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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Amy Goes 'Obama' on Parks and Rec

Poehler's new role takes her live from NY to delusional in Indiana

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(Newser) – Amy Poehler, whose Hillary Clinton impression made her a household name on Saturday Night Live last fall, now embodies the yes-we-can ethos of the Obama generation on her new NBC sitcom, writes Joshua Alston in Newsweek. Parks and Recreation follows Poehler’s haplessly hopeful bureaucrat as she tries to overcome setbacks and build a community park in Indiana.

The role, says Alston, showcases Poehler at her finest: “The political comedian for people who take their comedy as seriously as their politics.” Whether she’s cackling like Hillary or baiting like Dennis Kucinich, “Poehler has the same knack for injecting a kernel of humanity into a character that had been boiled down to broad strokes and sound bites."

In this Sept. 27, 2008, image released by NBC, Tina Fey portrays Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, left, and Amy Poehler portrays CBS news correspondent Katie Couric in a scene from NBC's
In this Sept. 27, 2008, image released by NBC, Tina Fey portrays Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, left, and Amy Poehler portrays CBS news correspondent Katie Couric in a scene from...   (AP Photo/NBC, Dana Edelson)
In this photo provided by NBC, actress Tina Fey, left, plays Governor Sarah Palin, and actress Amy Poehler plays Senator Hillary Clinton on
In this photo provided by NBC, actress Tina Fey, left, plays Governor Sarah Palin, and actress Amy Poehler plays Senator Hillary Clinton on "Saturday Night Live."   (AP Photo/Dana Edelson, NBCU Photo Bank, file)
Senator Hillary Clinton (right) delivers an
Senator Hillary Clinton (right) delivers an "editorial response" to SNL's parody of this week's Democratic debate with Amy Poehler (left) who plays Clinton on the show.   (AP Photo/Dana Edelson - NBC)
In this June 2, 2008 file photo, actress Amy Poehler arrives at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York.
In this June 2, 2008 file photo, actress Amy Poehler arrives at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)
In this Tuesday, April 22, 2008 file photo, actress Amy Poehler makes an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live at MTV Studios in New York. Coming off her final and triumphant
In this Tuesday, April 22, 2008 file photo, actress Amy Poehler makes an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live at MTV Studios in New York. Coming off her final and triumphant "Saturday Night Live" season,...   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, FILE)
In this photo provided by Gibson Guitar actress Amy Poehler signs an autograph at the Gibson Guitar lounge at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
In this photo provided by Gibson Guitar actress Amy Poehler signs an autograph at the Gibson Guitar lounge at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gibson Guitar,Marsaili McGrath)
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Meet Leslie Knope, a woman dedicated to improving her community. Amy Poehler stars. Coming Thursdays to NBC.   (YouTube)
Meet Leslie Knope, a woman dedicated to improving her community. Amy Poehler stars. Coming Thursdays to NBC.   (YouTube)

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I made playing Hillary more about her having to grit her teeth through debates with Obama or appearing with Sarah Palin. It wasn't a representative impression of her. It was an impression of people's impressions. - Amy Poehler

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3 comments
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Mad
Mar 28, 09 6:20 PM CDT
Sounds like Alston is looking to get laid Reply
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BackAgain
Mar 29, 09 7:24 AM CDT
to realistic for me. Dimwitted politicians are not funny. Reply
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Caps
Mar 29, 09 2:00 PM CDT
You should know, we've had a dimwit in the White House for 8 long years. Reply
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