30 Rock scarfs down its "Last Lunch"

Article first published as 30 Rock scarfs down its "Last Lunch" on TheTVKing.

Last night was the one hour series finale of NBC's 30 Rock. In a double length episode entitled "Hogcock!" and "Last Lunch," the cast that works behind the scenes at a late night sketch comedy show, in which we rarely see what the sketches are about, take their final bow, bringing us a few emotional payoffs along the way.

Last week's episode, "A Goon's Deed in a Weary World," felt like a series finale. The Girlie Show is facing cancellation, and the cast and crew band together to make sure the show shuts down so that Liz (Tina Fey) could get to the airport to meet her kids. It was heartwarming, funny, and it would have been pretty darn good if 30 Rock chose to end there.

Instead, the final hour feels forced and off for much of the episode. The entire gambit to make one last episode of TGS cheapens the way the series ends, and comes across as contrived to pull all the characters back together, instead of letting them go their separate ways. Most of the staff, save the bosses, haven't even left the premises yet, taking their sweet time packing up! It doesn't make sense, and is wholly unsatisfying.

The entire premise hinges on Tracy's (Tracy Morgan) contract stipulating that he will be paid thirty million dollars if TGS doesn't film 150 episodes (30 Rock only made 139, by the way), one episode short of where they stopped. It's fine that Tracy is the one mucking things up for everyone; that makes sense, given his character. It's just a shame that this is the way the series decides to have him cause trouble.

Tracy resists doing the show because he doesn't want to say goodbye to everyone. This leads to one of the best moments in the finale, where Liz and Tracy have a heart to heart in a strip club, and Liz admits that she will miss him. This scene is fantastic, a real pay-off between the two characters, and a prime opportunity for Tracy to really open up, as he is at his best when he shows some vulnerability.

I just wish Liz's story played out a little better. Last week, she gets the escape she needs, finally getting away from the job that drives her crazy. This week, she realizes she misses the craziness and is drawn back in, even ending up directing a sitcom you just know she doesn't believe in in the "One Year Later" sequence. Where is Liz's happy ending? Why does her path to peace not stick? Are we supposed to believe she will always be so miserable? Fans don't want that for someone they've come to care about so much!

The dilemma surrounding Liz's plot is twice as bad for Jack (Alec Baldwin). We see Jack not satisfied with his achievement of his dreams, finally in charge of Kabletown. To compensate, he rounds out his life, which only makes him feel like he isn't devoting himself fully to work, keeping him from the goals he desires. His reaction is to go crazy and quit his job, heading off on a boat. This takes things a little too far, even for Jack, and makes one think that when he ends up back in the corporate world, he will still never feel good about where he is in his life and what he does.

Don't get me wrong; I love the scene at the water where Liz and Jack express their non-romantic love for one another. I also love the catalyst for that moment, when Liz and Jack bitingly rip into one another, declaring that they are nothing more than two people who worked together for a time, and don't mean anything. Dramatic, meaty stuff for a relationship that has been the driving force of the series. This story is what we need from the two leads in the final episode, and reinforces just how much they mean to one another. But why is the filler in between these two amazing bits so bad?

Other great stuff: Tracy tells Jenna (Jane Krakowski) he is going out for cigarettes, Tracy's dad finally comes home from buying cigarettes, Jenna realizes what she will miss most is her mirror, Jenna sings the "Rural Juror" song, Jenna is greeted in L.A. by beautiful young women including one that looks just like Cerie (Katrina Bowden), Jenna admitting she has never met Mickey Rourke, Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy) celebrating the dissolution of Liz and Jack's friendship, Tracy releasing Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) from his promise to always be there for Tracy, finding out that Pete's (Scott Adsit) attempt to fake his death didn't work.

Other things that didn't work: everything with Lutz (John Lutz), Jack cheapening his feelings for both Elisa (Salma Hayek) and Nancy (Julianne Moore), Kenneth running the network in such a strict way and still seemingly succeeding, Liz and Criss (James Marsden) in the chat room and park meetup, the lack of so many recurring characters who still mean something to the leads, like Paul and Angie.

