Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Poehler Miss the Days When Awards Shows Were Fun

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Poehler are looking back fondly on a time when awards shows felt playful and full of surprise.

Speaking on Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the two comedy stars said they miss when award ceremonies allowed room for silly bits and shared jokes between nominees. They recalled planning funny moments together while competing for the same awards during their hit TV runs.

Louis-Dreyfus explained that when comedians are up for awards, it helps to prepare for both winning and losing. She said Poehler was always willing to jump into a joke or sketch, which made the experience more fun. Not everyone, she added, felt the same way. Some nominees were nervous and didn’t want to take part in playful bits.

Poehler agreed, saying awards shows used to feel goofy and lighthearted, but now they often feel too serious. Louis-Dreyfus added that even when they joked around, they still respected the moment and cared about their speeches from a comedy point of view.

Over the years, the pair created several memorable awards show moments. One fan-favorite bit happened at the Primetime Emmy Awards, when they pretended to switch acceptance speeches onstage. When Louis-Dreyfus won for her role in Veep in 2012, she started thanking people from Poehler’s show, Parks and Recreation, before the two “realized” the mix-up and swapped their notes.

Poehler, who was nominated that year but never won an Emmy for Parks and Recreation, said the moment was one of her favorites. The bit ended with both actresses laughing as they corrected the speeches.

They also joked about earlier moments, including Poehler’s playful speech when she inducted Louis-Dreyfus into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2014.

Louis-Dreyfus went on to dominate the category, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series every year from 2012 to 2017. Even so, both actresses remember that era as a time when nominees supported each other and were willing to have fun.

Looking back, Poehler said she remembers only the joy and laughter of those moments. Louis-Dreyfus agreed, noting that while not everyone was comfortable with comedy bits, the shared fun made those awards shows special.