Great '30 Rock' Celebrity Cameos

By Scott Harris Posted Oct 15th 2009 02:57PM

For decades, 'Saturday Night Live' was the place where stars went to show off their funny sides and allow fans and viewers to see them in a different light. So it should come as no surprise that NBC's flagship comedy 30 Rock' - which was created by 'SNL' alumni and revolves around an 'SNL'-style variety show - has taken over the mantle of the hot place to find your offbeat celebrity cameos.

Over the show's first three seasons, everyone from Carrie Fisher to Steve Martin to Pee-wee Herman has come on the show, some for a just a quick cameo and others for longer stints as guest stars. To celebrate the premiere of the show's fourth season, we thought it was a good time to look back and take stock of some of the best '30 Rock' celebrity cameos so far.

Oprah Winfrey -- Of all the people you might expect to appear in a sitcom, Oprah Winfrey, who has famously managed her image at every step in building a vast multi-media empire, would probably be the last person you'd guess. But guest spots like this that play against our expectations just show why she's rich and famous and we aren't.

Jerry Seinfeld -- Years removed from his own groundbreaking sitcom, Seinfeld returned to his old NBC stomping ground to help '30 Rock' kick off one of their most famous spoofs, the reality show disaster known as 'MILF Island'.

Al Gore and David Schwimmer -- Following his Nobel Prize, Oscar, Emmy and Grammy wins, former Vice President Al Gore decided he would try to land an American Comedy Award. Aiding him in his quest: former 'Friends' star David Schwimmer, dressed as usual as a drunk superhero.

Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson -- During the chaotic days of the Presidential campaign last year, political pundits like Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson became household names. Apparently they weren't worried too much about maintaining their journalistic credibility, though, as this clip proves.

Alan Alda, Elvis Costello, Mary J. Blige, etc. -- Legendary 'M*A*S*H' star Alan Alda made a rare return to the sitcom world with this turn playing the estranged father of Alec Baldwin's character Jack Donaghy. When Alda needs a kidney that Jack can't provide, however, it's up to a star studded lineup of musicians, including Sheryl Crow and Clay Aiken, to perform a special benefit concert in his honor.

Salma Hayek and Peter Dinklage -- Salma Hayek brought both the sexiness and the weirdness to her role as Jack's erstwhile true love. Meanwhile, 'Prince Caspian' and 'The Station Agent' star Peter Dinklage had his own romantic issues after Tina Fey's Liz Lemon mistook him for a child.

Jon Hamm -- Ever since his breakout role on 'Mad Men' made him a star, Jon Hamm has told anyone who would listen that at heart he wants to be a comedian. '30 Rock' finally gave him the chance as Liz Lemon's baking enthusiast neighbor.

Brian Williams -- Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson aren't the only news types to let their hair down on 30 Rock; while Today Show star Matt Lauer has also appeared, we tend to lean towards this brief but spot-on cameo by NBC anchor Brian Williams.

Conan O'Brien -- Also in the realm of brief cameos is none other than current 'Tonight Show' host Conan O'Brien. Of course, since his studio used to be just a few floors away from '30 Rock', he actually managed to make a number of cameos; this quick scene walk-through is perfectly representative of his hit-and-run style of humor.

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