Amy Poehler is living proof that making stuff up on the spot can lead to a rewarding career in the entertainment field. The Saturday Night Live star trained in the art of improvisation with famed teachers Charna Halpern and the late Del Close at ImprovOlympic in Chicago, and now, out of the goodness of her big little heart, is giving back by taking part in this weekend's First Annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival. "The reason I got noticed is because of what I learned from Charna and Del," she says. The thrill of improv remains in her veins like a plate spinner who needs to twirl china. "You have one good scene, and you're hooked. I like being able to write, direct and edit all at the same time. It appeals to the super control freak in me," she explains, charmingly a tad full of herself. Poehler will join an "old-school improv bash" between her fellow SNL-ers Horatio Sanz, Jerry Minor, Beth Cahill and David Koechner against Mad TVs Ike Barinholtz, Andy Daly, Josh Meyers, Rich Talarico and Mo Collins on Saturday. She'll also give a workshop for budding talent, or those with $20. "I'm just going to regurgitate the same shit that was taught to me," she lies. "Then I'm going to discourage them. Go away! There's no more room!" The caliber of talent throughout the weekend is almost Chicagoan (that’s where Chris Farley and Mike Meyers started), with the cream of IOWest's regular troupes – the Lampshades, Red Shirt Freshmen, Beer Shark Mice – along with special performances by the Upright Citizens Brigade (Poehler’s original gang), Second City Alumni, Andy Dick and the Beef Curtain Cowboys. And to wrap up, On Sunday the Del Close Honor for the Advancement of Improvisation will be awarded to Curb Your Enthusiasm, followed by Jeff Garlin’s Combo Platter with Cheryl Hines and other members of the cast (just don’t expect Larry David). If you scrunch your ears, you might overhear some good gossip. One insider reported that when SNL-ers get together off-campus, "All they do is bitch about Lorne."

-Libby Molyneaux