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 charlotte

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Yeh go Tina Fey, smart funny and talented. Breaks us up! Booo to Palin- all window dressing, nothing substantial but lucky break getting picked by stupid Republican politicos because she is female and attractive but not too smart. Amazing that she even attracts the attention she does! Her interviews crack me up-she sounds too stupid to be on a national platform.

By frank

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Tina and SNL are nothing but talentless trash. It is hard to believe any sponsor would be dumb enough to put money into something like that.

Sunday 14 February

By meh

"..the most amazing thing that can happen to a white woman in the twenty-first century." Really? the most amazing thing? The things that impress Tina. Sigh.

By jay

Sarah Palin has LOTS OF NERVE and Fox is cashing in on it right along with her. HER sarcasm is NOT enough to get her to the White House.There are still to many THINKING Americans to over rule mindless twits from getting that far!

By Wilson's JW

Tina Fey,

You are loved by the people who believe in what's right and true. Sara Palin is paid to talk about things she knows nothing about. How sorry is that for tea drinkers believing in someone who doesn't have a clue.

By pat

ProPalin - Right there. That tells it all, your name, that is.
I see you are joining in on the dumbing down of America.

What we need are leaders who are smarter than we are - not people who are just like we are. You could not be a world leader and neither could I - neither can Sarah.

By gtcprplus

I by no means thought Palin was qualified 2 b president, and Obama even less; but Tina Fey is a lying, hateful person who personally attacked Palin when she was not impersonating her, by calling her stupid. Well, all these people who call her stupid are the fools, because say what you want about Palin, she -- not they -- was the governor of Alaska and the VP candidate on the Republican ticket. A dumb person couldn't have reach such lofty positions. But still, I don't want to see her run for president. Give me Scott Brown -- who is basically an independent.

By barbara

So, you think someone as dumb as Palin could make it "so high"

"W" was POTUS for 8 years....he not measurably smarter than Palin

get real

Love Tina

Can't stand Palin; Tina made it impossible to deny how dumb Palin really is

I'd love to see her take on the writing on the hand

By alex

the only thing funny about tina fey are her looks, i guess she is just jealous of sarah, tina the dog, sarah palin is sooo beautiful

By allie

true blue americans lov sarah palin, those who dont are true blue american scbags

By Joe

Tina's skits about Palin were awesome and funny. What makes them even more great is reading all of the responses from the Palin fan club on here. lol She was funny long before Palin came along but this has definitely helped her out. Everyone is mad at her for portraying Palin in a negative way but all she did was act exactly like Palin acts and talk exactly like Palin talks. So who should you people really be mad at? :)

Palin was VP for Mccain because they needed someone to steal away the womens vote, period! Why do you think they tried so hard for her not to have to do any public speaking events? Look what happened when she did lol. Mccains numbers went right down the toilet. Both political parties call her stupid for a reason.

By Madilyn

NO ''propalin'' Sarah Palins STUPIDITY made Tina Fey. Palins an idiot. For the first time in SNL history they were able to use the exact words that inept out of touch breedcow said, as parody. And thats all The Quitter will ever be... a big fat RETARDED baby making quitter of a JOKE!

By nancy

sounds like that garbage the lenscrafter spokesmodel, sarah saks would say.... thats why most americans hate her... we dont need your judgment shut the F up

By heidi

yeah we're all jealous of sarah.. we all wish we could spew out 20 kids then ignore the beans out of them for our own career goals... we ALL aspire to write notes on our hands.. we ALL want to pronounce ''nuclear'' wrong... palins an idiot... a mess and 71% have now said she is unfit to be President.. I hear Dairy Queen is hiring Sarah Saks.

By Daniel

talentless trash... sounds like the Palin women to me.. unless you count spreading your legs as talent

By Jacyln

Sarah Palin ..speaking in front of a very friendly Republican crowd... and was told the questions in advance, could not remember ''lower taxes'' and ''lift americas spirits'' shes as dumb as a box of rocks. her IQ is lower than the filth her kids live in

Saturday 13 February

By ellen

Sarah Palin = Token Vagina

By Garth

Support Sarah Palin! Buy the book she didnt write!!

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