Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Poehler recently reflected on their long history of creative collaboration during major awards telecasts, describing how they sometimes struggled to bring fellow nominees into their inventive segments. Their reminiscence, discussed on Poehler’s podcast, centered on the nostalgia for times when Julia Louis-Dreyfus awards show bits brought spontaneous humor to the stage.
Why Some Stars Opted Out of On-Stage Comedy
Both comedians shared memories of planning unexpected, humorous moments for live audiences, but admitted not every competitor wanted to participate. As Julia Louis-Dreyfus put it,
“You and I have done, a couple of times done bits around award shows — and when we’re competing against each other!”
—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Actor. She went on to share,
“What I have found over the years is that it’s very good to focus on what to do if you win or you lose. And Amy Poehler is very fun to come up with bits with.”
—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Actor.
Together and separately, Louis-Dreyfus and Poehler engineered some of the most beloved comedic moments across the Emmys, Oscars, and more, yet, as Louis-Dreyfus explained,
“I was always so grateful that you were up for a bit, because there were certain people that weren’t down to do those bits — and they won’t be named. But we did try a few bits with other people, and they didn’t want to do it.”
—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Actor.
How the Awards Show Tone Has Shifted
Amy Poehler enthusiastically stated,
“Love a bit at an award show!”
—Amy Poehler, Actor, reflecting on a time when presenters embraced silliness. Both comedians agreed the atmosphere has become more formal in recent years, with Poehler observing,
“Because it used to be fun. It used to be, like, goofy, and now it’s so serious.”
—Amy Poehler, Actor. Louis-Dreyfus concurred,
“we took speeches seriously, but from a comic point of view.”
—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Actor.
Iconic Moments and Memorable Gags
Louis-Dreyfus and Poehler, responsible for several stand-out television moments, often exchanged awards and clever ridicule. Poehler’s 2014 speech inducting Louis-Dreyfus into the Television Academy Hall of Fame included,
“Unlike the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Television Academy is open-minded. And they’re choosing to induct Julia while they overlook her well-known history of gambling on Seinfeld episodes.”
—Amy Poehler, Actor. On several occasions, their pranks went beyond prepared jokes. Louis-Dreyfus recalled,
“We did a couple of them where we might — I think my favorite one with you, but you tell me — when we pretended to switch acceptance speeches,”
—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Actor, met with an enthusiastic, “That was my favorite,”—Amy Poehler, Actor.
The Legendary 2012 Emmy Switcheroo
The night Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her first Emmy for Veep in 2012, she and Amy Poehler, also a nominee for Parks and Recreation, orchestrated a memorable act. Poehler recounted,
“You went up there, we gave each other a hug, and then we pretended to — oopsie! — switch speeches. You went up and you started thanking people from Parks and Rec, and then we had a moment of like, ‘Oh f—,’ and the camera cut to me.”
—Amy Poehler, Actor. The two comedians then met at the stage’s edge, swapped their crumpled speech notes in a comedic handoff, and Louis-Dreyfus finished her thanks appropriately, delighting audiences and reinforcing their reputation for creative boundary-pushing.
Women Embracing Fun in a Competitive Space
Looking back, Poehler mused on the camaraderie among nominees, saying,
“Those were the years, I have to say, there were so many great women always in our category that came and went, Julia was always there, because she always crushed us all every year. But people were really game to have fun, and I don’t remember anything other than the fun times of those bits.”
—Amy Poehler, Actor. Yet Louis-Dreyfus reminded her that participation was not universal. Poehler suggested,
“I think some of them were nervous! Like genuinely nervous,”
—Amy Poehler, Actor, with Louis-Dreyfus adding,
“Okay fine, you can say that.”
—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Actor.
Over five consecutive years from 2012, Louis-Dreyfus claimed Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series over peers such as Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Lena Dunham, and Edie Falco. Despite intense rivalry, their friendship and willingness to entertain remained a constant—a testament to the positive energy they brought to often tense proceedings, and to the culture of fun they tried to foster even as some stars hesitated to join their antics.
The Ongoing Legacy of Their Awards Show Collaboration
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Poehler’s comedic partnership on awards show stages remains memorable within Hollywood, echoing a time when improvisation and laughter were integral to ceremonies. Although the spirit of inventive sketches has faded in recent years, their history together illustrates what is possible when stars choose levity and camaraderie over competition. Their shared legacy may inspire future nominees, including familiar names such as Tina Fey and Lena Dunham, to revive the joy in public celebrations of achievement. With fans still reminiscing about their classic gags, the duo’s influence on the culture of awards shows endures.
