Tina Fey was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2006. The show has frequently made headlines for satirizing the current American government decision-making process. And Fey, who has been part of political sketches that have gone viral, recently opened up about what it takes to bring those to life.
SNL political sketches were grounded in “truth,” not narratives, says Tina Fey
At the History Talks event, the actress pushed back on long-running criticism that SNL tries to shape political opinion by being deliberately provocative and exaggerated. Fey was part of the show’s iconic crew, which included Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, and Rachel Dratch. Her Sarah Palin impersonation became hugely popular, coming to the attention of several prominent figures in political circles.
She said that SNL writers have “always worked really hard” to make portrayals a “fair hit.” She emphasized that the writers ensured political sketches were rooted in truth and did not cater to agendas.
“It is fascinating to know that what you say will be taken seriously,” she said, adding, “We always worked really hard to make sure they were what we call a ‘fair hit.’ It only felt like it would work if it was based in something that was true. Sometimes people will ask me, ‘Does SNL try to control the narrative of politics?’ And they really do not. You really can’t because if it’s not true, it will not be funny.”
Her iconic portrayal of Sarah Palin during the 2008 election mirrored Palin’s real speech patterns and public image, slightly exaggerated for comedic effect. However, she suggested that the writers always tried to maintain a baseline truth so the premise didn’t feel fabricated.
The actress also pointed out that the show had a massive cultural impact with its topical sketches tied to current events, with politicians actively wanting to appear on it.
“The show’s relationship to current events became a thinner and thinner veil. They said something; we said something back. They’d come over and go, ‘We want to be on [the show] too.’ It’s thrilling, and almost a scary thing, that something you say will be heard by the person in charge,” she further said.
Safe to say, SNL slowly became part of the political ecosystem, with many studies and reports citing the “SNL effect” and how it influenced voter perception during elections. Nevertheless, Fey maintains that it was not a deliberate attempt by the show to affect how voters perceive candidates.
Are you in agreement with Tina Fey’s statements, or do you feel the show leaned toward a particular political viewpoint? Let us know in the comments below.
