Tina Fey: The Secrets of Her 'Sarah Palin' Success

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. (Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/AP Photo)

With presidential and vice presidential candidates in full campaign mode, comedians have their fill of figures to lampoon. But it seems unlikely that any political impersonation this campaign cycle will ever be as popular as that of Tina Fey's take on Sarah Palin four years ago.

" Saturday Night Live" alum turned "30 Rock" star Fey and "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels discussed the art of mimicking Palin in a recent interview with Barbara Walters.

Though Fey had already left "SNL" by the time Palin became the vice presidential pick on the 2008 Republican ticket, Michaels said fans insisted she come back to do Palin.

"The resemblance was so remarkable," Michaels said.

The key to the impersonation, Fey said, was the glasses.

"I think the glasses was ninety-seven percent of it," Fey told Walters.

But other details mattered too.

"Sarah Palin has real hard Rs…and that's the real Midwestern accent," she said. "It was also that she would smile through saying pretty aggressive stuff…You know, the, the, the hockey mom with pit bull and lipstick, and she was always smilin' at ya, and then turnin' the knife. "

"Thankfully," Fey added, "it's an easy impression to do."

See more of Barbara Walters' interview with Lorne Michaels and Tina Fey on " Best in TV" Tues., Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. ET.