Image Credit: Suzanne TennerClash of the Titans clanged into theaters this weekend promising the newest in 3-D(ish) entertainment to a movie-goers who, these days, have been primed to put on plastic novelty eyeglasses immediately upon entering the multiplex. But the way I see it, the real success in the field of three-dimensionality belonged to Tina Fey: Between the working wife and mother she plays in Date Night and the distinctive array of female characters she became in the course of her ratings-bonanza night as host of SNL, the smart star with the real eyeglasses turned prevailing pop-cultural feminine archetypes into real, well-rounded, flesh-and-blood women. Even though one was only nine inches tall.
Ken Tucker’s perceptive TV recap zeroes in on what he smartly identifies as Fey’s talent for “inserting a feminine sensibility into a show traditionally dominated by guy humor, and parodying the worst aspects of female celebrity.” To Ken’s astute observations, I’d just add that in the course of an hour, the SNL host played a single woman hungry for love; a blithely skanky fame groupie; a demagogic political-celebrity-turned-media-star with a will of iron; a patient mother of a teen girl; a lusting school teacher; an acerbic TV commentator; and, yes, a small-town prostitute who happens to be nine inches tall. She inhabited each role fully, letting us draw our own conclusions. The star became each woman, in all dimensions, just as she delineated the loving, stressed, exasperated, game, sexy, tired, practical aspects of one wife/mother/working woman in Date Night.
To me, that’s the real definition of 3-D.
I completely agree, Lisa. Tina’s appearance this week may not have been the funniest SNL ever–in fact it most definitely was not–but it was probably one of the *best* I have seen in a long, long time. She brought to the show something it has lacked in nigh on forever: an awareness that female characters are more than props for the men to play with.
Does the show even *have* any female writers any more? You could not prove it by the sketches that make it on air lately, nor by the way that the women actors (other than Kristen Wiig) are so underused (and Wiig is so overused that everyone is sick of her despite her talents).
Fey’s last two scenes–the nine inch prostitute and the mom at the dance–were two of the least funny sketches of the night and two of the finest I have ever seen on SNL. She did not need to play them for silliness of big laughs; she played them for honesty. I’ll take that over the sheer stupidity of some of the SNL sketches we have been subjected to over the last several seasons any day.
I’m going to quickly agree with you before this board is stormed by the Tina Fey Haters (or Feyters!). It was one of my favorite SNLs in a while, and largely due to the fact that Fey seems to actually be ACTING when she plays a character (Sudeikis is the show’s best current example of this). Leave it to Fey to find a way to be feminist and make fun of feminism at the same time (Brownie Husband was my biggest laugh of the night).
Oh, I don’t know: some of her comments in the Women’s News segment might have it beaten.
Oh brother. I find Tina Fey hilarious, but we all know she that (other than Sarah Palin), she can really only play one character convincingly: a caricature of herself.
Sorry, “that she”
Luckily that one character is hilarious.
Exactly, Sarah. Tina Fey rules!
Now where did I leave my brownie husband…
Yes, I think she’s hilarious, but Lisa’s going a bit overboard on Tina’s acting range here…
And yet, as I noted above, she showed some real chops on SNL. There was honesty in these sketches, an emotion rarely found on that program in any capacity.
Yawn!!!
I couldn’t agree with you more. Tina Fey is probably the most talented person in comedy right now, yes, person, not woman.
I loved Tina Fey on SNL, she brought heart to the funny – something the show often lacks. And her scathing editorial on Weekend Update – BANG ON SISTA!!
Seriously, shut the hell up! yOu are a total moron.
Tina Fey’s great. Nice article!
You go girl, someday you might even get the vote.
Come on, I like Tina as well as the next guy but, “inserting a feminine sensibility into a show traditionally dominated by guy humor, and parodying the worst aspects of female celebrity.”
is a way over the top imho.
‘Nice on the eyes’ and ‘better than average intelligence’ yes … comparing her to 3D technology? Please {rolleyes}
While I agree that well rounded characters is better than any 3D extravaganza…I’m not sure Tina Fey is the creme de la creme Lisa thinks she is.
I thought Jezebel had an interesting take on it:
http://jezebel.com/5515011/tina-fey-brings-big-box-office-pop-cultural-controversy
I’d actually love to see a longer, more delineated article on this, Lisa! Tina Fey is fantastic, and it’s nice to see her get a little recognition for her acting, which has come a long way.
One of the funniest SNL I have ever seen ! The chocolate Husband commercial was – Fall-down -laughing FUNNY !
30 Rock makes me very uncomfortable with its representations of minorities. Have a hunch this one’s a hit for the same squirmy reasons and the only reason why EW would like it and Tina so much.
You are so white.
I agree with this article, Tina Fey is hardworking, hilarious and talented. I love Jezebel but I felt like it was a bit of an overreaction. Tina was always super snarky like that on weekend update, I think people just forget since it’s nothing like her 30 Rock character.
“Became” might be an overstatement. Fey was wonderful on SNL, and her transformation into Sarah Palin remains spookily astute. The rest of the characters were done with the great Fey wink and deadpan. I’d say even that the “becoming” thing is more Kristen Wiig’s strong suit, not Fey’s. I agree Fey was a superb host for a very entertaining show, but let’s not give praise where it’s not due.