Amy Poehler Returns to SNL, Spars as Pam Bondi Amid Surprises
Amy Poehler returned to the iconic stage of Saturday Night Live on October 7, 2023, portraying a confrontational version of Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida. This appearance marked a follow-up to Bondi’s recent contentious hearing with Senate Democrats regarding President Donald Trump‘s controversial decision to deploy National Guard troops against American citizens.
In a skit that highlighted Bondi’s combative demeanor, Poehler’s character responded to a question about the justification for the troop deployment with biting sarcasm. “Before I don’t answer, I’d like to insult you personally,” Poehler quipped, capturing the tension of the real-life situation.
Adding to the excitement, Tina Fey, a former cast member, made a surprise appearance as Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security. In a humorous twist, Fey’s Noem carried an assault-style rifle and pitched the idea of joining Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with tongue-in-cheek questions such as, “Do you need a job now?” and “Do you take supplements that you bought at a gas station?” Her character concluded, “Then buckle up and slap on some Oakleys, big boy: Welcome to ICE.”
Poehler, who was part of the SNL cast from 2001 to 2008, hosted the show for the third time, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of SNL, which originally premiered on October 11, 1975. During her opening monologue, she reflected on her journey, reminiscing about watching the show in her childhood home in Burlington, Massachusetts. “I wanted to be an actress someday — at least until they invent an AI actress who’s funnier and willing to do full-frontal,” she joked.
Poehler also delivered a heartfelt message to viewers feeling overwhelmed, stating, “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 playfully addressed her imagined AI counterpart, humorously asserting, “Beep, boop, beep, boop beep beep… You’ll never be able to write a joke, you stupid robot!”
The episode also featured a cameo by Aubrey Plaza, another former cast member known for her role on “Parks and Recreation.” In a parody skit titled “The Hunting Wives,” Plaza portrayed a newcomer in a group of women who, after a lesson on making mimosas, revealed her girlfriend, prompting the others to dramatically exclaim “lesbian!” and draw their weapons.
The evening continued with a special “Weekend Update” segment that brought together Poehler, Fey, and Seth Meyers, all former anchors of the segment, alongside current hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che. The group engaged in a quiz show-style competition that delighted the audience.
Musical guest Role Model performed his song “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out,” with a special appearance by Charli XCX.
As the episode came to a close, SNL paid tribute to the late Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton, who passed away at the age of 79, a loss announced earlier that day by her daughter.
Looking ahead, Sabrina Carpenter will host and perform as the musical guest in next week’s episode. SNL airs on NBC, part of NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.
