Tina Fey Remembers Jan Hooks, Gets In Dig At Rob Schneider

Tina Fey, upon accepting an award at Elle’s Women in Hollywood event, took the opportunity to pay tribute to late Saturday Night Live veteran Jan Hooks – and call out Rob Schneider in the process.

Tiny Fey Honors Jan Hooks

Fey, who went on to write and star in the acclaimed comedy series 30 Rock, jumped at the chance to include SNL great Hooks in the show. She figured she’d be perfect to play the part of Jane Krakowski’s mother, and was surprised to find out that Hooks was available to take it on.

“When we were doing 30 Rock and we needed to cast Jane Krakowski’s estranged Florida dirtbag mother and I thought, ‘My God, do you think we could get Jan Hooks?’ Because she’s an idol of mine, from the Sweeney Sisters to the Miss Self Esteem Pageant. Just the funniest woman ever,” Fey said. “And I was like, ‘Do you think we could get her? And the answer was like, ‘Yeah, you can get her.’ She was living in Woodstock. And the phone was not ringing.”

Fey went on to recount Hooks’ scene with Krakowski when they sing a duet of the inappropriate but sentimental song they used to sing at pageants. It’s a scene in an episode of a show that Fey is incredibly proud of. Yet, the memory of it leaves a sour taste in her mouth. Hooks should have been a bigger star with a brighter career, especially when less inspiring SNL alums like Deuce Bigalo and Hot Chick star Schneider were able to make it big.

“It made me sad when she passed, and it made me mad at the time how available she was. Jan should have had a bigger career,” Fey said. “Jan deserved a big movie career. Certainly as big as Rob Schneider’s f—ing career. She was a bigger star on SNL.”

In addition to Fey, Jessica Lange, Jennifer Garner, Elizabeth Banks and Annette Benning were honored at the Elle Women in Hollywood event.