Tina Fey reflects on political satire and history at Saturday Night Live event

Tina Fey has reflected on her significant tenure at Saturday Night Live, discussing the programme's complex relationship with political discourse and historical crises.

Speaking at the History Talks event in Philadelphia on Saturday, the two-time Golden Globe winner addressed the evolution of the NBC sketch show's influence on current events.

Fey, who joined the cast in 1997, recalled the profound challenge of returning to the airwaves following the 11 September attacks and navigating the building during the subsequent anthrax scares.

Reflecting on the "thin veil" between the show and the subjects it parodies, Fey admitted that the proximity to power was often "scary".

She acknowledged that, in hindsight, she found herself "on the wrong side" of certain jokes. However, she staunchly defended the show's editorial integrity, dismissing claims that the production attempts to manipulate the political landscape.

"Sometimes, people will ask me or ask others, 'Does SNL try to control the narrative and politics?' And they really do not," she explained, asserting that comedy only resonates if it is "based in something that was true."

Fey specifically highlighted the intense six-week period alongside Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler, creating sketches about Sarah Palin.

She emphasised that the writers strived for a "fair hit," ensuring their satire remained grounded in reality to remain effective.

Joining fellow luminaries such as Nicole Kidman and Ted Danson at the Kimmel Centre, Fey concluded that if a joke lacks truth, it simply will not be funny, reinforcing the show's commitment to authentic observational humour.