“30 Rock’s” Tracy Morgan made his first red carpet appearance on Sunday night since his kidney transplant in early December and he’s thrilled to be back.
“I’m feeling great,” Tracy told Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson on the red carpet at Sunday night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. “I’m feeling brand new. Brand new.”
Tracy, who was diagnosed with diabetes in 1996, underwent the surgery around December 10 and was forced to take off a couple episodes of “30 Rock” in order to recover. He told Shaun on Sunday night that he was feeling good not long after he went under the knife.
“I was ready to go to work four days later,” he said. “Four days later, I mean [I] was at the [Knicks] game and it was great, I feel great.”
According to Tracy’s “30 Rock” co-star, Jane Krakowski, who was also at the SAG Awards, Tracy will actually be returning shortly to the NBC comedy’s set.
“Tracy Morgan who has been recovering from a kidney transplant is here tonight and we’re so happy that he’s back and coming back to the show – and I think an episode earlier than I thought,” Jane told Shaun.
Jane, who plays vain actress Jenna Maroney on the series, said Tracy has been recovering well, something for which the cast is thankful.
“He’s doing so well, so it’s great news to all of us,” she said.
Now a successful transplant recipient, Tracy said he is inspired to help out those who helped him.
“I’m a champion in that cause, and whatever the kidney people need from me they have, ‘cause I experienced it, and I champion that cause,” he said.
While Tracy was serious about his life saving surgery, he also seemed to have returned to full funny form, cracking jokes on the red carpet, including calling author and former reality star Sarah Palin, “the hottest MILF in the world,” in an interview with Giuliana Rancic for E!‘s “Live From The Red Carpet.”
Sunday night’s remark was Tracy’s second in under a week about the former Alaskan Governor.
On Thursday night on TNT, Tracy made his first inappropriate remark about Palin, during an interview for an NBA segment on the network.
A spokesperson for TNT later issued a statement offering an apology for the Thursday evening comment.
“It’s unfortunate Mr. Morgan showed a lack of judgment on our air with his inappropriate comments,” TNT said in a statement. “We apologize for any embarrassment or offense it may have caused.”
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