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)

Saturday 13 February

By ian

Vote down Vote up Report this

What Sarah Palin really should have written on her hand..
BUY CONDOMS

By Marti

The only thing going down faster than Sarah Palins approval ratings is Bristol on prom night.

By Gary

Tina has gained increased fame from portraying Sarah Palin in parody. Parody is funny. Aside from being shrill, Tina played the parody well. The line that resonated through so many media outlets was where Tina said on SNL, "I can see Russia from my house." So, many uninformed people think that is what Sarah said but it is false. Sarah did say one can see Russia from land in Alaska, which is true. I quit watching SNL and reading newspapers like the LA Times because they cannot provide a product that is not replete with their liberal outlook. All of which is not entertaining and distorted news.

By muffler

OK so the Palin crowd hates Tina. Apparently this crowd also hates a lot of other things. The love to hate. Tina laughs all the way to the bank and all she did was a impression based on ACTUAL words uttered by Palin. I hope she does one more with stuff written on her hand. How's this dopey, perky, dummy stuff working out for you?

By SndncZeet

ROFL. Well DUH, saying someone is stupid is a valid argument. Palin IS stupid. And let's not forget that doofus got herself blessed against witchcraft. Is she stupid, you betcha, wink wink. LOL

Tuesday 16 February

By anonymous

Tina is not funny. Just tired of seeing her doing the Sarah Palin thing. That why her 30 Rock TV show rating is going down. And no one watching it.

Ms. Fey doesn't deserve another Emmy Awards this year. Her performance is poor.

Thursday 18 February

By rosemarie

Tina Fey : I guess you don't have anything better to do, than
go agaist Sarah Palin, you wish you had half the brains she has
plus the looks and again the body. You must be half witted to go against her. She is respectfull, loyal, smart and beautifull and knows what she is talking about and doing. Tina stay home and knit.

By vickie

She never did any snubbing Of palin and she was "ALWAYS"wonderfully talented before mocking Palin....she is little and cute...that doesn't get you noticed by some....but when she mocked Palin it was "priceless"........

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