30 Rock

Infobox Television
show_name = 30 Rock


caption = The "30 Rock" title card.
genre = Situation comedy
creator = Tina Fey
starring = Tina Fey
Alec Baldwin
Tracy Morgan Jane Krakowski
Jack McBrayer
Scott Adsit
Judah Friedlander
Katrina Bowden
Keith Powell
Lonny Ross
composer = Jeff Richmond
country = United States
language = English
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 36
list_episodes = List of 30 Rock episodes
executive_producer = Lorne Michaels
Tina Fey
Joann Alfano
Marci Klein
David Miner
Robert Carlock
co_exec = Jack Burditt
John Riggi
producer = Matt Hubbard
Don Scardino
asst_producer = Jennifer Danielson
Andrew Singer
co-producer = Irene Burns
Margo A. Myers
Diana Schmidt
editor =
location = New York City
camera = Single camera
runtime = approx. 23 min.
network = NBC
picture_format = HDTV 1080i
first_aired = October 11, 2006
last_aired = present
website = http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/
production_website = http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/program_detail.nbc/30rock.html
imdb_id = 0496424
tv_com_id = 58326

"30 Rock" is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey. The series is produced by Broadway Video and Little Stranger, Inc., in association with NBC Universal, and currently airs on the NBC network in the United States.cite press release |title="30 Rock" Thursdays on NBC (8:30–9 p.m. ET) |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/program_detail.nbc/30rock.html |accessdate=2008-03-26] The series is produced in a single camera setupcite news |first=Nicole |last=Laporte |title=Why don't smart comedies draw big audiences? |url=http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117966809.html?nav=ecomedy07 |work= |publisher="Variety" |date=2007-06-12 |accessdate=2008-05-23] and deals with the goings on behind the camera of fictional live sketch comedy series, "The Girlie Show with Tracy Jordan". [cite web |url=http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2007/09/19/Scene/Rock-Solid.Comedy.Shines.In.First.Season-2976690.shtml |title=Rock Solid Comedy Shines in First Season |accessdate=2008-08-03 |author=Belek, Cassie |date=2007-09-19 |publisher="The Observer"] The pilot episode first aired on October 11, 2006,cite press release |title=Jane Krakowski joins the cast of new NBC comedy "30 Rock" |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2006-08-17 |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20060817000000-janekrakowskijoins.html |accessdate=2008-03-02] and the first season was comprised of 21 episodes. [cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/30-Rock/7374 |title="30 Rock" — First Season DVD Date Announced |accessdate=2008-08-03 |last=Lambert |first=David |coauthors= |date=2007-05-25 |work= |publisher="TVShowsOnDVD.com"] The second season, which premiered on October 4, 2007,cite press release |title=Television superstar Jerry Seinfeld returns to NBC to guest-star as himself in NBC's "30 Rock" during comedy's second-season premiere October 4 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-07-16 |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20070716000000-televisionsuperstar.html |accessdate=2008-03-26] was originally intended to contain 22 episodes,cite podcast|url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNKNW5DL3SMT0E1 |title=Amazon Wire #36 |website="Amazon.com" |host= |date=2007-09-12 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ] but was abbreviated to 15 episodes because of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.cite news |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |authorlink=Michael Ausiello |coauthors= |title=Updated Strike Chart: How Long Before Your Shows Go Dark? |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Updated-Strike-Chart/800026937 |work= |publisher="TV Guide" |date=2007-11-09 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ] cite news |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |authorlink=Michael Ausiello |coauthors= |title=Updated! After the Strike: When Your Favorites Will Return! |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Wga-Strike-Favorite/800032698 |work= |publisher="TV Guide" |date=2008-02-07 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ] A third season, which is expected to contain 22 episodes, is set to premiere on October 30, 2008.

The current executive producers are Tina Fey, Lorne Michaels, Marci Klein, David Miner and Robert Carlock. "30 Rock" is filmed primarily at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens, New York,cite news |url=http://www.backstage.com/bso/rossreports/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003118275 |title=New York-Based Television Programs |accessdate=2008-02-23 |date=2006-08-24 |publisher="Back Stage"] but some scenes are filmed on location at Rockefeller Center.cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/galleries/30_rock_on_location/30_rock_on_location.html |title="30 Rock" on location |accessdate=2008-05-23 |date=2008-03-19 |work= |publisher="New York Daily News"] The series has an ensemble cast which currently consists of ten regular cast members, including Fey. The other main cast members are, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander and Alec Baldwin. The show also has a cast of three other supporting cast members; Keith Powell, Lonny Ross, and Katrina Bowden; as well as many recurring characters.

"30 Rock" has been a critical success, winning several major awards including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series both in 2007 and 2008,cite press release |title=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 59th Primetime Emmy Awards |publisher="Academy of Television Arts & Sciences" |date=2007-09-16 |url=http://www.emmys.org/downloads/2007/pte59emmywinners.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-02-18] cite press release |title=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 60th Primetime Emmy Awards |url=http://cdn.emmys.tv/downloads/2008/PTE60winners_pressrel.pdf |publisher=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |date=2008-09-21 |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-09-22] the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Series,cite press release |title=Writers Guild Awards: 2008 Awards Winners Film and Television Winners|publisher="Writers Guild of America, West" |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 |accessdate=2008-03-07] the Producers Guild of America Award for Producer of the Year in Episodic Comedy Series,cite news |first=Leslie |last=Simmons |title='No Country' tops PGA Awards |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iade5585233ac6180d9045068cae0c307 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2008-02-04 |accessdate=2008-02-18] and a Peabody Award,cite press release |title=67th Annual Peabody Awards Winners Announced |publisher="Peabody Awards" |date=2008-04-02 |url=http://128.192.29.189/news/pressrelease.asp?ID=152 |accessdate=2008-04-02] as well as achieving the top ranking on a myriad of critics' year-end best of 2006 and 2007 lists. Despite these accolades, the series averaged a low 5.8 million viewers in the United States during its first season, according to the Nielsen Ratings system, and ranked 102 out of 142 television series.cite news |title=2006-07 primetime wrap |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f?pn=2 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2007-05-25 |accessdate=2007-10-14]

Production

Conception

In 2002, Fey was the head writer and a performer on "Saturday Night Live (SNL)". She pitched the show that became "30 Rock" to NBC, originally as a sitcom about cable news. NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly felt that "Fey was using the news setting as a fig leaf for her own experience and [he] encouraged her to write what she knew."cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1535853,00.html|title=Do Not Adjust Your Set|first=James |last=Poniewozik|accessdate=2007-10-16|date=2006-09-18|publisher="Time Magazine"] The show was subsequently reworked to revolve around a "SNL" style skit show. In May 2003, Fey signed a contract with NBC to remain in her "SNL" head writer position until at least the 2004–2005 television season, and to develop a primetime project to be produced by Broadway Video and NBC Universal.cite news |first=Michael |last=Schneider |title=Peacock updates "SNL" anchor's deal |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117885681.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&query=tina+fey+snl+2004%2D05 |publisher="Variety" |date=2003-05-05 |accessdate=2008-04-01]

