Intelligencer

Zucker Calls, Fey Says ‘You Betcha’

Thanks for Shelly Silver, who kept the laughter viable.

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By Jacob Gershman
Published Dec 12, 2008

(Photo: Patrick McMullan)

Tina Fey took her Sarah Palin impression out of mothballs for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and his Democratic caucus earlier this month. NBC boss Jeff Zucker asked her to make the appearance, according to Fey’s manager, David Miner. “He doesn’t ask every day for something,” Miner says. The lawmakers voted for legislation this year expanding tax credits for New York film and television productions, like 30 Rock. Miner says Fey was happy to be there, but one lawmaker in attendance isn’t convinced. “She seemed incredibly uncomfortable,” he said. “It was like she didn’t know what she was doing there. Someone said, ‘Do a Sarah Palin!’ and she did a Sarah Palin.” Fey posed for pictures before racing out to finish a script for a 30 Rock episode shooting the next day. “The tax breaks helped save our show” and its city jobs, says Miner. But he promised that for now, “Palin is still retired.”

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