The Least Funny Thing Tina Fey Ever Said…
and why I can't stop thinking about it!
The other day, I was listening to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey chatting on the Good Hang podcast when Poehler asked Fey what TV shows she watches for a happy escape.
I turned up the volume, intrigued, because 30 Rock, the hilarious sitcom based on Tina Fey’s time as Saturday Night Live head writer, is one of my go-to shows when I’m craving comfort, familiarity, and easy laughs. Here’s what she said:
“The only other television program that truly brings me joy is my weekend local news. I love NBC4 with Pat Battle and Gus Rosendale. Here’s what you get: you get your national news briefly, then you get Produce Pete. He’s a nice old Italian man who comes out, tells you what’s in season, and what to make with it: incredible. Then there’s Bill’s Books. A nice gentleman named Bill comes and tells you what he read, what he liked about it, and what he recommends that you read. That’s it. The weather and the traffic, and Pat and Gus. I believe they’re friends. They have a wonderful rapport. One time, it was like a hurricane or something, a blizzard, and Pat Battle went out on the street in her hometown, where she lives in New Jersey, and she was helping people push their cars. That is what America should be, okay! It's Pat. It's Gus. It's Produce Pete. It’s Bill’s Books. We help our neighbors. That’s the America I want to live in.”
Her heartfelt, entirely serious answer has been on my mind ever since. It confirmed my belief, established THE TIME I MET HER IN PERSON(!!!), that Tina Fey is not only a comic genius, but kind and thoughtful, too.
We met at a glamorous event with a celebrity-to-normal-person ratio of approximately 90:10. At one point, I was chatting with Paul Rudd and his wife, intently focused on sounding intelligent, when I noticed someone trying to get my attention. It was Tina Fey. “Is this yours?” she asked kindly, proffering my purse. “I saw that it had fallen on the ground,” she continued. I stared at her, starstruck, my brain fritzing with shock and adoration. “Um, yes, it is mine. Thank you!” I finally managed. Tina smiled and headed off.
This was years ago, and I’m still furious with myself for not telling Tina Fey how much I admire her work. If only I’d known then about her affinity for Pat Battle and the NBC4 weekend crew, I might have been bold enough to share my comfort shows and books! Sigh. Maybe next time. Here's hoping!
Anyway, her recent comments to Poehler got me thinking about happy escapes and what defines them. For me, they’re people, places, and things that remind me that most humans are fundamentally good and doing their best most of the time. I’m comforted by shows and books where friends and family celebrate together, take care of each other in tough times, and make me feel that ultimately, everything will be alright. I especially crave that reassurance when headlines are distressing and things feel out of control and scary.
Here are some of my favorites:
Real-life happy place. My version of the local weekend news is the post office in our tiny country town. The workers greet everyone with a smile, often by name, and make a point of being helpful. We chat about the weather and local goings-on, and I always leave feeling grateful for their commitment to our community.
Comfort watch. All Creatures Great and Small is a PBS Masterpiece series set in the bucolic English countryside during the 1930s-1950s, centered on a small veterinary clinic. There are no screens, shouty news anchors, or social media, and watching it feels like being embraced in a warm hug. In each episode, the vets encounter wholesome dilemmas—like a dog that’s swallowed something they shouldn’t—that are resolved by the end credits. When difficult issues arise (it’s partially set during WWII), the townspeople work together, putting their country first.
Comfort read. “Crossing to Safety” follows two couples who meet when newly married and remain friends throughout their lives, supporting each other and navigating conflict and tragedy along the way. The quietly beautiful prose is a balm, and the longevity of their relationships is an inspiration.
What about you? Do you watch the local weekend news like Fey to calm your stressed-out nervous system? For my husband, it’s Pat Kiernan reading newspaper headlines on NY1 each weekday morning!
I’d love to know what TV shows, books, people, or places bring you comfort or a happy escape!
How a Bestselling Ghostwriter Defines Success and Happiness. "As it turns out, it really is more about the journey than the destination," says Caroline Cala Donofrio, plus the genius mantra that helped her finish a marathon!
April Recommendations. This month’s paid issue features TV shows, books, and links to lower your blood pressure and provide a happy escape!
No One Ever Said You Must Wear Tight Pants…and 49 other lessons learned from my half-century on earth!
Watercolor workbook. I have happily spent 15 minutes each evening this week painting a different bird, like the goldfinch above, in this easy-to-follow and adorable workbook.
Egg cup. I’m always searching for well-made egg cups to add to my collection, and this colorful, sturdy number is exactly my style!
Olive cocktail tray. A perfect gift for a stylish host or hostess (or yourself!).
Here are two of the many thoughtful comments on last week’s issue on giving and receiving compliments. Troy Hawke would be proud!
Kathleen said, “One of my secret rules for compliments is to focus on what a person has chosen rather than their circumstances. I don't comment on bodies or jobs, but rather on clothing, behavior, or other things I know the person actively selected. These compliments feel better to receive, I think, and this approach helps me pay close attention to others, which is one of my favorite things to do.”
Meg said, “It is easy to compliment women, and genuinely. I have begun to make my move into male territory. For young fellows I am old enough to not appear to be flirting with them, so that works, but I don't compliment men my age often. I was joking that men don't need compliments about their clothes or appearance as much, so maybe the best compliments would be on their kind or gentlemanly behaviour, their thoughtfulness!”
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I’ll be back next week! xo Amelia
I know this is Tina Fey-focused, but chatting with Paul Rudd?? Was he as awesome as he appears on interviews and TV?
This is lovely in general but the way that you just casually dropped in that you were having an actual conversation with Paul Rudd (and his wife) made me literally laugh out loud. I could never, as someone who has loved him since Clueless!