Tina Fey has a theory about how women will break into late night television

The solution is more jackets

Published May 15, 2014 2:45PM (EDT)

 (Chris Pizzello/invision/ap)
(Chris Pizzello/invision/ap)

Only Tina Fey (OK, and maybe Amy Poehler) could turn late night television's depressing lack of diversity into a punch line. As the "late night wars" continue, Fey told host Seth Meyers her own theory about how women will break into late night television.

Fey hit on Hollywood's double standard on women who age versus men who age, saying, "I realized, a lot of times these hosts they get their job when they're 35 or 40, and they keep them till they're 65. So I was like, 'If you're a lady, what do you wear?' Right? Cause if you go in with a cocktail dress, and then you're 45, you're 50, then there's gonna come a day when you're like, 'I don't got it! Bring me the jacket!"

"That's why I think Ellen [DeGeneres] is going to be the first person to break through," Fey concluded, "because she's already wearing jackets!"

CBS currently has a seat open for the "Late, Late Show," and the hope of many critics is that DeGeneres (or Fey, or any one of these women!) will join the late night television club.


By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

MORE FROM Prachi Gupta


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Comedy Diversity Ellen Degeneres Late Night Television Tina Fey Video Women