NBC is resurrecting 30 Rock for an hour-long special in July, seven years after the end of its original run.
The network announced on Tuesday that the commercial-free special will see the return of the sitcom’s beloved cast members Tina Fey (Liz Lemon), Alec Baldwin (Jack Donaghy), Jack McBrayer (Kenneth Ellen Parcell), Jane Krakowski (Jenna Maroney), and Tracy Morgan (Tracy Jordan), who are all reprising their roles from the series.
The special will double as NBCUniversal’s (NBCU) upfront presentation and will feature guest appearances from actors from new and returning series from NBC, Telemundo, USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo, and other platforms under the mass media conglomerate.
Helmed by Saturday Night Live director Osmany “Oz” Rodriquez, the special will be filmed from the individual actors’ homes, much like the Parks and Recreation reunion last April that benefited Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. The upcoming special will be produced by Broadway Video and Little Stranger in association with Universal Television and NBCUniversal Creative Partnerships.
The 30 Rock special will premiere on July 16th at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and will be rebroadcast across USA Network, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, and CNBC, as well as on Peacock on July 17th at 9 p.m. ET.
“We’re all happy to have this excuse to (remotely) work together again for NBC,” said Fey and her fellow 30 Rock executive producer Robert Carlock in a statement. “To quote Kenneth the Page, there are only two things we love in this world, television and everyone.”
“Historically, this event (NBCU’s upfront presentation) is about the future of programming; this year, it’s about the future of our industry — a future where we can meet audiences wherever they are, with the stories that move them,” added Siid Linda Yaccarino, chairman of Advertising & Partnerships at NBCUniversal.
Meanwhile, Josh Feldman, NBCU’s EVP, Head of Marketing & Advertising Creative, said that the 30 Rock special “will bring together video, advertising, and humor to show the world the power of One Platform in a whole new way.”
Created by Fey, 30 Rock originally aired on NBC for seven seasons from 2006 to 2013. Based on Fey’s experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live, the sitcom takes place behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy show depicted as airing on NBC.
Sources: ComicBook.com, Deadline