Amy Poehler was, perhaps, a bit too “jazzed” when filming alongside Michelle Obama during her cameo on the sixth season finale of NBC’s hit sitcom Parks and Recreation.
On a new episode of her Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast, Poehler reunited with Obama for an hour-long discussion delving into the show, the former first lady’s own podcast and her post-presidency life — as well as the moment the Saturday Night Live alumna “full-on drooled” in front of her.
“Do you have a memory of that day [on set]? I’m sure you didn’t because you were probably the middle of your workday, but I have a very strong memory about something,” Poehler began.
Obama described that filming was “a blur,” adding, “the thing is is, like, I’m not an actress, and I’m running lines and trying to figure out cues.” Poehler interrupted, saying, “Well, God is fair — you can’t be a good actress on top of everything else.”
“But I was nervous,” Obama explained. “I was like, you know, I wanna get it right, but I wanna be myself in a natural way. So it was very much a blur. What do you remember about that day?”
Poehler recalled “the very first take” of their scene: “We were busy. We were hitting a bunch of places that day. You were perfect. You got your line. You hit your mark. You said your line, and my character, Leslie Knope, is supposed to be overwhelmed by seeing you. And I, Amy Poehler, was also very jazzed, and I went to say my line, and I drooled. Do you not remember? I’m glad you don’t remember. I full-on drooled.”
For her part, Poehler described Obama as a “total pro” who did not give her too much grief for her “very active salivary glands.”
“I do not remember the drool,” Obama affirmed, “but I’m gonna think about that.”
“I want you to always associate that with me now,” Poehler joked.
Of the Emmy-nominated seven-season political mockumentary, Poehler reflected: “That [era] was such a fun time, because not only was I getting to do the job that I loved, but it was a time when it felt like everybody wanted to stop by and be part of the show that was about public service. And it was a different time where there was this ability or lightness, I think, in many ways to just put a bunch of different people together in a room, and they don’t agree, and they still find a way to work together.”
Watch the full podcast below:
