NBC'S THREE-TIME EMMY AWARD-WINNING "30 ROCK" OPENS A STAR-STUDDED SEASON FIVE ON SEPTEMBER 23 AT 8:30 PM ET

Guest Star Appearances This Fall By Matt Damon, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti, Sherri Shepherd, Chris Parnell, Rob Reiner and Queen Latifah

NEW YORK - September 15, 2010 - Season five of NBC's three-time Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" returns on Thursday, September 23, at 8:30 p.m. ET with a notable guest star line-up, including Matt Damon ("Green Zone") in the season premiere episode as "Carol," as well as Elizabeth Banks ("W") as "Avery Jessup," Paul Giamatti ("The Last Station") as "Ritchie," Sherri Shepherd ("The View") as "Angie Jordan" and Chris Parnell (NBC's "Saturday Night Live") as "Dr. Spaceman" in the second episode and Queen Latifah ("Valentine's Day") and Rob Reiner ("The Bucket List") in the third episode.

"The Fabian Strategy" - Thursday, September 23, at 8:30 p.m. ET

Determined to help Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) keep a man for once, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) meddles in her burgeoning relationship with Carol (guest star Matt Damon). At home, he also struggles to compromise with Avery (guest star Elizabeth Banks) as she redecorates his apartment. Meanwhile, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) has trouble coming to grips with Kenneth Parcell's (Jack McBrayer) termination as a Page and Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) becomes "TGS's" newest producer. Also starring Judah Friedlander, Scott Adsit, Keith Powell and Katrina Bowden.

"When It Rains, It Pours" - Thursday, September 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET

When Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is surprised that more men have been noticing her, Jenna (Jane Krakowski) explains that she is coming off as more confident because of her new relationship. In turn, she uses her confidence to solve Pete's (Scott Adsit) problem with a persnickety editor (guest star Paul Giamatti). Meanwhile, Jack (Alec Baldwin) decides he must cheat mortality in order to teach his and Avery's (guest star Elizabeth Banks) unborn son how to live. Elsewhere, Tracy (Tracy Morgan) is determined to be there when his wife gives birth, and a mystery man is making sure Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) work at "TGS" is still getting done. Also starring Judah Friedlander. Sherri Shepherd, "Cash Cab's" Ben Bailey. Brian Williams and Kelly O'Donnell guest star as well.

"Let's Stay Together" - Thursday, October 7, at 8:30 p.m. ET

Jack (Alec Baldwin) must appear before Congress to discuss NBC's merger with KableTown. He hopes that he will charm celebrity members (guest star Rob Reiner), but one Congresswoman, Regina Bookman (guest star Queen Latifah), demands more diversity in its programming lineup. Jack quickly enlists Tracy (Tracy Morgan) to come up with some new development ideas. Meanwhile, Liz (Tina Fey) is fed up with the flack her writing staff gives her, and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) helps Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) reapply to the extremely competitive Page Program. Also starring Judah Friedlander, Scott Adsit and Keith Powell.

Live episode - Thursday, October 14, at 8:30 p.m. ET

The cast of "30 Rock" will perform a special live episode from famed studio 8H on Thursday, October 14 (8:30-9 p.m. ET). In the series' first live episode, two versions will be telecast -- one live for the East Coast and one for the West Coast. The first show will be telecast at 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) for the East and the cast will perform the same episode for a new broadcast at 11:30 p.m.- 12 a.m. (ET) for the West. Central time zone viewers will be able to see the first live show at its regular time (7:30-8 p.m. CT). Studio 8H is a famed studio at Rockefeller Center in New York that has been the home to "Saturday Night Live" and many other famous television and radio programs on NBC.

Multiple award-winning comedy series "30 Rock" is told through the comedic voice of Emmy and two-time Golden Globe winner Tina Fey as variety show producer Liz Lemon and features Emmy and three-time Golden Globe winner Alec Baldwin as top network executive Jack Donaghy and Emmy nominee Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan, the unpredictable star of Lemon's hit variety show, "TGS with Tracy Jordan." Lemon constantly has her hands full, juggling corporate interference from Donaghy and off-the-handle star antics from Jordan, all while attempting to salvage her own personal life.

Also rounding out the cast are two-time Emmy nominee Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney, the co-star of "TGS"; Scott Adsit as the variety show's producer Pete Hornberger; Emmy nominee Jack McBrayer as Kenneth, the over-eager and effortlessly endearing NBC page; Judah Friedlander as Frank, the sardonic slacker on the writing staff; Katrina Bowden as Lemon's young, flighty assistant, Cerie; and Keith Powell as Toofer, the sophisticated yet sarcastic, Harvard-alum writer.

Nominated for 15 Emmy nominations (plus one for an interactive Emmy) in 2010, "30 Rock" won its third-straight Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series and tied the record for most comedy Emmys in a single season in 2009. "30 Rock" has also won a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, a Screen Actor's Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an ensemble in a Comedy Series, three Producers Guild's Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Awards in Comedy Episodic Television, three Writers Guild Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and two WGA Awards for Episodic Comedy and a Television Critics Association for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.

"30 Rock" is from Broadway Video and Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios. The executive producers are Lorne Michaels ("Saturday Night Live"), Fey, Marci Klein ("Saturday Night Live"), David Miner ("Human Giant") and Robert Carlock ("Friends").