'30 Rock' returning for final 13-episode season

NEW YORK (AP) — NBC says the next season of "30 Rock" will be its last.

The network said Thursday the much-acclaimed sitcom will have an abbreviated run of 13 episodes in its seventh season before calling it quits.

The show has been a critical favorite since premiering in 2006. It has won numerous awards, as have its creator-star Tina Fey and co-star Alec Baldwin.

Many high-profile guest stars, including Matt Damon, Elizabeth Banks and Al Gore, have appeared on the show.

But the series was never a ratings smash, and this year its audience has dwindled to an average 3.5 million viewers.

NBC will join other broadcast networks in unveiling full new prime-time schedules for advertisers next week. NBC will make its upcoming lineup official on Sunday.