In an NPR interview, Baldwin said he based the character, Jack Donaghy, mostly on Lorne Michaels. He said, “professionally, he's a prototype of several GE executives, but in his personal life, he's Lorne Michaels.

For newbies, then, a good starting episode is “Tracy Does Conan,” the seventh of the series and the first to showcase what would become its signature manic pace. Written by Fey, the episode guest-stars Conan O'Brien (playing himself), Aubrey Plaza, Chris Parnell, and Rachel Dratch.