Tina Fey went on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night to throw some cold water on all those 30 Rock revival rumors. Tina herself suggested something might be in the works a few weeks ago while being interviewed at the red carpet opening of the new Mean Girls Broadway musical. Jane Krakowski, who played Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock, helped stoke the flames by saying revisiting the show “would be a dream come true.” Hell, even NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt said 30 Rock is one of a handful of shows that could plausibly see a revival. It felt like the moment was ripe for the announcement of something having to do with the beloved show, but now things don’t look so certain.
Fey, either to throw us off the scent or because there are genuinely no 30 Rock plans, told former SNL co-star Fallon about her provocative red carpet comment, one that even suggested we might hear some news by May. “A little bit of that is on me, I must be so thirsty for internet attention,” she said. As a joke, Jimmy Fallon suggested she’d also say that she was the one who bit Beyoncé, and she said she’d even say she was Banksy to rake in those sweet, sweet clicks.
But then she got a little more serious. “Robert Carlock [30 Rock showrunner] and I would never do a straight reboot because that would be too easy,” she said. “We’ll try to think of a way to do something. What should we do, a prequel that’s like Muppset Babies? Or set in a dystopian future where there’s a lot of robot sex?”
Fey also spoke about her two young daughters, Alice and Penelope, and how they are young directors and actresses in the making. She also debuted the trailer for one of their movies, Butt Show, and it looks like their mom’s legendary humor really did make it into their genes.
Finally, Fey participated in what is clearly becoming a classic Tonight Show segment: fans are gathered ostensibly to film video messages telling Fey what her trailblazing career has meant to them as comedians, "quirky girls," or simply people who love to laugh. You can guess who shows up by surprise.
You’ll recognize the idea because Chadwick Boseman did the same thing soon after the release of Black Panther, and if you remember how that one went, you’ll know to have some tissues handy in case you start…you know…sweating from your eyes.