During the 2004-2005 pilot season, a pilot was announced named "Untitled Tina Fey Project". The "30 Rock" pilot focused on the head writer of a variety show who has to manage her relationships with the show's volatile star and its charismatic executive producer. The storyline evolved into one that dealt with a head writer of a variety show who dealt with both the stars as well as the variety show's new network executive.cite news |first=Josef |last=Adalian |coauthors=Schneider, Michael |title=Bruck finds "Ring" leader |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117917293.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 |publisher="Variety" |date=2005-02-01 |accessdate=2008-04-01] "30 Rock" was officially given the greenlight to air on May 15, 2006 and was given a 13-episode order.cite news |first=Eric |last=Goldman |title=Upfronts Announcement: NBC's Schedule for 2006–2007 Season |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/708/708855p2.html |publisher="IGN" |date=2006-05-15 |accessdate=2008-04-01]

The show underwent further changes during the months leading up to and following its debut. A May 2006 press release mentioned that sketches from "The Girlie Show" would be made available in their entirety on NBC's broadband website, DotComedy.com. The idea was to air the fictitious "TGS with Tracy Jordan" online. [cite news |first=John |last=Consoli |coauthors=Berman, Marc |title=NBC Upfront: Unveils DotComedy.com; "Kidnapped", "Studio 60" Set for Fall |url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002502554 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070612101404/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002502554 |archivedate=2007-06-12 |publisher="Mediaweek" |date=2006-05-15 |accessdate=2008-04-01] This aspect of the series was abandoned prior to its debut.

Filming locations

"30 Rock" is filmed in New York City. Although establishing shots of "30 Rock" are often repeated, outdoor scenes are filmed on location at Rockefeller Center or in other parts of New York City. Most of the indoor scenes are filmed at Silvercup Studios in Queens. In the episodes "Cleveland" and "Hiatus", Battery Park City, Manhattan and Douglaston, Queens doubled for Cleveland, Ohio and the fictional Needmore, Pennsylvania, respectively.cite news |first=Matt |last=Webb Mitovich |title=Funny Business: Tina Fey Previews 30 Rock's Future |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/funny-business-tina/070612-02 |publisher="TV Guide" |date=2007-06-12 |accessdate=2007-10-14]

Music

The series features a "jaunty" jazz soundtrack. [cite web |url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston//RecRoom/47984-Uncertain-Fey-t/ |title=Uncertain Fey-t |accessdate=2008-06-06 |last=Miliard |first=Mike |date=2007-09-25 |publisher=The Boston Phoenix] The music is composed by Fey's husband Jeff Richmond, who is also a producer for "30 Rock". Richmond wrote the theme song, which was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.cite news |first=Jacques|last=Steinberg |title="30 Rock" Lives, and Tina Fey Laughs |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/arts/television/23stei.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin|publisher="The New York Times" |date=2007-09-23 |accessdate=2008-05-18] Seven short original songs have been featured in episodes, five of which were performed by Jane Krakowski,cite episode |title=Pilot |episodelink=Pilot (30 Rock) |series=30 Rock |credits=Writer: Tina Fey; Director: Adam Bernstein |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2006-10-11 |season=1 |number=1] cite episode |title=Jack-Tor |episodelink= |series=30 Rock |credits=Robert Carlock (writer); Don Scardino (director) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2006-11-16 |season=1 |number=5 |minutes=] cite episode |title=Hard Ball |series=30 Rock |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |credits=Writer: Matt Hubbard; Director: Don Scardino |airdate=2007-02-22 |season=1 |number=15] cite episode |title=SeinfeldVision |episodelink= |series=30 Rock| credits=Writer(s): Tina Fey; Director: Don Scardino |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2007-10-04 |season=2 |number=1] cite episode |title=Cooter |episodelink= |series=30 Rock |credits=Tina Fey (writer); Don Scardino (director) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2008-05-08 |season=2 |number=15] another performed by Tina Fey and Jason Sudeikis,cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/782/782310p1.html |title="30 Rock": "Cleveland" Review |accessdate=2008-06-01 |last=Canning |first=Robert |coauthors= |date=2007-04-20 |work= |publisher="IGN"] and another performed by Tracy Morgan.cite web |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/11/tracy-morgans-1.html |title=Tracy Morgan's "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" uncut |accessdate=2008-06-01 |last=Bierly |first=Mandi |coauthors= |date=2007-11-01 |work= |publisher="Entertainment Weekly"] The show has also covered three existing songs,cite episode |title=Somebody To Love |episodelink= |series=30 Rock |credits=Tina Fey & Kay Cannon (writers); Beth McCarthy (director) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2007-11-15 |season=2 |number=6] cite episode |title=Episode 209 |episodelink= |series=30 Rock |credits=Tami Sagher (writer); Don Scardino (director) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2007-12-13 |season=2 |number=9] including the song "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and the Pips. The song had its lyrics altered to accommodate the character Kenneth being "misinformed about the time [of the 11:45 train] ."cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/01/10/30-rock-episode-210/ |title="30 Rock": "Episode 210" |accessdate=2008-06-01 |last=Sassone |first=Bob |authorlink=Bob Sassone |coauthors= |date=2008-01-10 |work= |publisher=AOL's "TV Squad"] The song "Oh My" performed by the The Gray Kid is heard throughout the episode "The Source Awards", which was mixed with a piano arrangement composed by Richmond. [cite web |url=http://www.graykid.com/index2.html |title=The Gray Kid |accessdate=2008-06-01 |publisher=The Gray Kid]

Internet

On April 2, 2008, NBC announced "30 Rock 360", an online extension of the "30 Rock" series. The extension will feature Jack Donaghy's Online Business Courses (or "Jack U"). Users will also be able to read Jack's blogs and upload their own business advice in video form. Users will be able to submit skits for "TGS with Tracy Jordan" and act out skits from "TGS". The feature will re-open "Ask Tina", an interactive question and answer platform in which users can ask Fey questions. Fey will answer the questions in video form.cite press release |title=NBC Digital Entertainment Brings More Video, Original Content and Interactivity for Summer and Fall Season Programming |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2008-04-02 |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20080402000000-nbcdigitalentertai.html |accessdate=2008-04-03] "Ask Tina" was a fixture on NBC.com's "30 Rock" section throughout the first season. [cite web |url=http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/video/index.shtml#mea=93131 |title="30 Rock": "Ask Tina" |accessdate=2008-04-03 |last=Fey |first=Tina |authorlink=Tina Fey |publisher="NBC.com"] Complete episodes of "30 Rock" are available online, to U.S. residents only, along with downloads through the "NBC Direct" service and as of September 9th, 2008 once again on Apple's iTunes after Apple and NBC came to a deal to re-offer NBC shows on iTunes. NBC's shows were originally pulled from iTunes during December 2007 due to pricing disputes.The first and second seasons can be streamed on Netflix, which requires a paid subscription, [cite news |title=Netflix and NBC Universal Announce Online Deal For "Heroes" and Other Popular Series |url=http://www.netflix.com/MediaCenter?id=6429 |publisher="Netflix" |date=2007-11-26 |accessdate=2008-04-03] while the first and second seasons can be purchased on Amazon Unbox for $1.99. [cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000U5KUJG/ref=atv_dp_season_select/105-8382459-5378000?ie=UTF8&redirect=true |title="30 Rock" Season 1 |accessdate=2008-04-03 |publisher="Amazon Unbox"] [cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W52TRU/ref=atv_dp_season_select/103-5497609-2743021?ie=UTF8&redirect=true |title="30 Rock" Season 2 |accessdate=2008-04-03 |publisher="Amazon Unbox"]