I think the main problem with the 30 Rock finale is that it should have stuck to a half hour format. Seeing how the characters end up, especially in the flash forward in the tag, is wonderful, and there are several terrific connections between characters, with goodbyes that mean something. But tossing in the extra episode of TGS and the subplots for minor characters, such as the writers' story, where they battle Lutz for lunch, slows down the episode, and ruins it.

Overall, I ended up being underwhelmed and disappointed. For a series I love so much, and coming at the end of a fantastic season, I expected more depth, or at least more good jokes, and less filler.

Ah, well. It's over now. Unless somehow Tracy Morgan has a similar contract clause, and NBC is forced to make 11 more episodes?

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter! 

Not quite "Game Over" for 30 Rock, but getting close

It feels like the beginning of the end this week for NBC's 30 Rock. Jack (Alec Baldwin) engages in a final battle of the wits with Kaylie Hooper (Chloe Grace Moretz) for control of Kabletown. With the current CEO, Hank Hooper (Ken Howard), set to retire, Jack feels his chance to run the company slipping away to an evil teenage girl. Kaylie may be Jack's greatest foe yet, and the battle of wits between them becomes convoluted and full of deception.

This is a really great plot because Jack is at his best when threatened, and he has to end up a high note. Inheriting the position without having to work for it one more time would have been hugely unsatisfying. Instead, he is pushed to his breaking point, having to use all of his wit, and use the witless pawns Jenna (Jane Krakowski) and Devon (Will Arnett, somehow finding time off from Up All Night and Arrested Development) in order to come out on top.

It's interesting, because Hank is a truly good guy, one who appreciates kindness and old-school morality. Neither Jack nor Kaylie is a worthy successor, both plenty willing to splash in the muck, and more shrewd than generous. Part of me thinks that a last minute twist could keep the company from going to Jack, since that is not really what Hank Hooper would want, should he know all, even though Jack won by appearing to be the more heartfelt. But at the same time, Jack is a more important character than Hank, so this may be it.

I really liked that Devon is drawn into the game. With the end in sight (airing January 31st), 30 Rock parades through a few recurring characters in this episode, giving them one last hurrah before the curtain closes. Devon is a great recurring player, and Lenny (Steve Buscemi), Bev (Megan Mullally), and Doctor Spaceman (Chris Parnell) make appearances, too.

Jack isn't the only one heading for his endgame in "Game Over." Liz (Tina Fey) is frustrated with fertility treatments and waiting to adopt a baby, so she considers taking in an older child instead. It makes sense, since she's already spent seven years raising Tracy (Tracy Morgan), who is like an infant. Now, she can graduate to the later stage of motherhood, and be happy.

Tracy finally gets to see himself as others see him in "Game Over." On set at his new film, in which he has cast Octavia Spencer (The Help) as Harriet Tubman, he finds out just what an immature, crazy diva can do to a production, as Spencer turns out to be the female version of Tracy in a hilarious sequence of scenes. Bringing in someone with such recent acclaim as Octavia to play the outrageous role is the type of genius casting that 30 Rock is known for.

Yes, the antics of Octavia are extremely funny, and make for an entertaining episode, but more importantly, Tracy gets introspective. He has to try to understand what Liz puts up with, and how she can get things done. He isn't successful in corralling Octavia, but he gets a lesson in himself.

That's what "Game Over" is all about. On the surface, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments. But underneath that, the major players are all moving towards their finales, taking stock of their lives, and setting themselves on their next paths. Being able to do this without resorting to the sappy, staying as zany and goofy as ever, takes monumental talent. 30 Rock is killing it.

30 Rock continues Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC for just three more weeks.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

Liz Lemon ties the knot

Halfway through the final season, NBC's 30 Rock does the unthinkable: marries off Liz Lemon (Tina Fey)! In the episode that aired this week, entitled "Mazel Tov, Dummies!" perpetually single and goofy Liz goes to City Hall and ties the knot with her soul mate, Criss (James Marsden).

It isn't a smooth ride, of course. Liz wants to do it in jeans and a t-shirt, with no fanfare. But the two men in her life, Criss and Jack (Alec Baldwin), know her better than that. Criss does everything he can to sabotage Plan A, and Jack waits on standby, ready to swoop in as soon as Liz admits that she'd really like to be a princess for a day. In the end she gets to be, walking down the aisle dressed as Princess Leia.

When Liz is first introduced to television audiences, she is completely inept with guys. Some series might seek to change their lead character until she becomes more "normal." 30 Rock goes in the opposite direction, keeping Liz true to herself for seven seasons, and only allowing her to get hitched when she finally found a guy who likes her the way she is. That is Criss, and their marriage will probably last, not just because the series is close to ending, but because he and Liz seem made for each other.

Many over the years have wondered about a possible Liz / Jack pairing. This is flirted with very early on, but ultimately backed away from, never to be revisited again. For many series, this decision would be unthinkable, as the current trend is to let the two main characters be a couple. But for 30 Rock, that would mean changing who the characters are, and that would have killed the show. Besides, 30 Rock has always marched to the beat of it's own drum. Why stop now? It's what makes the show special.

Besides the wedding, "Mazel Tov, Dummies!" like other episodes this season, feels like a bit of a victory lap. The returning guest this week is Dennis (Dean Winters), an ex-boyfriend of Liz's, and the spark for Liz's nuptials no. He shows up with an adopted African American son whom he has named "Black Dennis." This humor may be a little edgy, but it's also very funny, and it's gratifying to have the talented actor once more on screen, no matter how many problems his character has caused.

In one of the 'B' plots, Tracy (Tracy Morgan) worries that he has become too successful and too healthy, and feels like his life is over, having to give up the weird and wild things that he does because he will now have to deal with middle age and consequences.

The challenge for 30 Rock in its last year is to set up the characters to move on with their lives after the inevitable cancellation of TGS, the show within a show, but not to make them too soul-searching, as this clashes with the general tone. Not only does the outcome of Tracy's story do this brilliantly, it also allows Jack to play Harriet Tubman in a dream sequence that totally rocks.

This review is just skimming the tip of the iceberg. In twenty minutes, we get all of the above, plus John Hodgman playing a simpleton that trades Jenna (Jane Krakowski) for money, a reference to an old soda pop, some additional vaguely racist jokes that don't seem at all mean, and so much more. Fantastic!

In short, 30 Rock is having a great final season, and "Mazel Tov, Dummies!" satisfies in unexpected and hilarious ways. Going with the current trend, the series should go out the way that it wants to, staying true to itself, and rewarding those fans who have made the journey with them.

30 Rock airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

"The Beginning of the End" of 30 Rock

With the final season of NBC's 30 Rock upon us, it's hard not to try to assign importance into everything that happens, looking for clues as to what the last arcs of the series will be, and trying to figure out how it will all end. This week's season premiere, "The Beginning of the End," leave ample opportunity for this (almost completely frivolous) exercise.

At the start of the episode, there is a fake out with Liz (Tina Fey) and a baby. Is this just a gag? The revelation that Liz doesn't have a baby the last we'll ever see of this story? Or is her life just in a really good place, and we can see how she wants things to be, which is what she will be working towards?

Jack's (Alec Baldwin) motivations are far more clear. Liz quickly figures out that he is trying to tank NBC so that he can be fully in charge of the network. It's not a terrible plan, but as anyone who has ever seen The Producers knows, one must be careful with this strategy? What is things backfire, and as terrible as the shows Jack is making are, including one in which he plays God, but can't explain the rules of God, what if they prove popular? As with the real life NBC, being a last place network, there isn't much to lose.

So is this how TGS will meet its demise? A victim of Jack's machinations? Doomed to be forced off the air as it is replaced by even more drivel? Or will the show within a show prove terrible enough to fit within Jack's new business model? Or maybe Jack will have the chance to truly rebrand the network the way he would like, and TGS just don't fit into that outlook? Though Jack will surely have a job offer for Liz to replace the one she will lose.

As serious as Jack might get, there is plenty of goofiness left in 30 Rock, still funny after all of these years. Tracy (Tracy Morgan)  and Hazel (Kristen Schaal) are warring over Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy) is back at his desk, and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) is going to be her own maid of honor, after Liz fails to live up to the task. All of this is a recipe for more over-the-top shenanigans of the sort that has kept viewers tuning in year after year.

