'30 Rock: A One-Time Special': Sitcom's original cast reprise their iconic roles in pandemic reunion
NBC's most celebrated sitcom '30 Rock' is returning to the network for a one-off special. Describing it as "a first-of-its-kind all-audience upfront event", the special brings back some of the most beloved characters of the award-winning comedy show. In a 40-second trailer for the upcoming reunion special, Tina Fey's iconic character Liz Lemon is seen berating a man for not wearing a mask in public.
He is later revealed as a recovered patient. "No mask hotshot? You scared of the virus now?" she yells at the maskless stranger, "I already had corona, I'm on my way to donate plasma," the man replies as he runs away from her. Is this not another successful interaction with a man? Elsewhere in the teaser, we catch short glimpses of other beloved characters like the attention-seeking chaotic actress Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), the unpredictable star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and the fan-favorite Kenneth Ellen Parcell (Jack McBrayer).
There is also a small glimpse of the super-boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) bragging, as he always does, about his futuristic iPhone 40. Donaghy is going to be perhaps one of the 0.0001% of those unaffected by the global pandemic. As we join the main cast of Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan and Jack McBrayer reprising their roles as Liz Lemon, Jack Donaghy, Jenna Maroney, Tracy Jordan and Kenneth Parcell in a modern-day setting, exploring how with their idiosyncrasies they handle this health crisis of Covid-19, social distancing and tout "the stories and talent featured in NBCUniversal's 2020-21 television season."
Fans of the show sure are glad that the special is not filmed over Zoom, as 'Parks and Recreation' reunion special was. "I am so relieved to see some production value here. We don't need another Zoom show," commented one fan. "Totally. even though I still enjoyed that Parks & Rec 'reunion', this looks infinitely better," concurred another.
"Where can I get this iPhone 40?" someone asked Jack. "This small promo made me laugh a lot. I hope I’ll be able to stream this the day after with no weird restrictions," added another. And many are making requests. "Please be in it Judah, we miss Frank's trucker hats," commented a fan, referring to another fan-favorite character, Judah Friedlander's manchild Frank Rossitano.
'30 Rock: A One-Time Special' will air on Thursday, July 16 at 8/7c on NBC, streaming the next day on Peacock. Watch the trailer below:
