Tina Fey's Emmy Night: Humble, Wants To Stop Playing Sarah Palin

LOS ANGELES — Isn't it just like Tina Fey to have something go haywire on the night she's recognized for her many talents?

"If anyone's seen my purse," Fey announced to reporters backstage after winning three Emmys, "I left it under my seat."

It might have been the first thing the "30 Rock" mastermind did wrong all night after picking up trophies for outstanding comedy writing, comedy series and lead actress in a comedy.

When prodded by reporters, she humbly dodged praise and questions about her contributions.

"I think our cast is diverse and talented," she said in one breath.

"We've had the greatest guest stars," she said in another.

"Alec (Baldwin) elevates the show to another level with his abilities," she said.

She even shrugged off her resemblance to Gov. Sarah Palin, whom she won raves for portraying on the season premiere of NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

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"But then my kid saw her on TV and said, `That's Mommy!'" she said.

She was more open about her thoughts on reprising the "SNL" role. As in, she'd prefer not to.

"I want to be done playing this lady Nov. 5," she said. "So if anybody can help me be done playing this lady Nov. 5, that would be good for me."

Television comedy's Jill-of-all-trades has always been self-deprecating, mining her apparent struggle with life's chaos for her character on "30 Rock," her self-portrayal in a new series of American Express commercials and the persona she presents to the public.

But to win TV's top honors for creating, writing and starring in her own television show might've been more than even Fey can deflect. When cornered to say how she felt about the different Emmys, she finally turned off the modesty. Kinda.

"They look identical," Fey quipped. "Alec was just saying to me backstage that maybe this means I can now stop apologizing for being an actor and writing on the show. The one for the show, that really belongs to everybody, so I don't like it as much."

During his acceptance speech for lead comedy actor for "30 Rock," Baldwin noted that Fey was this generation's Elaine May, the director, screenwriter and actress who famously partnered with Mike Nichols onstage.

"We have the greatest writers, but the show was created by one woman," Baldwin said backstage. "This was Tina's idea. This was Tina's thing. She is the head writer. She is there every day, even when she's not shooting as an actress. She goes back and forth between acting and writing. We're very, very lucky."

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NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

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On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/

(This version SUBS graf 9 to correct to `kid' from 'kids.' )

Comments

[Badger84]

Gina Gershon might have to fill in.

[exactor]

She says after November 5th she won't give a hoot, but until then I guess she'll only be doing it, for the loot.

[SethBLiNK]

Being a guest star on SNL pays minimally. She already has a well paying full time job.

[harriettubman]

To my knowledge, hasn't she only played Palin once?

[dezzertguy]

I guess you can bite the hand that feeds you. It was interesting that the Emmys got their lowest ratings and even her comments were poorly received. It seems the public is getting tired of celebrity ranting about political parties. Along with the decline of the MSM, maybe we are entering the last days of celebrity rants and bias media. Just maybe.

[mlcpacker]

Well Dezz what we all can see is that your a repub. No real input, just rant !

[2grainsofsalt]

"bias media" what is your first language?

[RantingTommy]

I would LOVE to see the end of "bias media" too!

So, are you going to help get Fox and right wing radio cancelled?

[repugnicansfearme]

I see that all 50 people who watch 30 Rock on a regular basis have posted a comment. That's great.

[dogman44]

Poor Tina. It must be like a male being a hitler doppleganger. Who wants to be know for that?
My heart goes out to Ms Fey. Hopefully it will be over for her and us soon.

[RRonin]

Fey is SO much more beautiful than Sarah Starfish. Palin is lucky she's been played by Tina.

[dogman44]

Agreed.

[kawreader]

Sure, I'll help by not voting her into office. She will go back to Alaska and Fey will never have to play her again.

[dirtfreak]

Right! Hopefully by 11/5 she'll be completely irrelevant, and nobody will want to see anybody do an impression of her. Stand-up comics will just have to find someone else, just like when Dan Quayle went away.

[GotRights]

She'll be forgotten soon after November. Until the indictments.

[westportmike]

On O'Reily tonight he and that waste Bernie Goldberg are crying about Al Franken's writing the "John McCain lies in his T.V. ads" sketch. So funny. Now ole Bill is crying that Newsweek is taking a sharp turn to the left. What a big bunch of babies!! McCain is over Bill, people want to learn what they can about our new President...OBAMA!!!!

[JimboSlice]

Its called the Fairness Doctrine Bill - support it and you'll actually have something to complain about!

[zigzag1]

Fairness Doctrine went out in the Reagan and whoever was President while he had Alzheimers, era.

[nonconformist2]

PBS has a poll going for people to vote whether they think Sarah Palin is qualified to be president. Right now the "yes" votes are winning, because the right wing is voting en masse.

To change this trend, click on the link below and vote (you don't have to provide email or personal info, just click yes or no in the link and it will give you to vote to date.

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

[Kally]

Comedy is comedy and we have all seen Leno slash, flame slur and pan Bill Clinton for the last 20 years and we have listened. BUT Saturday Night Live suggesting that Sarah Palin's husband abused his children is the lowest of the low....THAT SURE AS HECK AIN'T COMEDY.

What would we do if they had a skit where obama stalked and sexually harrased white women or something to that effect. We would be outraged and rightly so. I think SNL is no longer funny they are getting more and more and more stupid. It's time for NBC to pull the plug if they think crap like what they pulled is funny.

