<P> Eventually, Lewis gave in just a month before his retirement, and Melcher backed down . In May 2003, Fey signed a contract with NBC to remain in her SNL head - writer position until at least the 2004--2005 television season and to develop a primetime project to be produced by Broadway Video and NBC Universal . Filming was postponed due to Tina Fey's first pregnancy . </P> <P> During the 2004--2005 pilot season, a pilot was announced named Untitled Tina Fey Project . The 30 Rock pilot focused on the boss of a variety show who must manage her relationships with the show's volatile star and its charismatic executive producer . The storyline evolved into one that dealt with a head writer of a variety show who dealt with both of the stars, as well as the show's new network executive . 30 Rock was officially given the green light to air May 15, 2006, along with a 13 - episode order . </P> <P> The series underwent further changes during the months leading up to and following its debut . A May 2006 press release mentioned that sketches from The Girlie Show would be made available in their entirety on NBC's broadband website, DotComedy.com . The idea was to air the fictitious TGS with Tracy Jordan online . This aspect of the series was abandoned prior to its debut . </P> <P> Inside scenes for 30 Rock were mostly filmed at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens, NYC (Studio 8H in 30 Rock in Manhattan for two live episodes). In the episodes "Cleveland" and "Hiatus", Battery Park City, Manhattan, and Douglaston, Queens, doubled for Cleveland, Ohio and Needmore, Pennsylvania, respectively . In the episode "Gavin Volure", stock footage of the Arkansas Governor's Mansion was used for exterior shots of the home of Steve Martin's character . </P>

Why is it called tgs on 30 rock