Monday, October 6, 2008

It's Tina Fey's world

She's just letting us hang out in it and watch her stuff.

Today's Wall Street Journal:
SNL Rides High on Campaign Satire

NBC's "Saturday Night Live" drew another crush of viewers this weekend, with approximately 10 million tuning in to watch comedian Tina Fey's latest sendup of GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

That rating, based on preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research, is 42% higher than the same show last year and 23% higher than last week's episode.

Interest was fueled by last Thursday night's vice-presidential debate, which drew 69.9 million viewers to become the most-watched VP matchup ever. […]

This year, "Saturday Night Live" has catapulted to a level of cultural prominence the show hasn't seen for years, with its most significant presidential election satire ever, beginning with a series of popular skits during the Democratic primary contest that spoofed the tense race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

The 33-year-old comedy has opened with a political sketch in every episode this fall, capitalizing on intense general interest in the election and Ms. Fey's imitation of Gov. Palin, to boost ratings around 49% over the same period last year. This weekend's show scored ratings just shy of the 10.2 million viewers who tuned in for the season premiere last month.

Today's New York Observer:
Little, Brown Will Publish Tina Fey Book

Earlier this week it was reported in the New York Post that Tina Fey had received an offer of $6 million to write a book.

Late this afternoon, according to a source with firsthand knowledge of the deal, she finalized an agreement with Little, Brown & Co. The book—which was reportedly pitched as a book of humorous essays in the style of Nora Ephron—will be edited by executive editor Reagan Arthur.

According to our source, part of Ms. Fey's deal with the publishing house involves a gift to the foundation Books for Kids that will help sponsor the building of six libraries for schools in under-served neighborhoods in New York.

No word yet on how much Ms. Fey ended up getting paid.

I'm not sure which is more impressive: landing the $6 million advance, or breathing life into the tired SNL.

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