Tina Fey: Anyone can imitate Palin's voice

‘It's a little bit 'Fargo,' it's a little bit Reese Witherspoon,’ actress says

Dana Edelson / AP

Tina Fey has won praise for her uncanny impersonation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, but Fey brushes off the compliments, saying Palin's voice is easy to imitate.

Video

Live from New York, it’s Thursday Night!
Oct. 17: NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” pokes fun at the candidates and characters of the election in its special Thursday-night edition of “Weekend Update.”

Today show

Politics on TV video

Paterson not laughing at ‘SNL’ skit
Dec. 15: The New York Governor's office is not laughing at a "Saturday Night Live" skit portraying blind governor, David Paterson. Msnbc.com's Courtney Hazlett has the details.

Late night on Obama picks

‘SNL’ pokes fun at Obama transition

Turkeys sacrificed as Palin conducts interview

Big 3, fugazies? Late night takes aim

Late night on the economy and the French

Late night on books, tents and waving goodbye

Late night takes to the rails

Interactive maps

Click below for state-by-state data

NBC snapshots
Latest polling

updated 5:56 p.m. ET Oct. 17, 2008

NEW YORK - Anyone can do Sarah Palin's voice, says comedian Tina Fey, who has done a pretty good job of it herself.

"Not since 'Sling Blade' has there been a voice that anybody can do," Fey said. "Anybody can take a swing at this voice."

Appearing on CBS "Late Show with David Letterman" scheduled to air Friday, Fey shared her formula for having spoofed the Alaska governor in recent "Saturday Night Live" sketches.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

"It's a little bit `Fargo,' it's a little bit Reese Witherspoon in `Election,'" said Fey, adding she also borrowed the Midwestern accent of her friend Paula's grandma, "a sweet, sweet old lady from Joliet, Illinois. She would always say, `Ohhhh, this and that and stuff like that!'"

Fey, the star of the NBC comedy "30 Rock," was formerly a writer and cast member at "SNL," where she has made a splash with guest appearances this fall making sport of her resemblance to the Republican vice presidential hopeful.

She explained to Letterman other ways she captures Palin's distinctive speaking style: dropping g's and loading sentences with r's."

Click for related content

Palin appears on 'SNL'
Hail to the cinematic chiefs
Vote: Favorite 'SNL' impersonator?

"She's digging those r's," Fey said. "I think she thinks there's oil in those r's — she is digging deep!"

As spoof made way for reality, Palin was scheduled to appear on "SNL" Saturday. There was no word on whether Fey would be on hand.