Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Tour: What Most People Get Wrong About the Restless Leg Comedy Special

Honestly, it feels like we’ve been waiting a lifetime for this. For years, the internet basically begged Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to just go on the road together. We saw them host the Golden Globes and crush it. We watched them in Sisters and Baby Mama. But a live, unscripted (mostly) stage show? That felt like a fever dream until the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler tour, officially known as the "Restless Leg Tour," actually became a reality.

It’s not just a stand-up set. It’s also not quite a scripted play.

If you’re expecting a tight 60 minutes of "setup-punchline-repeat" comedy, you’re looking at the wrong show. This is a messy, beautiful, nostalgic celebration of a thirty-year friendship that started back in the early '90s when they were both taking classes at ImprovOlympic in Chicago. They were "just work friends" then, and as they joke on stage today, they might still be.

What Actually Happens at the Restless Leg Tour?

Most people go in thinking they’ll see Liz Lemon and Leslie Knope. They don't. You get Tina and Amy—the actual humans who happen to be comedic geniuses. The show kicks off with a high-energy "awards show" parody. They emerge in glittering gowns, leaning into their history as the world’s favorite hosting duo, before quickly pivoting into the chaos that defined their early careers.

One of the best parts? The improv.

They literally go back to their roots. At various stops, like their recent run in Detroit at the Fox Theatre or the massive shows at the Prudential Center in Newark, they’ve been known to take audience suggestions and spin them into gold. We’re talking about a "Jerry Springer musical set at Costco" levels of weirdness. It’s a reminder that before they were multi-millionaire moguls, they were just two women in pigtails and overalls trying to make a room full of strangers laugh in a basement in Chicago.

💡 You might also like: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic

The Weekend Update Factor

You can't have Tina and Amy on stage without a desk. It’s a law of nature.

They bring out a makeshift "Weekend Update" set—basically just a table and a cloth—and the energy in the room shifts instantly. It’s like 2004 all over again, but with better jokes about being 50. During the 2025 and 2026 legs of the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler tour, they’ve surprised audiences with some heavy-hitter guests. We’ve seen:

• Rachel Dratch reprising "Debbie Downer" (because the world is always a bummer, right?).
• Fred Armisen doing hyper-specific regional accents that make you realize he might actually be a wizard.
• Will Forte or Tim Meadows popping in to remind everyone why that era of SNL was untouchable.

The Stand-Up Sets: A Tale of Two Styles

After the joint segments, they each take a solo turn at the mic. This is where you see the nuance in their comedy. Amy’s set is often darker and more surreal. She’s been known to do a deep dive into the absurdity of the movie The Human Centipede—which, yeah, is a choice—but she makes it work. It’s physical, it’s frantic, and it’s very Amy.

Then Tina comes out.

Tina Fey doesn’t really "do" stand-up. She’s famously a writer and a sketch performer. So, she approaches it like a scholar of the craft. She’s done this bit where she "channels" the energy of Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock to talk about how incredibly expensive it is to be a woman. We’re talking the high cost of pads, tampons, and the general maintenance of existing in a female body. It’s sharp, it’s biting, and it kills every single time.

📖 Related: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today

Dates, Tickets, and the "Is It Worth It?" Question

Let's talk logistics because this is where things get tricky. The Tina Fey and Amy Poehler tour has been selling out in minutes. If you’re looking for tickets in 2026, you’re likely looking at the resale market, where prices have been known to swing wildly from $80 to well over $500 for floor seats.

Current and recent stops include:

• Orlando, FL (Addition Financial Arena)
• Detroit, MI (Fox Theatre)
• Rosemont, IL (Rosemont Theatre)
• Denver, CO (Red Rocks – which is a vibe all on its own)
• Las Vegas, NV (Resorts World)
• Atlantic City & Newark, NJ (The hometown-ish finale)

Is it worth the $200+ price tag? Honestly, it depends on what you value. If you want a polished, cinematic experience, maybe not. But if you want to see two legends in their pajamas (the final segment is a Q&A where they literally wear PJs and sit in armchairs), then yes. It’s intimate. It feels like you’re at a slumber party with the two funniest people you know.

Pro-Tips for the Show

Don't be that person who misses the opening act. Zarna Garg has been opening many of these dates, and she is a powerhouse. Her "Funny Brown Mom" routine is the perfect appetizer for Tina and Amy’s brand of observational humor.

Also, buy your merch early. The lines after the show are a nightmare. People lose their minds for the "Restless Leg" tote bags and hoodies. If you want to grab a shirt, do it the second you walk through the doors.

👉 See also: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)

The "Work Friends" Dynamic

There’s this running gag throughout the show where they insist they aren't actually best friends—they’re just "work friends." It’s a brilliant bit of satire on how the media obsesses over their "squad goals" relationship. But by the end of the night, when they’re singing a legally-safe, slightly-altered version of a song from Wicked, you can see the real deal. They’ve survived 30 years in a brutal industry by leaning on each other.

That’s the secret sauce of the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler tour. It’s not just about the jokes. It’s about the fact that they’re still standing, still funny, and still making each other crack up on stage after three decades.

If you're planning to go, check the official venue sites like the Prudential Center or the Fox Theatre for last-minute ticket drops. Sometimes "obstructed view" seats open up a few days before the show, and honestly, even if you can only see the side of Tina's head, the audio alone is worth the price of admission.

Next Steps for You:

1. Check Primary Sellers First: Avoid the immediate urge to hit the big resale sites. Check the specific venue’s box office site (like Playhouse Square or the Boch Center) for "Verified Fan" releases.
2. Arrive Early: There is no intermission. I repeat: NO INTERMISSION. If you leave to get a drink or pee during the "Weekend Update" segment, you will regret it for the rest of your natural life.
3. Prep Your Questions: If you’re in the front few rows, they sometimes source questions for the PJ segment. Think of something better than "Can I have a hug?"—they like the weird stuff.