Amy Poehler Quotes

Chicago was where I realized that improv is its own thing, its own art form. And through that, you kind of develop a work ethic of not selling it short.

I've done lots of improv things but not a whole movie.

I've always wanted to make an improv movie because I have so much experience in it.

I do lots of crowd work in my set, because I enjoy writing material through riffing and conversation.

I like doing live things and plays. You can perfect the laugh or extend the laugh, you can get them on a roll. Versus improv, which I hate. Put it all together. They're more vignettes. Improv makes me slightly anxious because I feel for them.

I'm a big fan of improvisation but I can't say that I'm great at it.

I improvise whenever I feel it's important, or whenever I think that something's there. It's nice to have a script that's so well-written that I don't have to improvise. I mean, I used to have to re-write whole movies; this is kind of nice.

I come from the world of improv; I love any show or any vehicle that gives me an opportunity to be in the moment.

I feel like every time I go out, I want to do a good job. I want people to say that he's just as good at stand-up as he is in some of the movies I've seen him in, so I try to do the best every time I go out there.

I don't sit and write stand-up material; I come up with an idea onstage.

The best shows I play, I almost don't even remember off the stage.

I think a theater show is a pure version of me doing my material. The theater crowd is a bit more polite, there really aren't hecklers, and there are a lot of people there to see me, and they're excited about the jokes and hanging out with me for a show.

I do my best creating on stage.

Being onstage is like being rock star. Whereas if you're doing a movie, it's such a confined space. You know, you do a comedy, it's so hard, too, 'cause with a comedy, there's no vocal reaction, there's no energy that you get back that spurs you on to be funnier because everyone has to be quiet.

I never went to a drama school or anything. I just gave it my best shot, and everyone seemed to like it, so I carried on doing it.

At some shows, the set list gets changed while we are on stage. I know Ed thinks about the set very hard throughout the day in order to make the best show possible for the fans and for us.

I do miss the rhythms of comedy. And I've never been able to perform very well without an audience. The sitcoms I've done had them. It was like doing a little play.

A lot of my best stuff is just ad libs on stage, and that's one thing that I've gotten back to at the live show.

Stand-up is different from television. In stand-up, you've got to be in control.

My comedy is different every time I do it. I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

The best part about being a stand-up is the connection with the audience. There's nothing more gratifying then when you can make 300 people applaud and stand up - because that's all you.

There's such a freewheeling nature to 'Second City,' and the greatest thing about 'Second City' was having a sophisticated audience night after night who appreciated what it was. They knew it wasn't all going to be great when you improvised, so they were very forgiving that way.

The best voice actors all have a live performance background. And are competent, fearless, incredibly creative actors.

The jokes are great but what really matters for a comedian is his performance, his whole attitude, and the laughs that he gets between the jokes rather than on top of the jokes.

My years on 'SNL' had reconfirmed that what I do best is play for a sort of edgy comedy.