Tina Fey Goes Rogue in Vogue; Talks of Palin Backlash

By Dino Sossi Posted Feb 12th 2010 02:45PM

It's Tina Fey's world and we only live in it. In a previous PopEater article, we compared the post-'Saturday Night Live' trajectories of previous stars of the show, and Fey was, for anyone who doesn't live in a cave, super-hot. She came off a career-best year in 2008: The game-changing Sarah Palin impressions on 'SNL' and writing and acting on her creation, the Emmy Award-winning '30 Rock.'

However, as anyone who follows the pop cultural firmament knows, there is one abiding rule: What goes up must come down. But Fey has defied that fundamental law of entertainment physics. '30 Rock' is still a TV juggernaut. 'Date Night' with Steve Carell is coming out in April. And perhaps most tellingly, she has the endorsement of 'Vogue' editor Anna Wintour, not known for giving out praise lightly. In the March edition of the magazine, Wintour glows about Fey in her editor's letter: "There is nothing ordinary about her brilliance, her perceptiveness, or her beauty."

In a penetrating article about her rise from Chicago 'Second City' improviser to the first female head writer in 'SNL' history, movie star and cultural icon, Vogue reveals some insights into the relentless ascent of Tina Fey.

On the fall out from her Palin impressions: "People started projecting politics onto me. There are people who hate me now because of that."

On political polarization: "The partisan nature of politics continues to appall me. I'm almost paralyzed by my inability to see things in black-and-white... I felt uncomfortable to be in that discussion. The weird thing is, when Darrell Hammond or Will Ferrell or Dana Carvey did an impersonation of a president, no one assumed it was personal, but because Sarah Palin and I are both women and people think women are meaner to each other, everyone assumed it was personal."

From 'Mean Girl' to normal girl: "I feel like I represent normalcy in some way. What are your choices today in entertainment? People either represent youth, power or sexuality. And then there's me, carrying normalcy." Pause. "Me and Rachel Ray."

On the effect of fashion magazines on eating: "People will say, 'Oh, fashion magazines are so bad, they're giving girls a negative message' -- but we're also the fattest country in the world, so it's not like we're all looking at fashion magazines and not eating. Maybe it just starts a shame cycle: I'm never going to look like that model, so... Chicken McNuggets it is! And conversely, I don't look at models who are crazy skinny and think I want to look like that, because a lot of them are gigantic, with giant hands and giant feet."

On who clothes are really for: "I think women dress for other women to let them know what their deal is. Because if women were only dressing for men, there would be nothing but Victoria's Secret. There would be no Dior."

On being on the cover of 'Vogue': "I was posing for [fashion photographer Mario Testino] and he was talking from behind the camera and he was like, 'You have to fliiiirt, darleeeng. You have to bee-leeve you are wuuuurthy to be on the cover' And then at one point he said very quietly, 'Lift your chin, darling. You are not eighteen.' And I was like, 'You probably say that to all the 23-year olds.'"

On keeping weight off: "I've never gone back up. Well... I have had a baby. I gained 35 pounds. And had a five-pound baby."

On the benefits of fame: "Oprah and Gayle were in my apartment, and they stayed for hours. It's like the most amazing thing that can happen to a white woman in the twenty-first century."

Read the Full Fey Interview Tina Photos From Vogue Video

Tags: 30 rock, snl, tina fey

Comments

(89)

Friday 12 February

By Cookie

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

They hate you because of YOU. It was OK to mock her, but NOT OK to snubbed her on stage. You showed how rude you are and that isn't funny.

By Sin D

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Riiiing, riiiing reality calling it's for you Cookie. You are as lost as everyone else who don't get her. It is called parody and humor, both of which have a firm footing in reality to BE funny. Palin IS funny and out of touch, something Fey picks up on and uses in her humor.

By ProPalin

Exactly, Cookie!

Sarah Palin MADE Fey, an unknown with little talent. Stick a wig on her and some glasses and now she is a household word. Palin is the best thing that ever happened to you, Fey. You aren't funny, you're pretty but not hot, all you've ever done is PALIN. No one likes you because you're an ungracious swamp toad with no class or manners. Enjoy your 15 mins. It's almost OVER.

By Jim

Sin D? What a weird way to spell your name for us. Oh well. Look sugar tits, Fey wasn't funny as a writer on SNL, in fact, she's part of the toad regime that brought it down. But, it's nice to see she has losers like you on her side. If you don't want to see Palin replace Obummer in 2012, you should stick a sock in it. You motivate people against you and people like you.

Monday 15 February

By ggeorgelee23

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By alblast

So she can bash Palin all she wants, but doesn't like it when there are reprocussions--interesting!

By James

For a bright woman, I'm surprised she just doesn't get it. Her attack on Palin WAS personal and it's gonna continue to cost her. I never wanted to see Palin in the White House, but then, Obama's presence there scares the hell out of me. People like Fey just don't seem to realize that most folks do not want to be lectured to by showbiz socialists like her and her overpaid buddies. Stick to making us laugh and you'll be much better off.

By Bo

YEAHHHHHHH BOYZZZZZZZZZ SECOND just like Skanky Palin!!!!!UH, UH, UH, YEAHHHHHH!

By Rocko

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Bo Bo Bo, you miserable loser. You may not agree with Palin's politics, but she is anything but a skank. I think you're probably sitting there in three day old underwear wondering why the ladies make such a wide berth around you. Chill, fatboy.

By Lisa

You betcha', Tina!! They DO hate you!!

By tmz

Boo hoo for Tina Fey. She did the impersonation in a mean spirited way. If she was a black female running against Obama it would be a different story.

By Reaganite

Be quiet. You embarass my party and my service to this country. Get back to the basics of conservatism. If you need help I can suggest books, articles or point you to positive meetings in your area that will put true conservatism and our country back on top.

By DottieDot

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Yep, after Tina Fey dissed Sarah Palin off-camera she was done for in my world.

By usermn3156

LOL, and obviously DottieDot, your world is the white trailer trash world. Everybody with any intelligence disses Sarah Palin. The woman's nothing more than a functioning idiot. Deal with it.

By BLFan

usermn3156

DottieDot's world MAY be small, but you are simply repugnant, and I assume a male because real women don't talk about each other that way, you arrogant, pompass a**.

By pk

Have you noticed that anytime people don't have a valid argument they say Sarah Palin is stupid. Just makes you wonder who the stupid person is!!!!

By ed

Hey Dottie, If anyone is white trailer trash it has to be usermn
cause he writes like da white trailer trash boy o da white trailer trash mama who obviously raised a white trailer trash idiot.

By joeyb

Sit back on the couch and keep eating your bon-bons, Sarah Palin is the most stupid white woman on the planet. Did you her getting her answers off her hand DUMB!!!!

By lisa

To JoeyB At least she could fit all that she needed to get through a speech on her hand instead of a damn teleprompter like SOMEONE we all know!!!!!!!

Eat your words Tina. You mocked Sarah on and off camera and we had to put up with your hateful rants. Screw you.

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