30 Rock
A satirical look behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show.
30 Rock is an American satirical surrealist sitcom that aired on NBC from 2006 to 2013, created by Tina Fey and based on her experiences as head writer of Saturday Night Live. Set behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy show, the series takes its name from 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. It is regarded as a landmark series, winning multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and appearing on numerous critics' best-of lists.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Sitcom
- Satire
- Surreal comedy
- Creator
- Tina Fey
- Showrunner
- Tina Fey; Robert Carlock
- Music
- Jeff Richmond
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 7
- Episodes
- 138
Facts from the source article.
Development and production
Tina Fey, while head writer and performer on Saturday Night Live, initially pitched the show that became 30 Rock as a sitcom about cable news. NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly encouraged her to write about her own experiences, and Fey's reluctance faded after conceiving the idea of casting Tracy Morgan as the star of a fictional show. In May 2003, Fey signed a contract to remain at SNL through the 2004–2005 season and to develop a primetime project produced by Broadway Video and NBC Universal. Filming was postponed due to Fey's first pregnancy. The pilot, originally titled Untitled Tina Fey Project, focused on a boss of a variety show managing relationships with a volatile star and an executive producer, later evolving to center on a head writer dealing with both stars and a new network executive. The series was officially greenlit on May 15, 2006, with a 13-episode order. Interior scenes were mostly filmed at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens, with two live episodes shot in Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Episodes set in Cleveland and Needmore, Pennsylvania, used locations in Battery Park City and Douglaston, Queens, respectively. The show occasionally built elaborate sets, including one used for only six seconds of screen time that took three days to construct. Most episodes were produced in a single-camera setup, except for two live episodes filmed in a multiple-camera setup.
Cast and characters
The series features an ensemble cast with seven roles receiving star billing in the opening credits. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, the head writer of TGS with Tracy Jordan, described as a sexually frightened know-it-all. Tracy Morgan portrays Tracy Jordan, the unpredictable star of the show. Jane Krakowski plays Jenna Maroney, Liz's attention-seeking best friend and co-star. Jack McBrayer is Kenneth Ellen Parcell, a cheerful NBC page. Scott Adsit plays Pete Hornberger, the quick-witted producer. Judah Friedlander portrays Frank Rossitano, a sarcastic writer whose trucker hat bears a different phrase each episode. Alec Baldwin plays Jack Donaghy, the controlling network executive. Beginning with season two, several actors received star billing after the opening credits: Katrina Bowden as Cerie, Keith Powell as Toofer, Lonny Ross as Josh Girard, Kevin Brown as Dot Com, Grizz Chapman as Grizz, Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan, and John Lutz as J. D. Lutz. Recurring characters include Dean Winters as Dennis Duffy, Chris Parnell as Leo Spaceman, and Jason Sudeikis as Floyd DeBarber.
Episodes
Season one began airing on October 11, 2006, with 21 episodes concluding on April 26, 2007. The season introduces Jack Donaghy, who retools the late-night sketch comedy The Girlie Show, forcing head writer Liz Lemon to hire Tracy Jordan and renaming the program TGS with Tracy Jordan. Episodes shift focus from the show itself to characters' personal lives, with story arcs including Liz's relationship with Dennis Duffy, Jenna's film The Rural Juror, Tracy on the run from the Black Crusaders, Jack's engagement to Phoebe, and Liz's relationship with Floyd. Season two aired from October 4, 2007, to May 8, 2008, with 15 episodes instead of the planned 22 due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. After Liz breaks up with Floyd, Jerry Seinfeld appears in a storyline involving a marketing campaign. Jenna becomes overweight from performing in Mystic Pizza: The Musical, and Tracy experiences marital problems with his wife Angie Jordan, later reuniting with her.
Reception
30 Rock received critical acclaim from critics and audiences. The Writers Guild of America West ranked it the 21st best-written television series. Its series finale was highly rated by several publications, with HitFix ranking it 15th best, IndieWire including it among 16 best, and HuffPost naming it 5th best. The first season was reviewed favorably, with Metacritic giving the pilot a score of 67 out of 100 based on 31 critical reviews. Robert Abele of LA Weekly called the show a weirdly appropriate and hilarious symbol of the times. Dorothy Rabinowitz of The Wall Street Journal praised the hilarious scenes and fine ensemble cast. Less favorable reviews came from Brian Lowry of Variety, who found Fey a limited protagonist, and Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune, who criticized the show for lacking the inventiveness of Arrested Development or the character studies of The Office. At the end of 2006, LA Weekly listed 30 Rock as one of the best series of the year, and it appeared on year-end best-of lists from The New York Times, The A.V. Club, The Boston Globe, and others. In 2007, Entertainment Weekly named it the best series of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of 30 Rock are there?
30 Rock has 138 episodes across 7 seasons.
When did 30 Rock end?
30 Rock last aired on 31 January 2013.
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