 In a 2008 interview with "Playboy", as well in various other interviews, Tina Fey has said that Jack Donaghy is inspired by "Saturday Night Live" creator and showrunner Lorne Michaels.In a different interview on NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me", Baldwin stated some of his inspiration for Donaghy was drawn from Michaels.Despite being brilliant and slick, Jack is portrayed as a scrupulous network executive with an affinity for overtly backhanded compliments which are usually directed towards "TGS" head writer Liz Lemon (whom he refers to by her surname more often than not).