The Secret Production Delay: How Tina Fey's Pregnancy Forced A Massive Change On '30 Rock' Season 6

The question of whether Liz Lemon was ever pregnant on 30 Rock is a common one, especially given Tina Fey's two real-life pregnancies during the show's run. The short answer is no, the character was never written as pregnant, but the reality of show creator and star Tina Fey being an expectant mother—twice—had a profound and fascinating impact on the series' production schedule and the very fate of the Emmy-winning comedy. As of this current date in late 2025, the behind-the-scenes maneuvering remains a perfect example of a showrunner balancing a demanding career with personal life.

The most significant event occurred with Fey’s second child, which forced NBC and the entire production team to make a decision that few hit shows ever attempt: delaying an entire season. This move, which pushed the start of Season 6 back by several months, allowed Fey to welcome her daughter and take maternity leave without sacrificing the quality or continuity of the 30 Rock storyline.

Tina Fey's Biography, Family, and The Timing of Her Pregnancies

Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey is one of the most influential comedic writers, actresses, and producers of her generation, best known for her work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and as the creator of 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Her personal life, particularly her family, often intersected with her professional timeline.

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• Full Name: Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
• Born: May 18, 1970, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
• Husband: Jeff Richmond (married 2001), a composer, producer, and director who also served as the composer for 30 Rock.
• Daughter 1: Alice Zenobia Richmond (Born September 10, 2005). This pregnancy occurred while Fey was still working at SNL and was a key factor in her decision to transition to developing 30 Rock for NBC.
• Daughter 2: Penelope Athena Richmond (Born August 10, 2011). This is the pregnancy that directly impacted the production of 30 Rock.
• Key Career Roles: Head Writer for SNL (1999–2006), Creator/Star of 30 Rock (2006–2013), Writer of Mean Girls (2004) and *Mean Girls: The Musical* (2018).
• Memoir: Author of the best-selling book Bossypants (2011), which was released around the time of her second pregnancy announcement.

Fey's first daughter, Alice, was born just before the debut of 30 Rock in 2006. The second pregnancy, announced in April 2011, was the one that required a major logistical pivot for the entire series and its network home, NBC.

The Great Production Pivot: Delaying Season 6 of 30 Rock

When Tina Fey became pregnant with her second daughter, Penelope Athena, the show was at a critical juncture. Unlike many sitcoms where a star's pregnancy is hidden with large props or written into the plot, 30 Rock decided to take a different, more expensive route: a full production delay.

The Mid-Season Premiere Strategy

The standard television season begins in the fall (September/October). However, to accommodate Fey's pregnancy and subsequent maternity leave, NBC agreed to push the premiere of 30 Rock Season 6 to mid-season.

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• Original Schedule: Fall 2011.
• New Schedule: January 2012.

This four-month delay allowed the cast and crew to wrap up Season 5, take a planned break, and then wait for Fey to give birth and recover before starting production on the new season. This strategic move ensured that Liz Lemon would not have to spend an entire season hiding behind desks or oversized props, which would have been nearly impossible for a lead character in a fast-paced comedy.

The Double Pregnancy Challenge

Adding to the complexity, Fey was not the only star expecting a baby. Jane Krakowski, who played the narcissistic and dramatic star of TGS, Jenna Maroney, was also pregnant around the same time.

While Krakowski's pregnancy was also handled with clever wardrobe and camera work, the combined pregnancies of the show's two lead actresses created a logistical nightmare. The mid-season delay helped alleviate the pressure of having both stars needing to hide their bumps simultaneously during the initial filming schedule. Krakowski’s daughter, Bennett Robert Godley, was born in April 2011, just a few months before Penelope Athena.

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The Subtlety of Liz Lemon's Wardrobe in Season 6

Despite the production delay, there were still a few episodes where Fey's post-pregnancy body was visible, or where they needed to hide the last stages of her bump during pre-hiatus filming. The show’s solution was brilliantly subtle, fitting the character of Liz Lemon perfectly.

Liz Lemon's signature look was always a mix of professional and frumpy—sensible cardigans, loose-fitting blazers, and dark colors. The wardrobe department leaned into this aesthetic, opting for "flowy" tops, looser coats, and strategic accessories to obscure her midsection.

The show's commitment to avoiding the trope of hiding a star’s pregnancy was so absolute that one source joked the production avoided hiding Liz Lemon behind "giant bags of Sabor de Soledad Cheese," a reference to the show's absurd, fictional products. This detail perfectly captures the 30 Rock spirit: they’d rather delay the show than resort to a tired sitcom gimmick.

The Liz Lemon Storyline During The Pregnancy

The character of Liz Lemon, the head writer of TGS, was not written to be pregnant in Season 6. Instead, her storyline focused on her relationship with Criss Chros (James Marsden) and a newfound sense of happiness and stability.

This happy, carefree Liz was a deliberate contrast to her usual stressed-out persona. The show used this arc to explain her emotional state, rather than a physical one. It’s important to note that Liz Lemon's long-running desire for children, which culminates in her adoption of twins in the final Season 7, was a separate, later arc. The production delay for Fey’s pregnancy in 2011-2012 (Season 6) was entirely separate from Liz Lemon’s eventual journey to motherhood in 2013 (Season 7).

The Legacy of The 'Bossypants' Pregnancy

Tina Fey's second pregnancy coincided with the release of her memoir, Bossypants, in April 2011. The book's success and her very public pregnancy announcement on The Oprah Winfrey Show solidified her status as a cultural icon and a symbol of the working mother navigating a high-powered career.

The time period became a topical discussion about the pressures on professional women. Fey openly discussed the "window of opportunity" for having a second child while managing a massive television production. Her decision to delay the entire season, rather than compromise the show's creative vision or her own family life, was a powerful, boss-like move that cemented her reputation.

The successful navigation of this major production challenge—managing the pregnancies of both Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski, and delaying a major network show—is a testament to the strength of the 30 Rock production team, including co-creator Robert Carlock and the support of NBC. It allowed the show to maintain its comedic integrity and gave Fey the necessary time off, proving that even in the high-stakes world of television, a successful balance is possible.