Trying to end any series is hard, especially one as original and creative as 30 Rock. There will have to be a sentimentality to it, and yet, 30 Rock is much more a comedy than a drama, never taking itself too seriously. "The Beginning of the End" demonstrates an awareness of this, and is definitely moving in the proper direction.

30 Rock airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

30 Rock rocks out the guest stars

     This week on NBC's 30 Rock, in "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell," Jack (Alec Baldwin) decides to get rid of the Page Program and replace them with an automated system (voiced by Rachel Dratch), much to Kenneth's (Jack McBrayer) chagrin. But then Jack makes a mistake, and his businessversary present to Hank Hooper (Ken Howard) gets sent to TGS instead. Jack loses the respect of not only Hank, but the TGS staff as well, with Lutz (John Lutz) even thinking that they are on the same level! To save face, Jack rehires the pages and blames Kenneth for the snafu, scrapping the automated machine.

     Writing a review of nearly any 30 Rock episode ends up being a game of name dropping as many celebrities as possible, and a struggle to mention all of the best one-liners, of which there are almost always a plethora to choose from. "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell" has its share of the latter, and more of the former than any installment in recent memory. That alone makes it an episode well worth watching, as well as guarantees that not every star appearing in the half hour will be mentioned in the following article. Nor will most of those names be linked, but feel free to google them.

     It's been too long an absence for Dratch, who appears regularly as a variety of characters in the early days of 30 Rock. Any excuse to bring her back is more than welcome, so it's a little disappointing that the machine is thrown away so fast. Where might she pop up next, and when?

     It's great to see Jack exposed as a normal man. Everything about his character screams elitist, and even though viewers soon start to root for Jack to fix his image problem this week, it's funny to see him taken down a peg by the likes of Lutz and Frank (Judah Friedlander). 30 Rock needs Jack to be the top dog in order to keep the fictional version of NBC running, but that doesn't mean that he can't suffer temporary setbacks. This story will work especially well for those who wish some ill will on Baldwin, who isn't universally liked outside of 30 Rock.

     In "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell," Jack gets to deliver a great one-liner about the fame of Maulik Pancholy, who formerly plays Jack's assistant, Jonathan, and now co-stars in Whitney. Jonathan is definitely missed, and is a far better use of Pancholy's talents that his current role. However, Pancholy does get more screen time on Whitney, slightly, so it's probably better for him, career wise. And at least he's a main character on his new series instead of a recurring supporting player, as he is on 30 Rock.

     In a second plot, Liz (Tina Fey) and Jenna (the underrated, fantastic Jane Krakowski) have a falling out as friends when Jenna sets up Liz to have paint thrown on her by PETA, just so Jenna can save face. Both seek solace by gravitating towards others like themselves. It isn't long before Jenna finds her new besties, including an unknown Kardashian, exhausting. And Liz, after a misstep with a very obvious knock off of the Sex and the City friends, who are even listed in the credits with names like Charglotte and Kerrie (Teri Conn, As the World Turns, One Life to Live), ends up really annoyed by a near twin named Amy (Julie Dretzin, Six Feet Under). They return to each other, glad to have someone that complements them, rather than a pal exactly like them.

     30 Rock uses its trademark brand of broad, winky humor extensively in the Liz and Jenna plot this week. Not only is it packed with guest stars, but the jokes are really funny. It may be a typical story, done by many other series, but it is handled with a 30 Rock twist that makes it seem both fresh and hilarious. As such, more of this kind of stuff will keep the show running for a good long time.

     Following on that theme, the MLK Day trailer at the beginning of "The Ballad of Kenneth Purcell," featuring Jenna starring in a Valentine's Day-esque film with Emma Stone, Nick Cannon, and Andy Samberg (themselves), is a wonderful tongue-in-cheek joke. Not many shows have the gravitas to pull these kind of names for a one-shot laugh, but that 30 Rock can do so over and over again really lends to its credibility. Just looking for who will show up next is a great draw to watch each episode. Also, Jenna's growing fame on the show within a show is a neat way to take her character, and putting her in the company of these others actors makes it seem even more believable.