Cast and characters

The plot of "30 Rock" revolves around the cast and crew of the fictional sketch comedy series "TGS with Tracy Jordan", which is filmed in Studio 6H inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The cast of the series is an ensemble cast, which means that each character is seen with roughly the same amount of importance in each episode. The initial season had seven roles receiving star billing. Tina Fey portrayed the protagonist, the head writer of "TGS with Tracy Jordan", Liz Lemon. Tracy Morgan played the loose cannon star of "TGS", Tracy Jordan. Jane Krakowski acted as the limelight seeking Jenna Maroney. Jack McBrayer portrayed the young, obedient Southern-born NBC page, Kenneth Parcell. Scott Adsit played the "sane," quick witted producer of "TGS", Pete Hornberger. Judah Friedlander acted as the trucker hat-wearing childish, sarcastic writer Frank Rossitano, and Alec Baldwin portrayed the decisive, controlling, suave network executive Jack Donaghy, who constantly interferes with the goings on at "TGS".

Beginning with season two, three characters, who were credited as guest stars during season one, received star billing in addition to the existing cast. Katrina Bowden portrayed Liz's attractive, laid back assistant Cerie Xerox.cite news |url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/index.html?uuid=8af9b8c0-fbde-4b8b-8353-237b3c459a8e |title=Exclusive! "30 Rock" Scores Will Arnett, Chris Kattan and Mariah Carey (in Our Dreams) |accessdate=2008-03-05 |last=Dos Santos |first=Kristin |authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos |date=2008-03-04 |publisher="E! Online"] Keith Powell played black Harvard alumni writer James "Toofer" Spurlock. Lonny Ross acted as the immature "TGS" cast member Josh Girard. Numerous supporting characters have been given recurring appearances in the series. They include Maulik Pancholy as Jack's loyal assistant Jonathan. Grizz Chapman and Kevin Brown make appearances as members of Tracy's entourage Grizz and Dot Com, respectively. John Lutz makes appearances as the food loving "TGS" writer J.D Lutz.

Casting

Tina Fey worked with Jen McNamara and Adam Bernstein for the casting of the series.cite web |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Interview-Tina-Fey-Talks-About-30-Rock-Part-1-9723.html |title=Interview: Tina Fey Talks About "30 Rock" (Part 1) |accessdate=2008-07-08 |author=West, Kelly|date=2008-04-01 |publisher=Cinema Blend] Fey's first act as casting director was to cast herself as the lead character, Liz Lemon, who is said to be much like Fey herself when she first became head writer on "SNL". [ [http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/video/#mea=34901 "30 Rock" Exclusive Video Clips – NBC Official Site ] ] The next actor to be cast was Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan,cite news |coauthors= |title=NBC comedy a reunion for Morgan, Fey |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001657605 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2005-12-01 |accessdate=2008-04-01] who was then a former castmate of Fey's in "SNL". Morgan was asked by Fey to play the role, and he believed it was "right up [his] alley and it was tailor made for [him] ". [cite web |url=http://au.tv.ign.com/articles/736/736916p1.html |title=IGN Interview: "30 Rock's" Tracy Morgan |accessdate=2008-07-08 |author=Fuckett, Travis|date=2006-10-17 |publisher=IGN] Fey said that the character of Kenneth Parcell was written with Jack McBrayer in mind. McBrayer was an old friend of Fey, and she "really wanted him for that part and was very happy when no one objected". Rachel Dratch, Fey's longtime comedy partner and fellow "SNL" alumna, was originally cast to portray Jenna. Dratch played the role in the show's original pilot, but in August 2006, Jane Krakowski was announced as Dratch's replacement, with Dratch remaining involved in the show playing various characters. [cite news | url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-janekrakowskijoins30rock,0,1779072.story | title='Ally' Cat Krakowski Joins '30 Rock' | accessdate=2007-10-16 | date=2006-08-17 |publisher="Zap2it"] Fey explained the change by noting that Dratch was "better-suited to playing a variety of eccentric side characters",cite news| url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061009/fey_tv_061009 |title=Fey hopeful about success of "30 Rock"|author=Canadian Press |date=2006-10-09 |accessdate=2008-09-02 |publisher=CTV] and that the role of Jenna was more of a straight-ahead acting part. Although Fey went on to say that "Rachel and I were both very excited about this new direction", Dratch said that she was not happy with the media's depiction of the change as a demotion. Dratch was skeptical about the reasons she was given for the change, and was not happy with the reduction in the number of episodes in which she would appear. [cite news| url=http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/22836/ |title=Rachel Rolls With It|author=Rosenblum, Emma |date=2006-10-16 |accessdate=2008-09-02 |publisher="New York Magazine"] Shortly following the casting of McBrayer and Dratch, Alec Baldwin was cast as Jack Donaghy, the "totally uncensored" Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming.cite news |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |title=Baldwin eyes Fey's NBC pilot |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002034584 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2007-02-17 |accessdate=2008-04-01] Fey said that the character of Jack Donaghy was written with Baldwin in mind, and she was "very pleasantly surprised when he agreed to do it". Judah Friedlander was cast as the staff writer of "The Girlie Show", Frank Rossitano. Friedlander had never met Fey before auditioning for a role in "30 Rock". His character was based on at least two writers that Fey used to work with at "SNL", but said that he "certainly brought some of [his] own things to it as well". [cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07109/777779-352.stm |title="30 Rock" Star Rockets into Pittsburgh |accessdate=2008-08-04 |date=2007-04-19 |publisher="Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"] Finally, Scott Adsit was cast as Pete Hornberger, a long time friend of Liz's and producer of "The Girlie Show". Adsit, an old friend of Fey, also had his character written based on him.

eason Synopses

eason 1

Season one began airing in the United States on October 11, 2006, and featured 21 episodes.cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/30-Rock/7374 |title=30 Rock - 1st Season DVD Date Announced |accessdate=2008-03-26 |last=Lambert |first=David |date=2007-05-25 |publisher="TVShowsOnDVD.com"] The season finale aired on April 26, 2007.cite press release |title=NBC springs into action on Thursdays with return of "30 Rock" on April 5, a night filled with super-sized comedies and laughs |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-03-17 |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20070312000000-nbcspringsintoact.html |accessdate=2008-03-23] When Jack Donaghy, the "Head of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming" at General Electric (GE), is transferred to work at the NBC headquarters, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and retool the late night sketch comedy series "The Girlie Show". The show's cast and crew are outraged by this; especially head writer Liz Lemon and main actress Jenna Maroney. Jack proceeds to wreak havoc on "The Girlie Show," forcing Liz to hire the off-the-wall movie star Tracy Jordan. He again angers the cast and crew of "The Girlie Show" when he changes the name to "TGS with Tracy Jordan" (or just "TGS").

