Tina Fey "Likely" To Play Sarah Palin On "SNL"

NEW YORK (AP) _ Tina Fey was "likely" to play Gov. Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live," said a person close to NBC's sketch comedy show.

Fey is "likely" to return to her former show Saturday to play the Alaskan governor and Sen. John McCain's running mate, a person close to the show told The Associated Press on Friday night. The person requested anonymity because the decision has not been announced officially. No further details were available.

Since Palin's entry onto the national political stage, speculation had been rampant over who might play Palin on the program. Many have commented that Fey resembles her.

In an interview earlier this week with The AP, "SNL" executive producer and creator Lorne Michaels said, "The whole world cast her in that role."

The final decision went down to the last minute, apparently. "SNL" premieres Saturday evening with Michael Phelps as host. An appearance had been planned by Sen. Barack Obama, but his campaign said early Saturday that the Democratic nominee for president was canceling.

Fey was a cast member and writer _ including a stint as head writer _ for "SNL" for nine years before leaving in 2006 to star in "30 Rock," which is also produced by Michaels. On Tuesday, Michaels said that should Fey play Palin, she was unlikely to remain in the part in the long-term, which depending on the election results, could be for four years or longer.

Fey's publicist did not immediately return a call requesting comment.

Comments

[cassidynj]

SNL has been anti-Obama for a while, and Lorne Michaels is a contributor to the McCain (not the Obama) campaign. It's clear where the skit's are going tonight.

[johnnyjust]

And Tina is likely to not be funny, again.

What a shell of a show this has become. And Tina, honey...sm­irking is not akin to wit.

[mlaiuppa]

She'll only have to do it for six weeks.

[mredder4]

Not sure I like this idea. Fey is undoubtedly going to imbue her Palin character with too much of Fey's inherent intelligence. She's going to make Palin appear smarter than she actually is!

[mamanook]

I agree. I say, let's keep giving Ms Palin more rope- uh, I mean let her do more interviews .

[greenwitch]

Fey should play Palin as Lisa Loopner in high school, with her "First Dude" boyfriend, Todd.

[GhiaccioPronto]

Rachel, she has previous sportscasting experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppH3zCUmbYqE

[Springsteener]

I hope Tina Fey DOES play Sarah Palin. She's almost as funny as Palin... haha
Palin's the comic relief in this campaign, for sure.
Check out this anti-Palin site: www.imPALIN.com

[chf2go]

She'll only be needed for about 50 more days fortunately and can go back to her 30 Rock gig!

I love the idea of Megan Mulally in that role, they have the same voice!

[twosday]

How bout Megan Mullally and Tina Fay playing dueling Palinistas :-)

for the woman who lost respect for her peers - I went to the grocery store the day after Palin was announced and looked at every woman differently - like an adversary waiting to happen...w­hat a sad stated they have just created...

[unmutual]

This will be a good gig for Fey as Palin will be a top target of parody for the next 8 years at least.

[cobobs]

I just totally lost respect for a couple of women with whom I have worked for years, because they have become Sarah Palin fanatics. It is almost like a mourning experience for me, because I shall never regard them the same way again. They are actually going to jeopardize this world and this country by their belief in belief.

[twosday]

this has divided women everywhere­...I'm sorry to hear about your co-workers­...I totally agree and look at women differently since the announcement of Palin and the scamming of America by Mccain...

[AdultFilmLegend]

...but Palin has a seriously smokin' bod.

[berkeleygirl1962]

Just endured an awful movie called "Zoom" because my 9 year old loves it. It does, however, co-star Courteney Cox, whose great jawline makes her another ringer for Palin.

[TaylorRae]

I believe that Tina Fey is more qualified to be Vice President so I'd like to cast my vote for her!

[vkobaya1]

I believe that Tina Fey is more qualified to be Vice President

No doubts about it. Look up Tina Fey on IMDB and look at her list of accomplishments. She's a decade younger and her list of accomplishments runs to a resume many pages long compared to the very skimpy resume Palin has. Also speaks to her intelligence as compared to Palin. I'd far rather have Tina Fey a heart beat away from the presidency, especially since those heart beats are faltering and very doubtful.

[jimsey]

And of course Tina is hotter by half (or more).

[andvoodoo2]

I agree. However, unlike Palin, Fey is smart enough to know that there are plenty people more qualified than her who could do a better job as VPOTUS.

[Kyuzo]

How sad that the person portraying the VP candidate on SNL is more intelligent and equipped than the VP candidate herself.

[dho3]

That is such a dorkish comment and shows you level of intellect. Tina Fey is great and she probably would make a good VP because she comes across as being smart. But, to make such a silly statement because you do not like the politics of a individual sounds sheepish and down right stupid.

[nastyvirus]

For Palin to say that we're going to war with Russia, at a time when US-Russia relations are souring, is stupid. The one who uttered such nonsense therefore a stupid woman. So if you support a stupid woman for Vice President, that would make you -- a dork.

[MB1East]

Do you realize what you just wrote? "Tina Fey is great and she probably would make a good VP because she comes across as being smart." She comes across as being smart? That's your requirement to be a VP? It was that same "I could have a beer with Bush" attitude that got us into the current mess. This is to be second in command to run the entire county! My oh my...... sad. Go back to watching Fixx News.

[FaceYourFears]

Sad but true!

[peterg76]

But perhaps Palin is the better actress. Look how many people she has fooled.

[andvoodoo2]

No, look at the people she has fooled. They are all idiots.