Seinfeld: A New Solution for NBC’s Ratings Woes?

It’s been almost 10 years since we said goodbye to Jerry, George, Elaine, Kramer, and “the show about nothing.” Many viewers long for the good old days when they could tune in to see new episodes of the top-rated Seinfeld sitcom on Thursday nights. With the current state of NBC ratings, network executives surely feel the same way. Maybe, the storyline for the second season premiere of 30 Rock isn’t so far-fetched.

In the October 4th episode of 30 Rock, NBC vice president of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) comes up with a unique idea to boost the network’s viewership; a strategy which he calls “SeinfeldVision.” Using special effects, he takes footage of Jerry Seinfeld from Seinfeld and digitally inserts him into low-rated NBC shows to improve their numbers. Jerry Seinfeld finds out about it and shows up at the network to complain to his “old friend.” Jack has long claimed that he once saved the comic’s life by shooting a shark while Jerry suspects it was actually a dolphin.

The special appearance was arranged personally by new co-chairman of NBC Ben Silverman. 30 Rock star and creator Tina Fey really enjoyed the experience, saying, “We had a great time. He’s really, really funny on the show and he’s such a delight.” Seinfeld was equally complimentary and said “I’m a big fan of the show. I’m a big fan of Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey and it’s a funny show.”

It took just a day to film Seinfeld’s scenes so the most difficult part of the appearance likely came from the wardrobe department. For his guest spot, the comic had to wear a wig that resembled his sitcom collar-reaching hairstyle. Fey said, “We made him put on a wig that made it look like his hair from the ’90s, this sort of mullet wig and he was like, ‘This looks weird.’ We were like, ‘Nope!’ His wife was like, ‘No! That’s what you looked like.’” Stay tuned!

More about: 30 Rock, Seinfeld

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