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 EJ

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Poor, poor Tina. Just like every other "celebrity" she thinks everyone should adore her and give a hoot about her politics or whether she's liked or not. Well, get a clue Tina and the rest of Hollyweird - no one cares what any of you think about Sarah Palin or anyone else!! Get over yourselves. You're not that important (or that smart).

By renee

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people dont like her probably because she constantly shows what a nut.. dumb azz...person who cant even answer a simple sentence.. palin's an idiot and she just kept on puttin it out there for the world to see... and all the people that seem to lick palin's azz dont like it because they dont want to wake and see her for what she is...

By Janet

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Tina is a great writer ... apparently, after the "Barbie Palin" skits, she's a great actor, too. Tina is going to be around a LOOOONG TIME ... I'm sure a lot longer than Palin. I truly shudder when I think anyone would SERIOUSLY CONSIDER Palin as anything but a 'performer' herself!!!!

By nazirmo

The recent poll shows that more Americans now hate Palin. She is way down in the poll.

By Stephen

Thank you, Tina! And thank you for your service to this great nation of ours!!!

By Mandingo

Cookie & Pro, you both NEED to get out more..... good lord.

By vicvod

Your hated and not funny, just like your goofball co-star Alec Baldwin!

By diagd

Tina Fey did a convincing job of making it seem personal against Sarah Palin, that is why people don't like her. If she had voiced respect for her in an interview people wouldn't fee this way about Fey. Now days, many believe that Palin is the only real deal out there - she took on her own party in her state and worked for the PEOPLE. She had an unheard-of 85% approval rate at one time as governor. She is the only one with a record of reform people can clearly see and understand.

By JUDY

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I resent the kind of polarization that most celebrities represent. The idea that we may not have differing political viewpoints is appalling to me. I do not like the left, I do not like the right. Ideologues keep our country fomenting and spinning our wheels. I believe in moderation because then we can do business and move forward and it is closer to my truth. What Tina Fey did to alienate people was to be nasty to and about Sarah Palin. I won't vote for Palin for president but I will defend her right to do so and the press and the celebrities were vicious. Fey chose to be cruel and to alienate literally half of the country. 59 million people hold a differing view and we are not all trailer trash or rednecks. That is a lot of people and she will have to be content with the approval of the 69 million who voted for Obama but do they approve of how she conducted herself? I don't think so. You are a big girl Tina, you made a choice and now live with it.

By mel

stupid is as stupid does and palin is about as does as it gets

By JJ

Sarah Palin did not need Tina Fey to look stupid. Sarah Palin was doing a good job in making her ownself look stupid. I believe that Tina Fey did a good job in portraying Sarah Palin. The whole point of SNL is to make fun of people. I don't see why everbody is getting hot headed over Tina Fay impersonation of Sarah Palin when Sarah Palin is already making herself look dumb. Get over it, Sarah Palin is just held on the platform she is at because of her looks or because she is a women. The poor thing can't speak in public without anyone by her side to hold her hand and make sure she doesn't say nothing stupid. The only thing Sarah Palin brings table is a headache. And if you supporting Sarah Palin because you she is a women I understand, but their are plenty of more quilified women that are alot smarter and experienced then Sarah Palin. So you might want to consider those women instead of going for an unqualified women who don't know what in the hell she is saying or doing.

By robocraft

Did She Say:

"It's like the most amazing thing that can happen to a white woman in the twenty-first century."

What is so amazing?....that she got to hang with two successfull black women?

What's a freakin' racist...and empty dress!!!!

Somebody tell her kid and husband that they are somewhere closer to "less amazing" than Oprah.....sheeeesh!

By Steve

SNL hasnt been entertaining since 1983 and Tina Fey has never been funny . She couldnt hold a candle to Sara Palin on her best day . Tina Fey is still trying to hold on to this role and needs to find something else to do .

By Glynna

Usermn, I am not entirely sure one could say Palin is a 'functioning idiot'; it depends on your definition of functioning.

By Rose

Did anyone actually read the article? For one she's not saying she cares if people hate her or not, just that they do. Secondly, so what if they made of Sarah Palin, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO ON SNL!!! THEY MAKE FUN OF EVERYONE! Democrats, Republicans, actors, athletes, musicians, anyone with some sort of fame! Can we stop being so sensitive and learn to laugh a little?

By Jimmy the Fox

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

Stupid?

The rest of the world is going conservative! This country is behind the curve and is now trying socailism which has already proven to be a failure EVERYWHERE it's been tried.

There are SOME stupid Americans, and you would be one of them.

By Soph

You ROCK Tina Fey. You did this country a great service. Anyone who still supports that quitter, nut-job, lying, sarcastic, phony is just plain STUPID!!!!

I agree ... sadly, the grass roots Tea Party people can't think much deeper than Mrs. Palin.

Saturday 13 February

By Paul

Hey Tina...you're right. People do hate you, and that hate will be there all your life. You betcha!!

By d81840

Tina is one of the funniest that there is. Period.

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