Who is the funniest woman in all the land? Well Tina Fey, of course. And that’s not just me talking, that’s official. The 30 Rock star and Saturday Night Live alum has been awarded the nation’s top humor award, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Not to go all Joe Biden on this situation, but this award is a big freaking deal. Tina is only the third women in its 13-year history to receive the honor. And the 40-year-old is also the youngest. Someone deserves a big slice of celebratory night cheese.
Tina now joins the ranks of Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor, Steve Martinand Whoopi Goldberg in winning the prize. The award “recognizes people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar” the famed 19th century novelist and humorist Mark Twain. In a statement Tina said: “I am truly thrilled to receive this honor. I assume Betty White was disqualified for steroid use.”
Tina will receive the award Nov. 9 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in a ceremony that will include celebrity tributes and be recorded for later broadcast.
So, while we wait, let’s take a look at the unmitigated funny that is Tina Fey. Here are my Top 10 Tina moments.
10. Dealbreakers opening titles on 30 Rock.
“And smile. With your mouth.”
9. “Mom Jeans” commercial for SNL.
Tina coined the term after she had a fire in her apartment and had to buy an emergency pair of jeans for work. But the pair she got was unfortunately high-waisted and thus a skit was born.
8. Tina on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Tina dancing will always, always, always make me laugh.
7. Tina sings “Everybody Dance Now” on 30 Rock
See what I was saying about the laughing?
6. Tina tells the haters to suck it at the 2009 Golden Globes.
And the best part of that speech is those internet haters are real.
5. Liz Lemon shows off her sexy pajamas on 30 Rock.
And then she turns on the humidifier. “It’s so dry in here.” Pure seduction people, pure.
4. Mean Girls, pretty much the whole movie.
Yes, indeed, those are the rules of feminism.
3. Tina Fey talks Hillary Clinton for Weekend Update.
Damn right bitches get stuff done.
2. Liz goes on a blind date with a woman on 30 Rock.
This episode forever entered the term “bi-curious shoes” into the vernacular. For that alone Tina deserves a prize.
1. Tina shows us the true Sarah Palin on SNL.
Once she said, “I can see Russia from my house,” John McCain was toast.
So, are you excited about Tina’s Mark Twain Prize? And what are your favorite Tina moments — from 30 Rock and elsewhere. Come on nerds, share.
