Wednesday, November 17, 2010

PBS cuts Tina Fey's remarks

Apparently, PBS edited out some of Tina Fey's political remarks Sunday night when they broadcast her speech accepting the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Here's the Washington Post:
Tina Fey got a little political airbrushing from PBS Sunday night during its annual broadcast of the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Fey, this year's recipient of the prize, caused a few ripples during her acceptance speech at the ceremony on Tuesday when she mock-praised "conservative women" like Sarah Palin, whom Fey has so memorably impersonated on "Saturday Night Live."

"And, you know, politics aside, the success of Sarah Palin and women like her is good for all women - except, of course --those who will end up, you know, like, paying for their own rape 'kit 'n' stuff," Fey said. "But for everybody else, it's a win-win. Unless you're a gay woman who wants to marry your partner of 20 years - whatever. But for most women, the success of conservative women is good for all of us. Unless you believe in evolution. You know - actually, I take it back. The whole thing's a disaster."

But PBS viewers didn't hear any of that, just her uncontroversial comment thanking Sarah Palin "for helping get me here tonight." I wonder if they heard her comment about the Kennedy Center turning into the "Tea Party Bowling Alley and Rifle Range"?

For what it's worth, PBS claims that this wasn't "a political decision," but simply editing for time. Well, if you want to watch the whole thing, it's here. The second video is Tina Fey's uncut speech (the first is the show as seen on TV, I think - I didn't watch the whole hour and a half).

And if you're really obsessive about your comedy, here's the text of her speech in pdf form.

No comments: