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#10: Tom Hanks “100”
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In this two part season five episode, Tracy Jordan tries to undermine all the good press that has made him an A-lister. But now that he’s a big star, his antics are seen as artistic endeavors and only makes his public-esteem rise. In the end, Jack offers the answer: to lose clout as an actor, all you have to do is to stop doing movies and move to TV (sick self-burn, Baldwin). Cut to Tom Hanks darning a blanket while he watches TV. Upon seeing Tracy’s small screen appearance,, he picks up a red phone to tell Clooney to tell Pitt that Tracy is off the A-list. It’s a quick, funny cameo lampooning the “power” in star-power.
#9: Octavia Spencer “Game Over”
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One of the most consistently funny dynamics in the show is the interactions between Liz and the stars of TGS, the stereotypically high-maintenance and demanding Jenna and Tracy. To keep the show running smoothly, Liz has become an expert at putting out any fires their egos might spark. But the tables are turned for Tracy when he casts Octavia Spencer in his upcoming Harriet Tubman movie. In contrast to her real-life public persona, Spencer is a challenging nightmare, even worse than Tracy, going so far as to demand that a t-shirt for her gambling website be shown in the historical film. It was totally out of character, but that’s what made it so funny.
#8: Paul Giamatti “When It Rains, It Pours”
After getting serious with her new boyfriend, Liz has a new spring in her step, which has the effect of getting Liz a lot more male attention. Buoyed by her self-assured attitude, she asks the editor of TGS to get the footage to her asap by flirting with him. This editor, who then goes on to tell everyone that he and Liz are sleeping together, is none other than Paul Giamatti. He can do a combo of nice guy/sleazy coworker so well; the casting was really on-point. In the end, Liz helps him get the girl he really wanted, and stops the rumor mill in the process.
#7: Jim Carrey “Leap Day”
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The man of many faces donned a special new guise for this oddball episode: Leap Day William! What, never heard of Leap Day William? He lives in the deepest depths of the sea and will exchange candy for the tears of children. Just like on Christmas, there are a number of holiday-themed festivities and TV specials surrounding the occasion. In one, we see Jim Carrey playing the holiday’s gift-giver. It’s not the only instance of big stars appearing in a show within the show, with fellow SNL alums Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell getting their own screen-in-screen time.
#6: ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic “Kidnapped by Danger”
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Jenna’s theatricality and penchant for breaking into song has resulted in some of 30 Rock’s funniest moments. She’ll sing her little diva heart out for almost no reason at all and is downright desperate to be the center of attention. But when one of her songs is lampooned by the King of Musical Parody, Mr. Weird Al Yankovic, she becomes fearful that she’s become a joke and vows to find a way to out-maneuver him. It’s such a natural cameo, fitting right in with the ridiculous nature of Jenna Maroney, that it is easy to overlook. In the end, she actually finds a way to Normal Al him … but at her own expense. Winning?
#5: Nathan Lane “The Fighting Irish”
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Jack Donaghy is a self-made man, and with his imposing demeanor and love of capitalism, he’s become a sort of a rich Republican poster-boy. While not entirely ashamed of his Boston Irish roots (although he’s worked “wicked hahd” to lose the Southie accent), he would prefer not to be associated with his blue-state/blue-collar upbringing in Sadchester, Massachusetts. But early in the series, he gets a visit from his brother, Eddie, who has come to tell him that their father has died. The con-man is played by the incredible Nathan Lane, and really... we wish it had been a recurring role.
#4: Stanley Tucci “Alexis Goodlooking and the Case of the Missing Whisky”
Kenneth Parcell – the loveable hayseed page of NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza who is almost certainly some sort of immortal elder god – is just the sweetest. Sure, he may not be the brightest kernel on the corncob, but darn if he isn’t reliable. Discovering a rival in his new position at the standards and practices department, Jack convinces him to crush his competition, then relates his own rival-crushing story. Tucci is hard to spot at first, buried under a wig in the ‘80s flashback. Later, when Tucci finds out that his friendship with Jack was a sham, Jack realizes that maybe being a cutthroat businessman isn’t always what’s important.
#3: Amy Schumer “Mamma Mia”
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Okay. Don’t blink. Did you miss it? It really is that fast. There were a number of guest stars in the episode Mamma Mia, including Steve Buscemi, Alan Alda and Keith Olbermann, but the one most easy to overlook is Ms. Schumer. Having just two years earlier placed fourth on the fifth season of Last Comic Standing, this is more of a before-they-were-famous role than a proper cameo. In fact, playing Liz’s stylist as she gets ready for a photoshoot with Jenna, Schumer’s one line is “Ugh, I’m going to get some tape.” Hey, we’ve all gotta start somewhere.
#2: Catherine O’Hara & Bryan Cranston “Governor Dunston”
One of the show’s great running jokes is Kenneth’s lamentations about his mom's "friend" Ron. For much of the show, both his mother and the disapproved-of beau remain faceless and offscreen, but in the final season we finally get to meet the other Parcells. Catherine O’Hara – of “Home Alone,” “Beetlejuice” and “Schitt's Creek” fame – plays Pearline Parcell, while Bryan Cranston – at the peak of “Breaking Bad” popularity at the time of airing – was the infamous Ron. It was especially nice to see Cranston return to comedy, as before earning some serious clout as a dramatic actor he was of course known primarily for his comedic roles, such as Hal in “Malcolm in the Middle.” Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Michael Keaton “100” Susan Sarandon “Queen of Jordan” Sean Hayes “Hiatus”
#1: Peter Dinklage “Señor Macho Solo”
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Liz, who has gone a little baby crazy, starts obsessing over kids in the street – which is how she very awkwardly encounters a small statured man. Peter Dinklage, in his pre-Game of Thrones days, had not yet achieved international renown but was already earning a reputation for playing intelligent, confident, magnetic characters who tend to be underestimated. Liz has had a slew of boyfriends over the years, and we wish that this could have gone somewhere and not just have been a one-episode thing. When you mess up the “Sex and the City” bridge-meet though, you probably have some things to work on.
