Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Stories from ‘Saturday Night Live’

February 24, 2026

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  • The episode is a clip show featuring favorite 'Saturday Night Live' memories from various guests, starting with an interview with photographer Mary Ellen Matthews about her book, 'The Art of the SNL Portrait'. 
  • Mary Ellen Matthews' photography process is highly collaborative, often involving spontaneous, real-time creative decisions with cast members and staff like costume designer Tom Broker. 
  • The conversation highlights the unique, often chaotic, yet deeply collaborative and creative environment of 'Saturday Night Live', evidenced by stories involving Maya Rudolph's impressions, Kristen Wiig's character development, and the collective memory of iconic sketches like 'Debbie Downer'. 

Segments

Introduction to SNL Clip Show
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(00:01:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode celebrates 52 episodes with a compilation of SNL stories.
  • Summary: Amy Poehler welcomes listeners to the clip show, announcing the first compilation focuses on SNL stories featuring clips from various former cast members and hosts.
Interview with Photographer Mary Ellen Matthews
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(00:01:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary Ellen Matthews discusses the spontaneous, collaborative nature of capturing iconic SNL portraits.
  • Summary: Mary Ellen Matthews discusses her book, The Art of the SNL Portrait, and how she works with stylists and talent to capture moments, including an impromptu shoot during a blizzard.
Collaboration with Costume Designer Tom Broeker
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(00:05:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The creative process involves real-time adaptation to wacky ideas, often relying on Tom Broeker’s genius archive.
  • Summary: Amy Poehler and Mary Ellen discuss working with costume designer Tom Broeker, detailing a specific instance where an idea involving an apple on the head required quick improvisation and post-production fixes.
Maya Rudolph’s SNL Office Story
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(00:10:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The cleaning lady, Rosa, offered unexpected comfort to a crying cast member: ‘Don’t cry, Sexy.’
  • Summary: Maya Rudolph shares a story about the cleaning lady, Rosa, who, seeing Emily Spivey crying, placed a hand on her shoulder and told her not to cry.
Maya Rudolph Dressing as Barack Obama
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(00:11:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Maya Rudolph met Barack Obama twice, once dressed as Shirley MacLaine and once as Obama himself, who critiqued her suit choice.
  • Summary: Rudolph recounts meeting Barack Obama while dressed as him for a sketch, where he pointed out she was wearing the wrong style of suit (a three-button suit).
The SNL Women’s Group Dynamic
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(00:15:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The group of SNL women is characterized by carrying many totes and constantly managing temperature changes with puffy coats.
  • Summary: Seth Myers observes the SNL women’s group dynamic at a dinner, noting the large number of totes and the constant struggle with putting on and taking off coats.
Fred Armisen’s Funny Bits
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(00:18:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Fred Armisen is remembered for his physical comedy, like the scarf sketch, and for convincing Amy Poehler she called Paul McCartney ‘Tony McCartney.’
  • Summary: They discuss memorable but un-aired sketches by Fred Armisen and how he once tricked Amy Poehler into believing she mispronounced Paul McCartney’s name.
Origin of the ‘Debbie Downer’ Sketch
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(00:35:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The character originated from a solo trip to Costa Rica where Rudolph learned about the law of attraction.
  • Summary: Rudolph explains that the idea for Debbie Downer came after a trip where she learned about positive thinking, which she then applied to the concept of bringing down the mood in happy situations.
First Sketch and Recurring Characters
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(00:42:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Maya Rudolph’s first sketch involved a character pregnant in the butt, pitched by J.B. Smoove.
  • Summary: They discuss Rudolph’s first sketch and her early recurring characters, Target Lady and A-Holes, noting that her favorite character to play was the Surprise Lady.
Experience at the SNL 50th Anniversary Special
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(00:45:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Performing at the 50th special felt liberating because, unlike the weekly show, they weren’t worried about running out of time.
  • Summary: The guest describes the feeling of performing at the 50th special, noting they felt like outsiders among the music elite but enjoyed the freedom to take their time with sketches, unlike the usual high-pressure SNL clock.