And Amy would go to herself. Is he spasming right now? Yeah. Is he? No. I feel. I feel good. I do a lot of countermeasures for I hydrate a lot.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh congrats.

[David Spade]

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[Dana Carvey]

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[David Spade]

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[Dana Carvey]

So you can organize your holiday shopping and make custom holiday decor and search for great holiday deals and respond to holiday requests and customer questions and customers requesting custom things. And plan the perfect holiday dinner for vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians and Uncle Mike's carnivore diet.

[David Spade]

Luckily, you can get a PC that helps you do it all faster so you can get it all done. That's the power of a Dell PC with Intel inside backed by Dell's price match guarantee.

[Dana Carvey]

Get yours [e-mail] holiday terms and conditions apply. See dell.com for details.

[David Spade]

When it comes to gifting, I've learned there's two types of presents really get returned. Yeah, you know, some you return all right. Set.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And some that become your favorite. Jenny Bird jewelry definitely falls in the second category. The designs are modern, timeless and always feel special. Which makes them my secret weapon when I want a gift that really lands. Yeah, here's why Jenny Bird makes it easy. The packaging is beautiful. It feels thoughtful, nice. The pieces are comfortable enough to wear every day and they ship fast.

[Dana Carvey]

Perfect. Perfect. If you're a last minute shopper like me, guilty as charged. And because the styles, David, are so versatile, they always make an outfit feel pulled together without trying too hard.

[David Spade]

These are gifts you'll actually want to keep. You can get 20 off your first order with Jenny Bird by visiting jenny-bird.com and using code F OTW at the checkout. Jenny Bird. You know Dana, sometimes I think you know because we all write and we all write comments, comedy and write this and whatever. And sometimes not just obviously comedies. But I'll watch a show and I'll be like this is so complicated. I Am not even in the same genre. I'm not a writer because the fact they have so many levels to these things and I go, what is this dog? I write. Why am I called a writer? This is ridiculous. I shouldn't be in the guild.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, we just do bite sized, silly stuff. Comedians don't really get awards. They generally don't win Oscars and we have the American Comedy Awards anymore.

[Amy Poehler]

But you know what? You guys will be the right people to talk. The right people to talk to you about this. What irritates me so much though is that once a year at least there's like someone that we would all consider genuinely funny who gives a performance that's really good, you know, good acting performance. And people are always like, wow. And I'm like, are you, do you like. I think acting and comedy are so combined. They're so close, you know, like you. One must be a good actor to sell a bit, tell a joke to. Like there's. I'm just, I'm always surprised that people are surprised that funny people can be good actors. You know, so rarely are good actors funny, but.

[David Spade]

Right.

[Amy Poehler]

But funny people are often very good actors. And I always think it's just, I, I think it, I don't think they get. I don't think people get. I don't think funny people.

[Dana Carvey]

It's such a rare commodity. But if we were, if comedy was outlawed, I would love to do drama or do, do kind of realistic acting. But it's. This is what I do best. I guess it's just a rare, rare thing.

[David Spade]

And good comedy performances don't really get the old Oscars and stuff. You see like somebody get. Not saying us, just saying other people that are great at it and they do a great performance. It's not even considered.

[Amy Poehler]

No, it's crazy.

[Dana Carvey]

There's a reason they say, well, who said this? Dying is easy. Comedy is hard. I don't know. That was like from the vaudeville or something.

[Amy Poehler]

That's why I'm jealous of musicians. Because when musicians have to play an event, they just get up there and they play their song. Like they play the song. Everybody wants that they, they play the same song over and over again that everybody wants them to play. And when you're, when you're going up there trying to do something, funny people are like, give us something new. We don't want to hear your usual stuff.

[David Spade]

Yeah. I'm like, how about this? It's old.

[Dana Carvey]

You can't repeat your bits. And then you have to create rapport and oh, it sucks. I always want to plug in a guitar and.

[David Spade]

Oh, my God, after every line, you're judged. If they don't laugh, even people that aren't listening are like, I guess it's not going well. But with musicians, here it is. Applause. Here's the next one. Applause. But there's no, like, I guess we did good.

[Dana Carvey]

Did they yell out for you? Do you yell out for you, David, or just. Do they yell out your hits or they.

[David Spade]

Or they yell stuff. I get sort of a. Sometimes a rowdier crowd. I mean, Amy, Dana and I have done corporates. Have you and Tina ever done a corporate.

