Wanna see something weird? Here’s footage from the original, unaired pilot for 30 Rock, which starred Rachel Dratch in the role of Jenna, before she was replaced by Jane Krakowski. Dratch discussed the situation with New York Magazine back in 2006.
What happened there?
I think the big thing was—at least what they told me—that at first they wanted to have more comedy sketches in the show. Then they decided they weren’t going to focus on the sketches, so they needed more of a sitcom actress, as opposed to a character actress. […]
Were you pissed?
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.
So, yes. This is strange. And it makes me feel super-bad for Rachel Dratch. Especially the part of the video where her character is talking with Liz Lemon and says, “I’m livin’ in New York. I have my own TV show. I mean, dreams do come true, right?!” Ugh. The only thing missing is Dratch looking dead into the camera and someone cueing up the “WAAAHHHHMMM-WAAAAHHHMMMP” horns from the Debbie Downer sketches.
(via reddit)
