pilot rock pilot episode american situation comedy series 30_rock premiered october canada october nbc united_states episode directed written tina_fey series creator executive producer lead actor tina_fey head writer saturday night live pitched idea series cable news network nbc rejected years later fey approached nbc similar idea scenes look television similar nbc approved series production began shortly episode received generally positive reviews finished timeslot viewers adults aged critics praised performances jack_mcbrayer jane_krakowski played kenneth_parcell jenna_maroney respectively characters introduced pilot liz_lemon fey head writer sketch comedy series called jack_donaghy alec_baldwin network executive kenneth_parcell nbc page writing staff cast lemon episode focuses jack attempt convince liz hire film star tracy_jordan tracy_morgan cast crew reactions tracy addition plot begins liz_lemon head writer television series attempting buy hot dog work fellow commuter tries jump queue liz buys worth hot dogs random colleagues arrives work embarrassed forced kenneth conducts tours rock introduce group fans liz producer meet new network executive jack_donaghy jack tells liz pete sent rock tool inadvertently insults liz takes initial dislike jack jack asks liz hire tracy_jordan star film cast liz skeptical tracy history problematic behaviour including running interstate underwear shouting falling asleep neighbor roof comparison liz jenna_maroney jane_krakowski star takes jack meeting begins worry hears tracy new star judgment liz meets tracy restaurant tracy discovers like food restaurant liz tried convince tracy join discusses conspiracy theories meeting tracy offers liz studio makes strip club trying home liz learns jack fired pete earlier day tracy liz arrive studio halfway live broadcast liz sends tracy stage talk bit studio audience delight jenna shock backstage liz forces jack pete promise guarantee jenna job security production conception tina_fey head writer performer nbc saturday night live pitched pilot episode situation comedy cable news network nbc president felt fey news setting leaf experience encouraged write knew pilot subsequent series reworked revolve style series fey signed contract nbc allowed remain head writer position television season contract fey required develop primetime project produced production company pilot season fey began developing pilot project working title untitled tina fey project pilot rock centered head writer variety managed relationships volatile star executive producer development characters altered second star variety added executive producer role changed network executive casting fey worked casting series decision fey portray lead character liz_lemon fey acknowledged similarities liz life head writer primarily heavy focus job fey asked tracy_morgan play tracy_jordan morgan believed role right alley tailor fey noted tracy_jordan acts wild like tracy_morgan fey wrote character nbc page kenneth_parcell friend jack_mcbrayer described discovery mind said wanted happy objected shortly casting alec_baldwin cast jack_donaghy totally vice president microwave oven programming fey written baldwin mind surprised agreed series progressed push pull relationship fey character liz_lemon head writer alec_baldwin network executive jack_donaghy helped find rhythm cast staff writer auditioning role fey met character based writers fey work certainly brought things including hat wearing persona fey based role long time friend liz producer agreed portray character pilot rock cast member originally played role august executive producer announced replaced jenna portray different roles episodes pilot appears cat later month nbc announced jane_krakowski replaced role jenna character renamed jenna_maroney michaels said thrilled joining cast thought going perfect fit reception episode viewed million viewers received nielsen rating key adults demographic episode highest rated series october season premiere episode viewed million viewers episode received demographic united_kingdom episode attracted viewers time slot viewing audience director episode nominated directors guild america award outstanding directorial achievement comedy series lost work ugly betty pilot pilot generally received critics metacritic gave episode weighted average based impressions select thirty critical reviews aol squad declared rock best new comedy season described tracy_jordan line government inspect chicken funny praised jane_krakowski replacement jenna role metro said 21st century rock rocks watson rated episode stars wall_street_journal praised hilarious scenes fine ensemble cast particularly commenting jack_mcbrayer performance kenneth_parcell portrayal cat critics liked episode buddytv felt episode live potential san_francisco_chronicle lamented original episode funnier aired washington_post said needs better premise funnier dialogue despite said rock self important bore like studio praised tracy_morgan performance tracy_jordan praised alec_baldwin absurd comic presence bigger brighter joke character actor mentioned funny happens 30_rock alec_baldwin enters room suddenly new nbc sitcom comes alive fey felt episode introduce calling awkward want watch mess memoir
Pilot (30 Rock)