Pilot (30 Rock)

"Pilot"
30 Rock episode
Liz Lemon handing out numerous hotdogs after buying every one a vendor had while the series' title flashes on screen
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 1
Directed by	Adam Bernstein
Written by	Tina Fey
Cinematography by	Tom Houghton Mike Trim
Production code	101
Original air date	October 10, 2006
Guest appearance(s)
Rachel Dratch as Greta Johansen Keith Powell as Toofer Lonny Ross as Josh Girard Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan Katrina Bowden as Cerie Tom Broecker as Lee Teddy Coluca as Stage Manager Kevin Brown as Dot Com Grizz Chapman as Grizz John Lutz as J.D. Lutz
Episode chronology
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30 Rock (season 1) List of 30 Rock episodes

The pilot episode of the American situation comedy series 30 Rock premiered on October 10, 2006 on the CTV Television Network in Canada, and October 11, 2006 on NBC in the United States. The episode was directed by Adam Bernstein and written by Tina Fey, the series' creator, executive producer, and lead actor.

In 2002, Tina Fey, then head writer of Saturday Night Live (SNL), pitched the idea for a series about a cable news network to NBC, who rejected it. Two years later, Fey approached NBC with a similar idea: a behind-the-scenes look at The Girlie Show, a television show similar to SNL. NBC approved the series in May 2006 and production began shortly after. Although the episode received generally positive reviews, it finished third in its timeslot among all viewers and among adults aged 18 to 49. Critics praised the performances of Jack McBrayer and Jane Krakowski, who played Kenneth Parcell and Jenna Maroney, respectively.

Several characters are introduced in the pilot: Liz Lemon (Fey), the head writer of a sketch comedy series called The Girlie Show; Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), the network executive; Kenneth Parcell (McBrayer), the NBC page; and the writing staff and cast of Lemon's show. This episode focuses on Jack's attempt to convince Liz to hire film star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) as part of the cast of The Girlie Show and the crew's reactions to Tracy's addition.