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."

Story continues below

"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."

___

NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

___

On the Net:

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

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

Comments

[ChiGuy]

There is no one more deserving of accolades for her unbelievable creativity.
Well, O.K. Diablo Cody is up there as well.
And they're both babes, as well!

[Tobiasism]

Oh, please TIna Fey. Just be more particular about the lines.
Make them more funny and you know you will do the Plain ole Palin routine.
It is just to rich a vein.

[brenner21]

It's so simple: play her for five more shows, or don't and the money will be so good to play her as the actual VP... hold on a sec!

[nippyfan]

"I want to be done playing this lady, Nov.5 So if anybody can help me be done playing this lady"

A beautifully slick way to promote the Democratic ticket. I will try to help you never have to play that lady again. She can just go back to her perfect life in Alaska and we can forget about this joke. That would be ideal.

[ruthie07]

If Tina doesn't want to play Palin anymore that's her purogative. I say we tap Rachel Maddow! Put a wig and a pair of Fey glasses on her and she'd be great! The trick would be getting Maddow to keep a straight face! Maddow could be hysterical!

[ARBOC2]

Brilliant observation. Maddow might even be bertter than Fey.

[brenner21]

She less angry than Fey. Better looking, too.

[FaceYourFears]

Funny I was just saying the other day that Maddow is very attractive.

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

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

let's all work hard for the next 6 weeks to make sure tina gets her wish ---

that would be good for you, me and everyone in america and around the world ---

we need a man of peace and wisdom

pray to the good lord of us all that the criminal bush doesn't start killing people in a new place, sometime around the last week of october, to try and derail the voting process ...

[JLee]

Anything for Tina! Time for another donation...

[johnnyjust]

I agree, Tina should retire.

[provgrays]

Come on, where is the video of Tina accepting her Emmys?

I wasn't about to sit through that Emmy snoozefest to wait for Tina. This has really been her year. She'smulti talented and her humor is classy and light, not degrading. She should be given another Emmy for that alone.

[lizr]

agree, I want the video!!! She is so funny...........

[jjordan]

"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."

haha! I love it.

[johnnyjust]

Who took Tina's purse?

I've narrowed it down to anyone who paid to see 'Baby Mama.'

[EarthToZoey]

ROFLMAO, my friend. Roffle Mayo.

[eggman]

That's good.

[punkingale]

Didn't a guy from Alabama write "Baby Mama"?

[DeadHorse]

As someone who works on 30 Rock as a regular recurring, I can say that Tina et al are some of the most talented people working on television right now. From the top down the cast are decent hardworking people fueled by a real appreciation for the opportunity this show presents them. And the crew, the technical folks on set, are top notch. I have worked on a number of shows that are shot in NYC and these guys are the best.

[AnonymousHuckster]

Can I have a job?

[provgrays]

Anonymoushuckster,

That's a subtle appeal for a job you made there.

Here's a tip. Your screen name doesn't shout credibility.

[rphillips4165]

I don't know any of the cast of 30 rock. I'm sure their really nice people. But does anyone outside of the industry watch the show? I know I don't. And I never hear anyone talking about it. So I don't understand why it won all of these emmy's?

[KarlaElisa]

I want Palin to be nothing but a footnote in Fey's career come Nov. 5th as well.

[peaceplez]

Please change the headline it's misleading.

[FaceYourFears]

Exactly

[Bettysdad]

If Tina Fey is this generation's Elaine May, Kid Rock is the new Bob Dylan.

[lizr]

dont be a snob, daddy :)

[BartLA]

Yes America, let's make it so that Tina does NOT have to play Palin after Nov. 4th!!! Send Palin back to Alaska!

[billkarwin]

Absolutely yes! Here's an idea for a bumper sticker: "Put Tina Fey Out Of This Job!" with a pic of her in the Palin getup.