As the season progresses, the episodes become less about "TGS" and more about how the characters deal with juggling their lives and their jobs—specifically the protagonist, Liz Lemon, but other characters are also explored. Episodes also become less self contained and various story arcs develop in the second half of the season. For example, the first major story arc centers on Liz's relationship with Dennis Duffy (Dean Winters), "The Beeper King." Other story arcs include: Jenna promoting her movie "The Rural Juror"; Tracy going on the run from The Black Crusaders; Jack's engagement, which was eventually called off, to a Christie's auctioneer named Phoebe (Emily Mortimer); and another relationship of Liz's with Floyd (Jason Sudeikis).

eason 2

Season two began airing in the United States on October 4, 2007, and featured 15 episodes. The second season was originally intended to consist of 22 episodes but the order was cut to 15 due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike,cite news |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |authorlink=Michael Ausiello |title=UPDATED Strike Chart: How Long Before Your Shows Go Dark? |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Strike-Chart-Long/800026937 |publisher="TV Guide" |date=2007-11-09 |accessdate=2008-05-25] cite news |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Wga-Strike-Favorite/800032698 |title=UPDATED! After the Strike: When Your Favorites Will Return! |accessdate=2008-05-25 |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Ausiello |date=2008-02-07 |publisher="TV Guide"] The season finalé aired on May 8, 2008.cite news |first=Stuart |last=Levine |title=ABC wins tight Thursday race |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985392.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2563 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-05-09 |accessdate=2008-05-09] After Liz broke up with Floyd in the summer, she is looking for ways to rebound. When Jerry Seinfeld confronts Jack about a new marketing campaign which featured clips of Seinfeld's sitcom, "Seinfeld", in all NBC shows, he has a chance encounter with Liz that gives her some much needed advice. During the "TGS" summer hiatus, Jenna becomes obese due to performing in the broadway show "Mystic Pizza: The Musical" and with the help of Kenneth, loses the weight. Tracy has encountered some marital problems with his wife Angie Jordan (Sherri Shepherd) and they become separated, but later reunite.

During the season, Jack develops a relationship with a Democratic congresswoman named Celeste "C.C." Cunningham (Edie Falco). They later break up. An arc that was established in the first season but becomes more apparent in the second regards Jack running for the GE chairmanship against his archnemesis Devon Banks (Will Arnett). The season ends with Liz planning to adopt a child after believing she was pregnant with Dennis' baby. Kenneth also travels to Beijing to be a page at the 2008 Summer Olympics and Tracy invents a pornographic video game. Jack ends the season working at a new government job in Washington, D.C., but plans to get fired by proposing a "gay bomb."

eason 3

"30 Rock" will return with a third season as part of NBC's fall schedule. The season will consist of 22 episodes and is scheduled to premiere on October 30, 2008.cite news |first=Josef |last=Adalian |title=Full NBC schedule takes shape |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983342.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-04-02 |accessdate=2008-04-02] cite news |first=Kristin |last=Dos Santos |authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos |title=Breaking: "30 Rock" Picked Up! |url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/index.html?uuid=4ab706ce-8f1c-4380-a00b-733dd32ef7c7 |publisher="E! Online" |date=2008-04-02 |accessdate=2008-04-02] cite news |first=James |last=Hibberd |title=NBC announces fall premiere dates |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3idd76da9cd5a7a6acf068db4180bb63a2 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2008-05-23 |accessdate=2008-05-23] In August 2008, Jennifer Aniston filmed her guest appearance on the show, marking the second actor from the NBC show "Friends", following David Schwimmer, to make an appearance. Oprah Winfrey will guest star in the second episode, playing herself. Rose McGowan will also be making a guest appearance in episode 4, and Salma Hayek has been confirmed [ [http://www.tvguide.com/News/30-Rock-casting-20189.aspx Salma Hayek Will Rock Jack Donaghy's World] " "TV Guide". October 10, 2008. Retrieved on October 10 2008.] for a multi-episode arc, portraying Jack's new girlfriend. Other guest stars this season include Megan Mullaly and Steve Martin.cite web|url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b27027_oprah_winfrey_in_final_talks_guest_on.html|title=Exclusive! Oprah Winfrey In Final Talks to Guest on 30 Rock!|accessdate=2008-09-03|last=Dos Santos|first=Kristin|authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos|date=2008-09-03|publisher=E! Online - Watch with Kristin]

Impact

Critical reception

"30 Rock" has been well received by critics but has struggled to attract viewers. [cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/04/30_rock_switches_time_slots_is.html |title=‘30 Rock’ Switches Time Slots; Is It in Trouble, or a Hit? |accessdate=2008-05-02 |date= 2008-04-22 |publisher=New York Entertainment] Robert Abele of "LA Weekly" declared that the show was "A weirdly appropriate and hilarious symbol of our times." [cite web |url=http://www.laweekly.com/film+tv/tv/battle-of-the-network-stars/14845/ |title=Battle of the Network Stars |accessdate=2008-04-04 |last=Abele |first=Robert |date=2006-10-25 |publisher="LA Weekly"] Dead link|date=September 2008 "The Wall Street Journal"'s Dorothy Rabinowitz wrote that "The standard caution is relevant - debut episodes tend to be highly polished. All the more reason to enjoy the hilarious scenes and fine ensemble cast here." [cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116008368469484155.html |title=This Is the Funny One |accessdate=2008-04-04 |last=Rabinowitz |first=Dorothy |date=2006-10-06 |publisher="The Wall Street Journal"] Some less favorable reviews were received from Brian Lowry of "Variety". Lowry said that "Despite her success with "Mean Girls," [Tina] Fey mostly hits too-familiar notes in the pilot. Moreover, she's a limited protagonist, which is problematic." [cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931792.html?categoryId=32&cs=1 |title="30 Rock" (Series -- NBC, Wed. Oct. 11, 8 p.m.) |accessdate=2008-04-04 |last=Lowry |first=Brian |date=2006-10-08 |publisher="Variety"] Criticism was also received from Maureen Ryan of the "Chicago Tribune", who said that "30 Rock" is less than the sum of its parts, and, as an entry in the single-camera comedy sweepstakes, it fails to show either the inspired inventiveness of "Arrested Development" or provide the surprisingly perceptive character studies of "The Office"." [cite web |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/10/30_rock_20_good.html |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5afB1UdOK |archivedate=2008-09-07 |title="30 Rock", "20 Good Years" and the soul of sitcoms |accessdate=2008-04-04 |last=Ryan |first=Maureen |date=2006-10-09 |publisher="Chicago Tribune"] "Metacritic" gave the pilot episode a Metascore—a weighted average based on the impressions of a select thirty-one critical reviews—of 67 out of 100.cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/30rock?q=30%20rock |title="30 Rock" Series: NBC, Wednesday 8:00p (30 minutes) |accessdate=2008-02-27 |publisher="Metacritic"]

