Ex-“Friends” star David Schwimmer may be the big-name special guest on Thursday night’s episode of NBC’s “30 Rock,” but Al Gore’s the most fun.
Schwimmer plays an out-of-work actor who GE/NBC exec Jack Donaghey (Alec Baldwin) taps to become the network’s eco-mascot, Greenzo.
Gore plays Al Gore in the environmental awareness episode that’s part of the real NBC’s Green Is Universal week. The Earth activist visits Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and Donaghey to see GE’s new “garbage car,” but must leave to “save the whales.”
Gore’s stop on “30 Rock” is just the latest of several memorable TV appearances he has made.
Late Show With David Letterman
SEPT. 8, 1993
In a widely publicized skit, a goggles-wearing Vice President Gore breaks government-issue ashtrays with Dave (he was demonstrating the extensive tests the government makes on products) and also presents the Top Ten.
Saturday Night Live
MAY 13, 2006
Gore appears on the opening segment as himself, in a parallel Earth in which he won the 2000 presidential race. He describes the state of the nation: Global warming has been stopped; gasoline costs 19 cents a gallon; George W. Bush is commissioner of baseball — and then delivers the trademark opening, “Live from New York … .” He also hosted the Dec. 14, 2002, episode with musical guest Phish.
Futurama
2000-2002
Appeared in two episodes as himself in Matt Groening’s cartoon. (Gore’s daughter Kristin was a writer on the show.) In the Season 2 finale (May 21, 2000), Gore led his team of “Vice Presidential Action Rangers” in their goal to protect the space-time continuum. In the fifth-season opener (Nov. 10, 2002), Gore led an emergency conference in Kyoto to deal with global warming. Gore also will be in the “Futurama” movie, which opens in December.
