I tried to think up something funny for this thread but I pretty much have nothing. Any suggestions?

I was watching a bit of the Emmy red carpet last night though, and Edie Falco mentioned that she would be showing up on 30 Rock this season. She didn't really mention who she would be playing, just that after watching the DVDs it was the only thing on TV she had any interest in.

I'm just going to come out right now and say it - we need David Cross to play Liz's brother Mitch.

Oh my God. Yes.

Oh, man. I just saw him in I'm Not There and he managed to be hilarious. Brilliant.

My dream come true would be that someone from The Office guest starred. But like, actually guest starred as their character on The Office.

Both shows are on NBC, have a similar fanbase.. I wonder if it could work out.

Me, not so much. I picture Liz's brother as being outwardly normal. Say, Jason Bateman.

Looking back at S1, Isabella Rossellini was inspired casting, and "surprisingly age-appropriate" as Liz noted. I loved that when she's dancing, Jack comments to Liz on how great Bianca looks since she's lost weight and cut her hair, because Ms. R isn't exactly a twig, and I didn't find her current hairstyle all that flattering. But she's still a beautiful woman.

Both Will Arnett & Dean Winters delivered absolutely inspired performances, in my opinion.

I thought Will Arnett was perfect. Not only did he pull off standing toe-to-toe with Jack/Alec Baldwin, but his bits with Kenneth were just hilarious. I didn't know much about Arnett before did, but I'm a huge fan now.

Some of my other favorites had to be LL Cool J and Wayne Brady, on "The Source Awards." I thought both of them fit their characters perfectly.

Oh LL Cool J... I'll get your nose back for you anytime.

I normally don't watch the view, something I would prefer to say never, but I clearly wouldn't have realized what i'm about to say if I hadn't been watching it this morning. 3/5 of the hosts of the view have guested in brief spots on 30 Rock. The sad thing is I thought... that it was kinda cool and maybe I should cut the View some slack.

Four out of five if you count Baba Wawa, as played by Dratch!

Maybe Hasselback could play Cerie's sister. She would be the stupid one in the family.

And for the uninitiated among us, those would be...?

In "Up All Night," Joy Behar appeared as herself, in a Vagina Monologues spoof, while Sherri Shepherd played Tracy's wife. In "The Rural Juror," Whoopi Goldberg played herself shilling for Tracy's failed meat machine, while Rachel Dratch impersonated Baba Wawa ("Your father Werner was a burger server in suburban Santa Barbara...")

Thanks, corgi-ears. I had no idea all those people were associated with The View (and my life was richer for it!)

As long as Rosie O'Donnell doesn't become another one of them. -shudders-

Actually, Rosie would fit right in as part of the drunken, uncouth Donaghy clan.

Still. She can be one of those talked about, but never seen.

Speaking of the Donaghy clan, I loved Molly Shannon as Katherine Cathrine.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Stephanie March as Gretchen Thomas, brilliant plastics engineer slash lesbian. Blind Date is easily one of the best episodes in first half of the season.

It's because I'm a lesbian, isn't it?

I'm puzzled (with myself) to find myself not as thrilled with Isabella Rosselini as most seem to be. I've loved her a lot in the past, but in this role I found her... not looking her best (I wouldn't bring it up normally, but her devastating looks seem to be a great part of the point) with the dumpiness and the unflattering haircut, and not a real master of comedy delivery compared to the rest of the cast. I keep relistening to the Arby's line trying to hear what others do, and I keep thinking "Eh, Michelle Pfeiffer [to pick a random co-star from his past with the right qualities] would have sold it better." I say all this not to start a fight, but because I'm distressed to find myself alone on this when I usually feel "at one" with the comments about 30 Rock.

Now Elaine Stritch as Jack's mother... that's inspired, perfect, omigod-I-can't-believe-they-actually-went-and-got-the-perfect-person guest casting.

Rinaldo, did you see my comments in Post #6? I think Rossellini's less-than-stereotypically-perfect looks were integral to the character. The idea that Jack would be so hung up on a woman who (a) is older than he, (b) is not a stick-figure with boobs, and © is nonetheless dynamic, intelligent and alluring added an interesting dimension to his persona.

I did see those comments and thought that they were generally on the mark. But sorry, I just didn't see the "alluring" in this case (and my problem doesn't have to do with age or thinness), and I also thought she delivered her lines in stilted unfunny ways, and I'm usually not so picky and I know everyone else sees it differently, but that's how it strikes me.

One throwaway cameo I loved was John McEnroe, has the host of Kenneth's game show. What was hilarious to me was considering some of these odd choices for game show hosts (Bob Saget, Howie Mandel, William Shatner), I wouldn't rule out someone actually trying to get McEnroe do it, in real life.

Speaking of which, I almost forgot about Conan O'Brian playing himself. I really hope he does it again, and we can see/find out more about his "relationship", with Liz.

I want to find out about Liz's other ex-boyfriend, Neil, the one obsessed with Charlie Chaplin (in my head, he's either Stephen Colbert or, in a major casting coup, Robert Downey, Jr.).

Didn't McEnroe host a real, actual stupid game show in the past? The Chair or something?

I want to give thanks to Emily Mortimer who played Jack's fiancee Phoebe in the last few episodes. We just loved her subtle comic timing--and we only knew her from dramatic roles like "Match Point" and "Dear Frankie". The whole "hollow bones" and "avian bird syndrome" thing was brilliant--the way she softly said "owww" as Jack put a ring on her finger. Brilliant.

