Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's Impact on Television and Comedy

Throughout this entire semester, I found that most of my interest was dedicated to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and their influences (together and separately) on the world of comedy and television. Much of my interest came from in class and how much I enjoyed reading their books and the stories that they included in them; I saw them as important role models for women and wanted to learn more about their impact. For my Major Project, I decided to write a 10-page paper arguing that both women helped to redefine the standards surrounding women working in television or comedy and that their works helped to create a pathway of more equality, more opportunity, and more significance for future women who enter the industry.

           

Finding sources of their impact proved to be no challenge with the many books, television shows, and movies that they appear in. I wanted to include examples that not only proved them to be dedicated workers but also showed them to be respected as women, mothers, and as individuals. I pulled many sources from their books to prove their motherhood and balance of hectic lives. I thought that their ability to balance so much at once was commendable and helped to support them as being icons to people everywhere. I also highlighted their journey to success, mentioning Barecca and how just twenty years before Fey and Poehler began their careers, women were not allowed to understand the jokes, let alone perform them. Their rise to fame from such a difficult position is certainly something significant and deserving to be appreciated.

To further support their dedication to their jobs I noted the Saturday Night Live skits that they can be most known for. Of course, I mentioned the Sarah Palin-Hillary Clinton skit as it helps to support both women and their comedic ability and intelligence. The performance became one of the most successful skits on the show in history and proved that women belong and can be successful in the performance industry. I also included Poehler’s hilarious rapping skit (how could I not) to prove her extreme dedication and passion to her job. Just a few weeks after the episode aired, Poehler gave birth to her first child. In most jobs, working so late into your pregnancy can be seen as a nuisance or struggle but Poehler thought otherwise and instead used it as a power over everyone else.

One of my favorite sources that I used was one that surprised me the most; Mean Girls. For as long as I’ve known about the movie it only just occurred to me that Fey and Poehler are featured in the film and that Fey wrote the screenplay for the film. For those of you who don’t know about the importance of Mean Girls, it highlights the culture of high school and helps to remind young adults to be true to themselves in order to truly find happiness and belongingness. Fey herself was specifically chosen to write the movie due to her respective and dedicated working ability. Poehler’s role is much less major in the film, but she proves her comic ability while playing Regina George’s mother (I mean, who can forget her filming the talent show?).

 

I thought that highlighting these two women was important because they are role models for any field of life. They overcame so much adversity in their lives and careers but still ended up successful and inspiring. They are leading ladies, supportive mothers, intelligent women, and confident individuals who stand strong with what they believe in. They continue to inspire and entertain the world unapologetically and I left this class having a new appreciation for Fey, Poehler, and all other women who helped to pave the way for my success.