Steve Martin Matter-Of-Factly Dropped A Bombshell During One Of Tina Fey’s Early Days On SNL and It’s Really Stuck With Her: ‘That’s Haunted Me Every Day Since.’

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Tina Fey has had a long and distinguished career in comedy, dating back to her improv days in Chicago. From there, she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, served as its head writer, and later created and starred in shows like 30 Rock. This Emmy-winning comedian is revered in the genre, yet remains humble, often acknowledging mentors such as Lorne Michaels and Amy Poehler for their role in her success. Recently, Fey shared a remark by Steve Martin that has had both a positive and negative impact on her approach to public appearances, shaping her perspective significantly.

Amy Poehler’s podcast, “Good Hang,” played host to the esteemed Five-Timer from Saturday Night Live (SNL), in a conversation aimed at promoting Tina Fey’s latest Netflix production, “The Four Seasons.” In this engaging chat between two comedy icons, they shared insights about their evolving mindsets as they ascended in their respective careers and swapped tales about their SNL experiences, other creative endeavors, and even a notable influence – Steve Martin. Fey vividly recalled an encounter with Martin on SNL that left a lasting impression due to its effect on her approach to performing, stating:

As a cinephile, I often ponder over a sentiment that I find myself struggling to attain consistently. It’s a memory from my past when I was a writer for SNL. One day, Steve Martin graced our stage, not as the host, but as a guest. The night before, he had been on Letterman and left quite an impression.

Eagerly, I greeted him, “Hey there, how’s it going?” followed by, “Wow, you were hilarious last night on Letterman!” He responded nonchalantly, saying, “Oh, well, you have to kill every time.” Since that day, his words have echoed in my thoughts daily.

This idea mirrors a commonly expressed view among comedians, spanning many years. People often assume that a comedian’s personal demeanor aligns with their stage persona, whether in real life encounters or talk shows. They are expected to be consistently humorous and charismatic, and any deviation from this norm or unsuccessful humor can potentially harm their career.

This isn’t like what you usually see on talk shows where actors can get away with more.

And indeed, it’s accurate. For instance, as a stunning actress from Melrose Place or similar, you might casually mention, ‘Oh, I visited the store once.’ However, if you’re in comedy, you must consistently deliver and shine! Goodness me.

It’s undeniably a heavy burden, and it’s important to acknowledge that the high expectations can seem unbalanced, particularly during an interview process.

It’s understandable that audiences looking forward to a comedy special or tour would want to find you amusing. This is why many comedians often weave their stand-up humor into talk show conversations, aiming to make the segment more entertaining. On the other hand, viewers might have lower expectations when actors are promoting a project not directly related to their personal sense of humor.

During one of Martin’s numerous Saturday Night Live performances, he likely made an impromptu comment that resonated deeply with the 30 Rock star. Over the years, it seems like this idea had been on his mind.

Despite her assertions of being haunted, Fey’s talk show appearances over the years would lead one to believe otherwise. She consistently comes across as witty, charismatic, humorous, and completely at ease in these settings. Much like Martin, she excels every time, making it appear effortless. However, it’s probably safe to assume that it requires more mental exertion than it seems.

The words spoken by the star of “Only Murders in the Building” to the author of “Mean Girls” could send a shiver down one’s spine, yet their impact is evident – Fey’s comedic path has thrived significantly since receiving that advice long ago.

Through her captivating talk show performances or sheer natural ability, Tina Fey remains successful. Catch her in her upcoming project, “The Four Seasons“, which will be available on May 1, 2025 for Netflix subscribers. To learn about other anticipated titles coming to the platform this year, refer to our 2025 Netflix release schedule.

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2025-03-22 22:37