30 Rock has been one of the best comedies on TV for the past seven years for a whole host of reasons, but chief among them is its use of guest stars and recurring characters. It’s impressive enough that Tina Fey and Friends (that’s what she should name her new production company with NBC Universal) have been able to track down the star power that they have (Paul McCartney! Oprah! Al Gore!), but it’s been markedly more impressive how well they’ve used them.
After carefully sifting through past episodes and this very helpful 30 Rock wiki page, we’ve estimated that 30 Rock has featured 35 recurring characters (characters who have appeared in two or more episodes but never received star billing) and 81 one-time guest stars. This means that you were far more likely to tune in to an episode of 30 Rock that featured a guest star than an episode that didn’t feature anybody.
Now with only two days(!) until the series finale, we decided it was time to honor those ubiquitous 30 Rock guests. We’ve split them into two top 10 lists: one honoring actors who played recurring characters on the show and one featuring actors or celebrities who only appeared once. It’s a testament to how strong the show’s guests were that you’ll be incensed with some of the characters we had to leave out.
Recurring Characters
10. Dr. Drew Baird – Jon Hamm
The first of many love interests to appear on this list. Jon Hamm’s charisma would be enough to make this list alone, but Dr. Drew Baird went the extra mile as a character by introducing us to the mythical bubble.
9. Avery Jessup – Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks is the consummate guest star. She has a history of turning up on a show, effortlessly fitting in with its tone, then getting out before anyone could possibly get tired of her. Avery Jessup is no different as Jack’s double-edged sword.
8. Carol Burnett – Matt Damon
Speaking of double-edged swords, here’s Liz’s! Kudos to Damon for sticking with a show that was undoubtedly well below his pay grade. And extra kudos for being part of one of the show’s best ever scenes.
7. Kaylie Hooper – Chloe Grace Moretz
Of everyone on this list, Kaylie Hooper may not be the absolute best character, but there is probably not a better performance than the one turned in by Chloe Moretz. Rewatch her debut appearance in “TGS Hates Women” and marvel at how convincing Hooper is as both innocent and sinister.
6. Kim Jong-Il – Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho’s Kim Jong-Il is so good that she somehow received an Emmy nomination despite having about two total minutes of screen time. She also received the coveted honor of naming this list. Everything sunny all the time always, indeed, Kim Jong-Il.
5. Paul L’astname – Will Forte
It would have taken a special character to force Jenna Maroney to settle down and Paul L’astname a.k.a. Mr. Jenna Maroney certainly fits the bill.
4. Devon Banks – Will Arnett
Most shows haven’t known what to do with Will Arnett post-Arrested Development (looking at you, Running Wilde and Up All Night) but 30 Rock knew exactly what to do with Gob Bluth from the get-go: make him someone’s nemesis, better yet, a gay nemesis obsessed with a certain NBC page.
3. Dennis Duffy – Dean Winters
“Hey dummy.”
2. Angie Jordan – Sherri Shepherd
Tracy’s loving wife says “ham” better than anyone on this list and that would be good enough for the #1 spot, if it weren’t for one man…
1. Dr. Leo Spaceman – Chris Parnell
The amazing part about Dr. Leo Spacemen is that you get the sense he only existed as a character just to make one joke abut his name. Seriously, after rewatching “Tracy Does Conan” it seems like the original joke was merely just an increasingly insane Tracy asking for “Dr. Spaceman” and Liz being surprised at actually finding a drug bottle with that name on it. Then Chris Parnell steps in and just turns him into an absolute legend. He appears in 25 episodes, which is just the perfect amount of Spaceman without his schtick getting tired. “That’s a series wrap on Leo Spaceman, suckers!”
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.