Tina and Amy: Smart Girls

“To me YES, AND means don't be afraid to contribute. Always make sure you're adding something to the discussion. Your initiations are worthwhile.” ~Tina Fey

This week a theater friend and I enjoyed the Tina & Amy “Restless Leg Tour” that kicked off in in Chicago. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have hosted the Golden Globes Awards together many times and each time, their natural chemistry sparks the perfect fit. There have been so many hilarious moments created by the two of them on that very stage. Who remembers when they taught the audience about cake and birthdays?
So their first comedy tour felt like a private Golden Globe set. They shared anecdotes on decades of friendship, creativity, smart writing and laughter…that started when they met in Chicago!
Tina Fey was attending Chicago ImprovOlympic Theater in the 90s at Second City, where she met Amy Poehler for the first time. They both were not yet known. They must’ve taken note of how funny each other was during their Second City improv exercises. They most likely both knew that they had something special when they met on stage and took their first act on tour in a van (destination Waco, TX).
Later Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would star in the movie “Mean Girls” together. Tina played the role of the thoughtful inconsiderate high school teacher while Amy Poehler played the role of the “cool man.” Tina Fey was also the one who wrote the screenplay for the movie based on the bestselling book Queen Bees & Wannabes. The movie was such a hit that people still repeat quotes from it to this very day—YES, and they mentioned more is in the works.
Tina Fey spoke highly of Amy Poehler's success and accomplishments. She said, "I would say that one of your greatest accomplishments, Amy Poehler, is that you have so successfully used your art and comedy as a source of positivity in the world, by creating Smart Girls [an online community for girls, encouraging them to be their authentic selves], by making [Leslie in] Parks and Rec not only a positive feminist character but creating a good-hearted worldview within that program." The way they've spoken about each other is heartfelt and funny.
Amy Poehler talked about Tina Fey with such high respect when she said, "I think one of your greatest accomplishments was transitioning from the captain you were at SNL to creating a show [30 Rock]. That is so hard - extricating yourself from a place you were so comfortable and successful, then doing something else so well. That, and the fact that you invented the word flerm."
We honored Tina and Amy’s request to not post photos from the set and I won’t give too much away.
Highly reco catching their show for inspo, fun and lots of laughter when you have the chance!
Catch more on the “Yes, And” concept of improv in business from my interview with author Kelly Leonard: https://www.thewishwall.org/wish/recXKhfGUOUgHiRdo

Thank you for reading! We welcome your comments.

Akasha Lin
Akasha Garnier for #TheWishwall
Author, Brand Expert, Filmmaker
http://www.akashagarnier.com
#ShineThroughtheNoise
Photo: Chicago Theater, Akasha Lin Garner
Discover more gems: https://www.thewishwall.org/future-entrepreneurs.