“30 Rock” comes to a stop tonight on NBC.
And looking back on seven seasons of comedy from creator/star/executive producer Tina Fey, itap easy to get overwhelmed with all the laughs – many of which came from the show’s genius cameos.
Most of the cameos were established actors (James Franco, Julianne Moore). Others were politicians (Al Gore, Condoleezza Rice). Yet others were multifaceted celebrities (Oprah Winfrey, Steve Martin). And of course many were musicians and comedians (LL Cool J, Elvis Costello), which is more our speed here on Reverb.
With tonight in mind, here are our five favorite “30 Rock” cameos from artists:
5) Jon Bon Jovi
The “30 Rock” cameo: The frontman was NBC’s “artist in residence” in a Valentine’s Day episode from season 4. The episode was called “Anna Howard Shaw Day,” in honor of Liz Lemon’s hatred of Valentine’s Day and her appreciation of women’s suffrage leader Anna Howard Shaw (who was born on Feb. 14.).
Hella telegenic: 9 of 10. (Just ask Ally McBeal. Jon Bon works well on a camera.)
Should have been brought back as: Another one of Tracy Jordan’s long-lost sons. “Daaaaaaaaad, itap meeeeeeeeeee. Can I borrow some moneeeeeeeeeeey?”
4) Norah Jones
The “30 Rock” cameo: The season 3 finale featured the star-studded “We Are the World”-esque “Kidney Now!” was among a recognizable group that also included two-thirds of the Beastie Boys, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Wyclef Jean, Moby, Mary J. Blige and others.
Hella telegenic: 6 of 10. (She’s still button-cute.)
Should have been brought back as: Alternate-universe Liz – an anti-Liz Lemon who is more confident than neurotic, more dramatic than droll.
3) Ghostface Killah
The “30 Rock” cameo: In “30 Rock’s” first season, actually made cameos in two different episodes. In one, he rocked the song “Muffin Top” with Jenna Maroney. In another, where Tracy Jordan is talked into hosting the Source Awards, he appeared alongside LL Cool J. He played himself in both episodes.
Hella telegenic: 8 of 10. (“The muffin top is all that/Whole grain low fat.”)
Should have been brought back as: Jack Donaghy’s new boss in the East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming office at General Electric.
2) Margaret Cho
The “30 Rock” cameo: This is perhaps the most substantive cameo on this list, as comedian played the then-dead North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il in a story arc. Cho’s take on Jong-il was comedy gold, and it even got Cho nominated for an Emmy.
Hella telegenic: 10 of 10 (Talk about looking the part and getting lost in the role.)
Should have been brought back as: Another one of Jenna’s stalkers, replacing the one she missed so much after he moved on.
1) Adam Levine
The “30 Rock” cameo: Yes, (and many others) were all in the season 3 finale with the aforementioned Jones. Yes, itap the same episode. But what an episode it was! New York Times culture writer Dave Itzkoff wrote about the episode in May 2009 under the headline, “The Most Important ’30 Rock’ Clip Ever.” And so it stands.
Hella telegenic: 5 of 10. (This was long before Levine honed his front-of-the-camera chops in and as the host of “Saturday Night Live.”)
Should have been brought back as: Another love interest for Liz. She was on a role: There was Don Draper himself (Jon Hamm) and “Saturday Night Live’s” most notorious playboy (Jason Sudeikis). Levine would have fit in perfectly!
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Ricardo Baca is the founder and executive editor of , the co-founder of and an award-winning critic and editor at The Denver Post.