The season premiere of the second season, "SeinfeldVision," which featured Jerry Seinfeld, [cite press release |title=Television Superstar Jerry Seinfeld Returns to NBC to Guest-star as Himself in NBC's "30 Rock" During Comedy's Second-season Premiere October 4 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-07-16 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20070716000000-televisionsuperstar.html |accessdate=2008-04-04] received mostly positive reviews. Jeff Labrecque of "Entertainment Weekly" wrote that "SeinfeldVision" was a clever and ironic way to incorporate [Jerry] Seinfeld."cite web |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/10/mini-tv-watch-3.html |title="30 Rock": Pull Yourself Together, Man |accessdate=2008-03-29 |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |date=2007-10-05 |publisher="Entertainment Weekly"] Matt Webb Mitovich of "TV Guide" said that " ['SeinfeldVision'] was a solid start to the new, fought-for season" and that it did have "some great, great moments." Despite this praise, Webb Mitovich criticised Kenneth and Tracy's "office wife" storyline saying that "we've seen this shtick before on countless other sitcoms, so it was a bit empty and filled with 'easy' jokes." Criticism was also received regarding the "striped outfit... it didn't work. No," referring to a joke involving Jenna trying to distract the "TGS" writers from her newly gained weight.cite web |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/Episode-Recap-Seinfeldvision/800023766 |title=Episode Rec
TV Guide"] Lisa Schmeiser of "Television Without Pity" graded this episode as a "B+."cite web |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/30-Rock/Stories/SeinfeldVision?currentPage=1 |title='SeinfeldVision' |accessdate=2008-03-29 |last=Schmeiser |first=Lisa |date=2007-10-05 |publisher="Television Without Pity"] Dead link|date=September 2008 Despite the mostly positive reviews, Alessandra Stanley of "The New York Times" thought that "SeinfeldVision" "is mostly a reminder that even the most talented actors and writers sometimes slip under pressure."cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E0DE1F3EF937A35753C1A9619C8B63&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |title="30 Rock" and "Grey's Anatomy"; Sophomore Jitters and 'SeinfeldVision' |accessdate=2008-03-29 |last=Stanley |first=Alessandra |date=2007-10-04 |publisher="The New York Times"] Days before the premiere of the season premiere, Seinfeld was criticized as using his appearance in this episode as a plug for his upcoming feature film "Bee Movie". Seinfeld, NBC and General Electric stated that this was done as metahumor. [cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0243829420071003 |title=Seinfeld Plugs Own Movie in "30 Rock" Guest Spot |accessdate=2007-12-23 |last=Gorman |first=Steve |date=2007-10-03 |publisher="Reuters"]

At the end of 2006, "LA Weekly" listed "30 Rock" as one of the best "Series of the Year." cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/film+tv/screen/sit-up-and-watch/15291/|author=Able, Robert |publisher="LA Weekly"|title=Sit Up and Watch|accessdate=2007-10-16|date=2006-12-27] Dead link|date=September 2008 The show also appeared on similar year end "best of" 2006 lists published by "The New York Times",cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/arts/television/24stan.html|title=Where the Tube Beats YouTube|first=Alessandra |last=Stanley|publisher="The New York Times"|date=2006-12-24|accessdate=2007-10-16] "The A.V. Club",cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/content/node/57448 |title=Crosstalk: The Best TV Of 2006 |accessdate=2008-04-01 |last=Murray |first=Noel |coauthors=Tobias, Scott |date=2007-01-10 |work= |publisher="The A.V. Club"] "The Boston Globe",cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/bests/2006/ |title=Best of 2006: TV Critic Top Ten Lists |accessdate=2008-04-06 |publisher=Metacritic] "The Chicago Sun-Times", "Entertainment Weekly", "The Los Angeles Times", "The Miami Herald", "People Weekly", and "TV Guide". The "Associated Press" wrote that NBC's "Thursday night comedy block—made up of "My Name Is Earl", "The Office", "Scrubs", and "30 Rock"—is consistently the best night of prime time viewing for any network."cite web|title=NBC leads year's best series|first=Terry |last=Morrow|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/526251.html|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2007-10-16|date=2006-12-29] In 2007, it appeared on "The Boston Globe"'s "best of" listcite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/bests/2007/ |title=Best of 2007: TV Critic Top Ten List |accessdate=2008-04-06 |publisher="Metacritic"] as well as the "best of" lists of "The Chicago Sun-Times", "The Chicago Tribune", "Entertainment Weekly", "The Los Angeles Times", "New Jersey Star-Ledger", "The New York Times", "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", "The San Francisco Chronicle", "The San Jose Mercury News", "TV Guide" and "USA Today". "30 Rock" was named the best series of 2007 by "Entertainment Weekly".

Awards and nominations

Capping its critically successful first season, "30 Rock" won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and Elaine Stritch was awarded an Emmy in September 2007 for her work as a guest actress in "Hiatus." Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin were nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding Lead Actor in a comedy series categories respectively.cite web |url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/59thnominations.php |title=The 59th Primetime Emmy® Awards and Creative Arts Emmy® Awards Nominees are... |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher="Academy of Television Arts & Sciences"] "Jack-Tor" and "Tracy Does Conan" were both nominated in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. "30 Rock" received four Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Alec Baldwin received the Golden Globe Award for in 2007.cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/year/2006 |title=Nominations and Winners 2007 |accessdate=2008-03-07 |publisher="Hollywood Foreign Press Association"] Baldwin also received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series in 2007.cite news |title='Dreamgirls' and 'Sunshine' Dreams Come True |url=http://www.etonline.com/sag2007/2007/01/38574/index.html |publisher="Entertainment Tonight" |date=2007-01-28 |accessdate=2008-02-18] The show also received various other guild award nominations during its first season.cite web |url=http://www.dga.org/news/dgamonthly-0207/awrdsnews_tvcatsannounce-0207.php3 |title=DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in the television categories of Dramatic Series Night, Comedy Series, Musical Variety, Reality Programs, Daytime Serials and Children's Programs for 2006 |accessdate=2008-03-07 |year=2007 |month=February |work=Newsletter |publisher="Directors Guild of America"] cite press release |title=2007 Writers Guild Awards Television & Radio Nominees Announced |publisher="Writers Guild of America, West" |date=2006-12-13 |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2267 |accessdate=2008-03-07]

