What we can learn from Tina Fey’s workplace comedies
They say “write what you know” and Tina Fey knows a lot about work. Specifically, working in live TV (she was on Saturday Night Live from 1997 to 2006). She turned that experience first into the Emmy-winning 30 Rock, and later brought it to her producer role on another workplace sitcom, Great News. Even her non-office-based projects – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Mean Girls – revolve around power dynamics, people management and everyday stresses; stuff that’s not funny until Fey turns it into a Netflix hit.
It is no surprise she’s now something of an expert. Recently, on podcast, Fey recounted the time invited her to help save the UK’s television industry. “I said:] made 13 episodes of The Office and Greg Daniels and made like a thousand … so I sort of said I can’t.” Really, though, there was no need to fly her in as a de facto management consultant; she has been imparting her special brand of workplace wisdom for her entire screen career. Here are the main take-aways …
