Tina Fey: SNL guys had never heard of The View when we started parodying it in 1997

The Muse

Fey along with fellow Saturday Night Live writers Lori Nasso and Paula Pell created their View parody three months after Barbara Walters launched her ABC daytime talk show in fall 1997. "We were the only ones who had seen The View,” Fey said in Ramin Setoodeh's new book Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View. “The more dudely members of the staff were, like, ‘What is this!?’” Fey adds: “I remember going to the wardrobe room after we had done it in dress rehearsal. And someone in costumes being, like, ‘You’re a feminist. Well, I hope you’re happy making fun of women!’” Fey was surprised: “Oh, no. I’m trying to give these actresses parts." SNL's The View parody helped to elevate the show's co-hosts fame-wise.