Editing Tina Fey (section)

===''Saturday Night Live'' (1997–2006)===
While performing shows with [[The Second City]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.secondcity.com/people/other/peopleothertina-fey/|title=The Second City – Tina Fey|work=The Second City|access-date=October 12, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012202053/https://www.secondcity.com/people/other/peopleothertina-fey/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.popmatters.com/article/tina-feys-climb-to-the-top-of-the-comedy-heap/|title=Tina Fey's climb to the top of the comedy heap|work=PopMatters|access-date=October 12, 2017|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012203021/http://www.popmatters.com/article/tina-feys-climb-to-the-top-of-the-comedy-heap/|url-status=live}}</ref> in 1997, Fey submitted several scripts to [[NBC]]'s variety show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', at the request of its head writer [[Adam McKay]], a former performer at Second City.<ref name="heffernan" /> She was hired as a writer<ref name="Levin2001">{{cite journal|first=Gary|last=Levin|title=Fey makes way in funnyman's world|date=February 8, 2001|journal=[[USA Today]]|page=04.D}}</ref> following a meeting with ''SNL'' creator [[Lorne Michaels]], and moved from Chicago to New York.<ref name="observer">{{cite news |url= http://www.observer.com/node/44088|title=Meet Four-Eyed New Sex Symbol, 'Weekend Update' Anchor Tina Fey|last=Gay|first=Jason|date=March 4, 2001|work=[[The New York Observer]]|access-date=July 1, 2009 | archive-date= January 9, 2008 |url-status= dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080109224103/http://www.observer.com/node/44088}}</ref> Fey told ''[[The New Yorker]]'', "I'd had my eye on the show forever, the way other kids have their eye on [[Derek Jeter]]."<ref name="heffernan" /> Originally, Fey "struggled" at ''SNL''.<ref name="observer" /> Her first sketch to air starred [[Chris Farley]] in a [[Sally Jessy Raphael]] satire.<ref name="observer" /> Fey went on to write a series of parodies, including one of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s morning talk show ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]''.<ref name="skewers">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-04-22-fey-main_x.htm|title=Fey gets her skewers out|last=Freydkin|first=Donna|date=April 22, 2004|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=September 14, 2009|archive-date=June 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601053158/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-04-22-fey-main_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> She co-wrote the "Sully and Denise" sketches with [[Rachel Dratch]],<ref name="observer" /> who plays one of the teens.<ref name="skewers" />

