Tina Fey Has Never Been This Earnest

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In Netflix’s “The Four Seasons,” Tina Fey is displaying an unprecedented facet of herself, both starring in and co-creating this series that shares its name with the 1981 film. Unlike her past comedic works like “30 Rock,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Great News” which were all characterized by their absurd humor to maximize jokes, “The Four Seasons” presents a more realistic tone. The show, like its cinematic counterpart, focuses on the developing relationships of three middle-aged married couples throughout their annual vacations. This shift in tone represents a unique departure for Fey, as she intentionally toned down the comedy to make it less exaggerated and more authentic, thus creating some of her most intriguing work yet.

As a fan and admirer of the original “The Four Seasons” film by Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield, I must confess that this classic work served as a guiding light for us when envisioning our own project. Instead of striving to produce something similar to “The Four Seasons,” we decided to reimagine the movie itself, preserving its charming sensibility and humor that Alan Alda brought to life. Embracing the same slice-of-life approach became a creative challenge for us writers, allowing us to explore different tones beyond our usual comedic styles. As Tina Fey put it in an interview with Decider, “All of the comedies we’ve written are high speed and packed with jokes, inevitably becoming absurd and explosive. I was curious if we could hold ourselves back to focus on genuine human behavior while still maintaining a sense of humor.

The decision to launch the show proved beneficial – with Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Will Forte, Marco Calvani, and Erika Henningsen among its stars – it swiftly climbed to the top position on Netflix within four days of release, captivating 11.9 million households, as reported by the streaming service. Although comparing streaming figures to broadcast ratings can be confusing, this achievement likely represents one of Fey’s most widespread successes in terms of audience reach, given that many may not have been aware she was involved with the production.

With a shift in approach, Fey’s new work, “The Four Seasons,” appeals to a broader audience while also providing fresh ground for fans who appreciate her humor. Known for unearthing jokes from every nook and cranny of a story, Fey now uses this talent to delve deeper into the characters’ personalities and relationships within the show. Though it remains a comedy, its humor springs from exploring the characters’ fears, desires, and idiosyncrasies, creating a unique exploration of marriage, friendship, and aging. Interestingly, in this piece, Fey demonstrates a seriousness that is seldom seen from her.

Tina Fey, known for penning around 50 episodes of scripted TV with a shared quirky style, has stepped out of her usual genre, much like a popular musician switching music styles (or as Jenna Maroney might say, “going country”). Instead of labeling this new work as Tina Fey’s “Cowboy Carter,” it could be more accurate to compare it to Weird Al releasing a Norah Jones album. In essence, she’s ready to sacrifice some extra jokes for a more subtle approach. As the writer of the show’s fifth episode, “Family Weekend,” she skillfully crafts the deterioration and subsequent reconciliation of her character Kate’s marriage with Jack (Forte), not through major plot twists, but through minor decisions that create conflict without assigning blame to either party. The challenge of portraying marital monotony makes it difficult, but Fey manages by focusing on the intricate details of this rut.

Jack’s attempts to reignite their connection are so delicate that they just manage to evade Kate, yet they’re not so subtle that viewers can’t notice them. It’s a delicate act that shows a relationship issue isn’t always something obvious like a disagreement or offense you can easily pinpoint. As Kate tries to express her feelings to Danny (Domingo), she says, “I don’t have a problem with Jack, because he’s great. I’m just saying…you know…I mean, you understand what I mean.” Because there’s space for this conflict to unfold in a nuanced way, we can indeed understand what she means without her needing to spell it out explicitly.

In terms of acting ability, Fey excels in subtle, unsaid moments. It’s not surprising to see her play characters that are more grounded or dramatic than Liz Lemon, but this is the first time she’s doing so using her own dialogue. As a writer, she shows great skill in understanding the subtext behind Kate’s words, which gives her portrayal immense depth. Since most of the couple’s storyline unfolds beneath the surface, the meaning behind seemingly innocent lines becomes crucial, making Fey’s writing skills in this area indispensable.

A significant shift can be noticed in the tone of the series, as it has become noticeably warmer compared to Tina Fey’s typically more sarcastic or biting style. Instead of the usual eye rolls, the show now offers affectionate glances (mostly). In creating this series, they aimed to replicate the sensation of constructing a fort in your living room, which is exactly what the show delivers – a comforting ambiance. This warmth aligns with the story itself but appears to be a direct reflection of Fey’s affection and respect for the material they are adapting. This affection can be seen in many details that have been carried over from the original film, despite most viewers likely being unfamiliar with it. Details like the Vivaldi score, character names, and even a quick scene of Fey angrily brushing her hair were all borrowed from the movie. Additionally, Alda himself makes a cameo, in which Fey’s character tells him, “I love you so much,” a moment that might also serve as a fourth-wall break. This evident admiration for the original work explains Fey’s commitment to largely remain faithful to it.

There’s a thrill in witnessing a writer explore fresh tools, as this often reveals unexplored facets of a familiar voice. Since Tina Fey is embarking on a new journey at this stage of her career, it’s intriguing to speculate about the impact this success might have on her future projects, be they in the second season of this show or another venture entirely. Regarding “The Four Seasons”, which revolves around characters reevaluating their lives and paths, it seems fitting that Fey is taking a similar turn, given its theme resonates with her current career shift.

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2025-05-15 20:54