Before Jon Hamm became the hilariously charming Dr. Drew Baird on 30 Rock, there was one important step he had to clear — and it wasn’t an audition.
In a recent conversation with Interview magazine, Tina Fey, the creator and star of 30 Rock, revealed she personally reached out to Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels to vet Hamm before offering him the role. And it wasn’t just about checking his comedic chops.
“I remember calling or emailing Lorne and saying, ‘Let me know if he’s funny, because we have a part coming up on 30 Rock that would be perfect for him,’” Fey shared. “But also to make sure he wasn’t a jerk.”
In Hollywood — as in most workplaces — personality matters. Hamm agreed, chiming in that being easy to work with is crucial. “It’s not fun to work with people that aren’t fun,” he said simply.
Fey wholeheartedly echoed the sentiment, adding, “Life’s too short and the hours are too long.”
Behind the Scenes: How Jon Hamm Got the Call
Jon Hamm, widely known for his leading role in Mad Men, fondly recalled the day he got the offer for 30 Rock. After hosting SNL, he returned to his dressing room — deep inside New York’s famed 30 Rockefeller Plaza — to a surprising phone call.
“I’m sitting there when the phone rings,” Hamm recounted. “And I thought, ‘Whose phone is this? Who even has this number?’”
On the other end of the line was 30 Rock executive producer Robert Carlock, extending Hamm an offer to join the show. “He said, ‘Hey, we have a role for you — a totally normal doctor that won’t go weird at all, I promise,’” Hamm laughed.
Of course, fans know the story didn’t stay that straightforward. Fey recalled, “The first episode you did, you were a completely normal doctor. And by the end of your arc, you had hooks for hands.”
This kind of absurdist humor is exactly what made 30 Rock a cult classic — and what showcased Hamm’s surprising range as a comedic actor.
A Collaboration That Goes Beyond 30 Rock
Since their first project together, Tina Fey and Jon Hamm have built a creative partnership that extends well beyond NBC’s hit comedy.
The duo have worked on projects like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Modern Love, Maggie Moore(s), and Mean Girls: The Musical. Their longstanding friendship and mutual respect have translated into electric on-screen chemistry.
In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Hamm praised Fey, saying, “Tina is a very confident and capable actress — she’s an amazing person. We’ve known each other for a long time, and I think we really respect each other’s talent and what we each bring to the table.”
Their shared values — professionalism, talent, and being good to work with — have clearly created a winning formula, both creatively and personally.
Why Being a Good Person Matters in Entertainment (and Everywhere Else)
This story highlights an important truth about Hollywood — and about any workplace: being talented isn’t enough. Professionalism, kindness, and the ability to collaborate are just as crucial.
Tina Fey’s thoughtful approach to hiring Jon Hamm demonstrates a broader principle: great teams are built not just on skills, but on character. In industries where long hours and high stress are the norm, the people you choose to work with can make or break a project.
In the end, it’s not just about being funny or brilliant — it’s about being someone others want to spend those long hours with. And that’s a lesson worth remembering, whether you’re casting a TV show or building your own dream team.
