'30 Rock' cast reuniting to tout new NBC, cable schedules
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan and other 'œ30 Rock'ť stars are reuniting for a corporate cause: to promote the shows and stars that will be part of the new season for NBC and its NBCUniversal cable siblings.
Described as a 'œone-time, commercial-free event'ť - other than the extended ad it represents for NBCUniversal - the reunion will air July 16 on NBC and be shown on cable channels including USA Network, Bravo and Oxygen.
It's a special born of the coronavirus pandemic, which kept NBCUniversal and other media companies from the mid-May tradition of presenting their 2020-21 schedules to crowds of ad buyers in New York City.
The cast of the Emmy-winning, 2006-13 sitcom will be in character, including Jack McBrayer's enthusiastic network page, the company said Tuesday.
'œWe're all happy to have this excuse to (remotely) work together again for NBC,'ť series executive producers Fey and Robert Carlock said in a statement. 'œTo quote Kenneth the page, there are only two things we love in this world, television and everyone.'ť
The special will feature new and returning shows from NBCUniversal's platforms and include guests from entertainment, sports and news, the company said, with further details to be announced.
Also Tuesday, NBC played catch-up by releasing its schedule for the fall TV season, which remains shadowed by COVID-19. Given that the film and TV production that was abruptly halted in March is just getting underway, networks have been cautious in committing to specific debut dates.
The fall lineup will include the renewed 'œManifest'ť and previously announced spin-off 'œLaw & Order: Organized Crime,'ť with Christopher Meloni reprising his character from 'œLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.'ť
The mid-season will bring freshman series including 'œMr. Mayor,'ť a Fey-Carlock sitcom starring Ted Danson and Holly Hunter, and 'œYoung Rock,'ť inspired by Dwayne Johnson's life and produced by and starring the pro wrestler-turned-actor.
NBC is saying goodbye to the series 'œSunnyside,'ť starring Kal Penn; 'œBluff City Law'ť with Jimmy Smits, and 'œIndebted'ť with Fran Drescher.