Amy Poehler Criticizes Oscar Snubs of Comedy Performances

Amy Poehler has criticized the Oscars for consistently snubbing comedic performances, calling it "some hot bulls--t" and emphasizing that comedy is a challenging art form deserving of recognition. During a recent episode of her Good Hang podcast with guests Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, Poehler highlighted the difficulty of balancing physical comedy with sharp wit and noted that "all the serious people" tend to receive awards while comedians are overlooked. Cumberbatch agreed, stating, "If you can do comedy, you can do anything," underscoring the undervaluation of comedy in awards shows. While comedic films rarely win top Oscars, some recent winners like Anora and Everything Everywhere All at Once have incorporated comedic elements, and Olivia Colman won Best Actress for her comedic role in The Favourite. The Academy has taken steps to address diversity and representation issues, including adding a new Stunt Design category for 2027, but comedy remains an area many feel is underrepresented. Poehler's comments reflect ongoing frustration within the industry about the Oscars' traditional bias against comedy.