[Amy Poehler]

Oh, yeah, I used to do. Yes. Yes. I mean, and I used to. I used to do a lot of. We used to do a lot of corporate stuff for Second City back in the day. Like, you know, and this is before anyone, you know, knew our names. But we would have to go. We would get paid, you know, to like, to. To do jokes about, you know, old John Miller. Yeah. Vice President John Miller. Like, he's got crazy hair and he loves great, you know, wearing kooky ties. And everyone would be like, that's me. I'm John Miller. And you just have to do all these, like, specific jokes.

[David Spade]

So hard.

[Amy Poehler]

It's so hard.

[Dana Carvey]

I work with him.

[David Spade]

It's true.

[Amy Poehler]

It's so him you're doing. Yeah.

[David Spade]

He's got three balls and beats his wife. Say something about it. I go, and my act. I don't know what to say. And then. And then one guy laughs in the back. Yeah. And then everyone else like, was that true? What? It's one guy sets you up.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. And the meet and greet. I'm sure you've had this, but I don't know if it's like, alpha male stuff, but you're kind. I'm this little guy, and I'm sort of the star of the show. We're in the meet green. I have these guys just really kind of wailing on my hand, and maybe they've had a couple cocktails.

[David Spade]

They show off.

[Dana Carvey]

I'm like, I had at one point. Then I got tennis elbows, more. More ailments. So I had to do the fist bump or I had to kind of wave. And they're like, I want to put my mitts in twine with your mitt.

[David Spade]

Squeeze, you know, and I'll show you who's boss. I'm like, your boss. We don't even have to do this.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, you win, boss.

[David Spade]

I go, I have frozen hand. And Dana has frozen elbow. Amy has frozen shoulder.

[Dana Carvey]

But at Least my screen hasn't frozen. So, Amy, ticket. So you go into therapy and stuff. I mean, for first of all, just career. Why? I mean, do you have any bug. Are you going to try to do a dramatic film or. You're directing, you directed Wine country, you're writing, you're producing shit. I mean, what doesn't she do?

[David Spade]

Don't be scared, Glasses.

[Dana Carvey]

Don't run away from it.

[Amy Poehler]

She doesn't pay her taxes.

[Dana Carvey]

You just do a lot.

[David Spade]

You do a lot.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, I have this production company called Paper Kite, so we do produce a lot of TV and film.

[Dana Carvey]

I love.

[Amy Poehler]

I like doing a lot of different things. That's why, you know, and trying to stay. Trying to stay. Doing a lot of different things because I find this business is very. I mean, the strike is a perfect example of it. Like, it's really fickle. It's really. You have to stay. You have to know how to pivot. So, like, I like acting and stuff and writing stuff and directing stuff and. And so I try to kind of do, you know, whatever is the next thing I try to do is different from what I just did, but I haven't done. I've been more into writing and directing than performing lately. And the tour has been really fun because it's gotten me back into being excited. And this podcast has been fun because it gets to play like a character. But actually doing TV or doing movies is so hard. So much time, so hard. Being on set, it's. It's just takes up, as you guys know, it just takes up your life.

[David Spade]

The hardest are such a chunk, beginning, middle, end of your day.

[Amy Poehler]

And, you know, I. I feel like, so lucky, like, show that I love that I couldn't imagine going to do something else right away. And then, you know, suddenly I'm looking at whatever it is, like six, seven years later. But so, yeah, I'm just kind of doing whatever feels right to do next. And I'm so lucky. Like, you brought up Wine Country. I have such a group of ladies. It's kind of like you guys. It's you guys with grownups. Like, it's just like, I want to just keep doing stuff with the women I love. And they're so funny and they're so much fun. I mean, there's no better joy than doing stuff with your friends. Like, that's success.

[Dana Carvey]

And you. Who was it? I like to, you know, I love. I love this phrase. It's been used a few times in this podcast. A Murderer's Row is such a funny. But it was a Murderer's Row on Wine country, you know, obviously, Maya, Rachel, Anna.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes, we had a Murderer's Row in that movie. Paula Powell, Emily Spivey, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph. But then when I was at snl, I was lucky. I was in this group of Will Forte, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Seth Meyers, like Kristen Wiig. That all happened in my years, too. Kenan Thompson, like, it was just so. That was. They were so talented. People were so, so good and talented. And when I look at those cast photos of who I got and also the beginnings and endings of my time there, my endings, it was like, you know, Will Ferrell, Chris Parnell, and then. And that was Beanies. And then when I was leaving, you know, Kate McKinnon was coming in and, like, all these people were coming in that were so that's the cool thing is you just. If you're lucky, you get some overlap with people that you just love.

