A graduate of the University of Virginia and alumni of Chicago’s famed Second City improv troupe, fashionably bespectacled writer-comedienne Tina Fey proved, once and for all, that a brainy woman could be sexy. A popular crush among political junkies, cultural literates, and highbrow frat boys across America, this proud, self-described “supernerd” first came onto the scene, first, as a writer and later, as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 1975- ) where she shown brightly as the sarcastic Weekend Update co-anchor to Jimmy Fallon, and later, to Amy Poehler. After proving her mettle as big screen scribe of the hit Lindsay Lohan flick, “Mean Girls” (2004), Fey spread her wings and left the “S.N.L.” nest to write and star in the hit NBC sitcom, “30 Rock” (2006- ).
Born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey on born May 18, 1970 in Upper Darby, PA, this multi-talented performer developed her appreciation for comedy at an early age. Fey recalled her education beginning at the age of four, when her parents snuck her in to see Mel Brookes’ comic classic, “Young Frankenstein” (1974). Intellectually inclined, not surprisingly, Fey excelled in academics. In 1988, Fey enrolled at the University of Virginia, where she eventually earned a degree in drama. After graduating in 1992, Fey moved to Chicago where she supported herself as a clerk at the YMCA. Working at the Y by day, Fey spent her nights taking classes at The Second City Training Center. It was during this period that Fey took what she later described as an “amateurish” stab at stand-up comedy. Her hard work honing her comedic gifts eventually paid off. By 1994, Fey was invited to join The Second City’s cast – a thrilling accomplishment for anyone who valued American comedy. It was there that Fey established herself as a member of The Upright Citizen’s Brigade – an improvisational comedy troupe that included Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz (both of whom, Fey would reunite with later on “S.N.L.”). Fey quickly developed a comedic partnership with troupe member Rachel Dratch. The pair's show "Dratch & Fey" garnered rave reviews in its 1999 debut at Second City and its 2000 run at New York's Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater.
Fey’s hard work in the Citizen’s Brigade did not go unnoticed. In 1997, she landed the break of her career when she was invited to join the writing staff of “S.N.L.” by the iconic show’s then-head writer, Adam McKay. Despite being one of the only female writers on staff, Fey proved her worth in the competitive, testosterone-laden environment of the writers’ room. As one of the minds behind such hit recurring bits as the merciless satire of "The View" and the Boston video camera-toting teen parody "Sully and Denise" (starring Jimmy Fallon and Fey's frequent comedy collaborator and fellow Second City alum Rachel Dratch), Fey set herself apart as one of the show's more consistent and contemporary writers. This won Fey the respect of executive producer Lorne Michaels, who became a mentor. Fey’s star rose even higher a year later, when she crossed over as a performer. Fey signed on to become an official cast member of the show in 1998 while maintaining double duty as a writer, proving herself to be as polished and confident a performer in front of the cameras as she was behind it.
In 1999, Fey was promoted to head writer – the first female one in the history of “S.N.L.” Coincidentally, it was around this same period that Fey found and refined her trademark style of faux-serious delivery. As co-anchor of Weekend Update, the show’s long-running newscast parody, the feisty Fey was paired with the more frivolous Jimmy Fallon, who provided an ideal comedic foil, beginning in the 2000-01 season. Her assured and skillful delivery of the news was appreciated by fans, while her mixture of sparkle and sophistication balanced out Fallon's boyish energy. Editorial comments like her passionate and honestly funny rant against Hugh Hefner's harem were a welcome addition to the show, offering a fresh perspective on a series and in a genre known for being overwhelmingly male dominated. After Fallon’s departure in 2004, Fey was joined in her anchoring duties by Amy Poehler, marking the first two-woman anchor team in the bit’s history.
In 2004, Fey expanded her resume by writing the script and co-starring (as a teacher) in the semi-autobiographical big screen comedy, “Mean Girls” – a funny if somewhat familiar exploration of in-fighting amid a clique of supposedly popular high school girls. Made for a relatively modest $25 million, the Lindsay Lohan vehicle was a bona fide hit, grossing nearly $130 million worldwide. Buoyed by the box office success of “Mean Girls,” Fey quickly found herself in hot demand. Landing a development deal with NBC, Fey unveiled her firstborn production in 2006 – the hotly anticipated fall sitcom, “30 Rock” (NBC, 2006- ).
Based on her experiences at “Saturday Night Live,” “30 Rock” received the official blessing of Lorne Michaels, who served as an executive producer. Fey served as both star and head writer/producer for a show that also starred big shot movie star and favorite “S.N.L.” host, Alec Baldwin. The show got off to a rocky start from out of the gate, beginning with a much-publicized last minute casting change – the firing of Fey’s longtime friend and co-star Dratch in favor of actress Jane Krakowski. To make matters worse, the premiere episode of “30 Rock” performed unimpressively in the ratings, placing third in its timeslot. Despite this disappointing showing, “30 Rock” still appeared in high enough standing with NBC – enough for the network to move it to Thursday night’s “must-see TV” comedy line-up. The time change proved to be a wise decision, stabilizing the show’s ratings and dramatically increasing its exposure. By the end of 2006, “30 Rock” topped several publications’ "year’s best" lists, including LA Weekly, The New York Times and The San Francisco Chronicle. On Sept. 16, 2007, “30 Rock” executive producer-creator-star Fey received the ultimate vindication for a rocky, albeit ultimately successful year: an Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series. And for her acting talents – which she herself felt insecure about – she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series in early 2008.