Hamm and Fey Come Together

It only seems appropriate that Jon Hamm, star of the critically beloved, Golden Globe and Emmy winning AMC drama, Mad Men, will be guest starring as the romantic interest of Tina Fey's character on three upcoming episodes of the critically beloved, Golden Globe and Emmy winning NBC comedy, 30 Rock.

Both shows draw in Nielsen ratings that a traditional hit show, like CSI, couldn't even count low enough to add up, but what they lack in nightly viewers they make up for in buzz, becoming two of the most talked and written about shows on TV in the past year.

Fey, 30 Rock's creator as well as its star, was one of the biggest stars of 2008, thanks in no small part to her iconic SNL impersonation of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, but in a new interview with EW.com, she reveals that she was worried about getting Hamm to do the guest spot.

"A lot of times when we're writing we'll have an actor in mind and we'll keep referring to them. Like for this we said, 'Then Hamm comes in, blah blah blah,'" Fey explains, "And I kept saying, 'You know, you guys, we probably aren't going to get Jon Hamm.'"

But Hamm was eager to join the show, even if only for a short time, and agreed to play a divorced neighbor of Fey's character, Liz Lemon, who becomes her suitor. Even though he is not the first famous face that wanted to appear on the show - 30 Rock's guest list since it premiered is long and prestigious enough to make even Jay Leno turn green - Hamm had a unique reason for wanting to take on the role.

"I actually auditioned for the role of Jack Donaghy," Hamm confesses, talking about the character now played by Alec Baldwin, "So somewhere, on tape, there exists [a screen-test featuring the then not-so-well-known Hamm]."

Although they will only be together for a brief run this winter, both actors are likely to be sharing awards-show stages for the foreseeable future. Mad Men writer Matt Weiner has signed on for another two seasons - ensuring Hamm's enigmatic advertising exec. Don Draper will be coming back to our screens - and NBC has also renewed 30 Rock for the 2009 - 2010 season.