USA TODAY International Edition
Tina Fey, Andrea Martin and Tracey Wigfield have some ‘ GREAT NEWS’
Want a comedy seminar from the very best? Set up a chat with Great News star Andrea Martin and executive producers Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, Emmy winners collaborating on NBC’s newsroom comedy ( Tuesday, ET/ PT).
Q Tracey, how did your mother inspire Carol ( Martin), the mom who becomes an intern at a cable news show where her daughter, Katie ( Briga Heelan), is a producer?
WIGFIELD: My mom is a lot like Carol: open- hearted, fun- loving and approachable — almost too approachable. She doesn’t really have a sense of boundaries. … ( On 30 Rock), she came to the set a few times and would hang. It seemed like a funny situation: What if your mom came to work and never left? … Tina brought up Andrea.
FEY: We needed strong people in the mother- daughter parts, and I always think of someone who’s really funny. ... You need a sketch player. They have the opposite of vanity. You get Amy Poehler or Amy Sedaris: “Please, can I have buck teeth?” Andrea was the right person.
Q Tracey, how does Katie reflect your life?
WIGFIELD: It’s kind of based on when I was in my mid- 20s and trying to go after my big career. She’s this thirsty, ambitious girl who at certain points is like, “I believe I’m destined for greatness,” and at the next moment, “I’m never going to do this. Mommy, help!”
Q Since you also play meteorologist Beth on Great News, have you picked up any acting tips from Andrea or Tina?
WIGFIELD: I’m still fairly new to acting. I got my start writing with Tina on 30 Rock. … Running a show and acting in it, even in a smaller part, is hard. It gave me a new- found wonder at like, “Tina were you taking amphetamines ( on 30 Rock)?’ ”
Q Why are behindthe- scenes shows about television a good place for humor?
FEY: For so many of us, our coworkers are our weird family. And none of us had worked anywhere else. ... We could either write about working at the swim club when we were 14 or working ( in TV).
Q Andrea and Tina, do you ever compare notes on your late- night shows?
FEY: I’ve certainly bothered Andrea for stories, because I was a huge fan. When my husband ( composer Jeff Richmond) and I got married in 2001, ( one) wed- ding gift was a full set of VHS masters of all of SCTV. It was the greatest thing we’d ever received.
MARTIN: Marty Short is a close friend, and my brother- in- law. He completely changed personalities within that one year ( on Saturday Night Live). He lost his sense of humor. On Sundays, I’d say, “Oh, that scene was funny!” ( She imitates Short in a monotone:) “Was it? Did you think it was funny?” “Yes, I did, Marty.” “What did you think of the other scene?” I’m like, “I can’t wait until that guy leaves that show.”
FEY: That place is built on competition and the ( sitcom) is built on cooperation, because you’re all working toward the same thing.
MARTIN: That is different from SCTV. We needed everyone in it to fill 90 minutes. It wasn’t live, so it wasn’t competitive
Q Tina, any chance you would play anyone currently in politics on SNL?
FEY: No. I did my duty ( as Sarah Palin) in 2008. … Casting Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer has been inspired ( and) Alec ( Baldwin) is always great at everything.
MARTIN: Why can’t I play ( Fox News host) Jeanine Pirro? I look exactly like her.