In 2004 she adapted the screenplay Mean Girls in which she also co-starred. She was singled out as the performer who had the greatest impact on culture and entertainment in 2008 by the Associated Press, which gave her its AP Entertainer of the Year award for her satirical portrayal of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in a guest appearance on SNL. She is the daughter of Zenobia “Jeanne” (née Xenakes) – a brokerage employee of Greek descent – and Donald Fey, a university grant proposal-writer of German and Scottish descent. Fey was exposed to comedy early. Fey attended Upper Darby High School, where she was an honor student, a member of the choir, drama club, and tennis team, and co-editor of the school’s newspaper. Fey told The New Yorker, “I’d had my eye on the show forever, the way other kids have their eye on Derek Jeter.” Originally, Fey “struggled” at SNL. Fey went on to write a series of parodies, including one of ABC’s morning talk show The View.