Amy Poehler attends ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ on February 16 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images CNN — Meryl Streep made a surprise appearance on “SNL50” and arrived thoroughly prepared. Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Amy Poehler discussed the Oscar-winning actress’s sketch during a conversation on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast. According to Poehler, she shared a dressing room with the esteemed actress and was incredibly excited about it. She mentioned that she had the opportunity to witness firsthand how Streep prepared for her role in a “Close Encounters” sketch alongside Kate McKinnon, Pedro Pascal, and Woody Harrelson. McKinnon portrayed Colleen Rafferty, a character with raunchy stories of her alien encounters, and Streep played the character’s mother, who had her own alien encounters.
Related article Meryl Streep makes first-ever ‘SNL’ appearance during 50th anniversary special. “She was getting ready for her sketch and really rehearsing it, and I remember thinking, ‘I have never rehearsed as hard as Meryl Streep is in this one moment,'” Poehler said. They were sharing a dressing room due to the large number of guest stars for the “Saturday Night Live” 50th anniversary celebration. Poehler shared that, like a fan, “I took a picture of the door that said my name and Meryl Streep, and it was really cool.” Streep wasn’t the only star present, of course.
Ad Feedback Poehler joked that when she went to sit in the audience, “My old friend, my dear friend Jack Nicholson” was seated to her left.