30 Rockis a series that ran for 7 seasons on NBC, from 2006 to 2013. It stands to this day as one of the most critically acclaimed comedy shows on TV and has earned over 300 nominations across several awards, and it took home as many as 16 Emmys throughout its run. During its 138 episodes,30 Rockfeatured many (many, many) guest stars and generated inside jokes that got better the more you watched it – and the more you knew about TV in general.
Another element that elevated the nonsensical humor of30 Rockwas the distinct personality of its cast of characters. The sitcom within a sitcom brought together people who were so different that you couldn’t get any other result besides chaos when you locked them up in a building for several hours a day. In this post, we’ll dissect the main players of 30 Rock and tell you what the actors have been up to in the last eight years since the show last aired.
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Liz Lemon (Tina Fey)
Tina Feybased30 Rockon her own experiences from when she worked as a writer onSaturday Night Liveand, much like Fey, Liz Lemon is the head writer of a late-night sketch show that airs weekly. Obsessed with the idea of proving women “can have it all”, Liz runs the show, deals with her co-workers’ infantile personalities, solves actors’ tantrums and every once in a while goes into self-destruct mode due to the pressure. No wonder she turns to food to talk about her problems.
Where is Tina Fey now?
After30 Rock, Fey created another series,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in which she guest-starred a couple of times. She also went back to host and make cameos onSaturday Night Live, which is the show that introduced her to the world. Most recently, Fey created the sitcomMr. Mayorfor NBC, andguest-starred on Hulu’s acclaimed comedy seriesOnly Murders in the Building.
Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin)
If Liz Lemon is a version of Tina Fey, Jack Donaghy represents none other thanLorne Michaels, Fey’s former boss atSaturday Night Live. Jack is in charge of keeping TGS (the late-night sketch show) running smoothly and without major problems, but that also means that more often than not he has to give Liz a hard time. Republican to his very core, he frequently finds ways to celebrate capitalism and reiterate how great America is.
Where is Alec Baldwin now?
Baldwin guest starred onSaturday Night Liveseveral times during theDonald Trumpadministration, parodying the former President on the show. He also voiced the title character inBoss Baby, reprised his role as Alan Hunley inMission: Impossible – Fallout, and was recently in the Hulu seriesDr. Death.
Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan)
Tracy is a comedy actor who is brought on by Jack Donaghy to join the cast of TGS when the ratings start to go down. The problem is Tracy marches to his own drum – which means he’s frequently late, doesn’t show up for rehearsals and does whatever he wants on the live show. He’s also one of the richest people in the building, so it’s a little hard to convince him to do something he doesn’t want to do.
Where is Tracy Morgan now?
Tracy is currently in the main cast of TBS comedyThe Last O.G., created byJordan Peele(Get Out). He was also inComing 2 America, the sequel for the acclaimedEddie Murphycomedy, and 2017’sFist Fight. Morgan joined the cast ofTriplets, thesequel to the 80s comedyTwinsstarringArnold SchwarzeneggerandDanny DeVito.
Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer)
The happiest page in the world loves his job at NBC and thinks he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. Kenneth is equal parts kind, naïve and weird. He was raised in a conservative family in Georgia to parents who were “technically related”. Kenneth’s devotion to NBC is unparalleled, and he goes to extreme lengths to protect the network legacy, even though people around him don’t think he’s worth much ($7, according to Jack Donaghy).
Where is Jack McBrayer now?
McBrayer has done a lot of voice work after30 Rock, and was featured in the voice cast of shows likeBob’s Burgers,Star Trek: Lower Decks,Our Cartoon President,Puppy Dog Pals,Amphibia, andBig Mouth. He was also inThe Middleand the Emmy-winning Quibi seriesMapleworth Murders.
Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski)
For years Jenna was the star of The Girlie Show, which got rebrandedTGS with Tracy Jordanafter ratings started taking a nosedive. Ever since then she lives in constant fear of being ostracized, but hides her insecurities behind tantrums, reckless decisions, inappropriate singing and starring in B-movies such asThe Rural Juror.
Where is Jane Krakowski now?
Krakowski followed Tina Fey intoUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in which she played wealthy socialite Jacqueline White. After that, she starred in Apple TV+`sDickinson, a fun and modern take on theEmily Dickinsonstory. She was also inSchmigadoon!, a musical miniseries also by AppleTV+.
Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit)
Right-hand man to Liz Lemon, Pete is the producer of TGS who tries to save her showrunner from curveballs and put out fires, but isn’t taken very seriously by anyone. Pete lives in a frustrated marriage and has five kids, and is also not respected at home, so he spends most of his time on set having existential crises.
Where is Scott Adsit now?
After30 Rock, Adsit guest-starred on several shows includingPortlandia,The Goldbergs,Veep,American Dad!, andThe Walking Dead: World Beyond. But the role he took and ran with was Baymax, the robot nurse that was first featured in the Disney animated movieBig Hero 6. After the movie, Adsit voiced Baymax ina spin-off miniseriesand in all three seasons ofBig Hero 6: The Series.
Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander)
One of the writers ofTGSis a guy with no manners who is always wearing a trucker hat with a funny sentence on it. Frank is the archetype of the troll: an older guy who lives with his mother, lives on junk food, spends his free time on Internet forums, and has a problem with women because he’s been rejected by all of them. However, he’s quick-witted and sometimes is able to come up with one-liners that can hit pretty close to home for some other characters.
Where is Judah Friedlander now?
After30 Rock, Judah Friedlander was featured in two installments of one of the most talked-about film series of the 21st century:Sharknado. He was inSharknado 2: The Second OneandThe Last Sharknado: It’s About Time. He was also in the voice cast ofBordertownand most recently in the comedyCan You Keep a Secret?.
