Amy Poehler Recalls 'Saturday Night Live' Parties Ahead of 50th Anniversary: 'They Can Rage' (Exclusive)

The 'SNL' alum also addresses her character, Joy, navigating Riley becoming a teenager in 'Inside Out 2.'

Amy Poehler Recalls 'Saturday Night Live' Parties Ahead of 50th Anniversary: 'They Can Rage' (Exclusive)

Published:

7:23 AM PDT, April 12, 2024

If you're heading to a Saturday Night Live party, don't plan on an early evening. 

That's at least according to famed SNL alum Amy Poehler, who revealed to ET's Kevin Frazier what the iconic show's parties were like back when she was in the cast. 

"It starts at 1 a.m.," she told ET at the CinemaCon 2024 Big Screen Achievement Awards, hosted by Frazier, on Thursday. "I don't know how I did it. And then it's packed and it's crowded, but everybody -- it's kind of like after a game or something, everyone's tired. There are winners and losers and they can rage, at least when I was there. I don't know what it's like now."

The 52-year-old star, who spent eight seasons on the late-night sketch comedy series, noted she's excited to attend the parties again in honor of SNL's upcoming 50th anniversary. 

"I can't wait for the parties. I can't wait for the celebration," she told ET. "I can't believe that I'm part of that family."

Amy Poehler at a SNL after-party in 2002. - Carmen Valdes/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

In the meantime, she's party of another on-screen family: the animated emotions of Pixar's Inside Out. Poehler, who starred as Joy in the 2015 Pixar hit, is reprising her role for the sequel set for release nearly 10 years later on June 14. The second installment reunites viewers with the mind of Riley as she becomes a teenager -- and experiences a host of new emotions, including Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser). 

"In Inside Out 2, Riley is, like, straddling that moment from 12 to 13," Poehler said. "Lot of changes happen."

Continued Poehler, "You start to care about what people think of you and, like, what kind of kid you are, so new emotions show up."

Inside Out 2 will debut in theaters on June 14. - Disney/Pixar

However, Riley's OG emotions -- Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust and Poehler's Joy -- remain along for the ride. 

"You're individuating. You have to figure out who you are, you know, healthy separation is good," Poehler said. "Joy, the character I play... She's kind of like the mama bear. She's having a hard time letting go."

It sounds like any fans looking to get in touch with their own emotions will be able to relate to Riley's journey. While the countdown continues to Inside Out 2's premiere, check out the trailer below!

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