30 Rock

30 Rock is a famous American satirical surrealist sitcom.

Satire is a type of humor that pokes fun at people or systems. This show uses that humor to mock corporate structures. It specifically parodies the network NBC and its parent companies. These companies included General Electric and Comcast. The show is often described as a "live-action cartoon." This means it uses fast jokes and visual tricks to feel energetic. It is considered a landmark in television history.

The series follows the lives of people working behind the scenes. They work on a fictional sketch comedy show called TGS with Tracy Jordan. This fictional show is produced in Studio 6H. That studio is located in 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The series name comes from this famous building. It is the real location for NBC Studios. It is also where the show Saturday Night Live is made.

Liz Lemon is the main character and the showrunner. She is the head writer for the sketch show. Liz must supervise a very diverse cast and crew. She manages Jenna Maroney, an actress who seeks fame. She also manages Tracy Jordan, an unpredictable star.

Liz works closely with Jack Donaghy. Jack is a powerful network executive. He is often decisive and controlling. Much of the comedy comes from their disagreements. Liz is liberal while Jack is conservative. They also interact with Kenneth Parcell, a cheerful NBC page.

Tina Fey created the show based on her own life. She was once the head writer for Saturday Night Live. In 2002, she pitched a show about cable news. However, NBC president Kevin Reilly suggested she write about her own experiences. Fey eventually decided to write about the world of writing. She signed a contract with NBC in May 2003. Filming was delayed because Fey was pregnant. The pilot episode finally premiered on October 11, 2006. It was followed by seven seasons of television.

The production used a specific filming style. Most episodes used a single-camera setup. This is different from many sitcoms that use multiple cameras. Only two episodes were produced using a multiple-camera setup. Most filming took place in New York. Interior scenes were often filmed at Silvercup Studios in Queens. Sometimes the crew used different locations to represent other places. For example, they used parts of Manhattan to look like Cleveland, Ohio. They even built elaborate sets that took three days to construct. Some of these sets only appeared on screen for six seconds.

Music plays a very important role in the show's atmosphere. The series features a "jaunty" jazz score. Jeff Richmond, who is Fey's husband, composed the music. He also served as a producer for the series. Richmond wrote the theme music for the show. His work earned a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. The show also featured original songs. Five of these were performed by Jane Krakowski. Others were performed by Tina Fey or Tracy Morgan. The show even used altered versions of existing songs. For example, they changed the lyrics to a Gladys Knight song. This was done to fit the character of Kenneth.

30 Rock was highly successful at major award shows. It won 16 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run. It received a total of 103 Emmy nominations. It won the award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Despite this critical success, the show struggled with television ratings. This means it did not always have a huge number of viewers. However, critics still hold the show in very high regard. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America West ranked it the 21st best-written series ever. Many people also call its series finale one of the greatest in history.