Tina Fey’s 11 Best Roles Ahead of New Netflix Series: “The Four Seasons”
On Thursday, May 1, Tina Fey returns with “The Four Seasons“, a new Netflix series she created based on the 1981 film by Alan Alda. The modern adaptation follows a group of longtime friends—played by an ensemble cast including Steve Carell and Colman Domingo—on four seasonal getaways that reveal the complexities of aging, friendship, and change.
With her signature blend of sharp humor and emotional truth, Fey once again leads a project that promises both laughs and resonance. As anticipation builds, it’s the perfect moment to revisit her most iconic roles tracing how she became one of the defining comedic voices of our time.
1. “Saturday Night Live” (1997-2006)
Fey began her career at “SNL” as a writer in 1997 and made history two years later as the show’s first female head writer. In 2000, she stepped in front of the camera as co-anchor of “Weekend Update” with Jimmy Fallon, later sharing the desk with Amy Poehler. Her dry, intelligent humor and pointed political satire reinvigorated the segment. Though she left the cast in 2006, her most legendary “SNL” moment came in 2008 with her impersonation of Sarah Palin — a pop culture moment so impactful it blurred the line between comedy and politics.
2. “Mean Girls” (2004)
Fey wrote and co-starred in “Mean Girls”, adapting it from the nonfiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes. As both screenwriter and supporting actress (playing the sympathetic Ms. Norbury), Fey balanced scathing teen satire with grounded emotional storytelling. The film was a critical and box-office hit, earning a cult following that endures two decades later. It became a generational touchstone and proved Fey’s skill as a screenwriter early in her film career.
3. “30 Rock” (2006-2013)
After the success of “Mean Girls”, Fey created and starred in “30 Rock”, a workplace comedy set behind the scenes of a fictional sketch show. As Liz Lemon, Fey created one of TV’s most relatable and absurd heroines — a neurotic, junk-food-loving boss trying to keep her cast, crew, and sanity together. Drawing from her time at “SNL”, Fey infused the show with sharp industry satire and wildly original characters.
“30 Rock” won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row (2007–2009). Fey won the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy in 2008 and took home the Outstanding Writing Emmy for the show’s widely acclaimed series finale in 2013. That finale has since been hailed as one of the greatest in television history. In the same year, the Writers Guild of America ranked “30 Rock” as the 21st best-written TV series of all time. Hilarious, fast-paced, and deeply influential, the show is widely regarded as one of the finest comedies of the 21st century.
4. “Baby Mama” (2008)
Reuniting with Amy Poehler, Fey starred as an ambitious executive who hires a working-class woman to carry her baby. Their dynamic — Fey as the uptight professional, Poehler as the chaotic surrogate — led to plenty of comedic tension and heartfelt moments. The film was a commercial hit and cemented their status as a comedy duo, especially notable in an era where female-led studio comedies were still relatively rare.
5. “Date Night” (2010)
Fey teamed up with Steve Carell for this action-comedy about a suburban couple whose quiet night out turns into a wild ride through criminal misadventures. The film’s charm came from the grounded chemistry between Fey and Carell, who turned the outrageous premise into a relatable story about marital monotony and rediscovered passion. Their pairing was so successful it’s reignited interest with their upcoming reunion in “The Four Seasons”.
6. “Muppets Most Wanted” (2014)
In this musical comedy, Fey played Nadya, a tough but eccentric Russian prison guard obsessed with Kermit the Frog. Channeling classic screwball comedy with musical flair, Fey committed fully to the silliness — thick accent, dance numbers, and all. Her over-the-top performance added unexpected flavor to the Muppet madness.
7. “Sisters” (2015)
Fey and Poehler flipped their typical dynamic in this raunchy comedy about two sisters throwing one last house party before their childhood home is sold. This time, Fey played the reckless wild child, allowing her to dive into physical comedy and play against type. While the film wasn’t a critical smash, it was a fan favorite and celebrated for its portrayal of adult female friendship.
8. “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2015-2019)
Fey co-created and guest starred in this Netflix original with Robert Carlock, starring Ellie Kemper as a woman starting life over in New York after escaping from a doomsday cult. While Fey mostly stayed behind the scenes, she guest-starred in memorable roles and infused the show with her unique comedic voice. The series was praised for its inventive tone, surreal world-building, and feminist themes. It received 20 Emmy nominations and was one of Netflix’s early comedy successes.
9. “Wine Country” (2019)
Fey appeared in this Netflix comedy alongside Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, and Ana Gasteyer — all real-life friends and “SNL” veterans. Amy Poehler directed the film in her feature directorial debut. The film followed a group of women reuniting for a wine-fueled weekend, offering a heartfelt and often hilarious portrait of middle-aged friendship. Fey played the eccentric retreat host with deadpan humor, adding a quirky undercurrent to the group dynamic.
10. “Soul” (2020)
In Pixar’s philosophical and visually rich “Soul”, Fey voiced 22, a soul resistant to living on Earth. Her wry performance contrasted beautifully with Jamie Foxx’s soulful and optimistic Joe Gardner. The film explored life, passion, and purpose in a way that appealed to both children and adults, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score. Fey’s voice work gave 22 a perfect balance of sarcasm and heart.
11. “Mean Girls” Musical (Broadway 2018/Film 2024)
In 2018, Fey adapted “Mean Girls” into a Broadway musical, writing the book and reimagining the story for the stage. The production was a hit, earning 12 Tony Award nominations — including Fey’s first-ever Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical.
In 2024, she returned once again for the film version of the musical, reprising her role as Ms. Norbury and updating the iconic story for a new generation. Her ability to continually reinvent “Mean Girls” while keeping its heart intact is a testament to her enduring creative insight.
From breaking barriers at “SNL” to creating one of the greatest sitcoms of all time in “30 Rock”, and from penning a generation-defining teen comedy to voicing Pixar’s most reluctant soul, Tina Fey has spent more than two decades shaping modern comedy. With “The Four Seasons”, she now turns her attention to adulthood, long friendships, and life’s evolving mess — and once again, audiences can expect laughter laced with truth. “The Four Seasons” streams on Netflix starting on May 1.
