On September 16, 2007, Tina Fey took home the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy for “30 Rock” at the 59th Emmy Awards. Through her comedy, Fey has been a pioneer in bringing a feminist message to audiences.
Born in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 1970, Tina Fey was a self-proclaimed “super nerd” who studied drama at the University of Virginia. After college, she joined the Chicago-based improv troupe, Second City, in pursuit of a career in comedy. In the mid-1990’s, Fey landed a writing job for “Saturday Night Live,” and in 1999 she became the first female head writer of the show. A year later she was tapped to anchor the “Weekend Update” desk along with Jimmy Fallon. She became famous for her deadpan but biting humor, often infused with her feminist outlook.
In 2006, Fey left SNL to create “30 Rock,” a television show based on her experiences as a writer at SNL. The show was so popular that in 2008, its 17 Emmy nominations were the most ever for a comedy series. During “30 Rock’s” seven-year run, Tina Fey won a total of six Emmys.
2008 was also a big year for Tina Fey thanks to her scathingly accurate impersonation of 2008 vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. Her appearances as Palin on “Saturday Night Life” gave the show a 46 percent bump in ratings and, to this day, most people think Sarah Palin said the famous line, “I can see Russia from my house.” In fact, the pervasive quip came out of Fey’s mouth in an SNL skit.
Even though “30 Rock” had its final season in 2013, Fey has continued to churn out hit films and another Emmy-nominated series, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” She still makes waves with her cunning social commentary in cameo appearances on “Saturday Night Live.” (Check out her recent “sheetcaking” bit from the summer.)
Her autobiography, “Bossy Pants,” was an important book for fans, with its anecdotes and advice for women including: “This is what I tell young women who ask me for career advice. People are going to try to trick you. To make you feel that you are in competition with one another,” “You’re up for a promotion. If they go for a woman, it’ll be between you and Barbara,” and “Don’t be fooled. You’re not in competition with other women. You’re in competition with everyone.”