Playing main character Liz Lemon, the head writer of a late-night comedy show, The Girlie Show, Fey satirised her own time as a high-profile TV boss.
Indeed, Fey would go on to base her Emmy Award-winning NBC sitcom 30 Rock on her experience as head writer on SNL.
And not only could female viewers relate, they hoisted Fey and Lemon up as feminist icons of the Obama era.
As Liz Lemon, Fey juggled the hijinks of an overly conservative boss (Alec Baldwin), diva best friend and TGS player (Jane Krakowski), and a brilliant but unpredictable movie star (Tracy Morgan).