[David Spade]

And that's the best I had one year with Will. Got to watch him. One last question from me and then Dana, whatever he wants. But you. You. You did Hillary and then was it. Kate did it after you?

[Amy Poehler]

Yes. Yeah. And Anna. I think Anna Gesser did it before me, maybe did Hillary before me. Yeah, there was a bunch of them. And. And I did it when. When Downey was writing a lot of them.

[David Spade]

And then. And then.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah, and then we did. When Palin, that was like. First she was running against Barack, you know, for the. To. To win the thingy there. And then Barack won the thingy, what you call it? Nomination.

[Dana Carvey]

Nomination.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. Well, first he won the nomination. Right. He beat Hillary, and then Palin showed. So it was so fun to be able to do those two characters together, because you don't get a lot of, like, female politicians getting to even do scenes together half the time.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

So that was super, super fun to do. And it felt like it was. Everybody was paying attention to that election. It was very, you know, I played Dennis. I played Dennis Kucinich one time, and everyone was like, ah, look him up, look him up.

[Dana Carvey]

If you don't know who he is, Dennis Kucinich. Well, then it became a lot, which, you know, we asked Keenan this question, and I've referred to it a couple times, you know, about great cast or great cast members. And he just said, the MVP basically, is the women of. Since the 90s, late 90s. And we have Jan Hooks and Nora. Our generation, there's been so many dominant women. And even in later years, now the women play the male politicians. There's all the rules are. So that's kind of cool. It's progress, I suppose, for women.

[Amy Poehler]

I mean, I was very, very lucky to be dropped into that show at a time when Tina was the head writer and Molly and Sherry and Anna had just left. Like, they had just done so much great work. And. Yeah, I mean, I just kept going.

[Dana Carvey]

Just kept going.

[Amy Poehler]

Yeah. I think that wasn't always the case. Everyone has their version of their experience there. And I think there stretches when women did not feel heard, supported, encouraged. And I'm sure there still are places and stretches now where, like, everyone has a completely different experience about their time there. But I felt like I lucked out in that there were these, like, just killers that were there crushing that. I felt I was part of that group. And I, you know, I felt very lifted up by them. So I was very lucky.

[Dana Carvey]

It feels like it's been wiped out. If there was ever, you know, some dude in the 70s, you know, women aren't funny. Not Lauren, but somebody, you know, like, women aren't as funny as. Why after Lucille Ball and others, they would say that Carol Burnett. But it seems now it's like, to me anyway, being a baby boomer, it's obliterated. This is a funny person. I don't think I'm watching a woman. I just go, they're funny. They're funny. So I guess I'm calling it progress a little bit at least.

[Amy Poehler]

And I would even. I would even say to expand it less about gender. Like, I find the more talented you are, the less most. Unless you're. Yeah, you're just not. You're not that insecure. Like, the funniest people I know love other funny people. That's what they love. They get drawn to other people's work, regardless of 100% gender. Yeah, they don't care. But if it's people that, like, have their own stuff they're working out. And here we are, back to therapy. Dr. Sheila would be able to get these people in and talk and say, like, I know you don't laugh at this person, but really, what's the thing about yourself that you're not. Not laughing at?

[David Spade]

Not laughing at? What's part about you that isn't funny? That you're mad at the women that are funny?

[Amy Poehler]

What are you mad about?

[Dana Carvey]

But I do think, kind of dovetailing back into the quasi marine analogy or esprit de corps. But when you see somebody who makes you laugh, or me personally who does this and knows how hard it is or just some whimsical luck that something hits you and the rhythms are right and it works. And then watching other people do it and then really in your own mind going, well, they're doing it, I think, better than me. It's like. And you kind of connect to them. And if you meet them socially, places, there's a frequency there or a shortcut, it's a great way of communicating. And sense of humor is a good thing if you can have it in friends and relationships, it just cuts across. And anywhere I would be in the world, if a few comedians walked in, if it was any social, awkward thing, even if I knew him or didn't know him, I would instantly be a lot more comfortable.

[Amy Poehler]

Yes.

[David Spade]

At parties, I go up. Even those big Oscar type. You just zoom right over to the comedian. Anybody in the comedy world sort of gravitates together. Feel like your own little group.

[Amy Poehler]

Totally, absolutely. Feel like you're part. I mean, I really mean it. Like, I feel honored to be in a group that you guys feel like you're in, too. I mean, I feel like I would.

[David Spade]

Zoom right to you and Tina, if I saw you out, I'd be like, guys, save me. What's going on?

[Dana Carvey]

I'm saving this for them. But I am a licensed therapist. I just. It's a casual thing I got. And why do you feel that way about your peers, Amy?

[Amy Poehler]

Well, why do you feel the need to ask?

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, yeah, check mate.

[David Spade]

She's been practicing.

[Dana Carvey]

My therapist helped me. The one thing she said was, she basically says, life is a shit show. Don't get involved in this idea that these people are living these dream lives on Instagram or whatever. It's all made up. To live is to suffer and to embrace it. You're like, oh, cool, okay. It's all right.

[Amy Poehler]

It's kind of like what we're talking about about snl. You have to kind of believe that no one's really thinking about you. Everyone's kind of thinking about themselves. And if you take the pressure off of yourself that everybody's thinking about you, then you can have a good time. But most people are just thinking about themselves. You know, life is hard. Everyone's in their own head.

[Dana Carvey]

It's the entire audience. Yeah.

[Amy Poehler]

And you know that. We all know that. We. We watch really successful people who kind of get what would, you know, be the platonic version of all the stuff everyone would want, and they're still just not happy.

[Dana Carvey]

So happy is. Is an elusive kind of concept, you.

[David Spade]

Know, because going for content at this.

[Dana Carvey]

Point, if you're striving. Because it's not. Well, another cliche. So is it about the shiny things and the money or people talking to you at an airport? Ultimately it is. But landing the bit, right? I mean, for me, anyway. Well, David's different.

[David Spade]

He's coming up. Listen. Coming up with ideas or something that makes me laugh is like one of the last joys of, like, it's still something works in your brain. You're like, oh, this is.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, that's gonna kill.

[David Spade]

Code of a joke or an angle. And you go that little things like that are just really mean a lot, you know?

[Amy Poehler]

Yes, agree. And hopefully we can still do it when we're, like, not able to stand up anymore.

[David Spade]

Lift our shoulders.

[Amy Poehler]

We'll do sit down. You guys will do sit down.

[Dana Carvey]

No matter what they say, if use it or lose it is a concept. You know, I think the more you. I mean, I think trying to memorize your act, like, say you have kind of a new act. I was shooting a special and just the exhaustion of your brain. It must be some kind of workout to keep you articulate or all things being equal, because you'll stay more fluid longer and doing this. You know, when we started reading ads, I was dyslexic or something. Remember David? In the early days, I was like, I couldn't really read them. And now I've liquefied my ancient brain and now I can.

[David Spade]

I heard Amy doing her ads and I'm like, this is Liquid iv. I go, I'm drinking one now. I go, this is. This is similar. But thank you, Amy. Very nice of you to take the time. We love it.

[Dana Carvey]

We love. We love talking to you. And the best part of this podcast, we just get to spend like a, you know, a focused hour getting to know you in 20, whatever it is. 23. It's a very boring time in America. Nothing's going on. We can figure out something to talk about.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

But anyway. Well, we'll see. I love this is what I use because someone did it to me. See you around campus. As if show business is a high school or something.

[Amy Poehler]

Aw, that's cute. I love that.

[David Spade]

Hey, guys, if you're loving this podcast, which you are, be sure to click follow on your favorite podcast app, Give us review 5 star rating, and maybe even share an episode that you've loved with a friend.

[Dana Carvey]

If you're watching this episode on YouTube. YouTube, please subscribe. We're on video now.

[David Spade]

Fly on the Wall is presented by Odyssey and executive produced by Danny Carvey and David Spade, Heather Santoro and Greg Holtzman, Maddie Sprung Kaiser and Leah Reese Dennis of Odyssey.

[Dana Carvey]

Our senior producer is Greg Holtzman and the show is produced and edited by Phil Sweet.

[David Spade]

Tech booking by Cultivated Entertainment.

[Dana Carvey]

Special thanks to Patrick Fogarty, Evan Cox, Maura Curran, Melissa Wester, Hillary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Colin Gaynor, Sean Cherry, Kirk Courtney and Lauren Vieira.

[David Spade]

Reach out with us. Any questions to be asked and answered on the show? You can email [e-mail] that's a U-A C-Y dot com.