The NBC hit series 30 Rock is a guided tour behind the scenes of comedy sketch shows. With an ensemble cast of master comedians, the show features every form of comedy from slapstick to dark, dry humor. Characters like Liz Lemon and Jenna Maroney illuminate the triumphs of women comics and writers in a patriarchal industry, whereas characters like Jack Donaghy and Tracy Jordan reflect the politics of television and the demands of wealth and ambitions. 30 Rock may focus on the writers room, but its workplace realism is why it remains a classic comedy.

This realism translated into how the characters are portrayed. In an interview with Cinema Blend, 30 Rock star and creator Tina Fey discussed how real world events may or may not have made their way onto the show. For example, they chose to omit the writers strike happening in Hollywood at the time as it was too painful for the writers of the show to discuss. Conversely, Fey was at times given the creative green light to write characters with specific actors in mind. 30 Rock has a multitude of veteran comedians and actors attached to the show as regulars or recurring secondary characters that it’s easy to forget that these actors have lives and roles outside the show. Here are nine things to know about the 30 Rock cast.

9 Tina Fey Loved Playing Sarah Palin

tina-fey-30-rock-universal
Universal Television

The Saturday Night Live alum had some pretty remarkable roles in her tenure, including hosting The Weekend Update with her best friend and fellow comedy legend, Amy Poehler. Yet throughout her tenure on SNL, Tina Fey loved playing one character the most: former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin. During an interview with Oprah, Fey confessed that her father didn’t approve of her portrayal. “I told him it was just that Governor Palin was the most fun to play! For a long time, Bill Clinton was the most fun, but in this election Sarah Palin was."

8 Alec Baldwin’s Box Office Debut was a Flop

baldwin-30-rock-2006-broadway-video
Broadway Video

Alec Baldwin was a comedy legend long before starring as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock. He holds the record for hosting Saturday Night Live 17 times. However, his box office debut is no laughing matter. His first film to premiere at the box office was Forever, Lulu (1987), starring Debbie Harry, which did not do well. The film brought in under $37,000, which pales in comparison to the top-earning film, Beverly Hills Cop II, which brought in $1.5 million.

7 Jack McBrayer is Not a Gamer

30-rock-kenneth
NBC

Before the iPhone and App Store, the debate surrounding games centered around console and computer games. For Jack McBrayer, who portrays Kenneth the NBC Page on 30 Rock, he struggled with gaming. McBrayer once revealed that he had an Atari as a kid and played Frogger, but he wasn’t good at the games. This may be ironic considering that he lent his voice to Fix It Felix in Wreck It Ralph, a Pixar film about arcade games.

Related: Here's Why 30 Rock is One of the Best Sitcoms of the 2000s

6 Tina Fey Was a Hired by a Comedy Legend

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in the writers room in 30 Rock
NBC

A common starting point for many Saturday Night Live alum is to begin as writers before going in front of the camera. Fey not only started as a writer for the sketch comedy show, but she made history as the first woman head writer. The person who initially hired her and acknowledges her success as her own is another former SNL writer: Adam McKay. McKay is most well-known for his numerous collaborations with Will Ferrell, from Anchorman and Anchorman 2 to Step Brothers and The Other Guys.

5 Tracy Morgan is the Cool Uncle

30-rock-tracy-morgan
NBCUniversal Television Distribution

Tracy Morgan who plays the mega-actor Tracy Jordan on 30 Rock is another Saturday Night Live alum on the NBC series. As a comedy powerhouse, he had an opportunity he just could not pass on with G-Force. During the promotional tour for the film, he revealed the reason he chose to do the film: “I have nieces and nephews, and little cousins, and it's not often that you get a chance to be the cool uncle. So, I made this for my nieces and nephews and other young people I know.”

Related: 30 Rock: Here's Where the Cast is Today

4 Jane Krakowski Prefers the Theater

Jane Krakowski:30Rock
NBC

Many actors begin their acting journey at a local theater or by joining their school’s drama club. Jane Krakowski, who plays the ambitious actress Jenna on 30 Rock, is no stranger to the stage. In fact, she prefers Broadway. She told Howard Schatz, “I think theater is the most satisfying for an actor because it’s the most immediate, and you’re the one that represents everyone else’s work in the sense that no one is editing it or tweaking it."

3 Tina Fey Fought Prejudice with Mean Girls

30-rock-tina-fey-liz-universal
Universal Television

The cult classic Mean Girls is a women’s empowerment beacon. While its common knowledge that Fey wrote the movie by combining a guidebook and her own high school experience, she also used the role of Ms. Norbury to fight against prejudice against women. Indeed, she chose to portray a math teacher to fight against the narrative of what women can and cannot do.

2 Tracy Morgan’s Real-Life Friends were on 30 Rock

30-rock-tracy-grizz-dot-com
NBC

30 Rock pokes fun at many behind-the-scenes elements of politics, corporations, and Hollywood. One of the funniest elements that was mocked was the celebrity entourage. Tracy Jordan, Morgan’s character, has an entourage who cater to Tracy’s every need, no matter how peculiar. Something sweet about Tracy’s entourage on the show is that the actors who play Grizz and Dotcom are Morgan’s real life friends.

1 Jane Krakowski Has the Most Broadway Roles of the 30 Rock Cast

30-rock-jane-krakowski
NBCUniversal Television Distribution

Krakowski may prefer the stage and with good reason. While she and co-star Baldwin may be tied to Broadway appearances, Krakowski has been in more performances. In fact, appearances at the Tony Awards shows count as being on Broadway. Altogether, Krakowski has been in nine different roles in Broadway shows.