Tina Fey is one of my many female heroes. Back in the day, I thoroughly enjoyed her on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update. When I eventually learned she was also the head writer of the show, I was full-on smitten. An intelligent, dry-witty woman comedy writer who was finding real success in a male-dominated media landscape—what’s not to like about that?
Later, of course, came Sarah Palin. And 30 Rock, which I discovered less than a year ago. Now, everybody loves Tina Fey. But unlike all the other bandwagons I’ve jumped from when they got too crowded, I’m still totally Takei for Tina Fey.
Recently, Fey’s memoir Bossypants was released. I’ve not had a chance to read it yet—have you, dear reader? Tell me what you thought! Now that I have a Missoula Public Library card, do I need to rush out in a holding frenzy to get it? What I do know of the book is from a review I read by another great female comic I adore, Janeane Garofolo.
Strange thing I noticed though: as with this online article, there’s a phenomenon that happens when a famous person discusses pretty basic concepts in a memoir. That is to say, pretty much all theater students are taught the rules of improv (discussed in the above article). But when Tina Fey writes about it, suddenly it’s important gospel that can be applied to life in oh-so-many oblique ways. (Incidentally, regarding that article, one important difference between theater and the business world is that most coworkers don’t have trust built between them as actors need to, making it nigh impossible to always say Yes.)
Truth be told, I probably won’t get around to reading Bossypants this summer. When I’m not at my internship, I’ll likely be hiking or biking, or exploring other parts of Montana. So if you’ve read the book, I want to hear from you! Leave a comment and tell me about what I’m missing, what’s great about it, what made you think about Tina Fey differently…
bookish 
Well…. I do think some things are basic concepts that any man or woman who has felt awkward. The problem that I’ve had with memoirs is that they always scream FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS, whereas Bossypants does not. I am connecting to this book in ways I have not with other memoirs (though this is way light-hearted). I couldn’t identify with Dooce talking about how she was on a golf cart with Norah Jones or other very fancy things. Tina Fey is always humble and humorous and I have not rolled my eyes once. Cried, yes. Tears of laughter.