     Finally, Tracy (Tracy Morgan) decides that he'd like to kill himself after Dot Com (Kevin Brown) and Grizz (Grizz Chapman) send out his birthday invitations with the phrase "no gifts." Tracy isn't really looking for death, but rather, wants to illustrate a point to his entourage, mostly because he doesn't have anything else to do. As to what exactly that point is, well, anyone's guess is good, as Tracy's brain doesn't exactly work correctly. But it's amusing, and it gives Morgan some amusing scenes in the jam-packed episode.

     "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell" aired at 9 p.m. ET, the second of two new episodes this week. Normally, 30 Rock airs in the earlier time slot of 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Be sure to watch it.

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     Click here to read every 30 Rock review I've ever written.

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30 Rock likes to "Dance Like Nobody's Watching"

     NBC's 30 Rock likes to "Dance Like Nobody's Watching," and indeed, no one has been, since the series has been off the air since early May. But it returns last night. Liz (Tina Fey) comes back from holiday break happy and refreshed. Jack (Alec Baldwin) is sure he knows why, as he says he knows Liz better than she knows herself. He's wrong. Jenna (Jane Krakowski) is now the mean judge of a very successful children's singing competition, while Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) by his preacher that this is the last day before the Rapture, and so works on his "dream chores" list. 

     30 Rock has been sorely missed, immediately apparent early into "Dance Like Nobody's Watching." The series returns with a wonderful episode, with some funny plots, and a couple surprise twists. It remains timely, even sneaking in a reference to Avery (Elizabeth Banks) now being held captive by Kim Jong Un, since Kim Jong Il is dead. It also sticks to its trademark brand, but allows a little bit of growth, especially in the character of Liz Lemon.

     Who is the new man in Liz's life? Jack's antics to make sure he is right about her sudden happiness are amusing, especially when he finds Liz dancing. But viewers cannot possibly be more surprised than Jack when he spies her kissing a man, whose back is to the camera. Is it a familiar face, something that seems likely given the show's penchant for bringing back characters? Or is this someone entirely new? It could be the latter, given that Liz has never been low stress and satisfied. But this new Liz probably won't be as good of a boss, so unfortunately, another episode or two is all one can expect to see her act this way. Which doesn't necessarily mean the relationship has to end (though it likely will). Rather, she just needs to return to Earth. But what a great side trip for her!

     Jack, also, has changed, though his is more of an adjustment that is righted by the end of "Dance Like Nobody's Watching." Seeing how mean Jenna is to the young children on her reality competition, he remembers his own daughter, and demands that she tone it down. Jenna does, much to the chagrin of herself and fellow judges (and returning characters), D'Fwan (Tituss Burgess) and tennis champ John McEnroe (himself). And they are right. The show tanks in the ratings with the softer Jenna, which goes against new wisdom gleaned from last season's American Idol, by the way. But Jack has a conversation with his one-year old daughter, and takes her baby nonsense as advice to care more about business again. Thus, order is restored in the world.

     It must be said, "mean judge" is a perfect job for Jenna. She is great at it, and doesn't mind making children cry. This should definitely be a recurring bit.

     Kenneth's subplot is a bit more expected, and not as good in general. With the page scraping Chiquita banana stickers off of lights because that's how he wants to spend his last day on earth, Frank (Judah Friedlander), Toofer (Keith Powell), and Lutz (J.D. Lutz) go on the attack against Kenneth and his faith. But Pete (Scott Adsit) calls them off, and tries to comfort Kenneth when the latter realizes that he will still be around tomorrow. It's not an out of character story, but is doesn't seem all that fresh, and is the weakest of the three plots in "Dance Like Nobody's Watching." That being said, the weakest 30 Rock is still better than many other shows.

     Enjoy 30 Rock Thursdays on NBC, now at 8 p.m. ET.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Click here to read every 30 Rock review I've ever written.

