30 Rock is back, but only if you’re in New York and willing to fight for tickets. Because that’s exactly what the world needed: another nostalgia-fueled event to separate fans from their hard-earned cash. The cast and creators of the beloved NBC sitcom announced a 20th anniversary reunion show in New York City on October 11, benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem. Original series stars Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer are all expected to attend, along with other special guests and surprises. The show will be held at Radio City Music Hall, steps from the real 30 Rockefeller Plaza, because what’s a reunion without a healthy dose of meta-referencing?
The show’s creator, Tina Fey, announced the event with her signature wit, saying: “Listen up tens, a five is speaking! Please join us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show Tom Shales once said ‘needs a better premise and funnier dialogue… and most of all a more commanding performer in the starring role.’” It’s clear that Fey hasn’t lost her touch, and fans of the show are likely to be thrilled at the prospect of seeing the cast reunite on stage. The Instagram video announcing the show also specifies that it’s “never-to-be televised,” because what’s the point of having a special event if you can’t make people feel like they’re missing out?
The Nostalgia Train Rolls On
It’s worth noting that this reunion is part of a larger trend in Hollywood, where studios and creators are mining their back catalogs for any scrap of recognizable intellectual property. It’s the annual Nostalgia Harvest, where executives attempt to reap a bounty of box office dollars from the fertile fields of our collective memory. And why not? It’s easier to reboot a familiar franchise than to take a chance on something new and original. Somewhere, a Focus Group earned another bonus for telling a studio that people still love 30 Rock, and that’s all the justification needed to greenlight a reunion show.
The show itself, which ran for seven seasons and 138 episodes on NBC, chronicled the backstage drama at an SNL-esque sketch comedy show. The entire series is currently streaming on Peacock, because in today’s streaming wars, even the most beloved shows are just a small part of a larger content library. Ticket presales for the 30 Rock 20th anniversary show at Radio City Music Hall go on sale on Wednesday, August 26, and general onsale begins Thursday, August 27, at RadioCityMusicHall.com. Good luck getting tickets, because you’re going to need it. The Content Mines remain fully operational, and it’s clear that the demand for nostalgic content will never be fully satiated.
A Never-Ending Cycle of Reboots and Revivals
This reunion show is just the latest example of Hollywood’s tendency to revive and reboot beloved franchises, rather than taking risks on new and original content. It’s a strategy that’s proven successful time and time again, from the revival of Twin Peaks to the reboot of Ghostbusters. And why not? Familiarity breeds comfort, and what’s more comforting than revisiting a show that you loved years ago? The Merchandising Department reportedly approved the decision to revive 30 Rock before the writers did, because let’s be real, the real money is in selling t-shirts and coffee mugs with the show’s logo on them.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that nostalgia will play a major role in shaping the types of shows and movies that get made. And while it’s nice to see the cast of 30 Rock reunited on stage, it’s hard not to feel like this is just another example of Hollywood’s lack of imagination. The Franchise Resurrection Department remains one of the busiest offices in town, and it’s clear that the pursuit of nostalgia will never truly end. Somewhere, an executive is whispering, “Can this become a trilogy?” and the cycle will begin again. Because in the end, it’s all about the bottom line, and if nostalgia is what sells, then that’s what we’ll get. And as fans, we’ll just have to be happy with whatever scraps of nostalgia we can get, no matter how small or insignificant they may be.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