In 2008, Tina Fey won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical.cite news |first=Phil |last=Gallo |title='Atonement,' 'Sweeney' win Globes |url=http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117977639.html |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-01-13 |accessdate=2008-02-18] That year, "30 Rock" also received a nomination for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical. Fey and Baldwin both won Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2008.cite news |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |title='Country' takes top SAG film award |url=http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117979715.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-01-27 |accessdate=2008-02-18] The series took home the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Series in 2008.cite press release |title=Writers Guild Awards Awards Winners 2008 Awards Winners Film and Television Winners |publisher="Writers Guild of America, West" |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 |accessdate=2008-03-07] It also received the The Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Award in Episodic Series - Comedy from the Producers Guild of America in 2008.cite news |first=Leslie |last=Simmons |title='No Country' tops PGA Awards |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iade5585233ac6180d9045068cae0c307 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2008-02-04 |accessdate=2008-02-18] "30 Rock" received 17 emmy nominations, for its second season, meaning it was the second most nominated series of the year.cite web |url=http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2008pte/60thpte_noms.php |title=The 60^th Primetime Emmy® Awards and Creative Arts Emmy® Awards Nominees are... |accessdate=2008-07-17 |date=2008-07-17 |work= |publisher="Academy of Television Arts & Sciences"] These 17 nominations broke the record for the most nominations for a comedy series, meaning that "30 Rock" was the most nominated comedy series for any individual Emmy year. The previous holder of this record was "The Larry Sanders Show" in 1996 with 16 nominations.cite news |first=Tom |last=O'Neil |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="30 Rock" breaks comedy record at Emmy nominations |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/07/30-rock-and-joh.html |work= |publisher="The Los Angeles Times" |date=2008-07-18 |accessdate=2008-07-24 ] "30 Rock" also won the Television Critics Association Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Comedy."cite news |first=Stuart |last=Levine |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="Mad Men" tops TCA Awards |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989202.html?categoryId=14&cs=1 |work= |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-07-19 |accessdate=2008-07-20 ]

Also in 2008, 30 Rock completed a sweep of the major awards for best comedy series at that year's Primetime Emmy Awards. The show won Outstanding Comedy Series, Alec Baldwin was recognized as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and Tina Fey was given the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. This marks the eighth time in the history of the Emmy awards that a show won best series plus best lead actor and actress.cite news |first=Tom |last=O'Neil |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="30 Rock" finally rocks the Emmys, sweeping the trifecta |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/09/emmy-30-rock.html |work= |publisher="The Los Angeles Times" |date=2008-09-21 |accessdate=2008-09-22 ] Tina Fey also won the award for best writing in a comedy series for the episode "Cooter".

"30 Rock" received a Peabody Award in 2008.cite press release |title=67th Annual Peabody Awards Winners Announced |publisher="Peabody Awards" |date=2008-04-02 |url=http://128.192.29.189/news/pressrelease.asp?ID=152 |accessdate=2008-04-02] Upon announcing the award, the Peabody Board commended the show for being "not only a great workplace comedy in the tradition of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", complete with fresh, indelible secondary characters, but also a sly, gleeful satire of corporate media, especially the network that airs it."cite press release |title=Complete List of 2007 Peabody Award Winners |publisher="Peabody Awards" |date=2008-04-02 |url=http://128.192.29.189/news/pressrelease.asp?ID=151 |accessdate=2008-04-02]

Ratings

Below, "Rank" refers to how well "30 Rock" rated compared to other television series which aired during primetime hours of the corresponding "Television season." The television season tends to begin in September, of any given year, and end during the May of the following year. "Viewers" refers to the average number of viewers for all original episodes (broadcast in the series' "Regular Timeslot") of "30 Rock" aired during the television season. Although the viewer average may be higher for some seasons than others, the rank will not necessarily be higher. This is due to the number of programs aired during primetime. In some seasons there may be more regular programs aired during primetime than in others. The "Season premiere" is the date that the first episode of the season aired. Similarly, the "Season finale" is the date that the final episode of the season aired.

The pilot episode generated 8.13 million viewers,cite news |first=Rick |last=Kissell |title=NBC's "Rock" solid in premiere |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117951807.html?categoryid=1275&cs=1&query=30+rock+3%2E2 |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-10-12 |accessdate=2008-02-27] which currently remains the series' highest rating. In its original timeslot of Wednesday at 8:00PM EST, the show averaged 6.23 million viewers. [cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 112 (out of 112 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2006-11-07 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=110706_06 |accessdate=2008-04-03] Dead link|date=September 2008 "30 Rock" aired on Wednesdays for its first four episodes. The seasons lowest ratings were achieved by "Jack the Writer" and "Hard Ball" which both achieved 4.61 million viewers.cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 102 (out of 102 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2006-11-07 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=110706_05 |accessdate=2008-04-03] Dead link|date=September 2008cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 99 (out of 99 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2007-02-27 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=022707_06 |accessdate=2008-04-03] Dead link|date=September 2008 The season two premiere, "SeinfeldVision," was viewed by 7.33 million viewers, the highest rating since the pilot. [cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 102 (out of 102 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2007-10-09 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=100907_06 |accessdate=2008-04-03] Dead link|date=September 2008 "30 Rock" entered a hiatus due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike on January 10, 2008. The episode that aired on that date was viewed by 5.98 million viewers. [cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 95 (out of 95 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2008-01-15 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=011508_03 |accessdate=2008-04-03] Dead link|date=September 2008 The second season finale, "Cooter", which aired on May 8, 2008, was viewed by 5.6 million viewers.cite news |first=Stuart |last=Levine |title=ABC wins tight Thursday race |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985392.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2563 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-05-09 |accessdate=2008-05-09]

On December 29, 2006, Nielsen Media Research (NMR) reported the results of having, for the first time, monitored viewers who use a digital video recorder to record shows for later viewing. NMR reported that "30 Rock" adds nearly 7.5% to its total audience every week as a result of viewers who use a DVR to record the show and then watch it within a week of its initial airing. [cite news |title="Studio 60" Gets Bump from DVRs |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-studio60mosttimeshiftedshow,0,4559331.story?coll=zap-tv-mainheadline |publisher="Zap2it" |date=2006-12-29 |accessdate=2008-04-03 RetrieveOctober d 14, 2007.] A March 2007 report from "MAGNA Global", based on NMR data about viewership ranked by among adults 25–54, shows that as of the time of the report "30 Rock"'s viewers have a median income of $65,000, high enough to place the show tied at 11th in affluence with several other shows. This is during a period where for the season "30 Rock" is tied at No. 85 in the 18–49 demographic. [cite news |first=Kevin |last=Downey |title=In their TV tastes, the rich are different |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman/publish/article_10573.asp |publisher="Media Life Magazine" |date=2007-03-05 |accessdate=2007-10-14] During its second season, "30 Rock" ranked in fourth place, against all primetime programming, for television series' which are watched by viewers with income above $100,000.cite news |first=James |last=Hibberd |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=For the networks, season didn't rate; Chart: Show ratings by demo |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i6e06ab8971554c64624b9b5f980db683?pn=4 |work= |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2008-05-23 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ]

