One-Appearance Guest Stars
10. Jon Bon Jovi – himself
Jon Bon may not appear onscreen long but he does make a big enough impression for a drugged-out Liz Lemon to mistake him for a houseplant. And that houseplant acts its butt off.
9. James Franco – himself
Any appearance by actor-turned-famous college student-turned bizarre poet James Franco has to be at least a little weird. Thankfully a Franco in love with a Japanese body pillow fits the bill.
8. Jerry Seinfeld – himself
Way back in season 2, Jerry Seinfeld seemed like the biggest guest star 30 Rock would score and the appearance feels appropriately grand. We wonder how much longer it will take for NBC to institute Seinfeld-vision.
7. Octavia Spencer – herself
The best part about Spencer’s recent appearance is that absolutely no one could have seen it coming. A respected nominee turning out to be a female version of Tracy Jordan? Brilliant.
6. Steve Martin – Gavin Volure
Steve Martin playing a character as gloriously named as “Gavin Volure” would have been enough to crack any list. Thankfully, the added wrinkle of his fake agoraphobia-turned-house arrest perfectly reflected Liz Lemon’s own lifestyle for a hilarious twist.
5. Jim Carrey – Leap Day Williams
Now that 30 Rock is over, let’s hope Tina Fey has the time to actually cast Jim Carrey in a real Leap Day Williams movie.
4. Oprah Winfrey – Liz’s Oprah hallucination
Oprah is such an enormous get for any sitcom that it’s appropriate that she turns out to be an hallucination (Liz really seems to have a lot of those). That must be how the cast and crew actually felt day in and day out with Winfrey on set. Is this really happening or is she really just a 12-year-old girl on a plane named Pam?
3. Carrie Fisher – Rosemary Howard
“Help me Liz Lemon, you’re my only hope!” Magic.
2. Kelsey Grammar – himself
If NBC really did have a Winston Wolf-style fixer on retainer, you just know it would be Frasier Krane himself, Kelsey Grammar. Grammar is one of the best examples of how deliciously and hilariously absurd 30 Rock could be in its later seasons. If a plotline culminates with Kelsey Grammar putting on Lincoln’s tophat and muttering “if anyone notices…we’re dead,” then you’ve clearly done your job as a comedy writer.
1. James Carville – himself
Sometimes you wonder how James Carville remained a pseudo pop culture icon well after his political campaigns in the ’90s were long over. Then you watch his gleefully weird appearance in season 2’s “Secrets and Lies” and it becomes apparent: the dude is just really funny. Carville roaming the halls of 30 Rock, fixing people’s problems by injecting a little “cajun style” remains a series highlight.
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