Editing Tina Fey (section)

== Saturday Night Live ==

Fey joined "Saturday Night Live" in 1997 as a writer, eventually becoming the show's head writer—the first woman to hold that position—in 1999. Her promotion to "Weekend Update" anchor in 2000, alongside Jimmy Fallon and later Amy Poehler, brought her performance abilities to national attention. The segment's success, driven by writing that was sharper than much of the surrounding show, established her as a major comedic voice rather than merely a behind-the-scenes contributor.<ref name="lane"/>

Her Sarah Palin impression during the 2008 presidential campaign demonstrated the cultural impact that comedic performance could achieve. The resemblance, both physical and behavioral, created moments that influenced political discourse in ways that news coverage alone could not match. The line "I can see Russia from my house," which Fey delivered rather than Palin herself, became attributed to the candidate, demonstrating how effective parody can reshape perception.<ref name="fey"/>

Her departure from SNL to create and star in "30 Rock" represented transition from established success to risky new venture. The show, which ran from 2006 to 2013, earned critical acclaim and Emmy recognition while never achieving the mass audience that some less-praised shows attracted. Its influence on television comedy—particularly in its self-referential approach and its female protagonist leading a workplace comedy—extended beyond its ratings to affect how subsequent shows were conceived.<ref name="lane"/>