McEnroe had his own talk show, I think, but it flopped terribly. I think its failure was the equivalent of failing out of high school with a 0.6 GPA.



Yes. And I agree with you that Stephanie March was great, all with the "I am a lesbian" and the hot hot chemistry. Wouldn't say no to another episode with her.

I don't care if I sound like a big dumb homo, Stephanie March will always be my favorite guest star. I also really enjoyed Peter Hermann and Dean Winters. Who knew folks from SVU could be so funny?

My, my, Peter Hermann was delectable as "the Hair." That's another of my favorite episodes. The guy who played "the Head" (Brian McCann) was also very well cast. Apparently, he's been a writer for Conan's show for many years.

Did Rip Torn really appear in only two episodes as the IMDb reports? He's another amazing presence on the show.

I'd love some more references to it as well. It would be great if Conan was on again. And with him it's so easy to fit him into anything too, it doesn't necessarily need to be for "the talk show."

Holy shit, he's Pimpbot!

My local CNBC stopped airing Conan years ago, so Brian McCann will always be Preparation H Raymond to me.

I know it will never happen but I've been dying to see a Becki Newton/Alec Baldwin 30 Rock/Ugly Betty crossover ever since I realized they're characters share the weakness of stress eating, I'd love nothing more than to see Jack/Amanda commiserating/fighting over a last slice of cake.

I decided to broaden my Elaine Stritch knowledge this weekend by netflixing her solo show, Elaine Stritch At Liberty, which was incredible, and a slightly oddball choice: the making of the Company cast album. It's not the stage musical, it's the cast, orchestra and Sondheim in the studio. Unlike the show itself, in this Elaine has the finale: the last section is devoted to her recording of "Ladies Who Lunch", and it's fascinating. Plus, you get to see her 30+ years younger, and totally being herself at work. (There are also a lot of other recognizable names in the cast, for you theatre geeks... like Rinaldo [who no doubt has already seen this]). Even back then, she was a sassy (not that) old broad.

On Thursday night's comedies, Michael Scott of The Office is also a stress eater. Maybe they can all fight over the last hot dog at the vendor cart when Michael stops by the DM New York branch?

I recently caught an episode of SNL from a few years ago, and was startled to see Jason Sudeikis with bangs in the opening credits (like this). So not the Floydster!

Al Gore has been seen on the set and is rumored to be on the fifth episode of this season.

Oh, please let this be true.

Also, per NBCUMV, Steve Buscemi (eeeeeeeee!) is going to be in the third episode.

Just wonderin'.... Could we keep the discussions about upcoming guest stars in the spoiler thread and limit this thread to chatting about past guest stars? Or is the fact that so-and-so is going to be on the show (without divulging their character/plot-line) not considered to be a spoiler? I'm so confused...

My understanding is that if it's out there in the mainstream media that someone has been cast, then it's not a spoiler, but if you talk about what that person does, then it is a spoiler. This is from Heroes, but I think people have referenced it elsewhere, and it might be helpful.

Okey-dokey. Thanks, janie jones!

janie jones is right: If it's in the mainstream media, it's not a spoiler. The truly spoiler-phobic will have to avoid most threads other than episode threads to stay completely spoiler-free. Thanks.

The promo at the end of SeinfeldVision mentioned Carrie Fisher and Steve Buscemi. There may have been others...

David Schwimmer was another one.

I love Steve Buscemi!! I can't wait! And Al Gore? Oh, yes!

Jerry Seinfeld really can't act.

It's Sunday night, and I am still counting the levels of awesomeness of the casting of Carrie Fisher on 30 Rock. Among the Star Wars references, Carrie Fisher's career as a comedy script doctor, her friendship with Lorne Michaels and the early SNL crew, etc. etc... still tallying the awesome.

I am extremely late to this party so maybe this has already happened (although I'm sure I would have heard about it). Has Jimmy Fallon appeared on 30 Rock? And if not, why not? I thought he and Fey were tight after all those Weekend Updates.

Nope no Fallon. And I'm not sure he would add much.

Other than extra days to the filming schedule for all the takes ruined by laughing.

I don't think it means anything that Fallon hasen't been on, as there hasn't really been a need for him. And most of the SNL costover has been with current cast members (Will Forte, Kristen Wig, Fred, and Jason) than with past (Tracy, Molly, and Rachel). I would think that Amy would be the most ovious person missing from either list.
Though thinking about it I would have love to see Fallon and Josh with Seinfield as his "B-team." I have no idea what it would be other than the three of them standing around together possibly in Bee costumes. But I already LOVE it!!

I loved the casting of the Jamie character this week. Val Emmich, who apparently is not even primarily an actor (he has two CDs out), had to fulfill several story demands: He had to look unreachably young but still conceivably 25 if he says so, he had to read as both boyishly cute and "hot," he had to seem straight and yet inspire a once-in-a-lifetime gay crush in Frank, he had to accept lavish gifts without seeming like a golddigger, and while spouting the slang of his age group had to be extraordinarily polite and well-mannered. All of that without seeming premeditated or unnatural. I thought he nailed it. It's easy to imagine any number of smarmy young actors who would have ruined the story, and thus the joke.

Agreed on the rest, but the only gifts Liz gave him were Bioshock and a promise of a roomy cab ride. I know, Frank gave him a sweater that wasn't even on sale, but maybe it was just easier to accept the gift and change topics.