"30 Rock" also airs in other countries; ratings and rankings for some of these markets include:

*Australia: The first season premiered on December 4, 2007 on the Seven Network at 10:30, showing on Mondays and Wednesdays. After the summer season its timeslot was changed to Mondays only, showing at 11:30pm.cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv-reviews/30-rock/2008/07/18/1216163131731.html |title="30 Rock" — TV Reviews |accessdate=2008-07-29 |last=Cooke |first=Dewi |coauthors= |date=2008-07-21 |work= |publisher="The Age"] The first season completed its run on April 28, 2008, and the DVD was released two days later. [cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/dvd-reviews/30-rock/2008/04/30/1209234936007.html |title="30 Rock" - DVD Reviews - Film - Entertainment |accessdate=2008-07-09 |author=Hawker, Philippa |date=2008-04-30 |publisher="The Age"] The second season premiered on June 9, 2008 at 11:30pm. [cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv-reviews/30-rock/2008/06/06/1212259072314.html |title="30 Rock" - TV Reviews - TV & Radio - Entertainment |accessdate=2008-07-09 |author=Pfarr, Jodie |date=2008-06-09 |publisher="The Age"]

*Canada: The series premiered on the CTV network on October 10, 2006, a day before its premiere in the United States. The network aired the first four episodes of the series, [cite news |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117944181.html?cs=1&s=h&p=0 |title=Canucks on show patrol |accessdate=2007-12-23 |first=Elizabeth |last=Guider |coauthors=Kelly, Brendan |date=2006-05-25 |publisher="Variety"] but dropped the show effective November 30, 2006 after a brief run during which it never entered the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement Nielsen top 30. [cite news |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=719b0999-5265-4342-bace-c83a7d26ef2a&k=87589 |title=The Fey whisperer: Oh, Tina! |accessdate=2007-12-23 |last=McKenzie |first=Rob |date=2006-11-30 |publisher="National Post"] CTV later re-added the show to its lineup on Sundays at 8:30pm, but moved the show to its secondary A-Channel system for the series' second season. [cite web |url=http://www.atv.ca/victoria/tvshows_scrubs-30rock.aspx |title="Scrubs" and "30 Rock" |accessdate=2008-08-25 |publisher=A-Channel]

*United Kingdom: The first season premiered on October 11, 2007 on Five. The premiere was watched by 700,000 viewers, which was 6% of all people watching television in the country at the time it was broadcast.cite news |first=Stephen |last=Brook |title="Californication" entices 1m viewers |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/oct/12/tvratings.television |publisher="Media Guardian" |date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2008-02-27] "30 Rock" originally aired at 10:45pm,cite news |first=Jane |last=Simon |title="30 Rock"|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv-entertainment/tv/todays-tv/2007/10/11/30-rock-89520-19933821/|publisher="Daily Mirror" |date=2007-10-11 |accessdate=2008-07-09] but was moved to 11:05pm, airing back-to-back episodes. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Pick Of The Day: "30 Rock" |url= |format=Newspaper |work= |publisher="Metro" |location= |id= |pages= |page=29 |date=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-07-21 |language= |quote=Five's decision to start doubling up helpings of this US sitcom [...] |archiveurl= |archivedate= ] Season two is expected to air on one of Five's digital sister channels, FiveUS or Fiver, due to low ratings shown during the broadcast of season one. [cite news |first=Leigh |last=Holmwood |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Channel 4 shifts "Brothers and Sisters" to E4 |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/28/channel4.television |work= |publisher="Media Guardian" |date=2008-03-28 |accessdate=2008-07-29 ]

imilarities to other media

Two shows debuting on 2006–07 NBC lineup, "30 Rock" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", revolved around the off-camera happenings on a sketch comedy series. Similarities between the two led to speculation that only one of them would be picked up. Baldwin said "I'd be stunned if NBC picked up both shows. And ours has the tougher task, as a comedy, because if it's not funny, that's it."cite web |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/04/24/060424ta_talk_friend |title=Who's on First Dept: Shows about Shows |accessdate=2008-08-01 |author=Friend, Tad |date=2006-04-24|publisher="The New Yorker"] Kevin Reilly, then president of NBC Entertainment, was supportive of Fey, describing the situation as a "high-class problem":

Evidence of the overlapping subject matter between the shows, as well as the conflict between them, arose when Aaron Sorkin, the creator of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", asked Lorne Michaels to allow him to observe "Saturday Night Live" for a week, a request Michaels denied. Despite this, Sorkin sent Fey flowers after NBC announced it would pick up both series, and wished her luck with "30 Rock". [cite web |url=http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/archives/105252.asp |title="Tina Fey's Weekend Update: Aaron Sorkin calls her out!" |accessdate=2008-07-31 |author=McFarland, Melanie |date=2006-07-22|publisher="Seattle Post-Intelligencer"] Fey said that "it's just bad luck for me that in my first attempt at prime time I'm going up against the most powerful writer on television. I was joking that this would be the best pilot ever aired on Trio. And then Trio got canceled." Fey wound up "winning" over Sorkin when "Studio 60" was canceled after one season and "30 Rock" was renewed for a second. Though "30 Rock"'s first-season ratings proved lackluster and were lower than those of "Studio 60", "Studio 60" was more expensive to produce. [cite web |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/05012007/tv/studio_sinks__not_30_rock_tv_michael_starr.htm |title="Studio" Sinks, Not "30 Rock" |accessdate=2008-08-04 |author=Starr, Michael |date=2007-05-01 |publisher="New York Post"]

"30 Rock"'s crew have reportedly made jokes about the similarity with "Studio 60". One early promo for "30 Rock" portrayed Alec Baldwin mistakenly thinking he would meet Sorkin, [cite video |people=Tina Fey; Alec Baldwin |title=30 Rock Series Premiere Promo |url=http://30rockfan.org/media/videos/spot2.wmv |format=WMV |medium=Promo |publisher=NBC |accessdate=2008-04-02] and when asked on her "Ask Tina" space what she thought of the criticism that "30 Rock" received, Fey jokingly replied that people who did not like it were probably confusing it with "Studio 60". [cite video |people=Tina Fey |title=Ask Tina - 12/14/06 |url=http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/video/#mea=51031 |format=Stream |publisher="NBC" |location=New York City, New York |accessdate=2008-04-02] However, none of "30 Rock"'s producers have given "Studio 60" any serious criticism, positive or negative. In a November 1, 2006 interview, Fey said she had seen the first two episodes of "Studio 60". When asked what her impressions were, she jokingly replied, "I can't do impressions of Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry." [cite news |url=http://www.avclub.com/content/node/54729 |title=Interviews: Tina Fey |accessdate=2007-12-23 |last=Murray |first=Noel |date=2006-11-01 |publisher=The A.V. Club]

