Tina Fey details her progression from a self-described awkward child in Pennsylvania to the first female head writer at Saturday Night Live. The memoir tracks her years in the Chicago improvisational comedy scene with Second City, her creation of the sitcom 30 Rock, and her experience portraying Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election. Fey describes specific workplace dynamics in male-dominated writers' rooms, the physical process of television production, and the logistics of balancing a high-profile entertainment career with motherhood.
This book is for people interested in the technical craft of comedy writing and the mechanics of television industry leadership. Readers see the specific labor required to produce weekly live sketches and scripted comedy. It appeals to those navigating professional environments where they are the minority, providing a perspective on managing staff and maintaining authority. The audience walks away with an understanding of how improvisational rules apply to corporate management and the reality of sustaining a long-term creative career.
Practical and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
Insights from Bossypants
“Say yes and you'll figure it out afterwards.”
Success comes from saying yes to things before you feel ready. Tina shows that figuring it out later is the only way anything gets done.
“I don't care if you like it.”
Women in office settings often feel they need to be liked. Watching Tina lead SNL makes it clear that being respected is much more efficient.
“You have to believe in your own fake talent.”
Confidence is mostly just a performance. She admits her own swagger is often fake until the job is actually finished.
“There are no ugly women. Only lazy ones.”
Photoshop and hair extensions are the only reasons celebrities look like that. Tina is hilariously honest about the hours of labor behind one decent photo.
- Published
- 2011
- Language
- EN
