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 jerry

Vote down Vote up Report this

what a bunch of whiners, u can dish it out but cant take it.. its satire u fools, if u like it or not, its satire, palin is a public figure.....

By Brenda Goodman

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Tina says she's hated? Hah! After trying to destroy a good governor, wife and mother just because she's a republican she deserves to be scorned. Republican, woman or not, no one should be ridiculed like Sarah was and is.

By Sheppard

It isn't ridicule when its true.

By vinnie

I'm one of the many people that thinks Sarah is GREAT! I just hope she won't over expose her great personality.. We're all tired of Obama's face by now... I hope she won't make the same mistake

By Gadfly

Tina Fey gave SNL the biggest ratings boost it has had since its inception. Lord! I would love to have Tina continue her perceptive presentation of the Palin character. The only other person I can think who could carry the true Palin personae would be Rosemary Barr. Two problems: It would get buried among all of the other reality shows, and it costs a bundle to broadcast on-site at Barr's trailer park.

By ProPalin

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Lord! I would love to have Tina continue her perceptive presentation of the Palin character.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You don't get out much, do you? How old are you, 9?

Palin made Fey, just like she made Crazy Katie Couric. Couric got an award for trying to make Gov. Palin look bad. Now Couric's ratings and job are in the toilet. After all that mud-slinging smut thrown at Palin, here she is, Grace Under Fire. You Freaks have revealed a courageous capable lady with integrity. She frightens you badly, doesn't she.

By BarbaraAnn

I don't hate Tina Fay because she bashed Sarah Palin so disrespectfully, hatefully and in such a mean spirited way. I loathe her because she is a radical leftist, a mouth piece for her like-minded network NBC, who try to sway public opinion by infiltrating their political agenda into all of their programing! Tina is so NOT funny, and can't hold a candle to the natural beauty and grace Mrs. Palin possesses. Its typical that Tina would say "People hate me because of Palin", as though its Mrs. Palin's fault for Tina's sickening impersonation of her! Tina did this to herself and if she doesn't like it now, too damn bad!!!

By bgatlake

...also, I watched Tina a couple of times impersonate Sarah, and then on some of the hateful interviews. I will no longer watch her in anything, as well as any other "performer" or talking head who is nasty and hateful. I've never seen anything like the rancor against any one who does not think like they do. I'm through with hate.

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Then you must not like SP - hateful speak is all she knows....

Thursday 18 March

By sicincincy

You people need to stop. If they won the election we would not be hearing any of this. It was jokes and if she expressed her feelings about Palin that was her right so you telling me you never said anything mean about Obama?

By Sam

She is right on! She is truly hated and I will leave the why's out of it. Tina Fey is just hated........

By StevieRay

I've seen better mugs at the dog pound.

By bnordq

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I am a liberal and have to admit that reading Joe Bidens voting record and beliefs I actually find him scary...while Palin scares me for other reasons. She is no less intelligent than Ronald Regan...but powerful women scare me. I think mens minds cause wars...and womens minds cause peace. But Palins mind is warlike and scares me, as a male.

By Tania

Is it any wonder that people outside of this country continue to see us as stupid Americans? That's conservatism for you. You betcha. ;)

By robert williams

the difference is the others did funny impersonations of the Presidents; Fey just mimicked Palin and rode the manufactured wave of hate against her.

By Pam

Tina Fey is nothing but a LOW CLASS PIECE OF GARBAGE whom deserves to be HATED because she is sooooo HATEFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry, who's the LOW CLASS PIECE OF GARBAGE? Pam, you're the one that is hated. You and your ilk. Aren't you embarrassed? You got too much of the Palin kool aid in ya so you can't see it. How sad. :(

By Mike L.

For pete sake people...is Sarah Palin made of glass or something? Everybody makes fun of everybody. That's the business. You sound like whiners!

By Creid

Hey Tina, you have learned an important lesson- "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword." You thought it was wonderful when you were getting so much attention and not even being concerned about a real human being and her family. You sold your soul and now you will be seen as a one trick pony.

By JOEYB

Like all deep throating teabaggers you must be fat and ugly!!LOL

Page 2 of 5