At least three "30 Rock" episodes have briefly parodied "Studio 60":
*"Jack the Writer" contains a self-referencing walk and talk sequence, such sequences being commonly used on "Studio 60" and Aaron Sorkin's previous shows.cite web |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/November-1-2006/700010940 |title=November 1, 2006: "Nuts to You, McGullicuty!" |accessdate=2008-08-09 |last=Webb Mitovich |first=Matt |coauthors= |date=2006-11-02 |publisher="TV Guide"]
*"Jack-tor" - Liz tries to quote global education statistics, only to mess up and realize that she does not know what she is talking about. [cite news |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/746/746564p1.html |title=30 Rock: "Jack-Tor" Review |accessdate=2007-12-23 |last=Canning |first=Robert |date=2006-11-17 |publisher=IGN]
*"Jack Meets Dennis" - Liz says the upcoming show will be "worse than that time we did that Gilbert and Sullivan parody". The second episode of "Studio 60", "The Cold Open," included a parody of the "Major-General's Song" on the show-within-the-show.

Some critics have compared "30 Rock" to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", with parallels drawn between the relationship of Liz and Jack and that of Mary Richards and Lou Grant. [cite news |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20033306,00.html |title=There's 'Moore' to '30 Rock' Than Meets the Eye |accessdate=2007-12-23 |date=2007-04-02 |publisher=Entertainment Weekly] [cite web |url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/01/19/entertainment/entertainment/371a8d51218c1834862572660075efb8.txt |title=Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin help make '30 Rock' funny |accessdate=2007-12-23 |last=Moore |first=Frazier |date=2007-01-19 |publisher=NWI] It has also been compared to "That Girl". [cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100/article/0,28804,1595326_1595332,00.html |title=Tina Fey |accessdate=2007-12-23 |last=Poniewozik |first=James |publisher="Time Magazine"] [cite web |url=http://www.mediavillage.com/jmentr/2006/10/11/jmer-10-11-06/ |title=30 Rock Brings New Energy to Television Comedy |accessdate=2007-12-23 |last=Martin |first=Ed |date=2006-10-11 |publisher=Media Village] Like "That Girl" and "Mary Tyler Moore", "30 Rock" is a sitcom centering on an unmarried, brunette career woman living in a big city where she works in the television industry.

Notable guest stars

Appearing as characters

*Fred Armisen as Raheem Haddad ("Somebody to Love")
*Will Arnett as Devon Banks ("Fireworks", "Jack Gets in the Game", "Succession")
*Wayne Brady as Steven Black ("The Source Awards")
*Matthew Broderick as James Riley A.K.A. Cooter Burger ("Cooter")
*Steve Buscemi as Lem ("The Collection")
*Tim Conway as Bucky Bright ("Subway Hero")
*LL Cool J as Ridikolous ("The Source Awards")
*Rachel Dratch as various characters ("Pilot", "The Aftermath", "Jack Meets Dennis", "Tracy Does Conan", "The Break Up", "The Baby Show", "The Rural Juror", "Up All Night", "The C Word", "Hard Ball", "Hiatus")
*Edie Falco as Congresswoman Celeste "C.C." Cunningham (D-VT) ("Somebody to Love", "Secrets and Lies", "Episode 210", "Cooter")
*Carrie Fisher as Rosemary Howard ("Rosemary's Baby")
*Sean Hayes as Jesse Parcell ("Hiatus")
*Peter Hermann as Gray ("The Head and the Hair")
*Anita Gillette as Margaret Lemon ("Episode 209")
*Buck Henry as Dick Lemon ("Episode 209")
*Nathan Lane as Eddie Donaghy ("The Fighting Irish")
*Stephanie March as Gretchen Thomas ("Blind Date")
*Emily Mortimer as Phoebe ("Corporate Crush", "Cleveland", "Hiatus")
*Chris Parnell as Dr. Leo Spaceman ("Tracy Does Conan", "The Baby Show", "The Rural Juror", "Fireworks", "Hiatus", "Jack Gets In The Game", "Succession")
*Paul Reubens as Gerhardt Habsburg ("Black Tie")
*Andy Richter as Mitch Lemon ("Episode 209")
*Isabella Rossellini as Bianca ("Black Tie", "Up All Night")
*Molly Shannon as Katherine Catherine ("The Fighting Irish")
*David Schwimmer as Jared a.k.a. Greenzo ("Greenzo")
*Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy ("Hiatus", ""Ludachristmas"")
*Sherri Shepherd as Angie Jordan ("Up All Night", "Jack Gets in the Game", "The Collection")
*Jason Sudeikis as Floyd ("Up All Night", "The Source Awards", "The Fighting Irish", "Fireworks", "Corporate Crush", "Cleveland", "Hiatus", "Sandwich Day")
*Rip Torn as Don Geiss ("The C Word", "Corporate Crush", "Jack Gets in the Game", "Succession", "Sandwich Day")
*Kristen Wiig as Candace Van Der Shark ("Somebody to Love")
*Dean Winters as Dennis Duffy ("Jack Meets Dennis", "Tracy Does Conan", "The Break Up", "Subway Hero", "Cooter")

Appearing as themselves

*Mayor Michael Bloomberg ("Subway Hero")
*Tucker Carlson ("Hard Ball")
*James Carville ("Secrets & Lies")
*Al Gore ("Greenzo")
*Chris Hansen ("The Break-Up")
*Rob Huebel ("MILF Island")
*Chris Matthews ("Hard Ball")
*John McEnroe ("The Head and the Hair")
*Conan O'Brien ("Tracy Does Conan")
*Jerry Seinfeld ("SeinfeldVision")
*Meredith Vieira ("Greenzo")
*Whoopi Goldberg ("The Rural Juror")
*Maury Povich ("Fireworks")
*Ghostface Killah ("Jack-Tor", "The Source Awards")
*Lester Holt ("Cleveland")
*Gladys Knight ("Episode 210")
*Richard Milhouse Nixon In what appeared to be an impersonation by Sir Alexander Baldwinian, state-of-the-art image recognition algorithms confirmed the guest appearance of former President Nixon on "Subway Hero". Writer and producer Tina Fey supports previous suspicions.

DVD releases

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/ NBC Official Site]
* [http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/video/episodes/ NBC.com - streaming episodes of "30 Rock"] (USA access only)
* [http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/30-rock/281135 "30 Rock"] at "TV Guide"