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Fey Is AP's Entertainer of the Year

30 Rock star and Palin impersonator beats out Downey, Ledger

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 23, 2008 12:42 PM CST

(AP) – Tina Fey is the entertainer of the year? You betcha. Fey was voted the AP's Entertainer of the Year, an annual honor chosen by newspaper editors and broadcast producers across the country. Fey was selected by AP members as the performer who had the greatest impact on culture and entertainment in 2008.

The 38-year-old comedian bested runner-up Robert Downey Jr., whose comeback was capped with the blockbuster smash Iron Man, and the third-place vote-getter, Heath Ledger, who posthumously wowed audiences as the Joker in The Dark Knight. But it was Fey who most impressed voters largely with her indelible impression of Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. Her cameos helped drive the show to record ratings and eventually drew an appearance from Palin herself.

In this April 22, 2008 file photo Tina Fey makes an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live at MTV Studios in New York. Fey was voted The Associated Press' Entertainer of the Year.
In this April 22, 2008 file photo Tina Fey makes an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live at MTV Studios in New York. Fey was voted The Associated Press' Entertainer of the Year.   (Evan Agostini)
In this May 12, 2008 file photo, actress Tina Fey arrives at the NBC Universal Experience at Rockefeller Center in New York as part of upfront week.
In this May 12, 2008 file photo, actress Tina Fey arrives at the NBC Universal Experience at Rockefeller Center in New York as part of upfront week.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, File)
Actor Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in a scene from 30 Rock.
Actor Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in a scene from "30 Rock."   (AP Photo/NBC Universal, Nicole Rivelli)
Tina Fey, left, plays Governor Sarah Palin, and actress Amy Poehler plays Sen. Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 in New York.
Tina Fey, left, plays Governor Sarah Palin, and actress Amy Poehler plays Sen. Hillary Clinton on "Saturday Night Live" Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 in New York.   (AP Photo/Dana Edelson, NBCU Photo Bank)
Tina Fey portrays vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, left, and Amy Poehler portrays CBS news correspondent Katie Couric in a scene from Saturday Night Live, in New York.
Tina Fey portrays vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, left, and Amy Poehler portrays CBS news correspondent Katie Couric in a scene from "Saturday Night Live," in New York.   (AP Photo/NBC, Dana Edelson)
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Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008," an hour-long ABC News special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and pop culture.   (ExFilms)

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Tina Fey is such an obvious choice. She gave us funny when we really needed it and, in a year when women in politics were making huge strides, Fey stood out in the world of entertainment. - Sharon Eberson, entertainment editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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entertainment • television • comedy • Tina Fey • Robert Downey Jr. • Heath Ledger • Associated Press • comedian

 
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