Amy Poehler kicked off her Saturday Night Live opening monologue by commemorating the official 50th anniversary of the show’s first episode — while also pointing out some of the major advancements in technology since its debut.
The Good Hang podcast host affirmed it was “actually a very special night for the show, not just because I’m here, but because 50 years ago today, on Oct. 11, 1975, the very first episode of SNL aired.”
“But you know, the world looked a lot different in 1975. For one thing, women couldn’t even have credit cards yet,” she started. “Yeah, but now I’m kind of like somebody take my credit card away, am I right?”
Poehler went on to reference the recently launched AI actress Tilly Norwood, who has been dominating headlines and polarizing Hollywood.
“I remember watching the show in the ’70s, sitting in my house in Burlington, Massachusetts thinking, ‘I wanna be an actress someday, at least until they invent an AI actress who’s funnier and willing to do full frontal,’” she said.
Later in her monologue, Poehler acknowledged that “it can feel like times are very tough right now,” while giving another shoutout to the controversial AI actress.
“Before we start the show, I just wanted to say one thing: I know it can feel like times are very tough right now, and in some ways they always have been and they always will be, so I’ll just say this — if there’s a place that feels like home that you can go back to and laugh with your friends, consider yourself lucky, and I do,” she said. “And to that little AI robot watching TV right now who wants to be on this stage someday, I say to you, ‘Beep boop beep boop.’ Which translates to, ‘You’ll never be able to write a joke, you stupid robot.’
She added, “And I am willing to do front full frontal, but nobody’s asked me, okay!”
During the cold open, Poehler impersonated United States Attorney General Pam Bondi. She wasn’t alone, though, as Tina Fey made a surprise SNL return to portray Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The bit kicked off by poking fun at the Senate hearing that took place earlier this week. Poehler’s Bondi introduced herself, noting, “My name is Pam Bondi. I spell it with an ‘I’ cause I ain’t gonna answer any of your questions. My time is valuable. The DOJ has many ongoing operations, and we’re moving like Kash Patel’s eyeballs very quickly in multiple directions at once.”
She was later questioned about the presence of ICE in Chicago, to which Poehler’s Bondi said, “You’ll have to ask Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem.” Fey’s Noem then entered the shot.
“That’s right, it’s me, Kristi,” she said. “I spelled my name with an ‘I’ because that’s how I thought it was spelled.”
Fey’s Noem added, “And I’m the rarest type of person in Washington D.C., a brunette that Donald Trump listens to.”
Saturday night marked the third time the Parks and Recreation star hosted the late night show. Poehler served as an SNL cast member from 2001-2008, and she’s made several cameo appearances since her departure. Role Model joined as musical guest.
Ahead of Poehler’s SNL return, she took part in a promo video where she jokingly admitted she didn’t know who any of the new cast additions were. Newcomers Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska starred in the bit, which marks one of the only moments (so far) of season 51 that has lightly addressed this summer’s cast overhaul, which saw Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker exit the lineup.
So far, only the first three sets of hosts and musical guests for SNL season 51 have been revealed. Bad Bunny and Doja Cat kicked off show’s premiere episode, while Sabrina Carpenter will pull double duty in both roles during the Oct. 18 show.
More to come…
