The cast and crew of 30 Rock still feel the need to broaden its audience despite its successful win at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series.  In an attempt to boost ratings, the NBC show is rocking its guest lineup beginning with award-winning comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who kicked off last night's premiere episode.

Seinfeld, whose guest role on 30 Rock marked his first appearance on a primetime television series since his own self-titled hit show went off the air in 1998, is just one of the many high-profile celebrities geared up to grace season 2.

"We're very hopeful the show will expand its audience base," NBC Universal Television co-chairman Ben Silverman, who engineered Seinfeld's appearance, said in a statement.  "The Emmy is a clear public validation of what we believe is the superlative creative merits of the show. We're praying it does super-well, but even if it does just OK, we have real faith in it."

Read on to find out more about 30 Rock's star-studded guest list.

As reported previously, Edie Falco is also set to join the comedy series this season.  In her first post-Sopranos TV role, the 44-year-old actress serves as Jack's (Alec Baldwin) romantic foil in a three-episode arc.

"She plays a Democratic congresswoman from New Hampshire," show creator Tina Fey, who also plays Liz Lemon on the series, hinted on Falco's storyline.  "They meet at a party and don't realize quite who the other one is and make a connection before they realize they're on opposite sides."

Also slated to appear as themselves in the coming episodes are former vice president Al Gore, Meredith Vieira, award-winning journalist and co-host on NBC's Today, and Jackie Mason, stand-up comedian known for his controversial views on Jewish and American life.

Rounding up the list for season 2 are Friends alum David Schwimmer, who is set to appear as a jobless actor, Steve Buscemi as a private investigator hired by Jack, and Carrie Fisher, who is famously known for portraying Princess Leia Organa in the original Star Wars trilogy, as a TV writer Liz admires.

30 Rock airs every Thursday at 8:30/7:30c on NBC.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: USA Today, TV Guide
(Image courtesy of Newsday)