Colleen Hayes/NBCAmy Poehler knows all about government shutdowns. Her Parks and Recreation town of Pawnee already lived through one as seen in the series' second season finale.
In the episode, Poehler's television alter ego, Leslie Knope, tries to save a children's concert starring musician Freddy Spaghetti.
But what if a federal government shutdown hit Pawnee's parks department? What would Leslie do?
"Leslie would be in a major depression right now, watching a lot of reality TV, never getting out of sweatpants, not knowing how to deal with her own free, personal time," Poehler said at today's Variety Power of Women event, where she was honored for her work with the Worldwide Orphans (WWO). "That would be what she's doing. Just totally losing her mind."
Hopefully this is the last time real-life mirrors Pawnee's problems. "There are a couple of scandals coming up on the show that if they play out in real life, we are in trouble as a country," Poehler said.
Poehler's work with WWO began four years ago after meeting the organization's founder Dr. Jane Aronson at a Glamour magazine event.
During her acceptance speech today, Poehler encouraged everyone to close their eyes and think of their children or their own childhood.
"Open your eyes and realize that there are so many children in the world who have nothing," the mother of two said, choking up. "They have nothing. They have no one who lights up when they walk in a room, and no clothes, or safety, or food. They have nothing. And so who are we to be in this room and living this life without helping them?"
Poehler also said, "I want to be around people that do things. I don't want to be around people anymore that judge or talk about what people do. I want to be around people that dream and support and do things and I feel like I'm around those people today."