Amy Poehler calls ‘Saturday Night Live’ hiring of Sasheer Zamata ‘awesome’

PASADENA, Calif. – “Saturday Night Live” alumna Amy Poehler says her old show’s hire of young comic Sasheer Zamata is awesome.

Zamata and two new writers were hired at NBC’s longtime comedy show last week. All are black, with the show responding to criticism that it needed more diversity in its creative staff.

Poehler takes particular pride. She’s a co-founder of New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and says that Zamata was brought in as part of that improv group’s own effort to promote diversity.

Poehler is preparing for Sunday’s job co-hosting the Golden Globes with Tina Fey, which she said she’s anticipating with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.