Tina Fey reflected on how Saturday Night Live has covered politics during History Talks, a speaker series featuring some of the most prolific political and media figures in modern history. A collaboration between the History Channel and Comcast NBCUniversal, this spectacular event was a fitting way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in the heart of Philadelphia.
“One-fifth of American history has been covered by ‘Saturday Night Live,'” Fey quipped to the audience at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday afternoon. “Which one will last longer?”
Fey appeared on “SNL” from 1997 to 2006. During this critical period, she worked closely with Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, and Rachel Dratch, helping to take the sketch series to a new level of political relevance. At that stage, the country’s highest elected officials began to take notice.
“The relationship between the show and current events became less and less veiled,” Fey explained. “They said something, and we said something back. They came and said, ‘We want to be on the show, too.'” It’s so thrilling, almost terrifying, to have what you say get across to those in charge. ”
Fey continued to shape the history of SNL after her departure, most notably hosting a monologue criticizing NBC’s layoffs in the first episode after the writers’ strike in 2007-2008. Later that fall, she appeared in a series of sketches as Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the midst of the 2008 election. Many media analysts at the time suggested that the sketch influenced McCain and Palin’s polling numbers. In March 2008, Variety reported on the “SNL effect”, highlighting how the show helped fuel the narrative that the media was too hard on Hillary Clinton and too soft on Barack Obama, which some argued led to increased media coverage of Obama.
“It’s interesting that what you say is taken seriously,” Fey said of the six-week cycle she spent writing Palin sketches with Poehler and Myers. “We always worked hard to make sure those were what we called ‘fair hits.’ It felt like it would only work if it was grounded in truth. Sometimes I get asked, “Is SNL trying to control the political narrative?” And actually it’s not. You can’t do that because it’s not interesting unless it’s true. ”
Fey’s comments echo what longtime NBC executive Rick Ludwin told Variety after Nielsen reported that ratings for Season 34 of SNL rose 50% during the 2008 presidential campaign. “We’re obviously excited that this show is being talked about and being more relevant than it’s ever been,” Ludwin told Variety’s Michael Schneider. “There’s a sense of responsibility to be fair. Our job is to be funny and poke fun at politics.”
The “SNL” icon also listed some of her favorite political impressions from the show: Darrell Hammond as Al Gore, Dana Carvey as George H.W. Bush, and Matt Damon as Brett Kavanaugh. Before explaining why Damon’s opinion worked, Fay turned to the crowd and quipped, “Judge Kavanaugh, if you’re here, you don’t understand what this case is. Are we on trial?”
Kavanaugh, played by Damon, first appeared on SNL’s season 44 premiere in 2018, where he led a closed-door hearing for a nominee’s Supreme Court hearing opposite Rachel Dratch, who played Sen. Amy Klobuchar. His explosive performance poked fun at Kavanaugh’s dubious explanation for the yearbook joke, which was widely interpreted as a reference to lewd sexual exploits and heavy drinking.
“He came in and performed so perfectly that it helped alleviate some of the frustration that many viewers of the hearing had,” Fay said. “It only works if it’s right.”
“SNL” alum Kate McKinnon also moderated a history talk panel with current cast member and “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost, who now sits in the seat where Fey once sat. The event drew a wide range of attendees, including NFL stars Tom Brady and Jason Kelce, and country singers Garth Brooks and Nicole Kidman. Most notably, all four living former U.S. presidents were in attendance: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.
“Don’t you think there’s one thing that seems out of place?” Mr. McKinnon said jokingly.
