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Given the sheer volume of guest stars, can we/should we start a thread for each? Or do we just have a thread for cameos?

As a foreigner, I'm having trouble telling apart the guest-star comedy actors playing reporters and talk show hosts and the guest-star talk show hosts and reporters playing themselves.

Most of the talk show hosts and reporters were playing themselves. The one big exception would be Rachel Dratch playing Barbara Walters on The View, oh, and the Head and the Hair were fake MSNBC employees. People playing themselves: Maury Povich (Maury), Chris Matthews (Hardball, MSNBC), Tucker Carlson (Hardball, MSNBC), Al Roker (Today, NBC), Leonard Holt (MSNBC -- the guy who told Tracy that "the Black Crusaders are coming to get you"). Can anyone think of more? I'm sure I left some out.

Lester Holt to the rest of us. Heh.

And of course, Conan O'Brien.

Leonard is, uh, his Black Crusader code name? (Sorry, thanks for setting it straight. I'd hate to start a trend of answering questions here incorrectly.)

Wasn't Chris Hansen on once, Shelwood, or am I watching too many Dateline: Predators and getting confused?

Yes, when Dennis was busted on Dateline and Liz finally dumped him.

I miss the pretty that was Dennis, mtlchickie.

I only started watching to find out what "Dennis" was up to with his prettiness these days. Sigh.

ANyway, thanks for the list. They do seem to have got an awful lot of real TV presenters to appear.

When does the new season start?

The new season starts on October 4th.

Is there any chance that 30 Rock can beat The Office for Best Comedy Emmy this year? I love it more and more and more....

Many critics believe so. I want to believe too, cuz they chose fabulous episodes to submit to the academy, but I'm still not sure. Here's a chart with predictions from critics and and a few members from Gold Derby.

BTW, now that 30 Rock is on the radar, should we start a awards thread? It could be called "Where's my Emmy?" or something.

I think he's coming back this season.

VICTORY!! Who cares that the Emmys are whack when they reward the funniest show on TV... and the dozens of us who are watching it.

Where can I see the unaired pilot?

Do I have to know anything about the old season to start watching and enjoy the upcoming season?

Probably not, cutecouple. I suspect that the writers will provide whatever back-story references they deem important to understanding the new episodes within those episodes. They're clever enough to pull that off gracefully. But you really should watch S1 simply because it's so damned funny!

Which episodes did 30 Rock submit to the Emmys?

From an entertainment forum:Never knew they could submit so many. Then again, it makes sense since it's a series award.

They submit 6 episodes, but each voter receives a DVD that contains only two of them.

I think this is because Saturday Night Live and MSNBC studios are located in the same building at 30 Rock. Tina Fey was sharing the elevator with all those guys for quite a few years. It's also why she can get away with hilariously slandering Katie Couric and...who was it trashed his dressing room every day? Brian Williams?

MSNBC is in Secaucus. I heard they're moving people over here. Wonderful the elevators will be even worse now. *rolleyes*

And yes it was Brian Williams. That was so hilarious. Kat Cou Suc. Brilliant.

Hmmmm. Well, when I was in New York, I toured somethin'. (says the person who never watches the news)

It was indeed Williams. And I love that when an interviewer asked him what he thought about how 30 Rock presented him, Williams told them that he wanted to make very clear that -- he would never go to the liquor store, because he doesn't drink alcohol. (So we'll never know what those socks of bird seed mean. Sigh.)

Does anyone know if they are going to have the latest seasons episodes available on iTunes? I heard that NBC was pulling the plug on their agreement with iTunes for next year, so maybe no new eps? I know I can catch up on the NBC website but I just can't wrap my mind grapes around doing that.

According to this NY Times article, NBC will allow free downloads from their own NBC website (nbc.com) that will, no lie, self-destruct after one week. However, the dls are non-transferable. They are still setting up the system to allow purchasing episodes, which will be transferable.