Fey was an [[extra (acting)|extra]] in a 1998 episode,<ref name="Booth2004">{{cite news|first=William|last=Booth|title=Behind the glasses, Fey is a former mean girl|date=May 5, 2004|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> and after watching herself, decided to diet<ref name="vogue">{{cite journal |first=Jonathan|last=Van Meter|title=Miss Tina Regrets|date=March 2010|journal=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|page=461}}</ref> and lost 30&nbsp;pounds. She told ''[[The New York Times]]'', "I was a completely normal weight, but I was here in New York City, I had money and I couldn't buy any clothes. After I lost weight, there was interest in putting me on camera."<ref name="witchel">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/25/style/counterintelligence-update-anchor-the-brains-behind-herself.html?pagewanted=all|title=Counterintelligence; 'Update' Anchor: The Brains Behind Herself|last=Witchel|first=Alex|date=November 25, 2001|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 1, 2009|archive-date=June 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605132722/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/25/style/counterintelligence-update-anchor-the-brains-behind-herself.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1999, McKay stepped down as head writer, which led Michaels to approach Fey for the position.<ref name="observer" /> She became ''SNL''{{'}}s first female head writer.<ref name="Ref_2000" /> In January 2001, she appeared on an episode of ''[[Real World/Road Rules Extreme Challenge]]'' as a judge of a comedy-based mission.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stopbeingpolite.com/2021/07/30/mtv-challenge-facts/ |title=125 Facts About the Challenge |website=Stop Being Polite.com |date=July 30, 2021 |access-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805063246/https://stopbeingpolite.com/2021/07/30/mtv-challenge-facts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2000, Fey began performing in sketches,<ref name="heffernan" /> and she and [[Jimmy Fallon]] became [[news anchor|co-anchors]] of ''SNL''{{'}}s ''[[Weekend Update]]'' segment.<ref name="Ref_2000">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2000/10/06/2000-10-06__snl__picks_fallon___fey_to_.html|title='SNL' Picks Fallon & Fey to do 'News'|date=October 6, 2000|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|access-date=July 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507145612/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2000/10/06/2000-10-06__snl__picks_fallon___fey_to_.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=May 7, 2009}}</ref> Fey said she did not ask to audition, but that Michaels approached her.<ref name="vogue" /><ref name="ew">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/10/04/jimmy-fallon-will-anchor-weekend-update/|title=Jimmy Fallon will anchor Weekend Update|last=Wolk|first=Josh|date=October 4, 2000|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-date=June 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617174453/https://ew.com/article/2000/10/04/jimmy-fallon-will-anchor-weekend-update/|url-status=live}}</ref> Michaels explained that there was [[Chemistry (relationship)|chemistry]] between Fey and Fallon,<ref name="ew" /> though he felt the decision was "kind of risky" at the time.<ref name="rk">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/arts/television/12nbc.html|title=A First for Fake News|last=Kennedy|first=Randy|date=October 12, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=1|access-date=July 1, 2009|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417202142/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/arts/television/12nbc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her role in ''Weekend Update'' was well received by critics. [[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote: "Fey delivers such blow darts&nbsp;– poison filled jokes written in long, precisely parsed sentences unprecedented in [''Weekend Update''] history&nbsp;– with such a bright, sunny countenance makes her all the more devilishly delightful."<ref name="Tucker2001">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2001/03/02/saturday-night-live/|title=Saturday Night Live|last=Tucker|first=Ken|date=March 2, 2001|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018184712/https://ew.com/article/2001/03/02/saturday-night-live/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dennis Miller]], a former cast member of ''SNL'' and anchor of ''Weekend Update'', was pleased with Fey as one of the anchors: "Fey might be the best ''Weekend Update'' anchor who ever did it. She writes the funniest jokes."<ref name="Winters2003">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/15/timep.miller.tm/|title=10 questions for Dennis Miller|last=Winters|first=Rebecca|author2=Dennis Miller|date=December 15, 2003|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 9, 2009|archive-date=November 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120041907/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/15/timep.miller.tm/|url-status=live}}</ref> Robert Bianco of ''[[USA Today]]'', however, commented that he was "not enamored" of the pairing.<ref name="Bianco2001">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/2001-03-19-bianco.htm|title=Critic's Corner: Robert Bianco|last=Bianco|first=Robert|date=March 19, 2001|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=July 1, 2009|archive-date=February 23, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020223141757/http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/2001-03-19-bianco.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2001, Fey and the rest of the writing staff won a [[Writers Guild of America Award]] for ''SNL''{{'}}s 25th anniversary special.<ref name="heffernan" /> The following year at the [[54th Primetime Emmy Awards|2002 Emmy Awards]] ceremony, they won the Emmy for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program|Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program]].<ref name="Neil2008">{{cite news|first=Tom|last=O'Neil|url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/10/sarah-palin-tin.html|title=Do Tina Fey + Sarah Palin = Emmy Award?|date=October 9, 2008|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 1, 2009|archive-date=December 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211171832/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/10/sarah-palin-tin.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When Fallon left the show in May 2004, he was replaced on ''Weekend Update'' by [[Amy Poehler]].<ref name="red eye">{{cite journal |first=Rachel |last= Sklar |title=Live from New York, it's Ladies Night!|date=December 10, 2004|journal=[[Chicago Tribune]] |publisher=[[RedEye]]|page=32|quote=It was big news when Amy Poehler joined Tina Fey at the ''Weekend Update'' desk, replacing the departed Jimmy Fallon}}</ref> It was the first time that two women co-anchored ''Weekend Update''.<ref name="Kennedy2004">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/arts/television/12nbc.html|title=A First for Fake News|last=Kennedy|first=Randy|date=October 12, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 9, 2009|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417202142/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/arts/television/12nbc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Fey revealed that she "hired" Poehler as her co-host for the segment.<ref name="salon">{{cite news|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/mwt/broadsheet/2005/12/13/tina_fey/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104202542/http://dir.salon.com/story/mwt/broadsheet/2005/12/13/tina_fey/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2013|title=Tina Fey makes Broadsheet's day|last=Traister|first=Rebecca|date=December 13, 2005|work=[[Salon.com]]|access-date=July 1, 2009}}</ref> The reception was positive, with Rachel Sklar of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' noting that the pairing "has been a hilarious, pitch-perfect success as they play off each other with quick one-liners and deadpan delivery".<ref name="red eye" />

The [[Saturday Night Live (season 31)|2005–2006 season]] was her last; she departed to develop ''30 Rock'' for [[Broadway Video]].<ref name="Klatell2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thats-the-news-for-tina-fey/|title=That's The News For Tina Fey|last=Klatell|first=James M.|date=July 22, 2006|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=July 1, 2009|archive-date=February 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212151902/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/22/entertainment/main1826787.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time she left, the 117 episodes she co-hosted made her ''SNL''{{'}}s longest-serving ''Weekend Update'' anchor, a mark that would later be passed by her replacement, [[Seth Meyers]].  In ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s February 2015 appraisal of all 141 ''SNL'' cast members to date, Fey was ranked third in importance (behind [[John Belushi]] and [[Eddie Murphy]]). They credited her with "salvaging [''Weekend Update''] from a decade-long losing streak", and "slapping ''SNL'' out of its late-nineties coma."<ref name="Rolling Stone 1229, p. 32">''Rolling Stone'', issue 1229, February 26, 2015, p. 32.</ref>