Exclusive: Ally McBeal Star Climbs 30 Rock

• Aug 16, 2006 05:15 PM ET
• by Michael Ausiello

Ah, just one more reason I worship the ground Tina Fey walks on: The ex- SNL scribe/anchor/star has tapped the inimitable Jane Krakowski to join the cast of 30 Rock for at least 10 of the first 13 episodes, sources say. This marks a most welcome return to full-time series TV for the former Ally McBeal sidekick, who, since the show's death in 2002, has kept busy with numerous MOWs as well as a Tony-winning gig in the Broadway revival of Nine.

I'm still trying to nail down the specifics of Krakowski's role, but given the announcement on Monday that costar Rachel Dratch would no longer be playing one of the stars of Rock's sketch-show-within-a-show, "The Girlie Show," it's possible she's being brought in to fill that void. UPDATE: My insider confirms that Krakowski's character will, in fact, be headlining "The Girlie Show." Mystery solved!