[thebluecrayon]

I hadn't heard that they joked about Todd abusing his kids. If that's true, then it's certainly going way to far. I'm no fan of the Palins but you can be funny without delivering unfair low blows.

[DeAnnaClaudette]

I actually agree with this, on principle. But, it was funny................. a little.

[JNagarya]

Shouldn't you find out whether it ACTUALLY happened BEFORE getting your back up as if it did?

Or would that be, like, you know, too much like being responsible?

As for Palin:

As PART-TIME mayor of Wasilla, she implemented a policy requiring rape VICTIMS to pay for the rape kits -- the collecting of evidence of the crime. They cost each from $250.00-$1,500.00. That means that if the victim was poor, thus couldn't afford the kit, the case did not go forward, and the rapist was not prosecuted.

Means, in short, that Palin in effect PROTECTED the rapist AGAINST the victim.

Is that the sort of "compassionate conservative" "Christian" you want in public office?

[TreetopFlyer]

Get over it. It's a redneck thing. And supposedly, the McCain ticket is more attuned to all the rednecks out there in TV land. So it was all in fun, you see. PS: Palin's own words: "I'm a [F'n] redneck!"

[Mercurial]

Dang, wish I had seen that. I would have lmao.

[BannedInBoston]

It was a hoot. Tina Fey nailed Palin. (Something John McCain would evidently like to do too, based on the way his eyes kept drifting down to her butt on stage after he introduced her at the RNC.)

[Cltierney]

It is in refernce to the fact that Alaska has the highest percentage of rapes and incest.

http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/ipems/injury_prevention/akfvpp/bkgnd.htm

It was distasteful but you can turn off the set.

[k6007]

Yay! They followed mc's rezko ad, with O's 2 min. economy spot. Michigan.

[BigPictureReg]

Great job on the Skit, Tina.

( I LOVED that '....I don't know what that is...' delivery!)

And, that's such a wise move on posturing against this transitional, political figure.

We'll still be watching you long after we will have forgotten about her.

[sustainable]

didn't she write "Mean Girls" too? That was great.

[Heddie]

We have a travesty in potential facing us and our country in Palin/Stalin/StaleMcCain
If
somebody greatly talented and intelligent like Tina Fey can help make people
think at a deeper level , it may help to expose this campaign fraud and assist
our country at this very grave time in history. I call on many, many other talented
performers and speakers in the media to get aboard for this mission, as well !!

[2grainsofsalt]

Extremely

lame

comment. You show that you can't write a simple comment, as well !!

(learn to write)

[8IZENUF]

Congrats to Tina and Yeah for women writers!!

Thanks Tina for putting on the scary Halloween costume before the holiday. I hope November 5 comes early for you.

Keep on makin' us smile.

[bas1311]

I really liked Tina Fey. I really did. She was a master at delivering the news and in the earlier years of her writing, it was pretty good although probably because the very talented Will Ferrell was in just about every skit. But then she presided over the worst written SNL years and left the show in shambles. It's been pretty unwatchable for years now.

Starting off with a pilot which was the worst "half hour" I've ever seen on television, 30 Rock has had a few moments here and there. Alec Baldwin is great and made the show watchable until his character was already played out in 2 seasons and even he can't save it. Tina Fey doesn't really do much for me as an actress and the episiodes that she doesn't write tend to be better so I'm left to wonder why she's winning Emmy after Emmy after Emmy. It really is a joke. Oh, and did I mention I watched the first 45 minutes of Baby Mama, which she was in but didn't write, and all I will say is that's 45 minutes of unfunny that I won't get back.

On a bright note, kudos to Tina for her spot on Sarah Palin impression, one of the best on that show in quite some time, as well as what she said at the Emmy's.

[rcrush]

wow you hate everything I thought was funny. Way to bum me out man.

[pennsykid2000]

Absolutely. 30 Rock is one of the few network shows that is worth a damn. Fey is a great writer and is perfect for her character. Her spots for SNL newscast were great, although the rest of the show has been spotty for years. bas1311 is way off.

[bas1311]

Everything you think is funny consists of 30 Rock and recent SNL? Are you serious? Might I recommend Beverly Hills Chihuiahua. I hear it's going to be a scream. :-)

With all due respect, if you read my comment below you will see that I found her to be great on SNL doing the news but presided over some pretty bad writing as the head writer. 30 Rock has some moments, but got boring fast and the better episodes are written by someone else.

[Steve69]

Man, you are so off on this. 30 ROCK is smart, funny, etc... It's just about the only show I watch. Tina Fey is brilliant and will continue to be for years.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I feel like you've missed something. Try 30 ROCK again. It's soooooo good.

[DeAnnaClaudette]

I like Tina Fey because she seems "cool" and all that... BUT, I completely agree with you. I don't know how much of SNL's sucktasticness was Tina's fault, but as head writer, it would have had to fall on her shoulders. The episodes of 30 Rock I've seen at least makes me laugh here and there, but SNL is atrocious. It hasn't gotten any better. After watching Tina's Palin impersonation, I decided to leave the TV on and it was just torture.

Ah well.

Congrats anyway Tina! Tons of shows I don't watch or like won, so obviously my taste is just "different" anyway....

[JNagarya]

SNL has sucked for many years longer than Tina Fey has even been an adult.