30 Rock What If: Rachel Dratch (Video)
Before Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney there was Rachel Dratch as Jenna DeCarlo.
When Tina Fey wrote and produced the pilot for 30 Rock she included her good friend and SNL co-worker Rachel Dratch. The pilot was produced, promos were cut and the episode made the rounds around NBC executives. At some point, as the story goes, Dratch was cut out of the cast role for “recurring” filling various roles (as can be seen in the first season of the show). Eventually, she was cut out completely.
The “DeCarlo” version of the show also included a different Cerie and some other minor changes. While most executive decisions by networks cause uproar among fans, it’s pretty clear that the unaired version was a completely different show. For her part, Dratch has made light of the lost role. In various interviews including one with New York Magazine, she down-played the event.
Well, when Tina told me I was going to play different characters each show, I was actually psyched about it, because it sounded really unique. But then the media kind of ran with this “demotion” thing, so that was kind of a bummer. But whatever, I’m over it.
This clearly answers the question nobody ever really asked: “What would 30 Rock be without Jane Krakowski?”
Did you also know the 30 Rock / TGS theme song had lyrics?
Larry
January 8, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Bullet=dodged
scoopie77
January 9, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Normally, I think it’s terrible when Hollywood favors the skinny and the blonde, but I love what ended up happening to 30 Rock. Good choice!
KenThePage
January 9, 2013 at 4:53 pm
I can’t imagine this show would have lasted with Dratch. Nice girl but wrong role for her.
Jess
January 9, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Yeah, it was the right choice for that show. I think Jenna herself is really about the ‘skinny and blonde’ hollywood ideal.
gothamtommy
January 9, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Dratch “Jenna” was too much like Liz. Yeah, it’s a much better fit.
Genevieve
January 13, 2013 at 4:06 pm
It’s giving me an error code, even after I signed up for a free trial for Viddler.
gothamtommy
January 13, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Sorry about that. We’re working on getting the video back.
singer27
January 17, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Rachel Dratch is awesome but this was the wrong role for her. I wish they had stayed with the second premise where she played lots of different and stranger characters.
singer27
January 17, 2013 at 6:36 pm
Also, read her memoire, “Girls Walks into a Bar.” Very funny, honest and sweet. Dratch devotes a chapter to her time on 30 Rock. She’s very gracious about her experience there.
amelia
January 17, 2013 at 9:09 pm
if this had happened, liz would have been the cool one. that is just not her. thank god for jenna baloney.
appstorechronicle
January 31, 2013 at 9:34 pm
Tracy says “I can’t wait” to do this with you every week” LOL
DDaniel
February 7, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Does she speak about Krakowski in her memoir?