Jon Hamm’s debut on one of many finest sketch comedy collection, SNL, again in 2008 had loads of memorable moments. Recognized for main the forged of Mad Males, he in fact introduced Don Draper into the combo, giving outdated seduction recommendation and ran an “A-Holes: Pitch Assembly” in one other sketch. As a part of your 2025 TV schedule, Hamm returned as host for his fourth time in April. As for memorable behind-the-scenes moments from his first stint greater than 15 years in the past, Amy Poehler remembers going from “crying to laughing so onerous” because of Jon Hamm’s feedback on SNL after she obtained tragic information.
When Jon Hamm first hosted SNL (which is streaming in your Peacock subscription), he remembered being “scared” earlier than going reside, reminding himself to not journey. Whereas the Bridesmaids actor had his share of worries, so did his future Parks and Rec co-star Amy Poehler the day earlier than Hamm’s episode. She recalled on her podcast, Good Cling with Amy Poehler, about her plan to carry out on the reside sketch comedy on Saturday after which give delivery to her son, Archie, the subsequent day. Nonetheless, the comedy actress obtained tragic information throughout rehearsals:
We rehearsed all day on Friday — I used to be in 9 sketches or one thing that week, and 6 days earlier than I had achieved the Palin rap. I used to be nonetheless feeling fairly good. Jon was the host for the primary time. Friday, we’re capturing like a Mad Males pre-tape. I get a name that my OB-GYN has handed away.
I can’t think about how horrible that should have felt. One minute you’re having a very good time along with your Saturday Evening Reside forged, after which the subsequent, you uncover the OB-GYN anticipated to ship your child in simply a few days had handed away. The shock should have been actually overwhelming for Amy Poehler, however moments of tragedy can result in moments of compassion, just like the SNL forged proved to her that day:
An exquisite physician who was in his 80s, who was this unimaginable physician, he handed away, and I burst out crying on the cellphone. And if you see a really, very pregnant one who has began crying, it’s totally scary, and the entire crew will get actually quiet, and I am going behind a partition to speak, and I discover out the information. I come out, and everyone seems to be like ‘Are you OK?’ and I stated ‘Oh my god, my OB-GYN simply died. He handed away of a coronary heart assault final evening.’
I’m positive it should have been actually troublesome for the SNL forged and crew to see Amy Poehler crying her eyes out over the unlucky information she received. Nonetheless, it was actually candy of everybody to return to her assist to see what was occurring. If Amy Poehler needed to obtain unhappy information, there was one good thing about that taking place on the set of a comedy collection. Host Jon Hamm had an unconventional technique of comforting the Child Mama actress:
Hamm leans in, says to me, ‘It is a actually huge deal, and I would like you to get your shit collectively. That is the primary time I am internet hosting and I would like you to fucking… it is a huge week for me, you gotta pull it collectively.’
I really like that! It’s like Jon Hamm was channeling Don Draper power to focus her worries on one thing else: the Emmy Award winner’s SNL debut. Hamm could have been recognized on the time for his dramatic function in Mad Males, however he proved proper there that comedy is an efficient residence for him. Laughter actually was the most effective medication for Amy Poehler. She continued to speak about what an enormous assist Jon Hamm was to her:
And I am going from crying to laughing so onerous that like squirt tears got here out. And I begin clapping and laughing. And it was so enjoyable and humorous. Once more, an awesome instance of like life is what you say it’s, proper? Life is what you make and what you say it’s. And he made me snort so onerous, and I went into labor that evening. And I feel numerous it was that.
Who would have thought that making somebody snort to the purpose of tears would result in an early delivery? I suppose Archie has to thank Jon Hamm for making his mom snort her approach into labor earlier than anticipated.
Jon Hamm is one in every of SNL’s finest hosts, not just for giving his comedy A sport reside from New York, however for making Amy Poehler go from unhappy tears to pleased tears. Discovering out your OB-GYN handed away days earlier than your due date may have stayed a tragic second, however the Black Mirror actor as a substitute labored his magic to discover a technique to make his co-star snort once more. That’s a staff participant proper there!
Be certain that to catch new episodes of SNL50 Saturday nights at 11:30 pm ET/8:30 pm PT on NBC, streaming on Peacock the subsequent day.