First Look: '30 Rock'

KENNETH'S KIN Hayes will play the cousin of McBrayer (inset) — and host to Tracy Jordan (Morgan) — on an upcoming episode of 30 Rock

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Guest casting doesn't get much more inspired than this: Former Will & Grace star Sean Hayes will return to NBC on April 26 to play Jesse, the country cousin of Kenneth the page (Jack McBrayer) on 30 Rock. Star and creator Tina Fey says the idea helps fulfill a long-standing dream of her fellow Second City alum McBrayer. ''Jack came to me years ago and he was like, 'I want to write a Will & Grace spec script where I play Sean Hayes' cousin. Why don't you write it? You could be Megan Mullally's cousin.' I said, 'I don't think that's how it works.' So I'm happy for him now that his dream is coming true in reverse.''

The episode — in which Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) pays a visit to Kenneth's cousin in Needmore, Pa. — will also help McBrayer prove to confused fans that he and Hayes are, in fact, two different people. ''A couple of times I had to sign his autograph because [people] didn't believe me when I'd say, 'I'm Jack McBrayer,''' says the actor. ''I didn't want to get him in trouble, so I'd sign 'Sean Hayes' and go about my day.''