NBC began airing five new 30 Rock episodes on April 10, 2008. At the time, rumors circulated that troubled pop idol Britney Spears had been invited to join the show's cast.

According to Us Magazine, 30 Rock writer/creator Tina Fey was enthusiastic to work with Spears, with whom she had collaborated twice on Saturday Night Live. Fey also expressed her interest in having Oprah Winfrey take a small role on the series as her character's best friend.

Spears did not appear on 30 Rock, but instead took on a small, recurring role on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, helping that show earn its highest ratings to date.