From the very moment that NBC controversially decided to greenlight two different series (one hourlong, one a half-hour) set behind the scenes at an SNLesque sketch comedy show and named for the numbered structures (one fictional, one real) in which they were produced, the fates of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and 30 Rock (one disappointing, one vastly superior) were inextricably linked. With Studio 60 indefinitely yanked from the airwaves and creator Aaron Sorkin failing thus far to live up his billing as Peacock Messiah (or even to a lesser, personal mission as Redeemer of a Debauched Medium), the network is now placing its sketch-comedy-related hopes for eventual Nielsen salvation in 30 Rock's Tina Fey, reports Var:

"From the beginning, '30 Rock' has proven to be the kind of quality comedy that doesn't come around very often, and we are very pleased to have this show back for a second season," NBC Entertaimment prexy Kevin Reilly said. "We expect it to continue to build its increasingly loyal audience and become another of NBC's classic comedy series."

When asked the inevitable question about Studio 60, a visibly uncomfortable Reilly momentarily fidgeted with his tie before offering, "You know what? They really had some moments, like the time Matthew Perry hallucinated that staff writer with the anagram name, or when they sent the coyote to eat the ferret—a ferret, not a mink, right?—they sent to eat the snake that got loose under the stage. We expect the show to become another cherished part of our home entertainment division's DVD catalog of quality dramas that never really found that loyal audience we spent untold millions of dollars trying to build."

• NBC renews '30 Rock' [Variety]
• Previously: Tina Fey Says Thing About Aaron Sorkin That We Are More Than Happy To Blow Out Of Proportion [Defamer]