“Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV” is an insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history, told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen, and watched it all fall apart. The popular series during this era of TV included Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, ER, Cheers, Law & Order and Will & Grace.

Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits. In this fast-paced and exceptionally entertaining oral history, Littlefield and NBC luminaries including Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Kelsey Grammer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie, Debra Messing, Jack Welch, Jimmy Burrows, Helen Hunt, and Dick Wolf vividly recapture the incredible era of Must See TV.

From 1993 through 1998, NBC exploded every conventional notion of what a broadcast network could accomplish with the greatest prime-time line-up in television history. On Thursday nights, a cavalcade of groundbreaking comedies and dramas streamed into homes, attracting a staggering 75 million viewers and generating more revenue than all other six nights of programming combined. The road to success, however, was a rocky one.

View this morning’s interview on TODAY below!

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Even stars get nervous during job interviews.

In this case, the job interview is an audition. The star in question? Debra Messing, currently jazzing up prime time in the smash making-of-a-Broadway-musical series Smash.

We quizzed the hot-pink-clad actress, who swung by Michael Kors’ Fashion Week show this morning, about her own experience hitting the audition circuit when she was just getting started.

One particular audition, she says, still stands out as the most memorable and terrifying acting bid she’s ever had to do. Clue? It wasn’t for a Tinseltown project…

“I remember vividly in high school having to audition for Annie,” she tells us, “and having to go in front of my drama teacher and in front of all the other kids in the drama club, and having to sing ‘Tomorrow.’”

Talk about perfect casting! We can totally picture the flame-haired funnylady in her younger days gunning for the iconic role of the spunky, redheaded orphan.

“I wanted Annie so badly, and I ended up getting the part!” she says. “But I remember feeling that very unique terror, exuberance, excitement, trepidation that only comes from auditioning for something—and something that you really love.”

So does she still get butterflies in her stomach these days when coming in to audition?

“Always, always!” she admits.

We’d tell Messing to break a leg, but we’re sure the talented and versatile gal kills it at any audition she does!

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Saying goodbye to “Will and Grace” after eight seasons was tough for Debra Messing.

“That last night was brutal. It was like 7-year-olds crying,” she said after the show’s series finale.

Just as tough as ending was deciding to start on another series.

“I’m a mom and it has to be really, really special for me to commit to something,” Messing says now.

“Smash” turned out to be that really special something.

“I called my agents, and I said, ‘I have to be a part of this,’ and they said, ‘Who is this?’ because that’s not in my personality,” she laughs.

It wasn’t simply her own role of Julia, a successful Broadway songwriter, but the array of other talents involved with this insider’s look at the making of a musical.

“It’s insanity. From the creative team to the cast, everywhere you turn there’s another person who’s expert at what they do,” Messing says.

That includes real-life Broadway veteran Christian Borle, who plays Messing’s longtime song-writing partner.

Messing says she’s enjoyed shooting scenes for “Smash” all around New York.

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