Tina Fey returns in 30 Rock

The Republican Vice Presidential candidate may be the best thing that's happened to NBC's Tina Fey laffer, which launches its third season Oct. 30. In an article from Variety, the popularity of Fey as Palin on Saturday Night Live has boosted ratings.Fey makes several guest appearances spoofing the candidate on the late-night satire show where she used to be a regular, and she's a smash. Then the real-life candidate does a much-anticipated walk-on, doing her version of how Fey has been doing her. About 17 million tuned into the show.Clips of Fey as Palin, many of which end with a plug for 30 Rock, have been viewed more than 40 million times online."I hope this ends up helping 30 Rock," allows Fey, referring to her Sarah Palin sideline the past few weeks on "Saturday Night Live." But she's keeping her expectations modest. "I would like the audience to go up just enough so that people don't have to refer to it as 'the ratings-challenged "30 Rock"' anymore.Several guest stars will be supplementing the ensemble of Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Scott Adsit, Jack McBrayer, Judah Friedlander and Keith Powell. Oprah Winfrey, Steve Martin and Jennifer Aniston will appear on future episodes, as well as Salma Hayek as Jack's new love interest.Tina Fey has worked on the movies Mean Girls and Baby Mama. Fey has also independently written eight episodes of 30 Rock and co-written four episodes.