Tina Fey has reflected on her portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, describing the sketches as a “fair hit” rooted in truth.

The actor and writer revisited her time on the late-night show while speaking at a History Talks event in Philadelphia, where she discussed SNL’s long-standing role in political satire.

Fey explained that the Palin sketches during the 2008 election cycle were carefully written to stay grounded in reality.

“We always worked really hard to make sure they were what we call a ‘fair hit,’” she said, adding that the humour only works when it reflects something accurate. She stressed, “If it’s not true, it will not be funny,” pushing back on the idea that the show aims to shape political narratives.

Looking back, Fey noted that SNL’s connection to real-world politics became increasingly direct during her tenure, with public figures often reacting to the show or even wanting to appear on it.

She described the process as both exciting and “almost a scary thing,” given the reach of the platform.

Fey, who was part of the show from 1997 to 2006, later returned to play Palin at the height of the election, in sketches widely discussed for their cultural impact.

Her remarks reinforce SNL’s approach to political comedy, focusing on accuracy as much as entertainment.

Watch Fey's Sarah Palin SNL sketch below.