The title is derived from 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the New York City street address of NBC Universal.
The show's name is similar to "3rd Rock," the commonly used short title for "3rd Rock from the Sun" (1996). At the 64th Golden Globe Awards, Tim Allen mispronounced the show's name as "3rd Rock" when mentioning that Alec Baldwin had been nominated for the Best Actor in a Television Comedy or Musical Award. Both shows featured guest appearances by Elaine Stritch as the mother of one of the main characters.
On December 29, 2006, Nielsen Media Research reported the results of having, for the first time, monitored viewers who use a digital video recorder to record shows for later viewing. According to the Nielsen numbers, "30 Rock" had the fifth-largest increase (viewers who use a DVR to record the show and then watch it within a week of its initial airing). According to Nielsen, the show adds nearly 7.5% to its total audience every week as a result of these "live plus seven" viewers
Characters Liz and Jenna began The Girlie Show at The Second City in Chicago. In 1992 Tina Fey took classes there and in 1994 was invited to join the cast.
Jeff Richmond, Fey's husband, composes all of the show's music and also serves as a producer on the show. He also appears in some episodes as the show-within-the-show's piano player.
The show's 17 Emmy nominations in 2008 were the most a comedy show ever received in a single year.
Jenna's name is a play on Janel Moloney (who later guest starred in the series).
The show's 22 Emmy nominations in 2009 were the most a comedy show ever received in a single year.
The same year that "30 Rock" (2006) started airing, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (2006), another show set behind the scenes of a fictional "Saturday Night Live"-type show, also premiered. Even though there were many differences between them (including "30 Rock" being a half-hour sitcom while "Studio 60" being an hour-long drama), many critics compared the two shows and engaged in speculation about which one would survive. "Studio 60" was canceled after one season, and former regular Nathan Corddry went on to guest-star on "30 Rock."
Lee, the costume designer for TGS, is played by Tom Broecker. In real life, Broecker is the costume designer for "30 Rock."
Liz Lemon's office has a framed cover of Bust magazine with Amy Poehler reenacting Janet Leigh's shower scene in Psycho (1960). Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are close friends and former cast members on Saturday Night Live.
In the early episodes, it is revealed that Liz Lemon is a one-time Emmy-winner, just like Tina Fey was at the time the show started.