(Photo: Virginia Sherwood; courtesy of NBC)

Like Kevin Bacon in Flatliners, 30 Rock hovered on the brink of death, only to be brought back to glorious life. Despite poor ratings and Alec Baldwin’s threatened defection, NBC ordered a second season of Tina Fey’s comedy, which, in addition to being generally hilarious, captures the weird world of New York better than any show since Seinfeld. (As when Liz Lemon says, after a homeless guy spits at her: “He spit in my mouth! Let’s go to Cleveland.” Who hasn’t thought that?) Speaking of Seinfeld, 30 Rock’s season premiere will feature guest star Jerry Seinfeld—as if you needed another reason to celebrate the show’s return.

30 Rock
NBC; premieres October 4 (8:30 p.m.).

Related:

• Archive: “Guides”
• Articles by Emma Rosenblum
• Table of Contents: September 3, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!