'30 Rock' Live Episode Coming In October

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — NBC says "30 Rock" is going live this fall.

The network said Friday a live episode of the comedy will air Oct. 14 and will be performed twice so that both East and West Coast viewers get to see it that way.

NBC executives told the Television Critics Association that "30 Rock" executive producers Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels were approached about a live episode and were up for the challenge. Fey, the show's star and creator, is familiar with live TV from her "Saturday Night Live" days. Michaels created and produces the show.

NBC has aired other live episodes, but this will be the first for the Emmy-winning "30 Rock," which is produced in New York.

(This version CORRECTS APNewsNow. Corrects spelling of Lorne in 3rd paragraph. This story is part of AP's general news and entertainment services.)

Comments

[TheBaffler]

09:20 AM on 08/02/2010

Are they so dim as to not understand that their ineptitude will be even more transparent without the benefit of editing and multiple takes?

[EvasDaddy]

10:07 AM on 08/02/2010

Better way to make your point:

"I don't like 30 Rock".

[TheBaffler]

04:12 PM on 08/02/2010

I don't like it because it's poorly made, written, and acted, faults which will be only more obvious during a live broadcast.

[cameron d]

11:18 AM on 08/01/2010

Our basketball hoop was a ribcage. A ribcage!

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

10:50 PM on 07/31/2010

Why exactly are they filming live? Is there an aesthetic purpose behind it or is it just a publicity stunt so people can talk about 30 Rock filming a live episode?

[TheBaffler]

09:19 AM on 08/02/2010

The latter.

[EvasDaddy]

10:16 AM on 08/02/2010

They're not "filming live". Even prerecorded shows are "filmed live".

They are BROADCASTING live, which means that we will see the episode as it is performed, sans editing. I'm not sure what you mean by "publicity stunt", since the object of any television show is to attract viewers, therefore one of the main objectives is to garner publicity. If by "stunt", you mean "tactic", you're probably right.

I will certainly be watching.

[TheBaffler]

04:13 PM on 08/02/2010

Better way to make your point:

"I'm a philistine."

[imsdal]

03:49 PM on 07/31/2010

I hope the episode includes Devon Banks, but looking forward to it either way. I'm curious to see what it'll end up looking like. At first I thought about the Will & Grace live episodes, but then remembered that I'm old and things have changed a lot since then.

[dwill123]

11:34 AM on 07/31/2010

The 21st century version of Seinfeld. An un-funny show that everybody laughs at.

[Angelus2007]

01:06 PM on 07/31/2010

What you mean to say is....The 21st century version of Seinfeld. A show I find un-funny that everyone else finds funny and laughs at.

[EvasDaddy]

10:18 AM on 08/02/2010

Nice catch, Angelus. dwill123 evidently marches to the beat of a different drummer.

[SaddleBum]

05:12 PM on 07/31/2010

comparing this silly dreck to seinfeld is a crime.

[Toddynho]

09:09 AM on 07/31/2010

I love this show. It's the only thing worth watching on the networks these days. Community comes close. They could simply read the entire show sitting at a table, without cameras, only sound and I'd still probably enjoy it.

[Igor13]

09:19 AM on 07/31/2010

This show could be broadcast in braille and be funnier than the competition!

[Toddynho]

09:43 AM on 07/31/2010

Lol.

[firelord5000]

08:56 AM on 07/31/2010

Oh joy, 30 rock will go from having 5mil ppl watch it to well, 5 mil. Its a shame that this show keeps getting Emmys when it is 3rd-4rd highest rate show in its time slot, and doesn't even crack top 50 in ratings, and gets crushed by CABLE shows. Psych is funnier than this disaster of a show.

[Toddynho]

09:01 AM on 07/31/2010

Sadly this show is way too clever for American TV and American audiences - I'm suprised it has lsted this long, because it really is well done and brilliant on so many levels. Of course their ratings aren't great but they win Emmys because people in the know are well aware of this shows uniqueness.

If you were to let the Emmys be given out by the public, NASCAR races, Jerry Springer and Wrestling would win every year.

[firelord5000]

09:22 AM on 07/31/2010

Oh ya because its just slaughtering the rating overseas too right???? NOT. The show is unique, but so is the Jersey Shore, at the end of the day they both still blow. Seinfeld ran circles around this show in unique, amazing, funny, there is a reason why it was #1 in ratings for ALL shows and notched Emmys in its sleep. Curb is 10x the show of 30 Rock, and far more brilliant.

[Enio Rigolin]

07:36 AM on 07/31/2010

If they're really going to "film" the episode live, that can only mean that NBC has discovered some magical new form of technology that can instantly photograph, develop and project 35mm film and broadcast it to a live satellite, OR... They're going to "video tape" the episode making it look and sound as unpolished and crappy as SNL.

[heywetried]

03:02 PM on 07/31/2010

Regular 30 Rock episodes are shot on film, but 24-frame HD Video tech will probably be used. Unless they're going for a forced "sitcom" look like Scrubs did for one of their episodes. My guess is that few will notice the visual difference.

Oh, and nobody uses "video tape" anymore, it's stored digitally, so technically it's not even "video." And it's called "filming" no matter what the format. Get over yourself.

[WakingLife]

02:10 AM on 07/31/2010

I'm curious to see how it's done. The show relies a lot on flashblacks, etc. It'll be interesting that's for sure. :D

[Toddynho]

09:06 AM on 07/31/2010

Interesting observation... I'm curious too.

[Sherian]

01:58 AM on 07/31/2010

And this show is suppose to be funny.............they missed the boat and the boat sank.

[Toddynho]

09:07 AM on 07/31/2010

Funny if you get it... It's obviously intelligent wit, def. not for everyone.

[EvasDaddy]

10:27 AM on 08/02/2010

Sherian will miss your point. I hope.

I've known for years that 30 Rock is beyond the comprehension of typical viewers, which is its primary attraction to me.

[Calexica]

01:01 AM on 07/31/2010

I can identify with Liz Lemon so much it is scary. We're like a horrible Cathy cartoon, minus the suit jackets. Great show.

[chaapai]

12:54 AM on 07/31/2010

best comedy on television! cant wait!

[Toddynho]

09:01 AM on 07/31/2010

Agreed!

[stagebandman]

12:52 AM on 07/31/2010

The teaser for this says, "30 Rock To Film LIVE". Anyone else find this grammatically hilarious?

Oh, and the show is very funny, except for the incredibly unfunny Tracy Morgan. Bad comic, worse actor. I think he ruins every scene he's in, because he's never, not once, believable.

[theholla]

04:03 AM on 07/31/2010

I actually liked him in the first season, but the writing for his character subsequently became less edgy and more childlike as the show went on. But then again, I think he can be funny without necessarily being "believable."

[Toddynho]

09:02 AM on 07/31/2010

I think he's hilarious on this show.

[Untitled]

11:44 PM on 07/30/2010

Tracy Morgan live? Oh, sweet Jesus, thank you!

[khandi25]

08:38 AM on 07/31/2010

My thoughts exactly!!! LMBO!!! I can't wait!!!

[Toddynho]

09:03 AM on 07/31/2010

Egg zack lee! It's got the potential to historic.

[ImStillToni]

10:34 PM on 07/30/2010

I'm so excited I'm lizzing!!!

[Toddynho]

09:03 AM on 07/31/2010

ha ha ha... Love it...