When "30 Rock" returns in 2011 to finish its fifth season, some fans may notice that the proceedings are less anarchic than usual: Star Tracy Morgan will be absent from a few episodes as he recovers from a kidney transplant.

Lynette Rice of EW.com reports that Morgan, 42, who plays Tracy Jordan on the NBC sitcom, underwent kidney-transplant surgery around ten days ago.

As Rice notes, Morgan is the second member of the "30 Rock" cast to have recently undergone a kidney transplant: The first was Grizz Chapman, who plays Grizz, a key member of Tracy Jordan's entourage. The series made kidney disease a plot point at the end of Season 3, when Alec Baldwin's Jack met his biological father, Alan Alda's Milton Greene, and learned that he needed a kidney (and hoped Jack would be a match). In response, Jack organized a star-studded lineup to perform "He Needs a Kidney"; proceeds from the sale of the (real) recording of the song went to the National Kidney Foundation, and Chapman became a spokesman for the organization.

Rice reports that Morgan is diabetic (having been diagnosed in 1996), but not whether his diabetes was related to his kidney issues; Huffington Post, however, states that diabetes is currently the leading cause of kidney disease.

Though he was spotted at a New York Knicks game on Friday, Morgan's recovery evidently requires that his character be written out of at least two episodes of "30 Rock," which will air in March. Chapman had his kidney transplant this summer and therefore is more fully recovered; perhaps he can temporarily pick up Morgan's comedic slack.

Tracy Morgan has a lot of health issues, doesn't he?

Dang, I didn't know he needed a kidney. Wishing him a speedy recovery. But, for real tho . . . how two stars on this show got kidneys so quick???

NDRU said:

Tracy Morgan has a lot of health issues, doesn't he?

I didn't know. He never looks sick. I've never heard of him doing dialysis.

First i've heard of this too. If true i wish him a speedy recovery.

SCNDLS said:

Dang, I didn't know he needed a kidney. Wishing him a speedy recovery. But, for real tho . . . how two stars on this show got kidneys so quick???

yeah I wonder

NDRU said:

SCNDLS said:

Dang, I didn't know he needed a kidney. Wishing him a speedy recovery. But, for real tho . . . how two stars on this show got kidneys so quick???

yeah I wonder

I ain't trynna be cynical, but really, TWO kidneys???

SCNDLS said:

NDRU said:

yeah I wonder

I ain't trynna be cynical, but really, TWO kidneys???

I'm sure Jack Donaghy would have something to say about the relatively higher value of the lives of the wealthy, and the thriving business of human organ trafficking

Prince said:

Money cant buy you happiness or a kidney, but it sure helps the search

WOW when did Prince become an orger?

NDRU said:

SCNDLS said:

I ain't trynna be cynical, but really, TWO kidneys???

I'm sure Jack Donaghy would have something to say about the relatively higher value of the lives of the wealthy, and the thriving business of human organ trafficking

Jack: Ambition is the willingness to kill the things you love and eat them in order to stay alive. Haven't you ever read my throw pillow?

Tracy is a nasty ass with a funky raw ass attitude but he dont deserve that dialysis crap...

Dot Com better watch his back...

No wonder why there are no new scare tactics

SCNDLS said:

NDRU said:

Tracy Morgan has a lot of health issues, doesn't he?

I didn't know. He never looks sick. I've never heard of him doing dialysis.

I met him a few years back in Manhattan, just a few blocks away from Rockefeller Center, at a Popeye's Chicken, lol. Although I hadn't "heard" anything about any health problems, it was evident to me at that time that he was not well, but he does a good job playing it off. Hope he gets better, I found him to be pleasant and very down to earth.

PDogz said:

SCNDLS said:

I didn't know. He never looks sick. I've never heard of him doing dialysis.

I met him a few years back in Manhattan, just a few blocks away from Rockefeller Center, at a Popeye's Chicken, lol. Although I hadn't "heard" anything about any health problems, it was evident to me at that time that he was not well, but he does a good job playing it off. Hope he gets better, I found him to be pleasant and very down to earth.

It's prolly his boisterous personality that masks his illness