Thank God for Sarah Palin. Never in hell would those words come out of my mouth, but Tina Fey's gotta be thanking her lucky anti-intellectuals today, after the season premiere of "30 Rock" Thursday night hit a series high in total viewers with an estimated 8.5 million tuning in.

Sure, "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy" still topped it, but their numbers were 16 percent higher than last year's second season premiere, which drew 7.3 million viewers.

Sure, the seven Emmys "30 Rock" won last month may have had something to do with that, but show's centerpiece, head writer and mastermind had another thing going for her: an uncanny resemblance to, and resulting massively popular impersonation of, vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Whatever the case, there's reason for people to tun in to next week's episode: Oprah Winfrey's the guest star.

As for the episode itself, it was easily among the top five episodes the show has ever delivered. Jack and Liz almost kiss - unwillingly, yes, but that fact alone should tell you that the stops are all pulled out on this one.

Right out of the gate, Jack returns, but is relegated to the mail room - replaced by the bumbling fool that is Will Arnett. Jack remains undeterred by his lowly status, however, noting that he rose up in the company in 22 years before, and he could probably do it in 9 with what he knows now. Besides, as Jack himself put it, "I've already been promoted once since this morning." Sure enough, by the end of the episode, through gag-worthy means involving the owner's hideous, soaps-obsessed middle-aged daughter, strawberry lip-gloss (yes, on Jack) and "Dora the Explorer panties that clearly were made for an obese child," Jack is back in his old position.

Tina Fey's Liz, on the other hand, has her own mountain to climb - namely, trying to appear fit and child-ready for guest-star Megan Mullally's adoption evaluator. "I got rid of all my Colin Firth movies," Liz explains early on, "in case they consider them erotica." Everything goes wrong, of course, as friends and coworkers inadvertently (and hilariously) say and do countless things to sabotage the facade. I won't give everything away, but Mullally's got a bit of brain damage by the end.

Elsewhere, Jenna is digging into Tracy about royalties for her voice work on his X-rated videogame, which, according to Tracy, turned out to be "more profitable than the war on terror." Add a Jenna stalker in there, as well as the fact that she once dated O.J. Simpson ("a total gentleman"), and you've got a hell of a sub-plot.

“30 Rock”s a fantastic, consistently funny show, but its previous inability to pull big ratings has been a perpetual thorn in Fey's side. She's been a good sport about it all, though, having been both cast member and writer of the most up-and-down show in television history, "Saturday Night Live." The show has also benefitted hugely from Fey's Palin impersonation, which has drawn more viewers than the 34-season comedy has seen in years. During the SNL opening the night Sarah Palin guest starred along with Fey, Palin asked “SNL” executive producer Lorne Michaels, “Why couldn’t we have done the ‘30 Rock’ sketch that I wrote?” Michaels answered simply, “Honestly, not enough people know that show.”

Michaels may be right, for now, but time will tell if Tina Fey has the last laugh.

To add to her hit “SNL” revival and Emmy domination, Fey also recently locked a multi-million dollar book deal. In other words, people want this lady any way they can get her.

In extra 30 Rock news, Mad Men star (and recent SNL host) Jon Hamm is in closing talks for a multi-episode arc on 30 Rock. Hamm would be playing a potential love interest for Tina Fey.