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Thursday, Oct 4, 2007 10:00 AM UTC

TV Daily

Salon's guide to what to watch on Thursday: Jerry Seinfeld guest-stars in the season premiere of "30 Rock."

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Topics: Television,

Prime Pick

Photo: NBC

Even though it won the Emmy for most outstanding comedy, even though it stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey in their best roles to date, even though there’s basically nothing we don’t love about it, no one seems to watch “30 Rock”. But maybe its second season (premieres at 8:30 p.m. EDT on NBC) will pull in the crowds — if anyone can give this show the viewer boost it needs, it’s Jerry Seinfeld, guest-starring as himself on tonight’s episode. While others might raise their eyebrows at such stunt casting, self-conscious parodies make perfect sense on this show, as does Liz Lemon’s (Fey) tragicomic mixture of self-pity and rage. Pander though they might (and they’d better, if they want to stay on the air), the writers of “30 Rock” have a deathlike grip on so many ripe, juicy subjects: the juvenile essence of celebrity, the moronic communication patterns of corporate executives, the crass commercial nature of the entertainment industry, and the deeply pathetic lifestyles of urban thirtysomethings. We love this show with the desperate, needy sort of love that scares away anyone with healthy ego boundaries. Mmm. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!

— H.H.

Also…

For those who prefer to spend their Thursday nights crying rather than laughing, there’s the second episode of the third season of “Grey’s Anatomy” (9 p.m. EDT on ABC), after which “ER” returns for its 103rd season (maybe not, but we’ve lost count) at 10 p.m. EDT on NBC. And on CW, the third season of “Supernatural” premieres at 9 p.m. EDT, while the international athletic competition “Last One Standing” premieres at 9 p.m. EDT on Discovery. For those with an appetite for sick jokes, there’s the third season premiere of “Drawn Together” (10:30 p.m EDT on Comedy Central).

On the talk shows

Regis and Kelly

ABC, 9 a.m. EDT

 Jude Law, Tina Fey

The View

ABC, 11 a.m. EDT

 Marcia Gay Harden, Annie Lennox, Jack Cafferty

Ellen DeGeneres

Syndicated, check local listings

 Tom Selleck, Nathan Fillion

Oprah Winfrey

Syndicated, check local listings

 Sinead O’Connor

Charlie Rose

PBS, check local listings

 Michael Lynne, Bob Shaye

Larry King

CNN, 9 p.m. EDT

 TBA

Jon Stewart

Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EDT

 Jack Goldsmith

Stephen Colbert

Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EDT

 John Kao

David Letterman

CBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT

 Nicolette Sheridan, Tony Snow, Rihanna

Jay Leno

NBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT

 John Larroquette, Chelsea Handler, Matchbox Twenty

Tavis Smiley

PBS, check local listings

 Phylicia Rashad

Jimmy Kimmel

ABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT

 Jamie Foxx, Chyler Leigh, Soulja Boy

Conan O’Brien

NBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT

 Snoop Dogg, Connie Britton, Bloc Party

Craig Ferguson

CBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT

 Anjelica Huston, Pat Monahan, Cathy Ladman

Contributors: Megan Doll, Heather Havrilesky, Eryn Loeb, Amy Reiter

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