30 Rock - Specials (2005)

Liz Lemon is the head writer on a demanding, live TV program in New York City. However, things begin to get complicated when her new boss insists that a wild and unpredictable movie star joins the cast.This episode was pretty similar to the one that aired, with only some differences in terms of the direction of the show. Perhaps the most notable difference is the fact that Rachel Dratch had a starring role, from which she was replaced due to creative reasons and given different recurring roles.

On show night, Liz Lemon grows increasingly infuriated when no one seems to remember that it's her 40th birthday. Just before the taping, Tracy Jordan becomes convinced that nothing is funnier than a performer laughing and breaking character, which he elects to do all night, much to Jenna Maroney's chagrin. Meanwhile, Jack Donaghy struggles with the consequences of his promise to give up drinking while Avery is pregnant. The episode was filmed twice. The East Coast version aired for the Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones. The West Coast version was aired in the western, Alaskan and Hawaiian time zones.

Kenneth takes drastic measures to prove why TGS should stay a live show. When their Kabletown bosses announce they will no longer pay for TGS to be a live show, Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy realize their lives will actually be easier if they shoot canned episodes fast and cheap. Only Kenneth the page objects, urging that nothing can replace the communal experience of live television. He tries to convince the TGS staff to fight for their right to be live by taking them and our audience through a magical look back at the illustrious history of Studio 6H. The episode was filmed twice. The East Coast version aired for the Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones. The West Coast version was aired in the western, Alaskan and Hawaiian time zones.

A collection of scenes and bloopers shown, appropriately, at the show's wrap party.

Behind the Scenes with Judah Friedlander

Behind the Scenes with Jack McBrayer

A script read for "Secrets and Lies," read at New York's Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and done as a charity event during the Writers' Strike.

'Cooter' Table Read

Fey's hosting spot during the 2007 SNL season is shown by handheld camcorder

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences did a cast and crew Q & A

Alec Baldwin's SNL Monologue

A table read of the script for "Kidney Now!"

The making of "He Needs a Kidney" shows pulling everything to together for that hilarious song. And there's even studio footage with many of the musicians too.

From the Food Network show "Ace of Cakes," where the crew from Baltimore's Charm City Cakes created a couple of cakes for "I Do Do" and the season's wrap party in an episode

Cast and crew interviews, inspirations for scenes and the guest stars get interviewed here and there

Cast and crew interviews, inspirations for scenes and the guest stars get interviewed here and there

Season 4 Photo Gallery

The full "Tennis Night in America" song video

The west coast version of the live episode

A look behind the scenes of this special episode

A series of three animated web shorts

A series of three animated web shorts

A series of three animated web shorts

Jenna's Obituary Song

Losing one of the two Jon Hamm appearances in one thing, but if the east coast gets Paul McCartney and the west coast gets Kim Kardashian, then the west coast got hosed. (Watch the end to see how ill-equipped she is for the simple act of delivering a punchline.)

A fun peek at the making of that live show

The rousing Warm-Up for the Live show, emceed by Fred Armisen and featuring music performances by Cheyenne Jackson and Jane Krakowski

An animated webisode where Donaghy has to figure out which musical act to use in an innocuous bit

Talks about memorable moments that occur on a portion of the set, and provides detail and history on any significant items on set.