All the first season episodes are available right now from Amazon Unbox for $1.99, same price as iTunes had. I don't know if there's a way to convert those videos to play on an iDevice, though.

Question: Is anyone else a little bit worried (as I am) about all the comments from Tina talking about giving the jokes "room to breathe," slower pace, less guest stars, etc. this season? I'm trusting her since I've loved everything she's ever done, but I really don't want this show dumbed down. I think it's the perfect balance of smart and wacky humor.

Yes

As a matter of fact, I am. (a little bit worried, that is)

Though, I am trying to breathe deeply, and let the worry float away as I think about how funny her writing has been up to this point. I hope her comedic sensibilities come through, and fight any pressure she may be getting to dumb the show down and make it more accessible.

I already have shows I enjoy when I want a slower pace and jokes that are a little more obvious. I want 30 Rock to continue to be the show that can keep me entertained no matter how much coffee I've had. Or the show that I can enjoy anew each time I watch it, because there are jokes I missed the first time.

I think continued discussion of this belongs in another thread, but, since I haven't had enough coffee today, for the life of me I can't figure out which one.

I don't worry about such remarks for a moment. Isn't it almost traditional after such a first season for "notes" to come from the network, and the producer parrot them in an interview as public reassurance that, yes, the requested changes will be made... and then go on doing just what they've always done when it comes to actually making the show?

Of all the things in the world to get worried about, this one doesn't even make my list. I've seen the phenomenon so many times over the years.

Has there been a shirt on Glarkware for 30 Rock yet?

Why yes, check out this brand new Limited Edition (formerly NON) offering on Glarkware.

Does anyone know where I could find a clip of Kenneth in the elevator with Jerry Seinfeld performing the theme song to Seinfeld? It was hilarious and I would like to watch it again, but I erased it and I can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks!

Question: where can I find season one promo shoots, if anywhere?

This might need to be asked in "30 Rock Obsessions," but... does anyone know if NBC plans to put the theme song out as a ringtone?

thanks!

In the live blog after the episode the other night, Tina said the song is going to be a ringtone. She didn't say when or where it would be available, but I immediately began looking for it. Haven't found it yet.

I was listening to the song "I Wonder" off of Kanye West's new album (or whatever they're called these days), and he uses the line, "I'm back on my grind." So, that really is a thing? Or is Kanye a 30 Rock fan?

I saw it in a few places elsewhere shortly after the show aired, so I think it's a real thing.

Here's one, since you're talking songs. Anyone know the song that plays repeatedly throughout "The Source Awards" Lyrics are...
"Oh my attitude....I roll my eyes at you"

awesome Shelwood, thanks so much

Someone brilliant found that in the old thread: it's Oh My by The Gray Kid.

Question: I'm new to the show and I was wondering if someone could explain to me where the quote about being dead by someone's hand comes from?

Wikipedia summarizes it pretty well:

You definitely should see this episode for another classic line from Jack to Liz as well: "Those shoes are definitely bi-curious."

Did NBC put up a Seinfeldvision outtakes reel where Seinfeld and Alec Baldwin had bloopers and did a Godfather 2 riff? Or am I completely imagining that?

Is Liz's official title and job for TGS with Tracy Jordan Head Writer? Or is she also an Executive Producer? If not the latter, would she really have the ability to fire all the show's staff as shown in The Fighting Irish? I'm not sure if that's ever been fully explained.

In "The Rural Juror", Pete clearly calls Liz the head writer... OTOH, she must also be an EP, since only she and Pete are summoned to Donaghy's office in the pilot (and then Jack fired Pete right after).

Liz is the creator, executive producer and head writer of TGS. Pete is the director, but Liz is his boss.

I dunno, in "The Rural Juror", Pete says:

Also, he's not a director.

Pete tells the girls Tracy brings to the office that he is a "just a producer on Tracy's show" in "Up All Night".

In "The Baby Show," is Lonny Ross really doing those impressions? In all the scenes in which Josh is imitating Tracy, it looks like Lonny is lip synching.