The best '30 Rock' guest stars

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The celebrities who stopped by Studio 6H

Inspired by 30 Rock star and creator Tina Fey's time working as the head writer on Saturday Night Live, life around the TSG set looked very much the same; a mix of regulars and guest stars willing to jump in and make the show even funnier, from Academy Award winners to Nancy Pelosi. Follow along "fellow kids" for the best guest appearances, ahead.

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Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore brought her Oscar-winning acting chops to 30 Rock for six episodes as Nancy Donovan. The Still Alice (2014) actress played a former flame of Jack's (Alec Baldwin), who reenters the picture — Boston accent and all! — in the show's fourth season. —Madeline Boardman

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Matt Damon

Matt Damon showed up in 30 Rock's fourth season as Carol. The Bourne Identity (2002) star appeared as a pilot who has a brief relationship with Tina Fey's Liz. —M.B.

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Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer appeared as herself in one 2013 episode of 30 Rock. She meets Tracy (Tracy Morgan) as a part of a Harriet Tubman biopic he is directing, and causes a scene with her on-set antics. —M.B.

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Steve Buscemi

In the future, when people stop using written language and only communicate in visual memes, Steve Buscemi's appearance as a private detective and former undercover youth narcotics officer asking "How do you do, fellow kids?" will be used in place of the word "narc." —EW Staff

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Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston joined 30 Rock for one 2008 episode, playing Claire Harper. She appears as Liz and Jenna's (Jane Krakowski) unruly friend and manages to seduce Jack with her wild behavior. —M.B.

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Paul Reubens

The last of the Hapsburg line from the Austro-Hungarian empire, Gerhardt Messerschmit Rammstein Von Hap (Paul Reubens) falls for Jenna at a party, and, of course, Jenna cannot help but entertain the idea of being his bride. From television to marrying a prince? Far-fetched at the time. —EW Staff

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Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld played himself on 30 Rock, appearing in the appropriately titled 2007 episode "SeinfeldVision." The comedian drops by for a meeting with Jack after the exec decides to inject Seinfeld into all of his programs. —M.B.

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Amy Poehler

In the midst of her run as Parks and Recreation's Leslie Knope, Amy Poehler stopped by 30 Rock for one 2012 episode. She played a young Liz Lemon in a live special. —M.B.

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Buzz Aldrin

Famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin joined 30 Rock for one 2010 episode. He played himself, finding his spot on the show as the ex-boyfriend of Liz's mom, Margaret (Anita Gillette). —M.B.

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Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm played Dr. Drew Baird on 30 Rock for six episodes. His character is an attractive doctor who lives in Liz's building and learns his charmed life is hardly typical. —M.B.

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Peter Dinklage

When Liz had baby fever and was looking to adopt, she ended up dating Stewart LaGrange (Peter Dinklage) for all of the wrong reasons, including their height difference. —EW Staff

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus had Tina Fey seeing double in 30 Rock's fifth season. The actress appeared as Liz Lemon alongside Fey in a live episode. —M.B.

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James Franco

James Franco dropped by 30 Rock in 2010, playing himself in one episode. He strikes up a fake relationship with Jenna to hide his true love for dakimakura body pillows. —M.B.

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Megan Mullally

Megan Mullally first appeared in 30 Rock's third season. She played an adoption agent named Bev for one episode, meeting with Liz to evaluate her potential ability as a parent. Mullally returned to the character in the show's seventh season, meeting with Liz again after Liz coupled up with Criss (James Marsden). —M.B.

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Florence Henderson

Florence Henderson appeared in 30 Rock's seventh season as herself. Tracy recruits the famed actress for a plan to cheer up Jack McBrayer's Kenneth. —M.B.

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Betty White

When Tracy Jordan realizes there is a "rule of three" celebrity death count standing at two, he calls his Rapping Grandma costar Betty White to see how she is feeling, hoping he will not be the third celebrity death. Have no fear, it was Tracy who was the rapping grandma, and neither of them died in the episode. —EW Staff

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Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek spent seven episodes on 30 Rock as Elisa Padriera. Her character meets Jack while caring for his mother, and soon develops her own relationship with the businessperson. —M.B.

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Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi made it from Washington, D.C. to 30 Rock in 2013. She played herself in one episode of the comedy series, appearing on Jack's television in a news segment about the exec. —M.B.

