Overview
- Tina Fey told a History Talks audience in Philadelphia that her 2008 Sarah Palin sketches were meant as “fair hits” grounded in truth.
- She said Saturday Night Live does not try to control political narratives because jokes fall flat if they are not true.
- Fey acknowledged that some past jokes look wrong to her now and said she had been “on the wrong side” at times.
- Variety reported that longtime NBC executive Rick Ludwin cited Nielsen data showing a 50% ratings jump for SNL during the 2008 campaign, which he linked to a duty to be fair.
- Right-leaning coverage questioned her “fair hit” claim by noting the famous Russia line came from SNL, not Palin, highlighting continued debate over comedic responsibility.