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Jon Bon Jovi

When Jack needs to impress his new girlfriend Avery Jessup (Elizabeth Banks) he throws a party and invites Jon Bon Jovi, just to give the the rocker the blow-off to make himself look important. While at the party, Bon Jovi warns Liz against signing bad contracts without reading them, implying it's the reason he's at Jack's disposal while Jack is head of the network. —EW Staff

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Molly Shannon

Molly Shannon stopped by 30 Rock for one episode in 2007. She played Katherine Catherine, one of Jack's sisters. —M.B.

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Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle appeared in one 2012 episode of 30 Rock as himself. The actor is shown in a "Black Americans for Romney" campaign ad as a part of the 2012 election. —M.B.

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Conan O'Brien

What late-night host hasn't been almost stabbed to death by a guest like Tracy Jordan, or perhaps had a relationship with Liz Lemon that ended poorly? As it is noted when they must speak, Conan O'Brien got married while Liz was still dating "that guy from the pager store." —EW Staff

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Matthew Broderick

Poor, Cooter. He had been working in the federal government for so long, he had no idea what was coming when Jack Donaghy joined his team, just for Jack to purposely get fired so he could return to corporate life. At least Jack made sure Cooter, played by Matthew Broderick, had caps for his pens. —EW Staff

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Suze Orman

When Kenneth realizes no one on the TGS staff noticed he was gone from the show, he becomes a page on The Suze Orman Show. Orman, playing herself, quizzes Kenneth on why his friends don't mind his absence from TGS, asking, "Do you socialize together outside of work? Do you exchange gifts? Do you vacation together on nonjudgemental cruise lines?" —EW Staff

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Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher played Rosemary Howard for one 2007 episode of 30 Rock. Her character is Liz's childhood idol. —M.B.

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Rachel Dratch

TGS cat wrangler Greta Johanssen only wanted the best for Liz when she would pop up, but it was the Blue Man both Tracey and Liz saw in their various hallucinations over the years who carried true warnings. They're only two of the various randos Rachel Dratch played on the show, which include Jack's date on Valentine's Day, a TGS protestor, a doctor, and more. —EW Staff

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Condoleezza Rice

Condoleezza Rice made an appearance in 30 Rock's fifth season, playing herself. She was shown as Jack's ex-girlfriend, reuniting with her former lover in a time of need. —M.B.

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Steve Martin

Steve Martin joined 30 Rock for one episode in 2008, playing Gavin Volure. He appeared as a reclusive rich man with some surprisingly dark secrets. —M.B.

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David Schwimmer

David Schwimmer had a memorable one-episode turn on 30 Rock as Greenzo. He appeared on the show in 2007 as a mascot hired by the network in an attempt to appear more environmentally friendly. —M.B.

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Ina Garten

Ina Garten made a 30 Rock appearance in 2011. She played herself, popping up in Liz's blissful daydream of a summer spent in the Hamptons. —M.B.

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Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett popped up in a 2012 episode of 30 Rock. He played himself to sing at Liz Lemon's wedding. —M.B.

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John Lithgow

John Lithgow played himself on 30 Rock, but fans have to kind of wish the writers had also turned it into a 3rd Rock From the Sun crossover episode. —EW Staff

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Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon played himself for three episodes of 30 Rock, and switched it up in 2012 to play a young Jack Donaghy in one of the show's live episodes. —M.B.

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Edie Falco

Edie Falco spent four episodes on 30 Rock as Celeste Cunningham. She played a democratic congressperson whom Jack falls for, despite their differences. —M.B.

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Al Gore

Al Gore appeared as himself in two 30 Rock episodes. He stopped by in 2007 for the episode focused on the environment, and returned in 2009 to pay Kenneth a visit. —M.B.

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Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon joined 30 Rock for two episodes. She played Lynn Onkman, an older woman with whom Frank (Judah Friedlander) was involved as a student. —M.B.

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Oprah Winfrey

Oprah graced 30 Rock with her presence in 2008. She played herself, appearing in a drug-fueled vision to Liz on an airplane. —M.B.

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Andie MacDowell and Jim Carrey

Andie MacDowell and Jim Carrey teamed up for one 2012 episode of 30 Rock. The two stars played Claire and Dave Williams, two characters in a Leap Day-themed movie, Leap Dave Williams. —M.B.

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Lester Holt, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Meredith Vieira

Lester Holt, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Meredith Vieira teamed up for one particularly star-studded episode of 30 Rock in 2010. The journalists appeared alongside Floyd (Jason Sudeikis) in a bit about the Today show. —M.B.

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Emma Stone, Andy Samberg, and Nick Cannon

30 Rock recruited Emma Stone, Andy Samberg, and Nick Cannon for the 2012 episode "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell." The three stars appear in a preview for the fake holiday movie, Martin Luther King Day. —M.B.