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30 Rock tries to "Respawn" with mixed results

     NBC's 30 Rock completed its fifth (already!?) season with "Respawn," in which a number of characters try to make it through the summer. Liz's (Tina Fey) dream is to stay in the Hamptons, learning Spanish and spending time doing brainless tasks outside. Her peace is interrupted when Tracy (Tracy Morgan) moves in next door to her. Jack (Alec Baldwin) doesn't even try to think of any way he might rescue Avery (Elizabeth Banks). Instead, he tries to carry on without her or other people's pity, and when that doesn't want, he forces Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) to take her place. Jenna (Jane Krakowski) tries to make her boyfriend, Paul (Will Forte), behave normally so that the head of the Wool Council (guest star Victor Garber) will be satisfied with Jenna's morality. And the writers play video games.

     Generally, summer episodes, if they are done at all, appear in the fall, so it is a new and novel idea to do it as a season finale. The drawback, though, is that instead of a big finish, it's a meandering episode spanning a large chunk of time, and not a lot gets done. While 30 Rock may make frequent use of episodes not getting anything done, after its big 'Weddings' finale last year, this one is a let down.
     The title of the episode refers to the writers' plot, where Frank (Judah Friedlander), Lutz (John Lutz), Toofer (Keith Powell), and some other guy keep killing themselves and respawning in a video game so that none of them actually get a kill point, and no one wins. They are only checked in on a couple of times, so it seems an odd thing to pinpoint in the title. However, their scenes may actually have been the funniest in this mediocre episode.

     The best thing "Respawn" has going for it is the great Victor Garber in an apparently one-time guest role. Garber is an extremely talented actor, and is only the latest in a long line of 'big gets' for 30 Rock. His presence elevates the series in a noticeable way, and he steals every scene he is in as the highly moral, wool loving CEO.

     Besides Garber, Forte continues to be a great asset for 30 Rock, and they should consider making Paul a regular, now that Forte is no longer with Saturday Night Live. He was originally introduced as a Jenna impersonator, funny enough, but their continued relationship and hilariously kinky sex has been a constant joy. Also, Paul trying to be normal for his girl is something he would not have done when they were less committed, so it shows a level of growth that is unexpected. Kudos is warranted for this subplot.

     Jack has been completely tamed by Avery and their baby. There is no way  a couple of years ago Jack would have sat by and did nothing while the love of his life is tortured by North Koreans. While this is sort of dealt with last week, it is intolerable that he should grow complacent in the season finale. Is Banks no longer available for 30 Rock episodes, and so she is being written out? It is hard to fathom what the thinking is behind this plot, but it is far from satisfying.

     Kenneth is a joke in "Respawn." While he has always been a bit dim and eager to please, he goes too far in going along with Jack's transference. Not only that, but the character clearly understands what is going on, and that it is wrong, and he doesn't want to do it, but continues anyway. Kenneth has come further than this, and it is very disappointing to see him backslide into such a stooge. And what is up with the little bit at the end where he tells Jacob he needs more time before "To be continued..." appears. To be honest, it feels like a one-note gag, possibly a Lost reference, that will likely not be followed up on.

     Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy), on the other hand, is moved to feelings of revenge when Jack fully chooses Kenneth over him. This has been touched on before, but it's time for an ongoing, full-blown feud between the two. It is certain to be tons of fun, if the writers pursue it. It would be good to see Kenneth get mad enough to fight back, the only possible outcome for his character to survive a full onslaught from Jonathan.

     Tracy is funny in his need to bug Liz, as he has formed quite an attachment to her after hiding out in her upstairs and sneaking in to repaint her apartment three times. He is likely looking for a peer-level friend, rather than his entourage he usually interacts with. This could be something really great to explore further.

     Liz, on the other hand, is sliding backwards. Throughout 30 Rock she has struggled to improve her life. She did so for awhile, even maintaining a steady relationship with Carol (Matt Damon). But since their break up, she has become a joke. She barely cares about the show anymore, other than how its cancellation would cut off her paycheck. What happened to the Lemon that was passionate about TGS? Bring her back!


     30 Rock has been renewed for a sixth season, and will return in the fall to NBC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

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30 Rock - "Christmas Attack Zone"

    Five years in, the characters on NBC's 30 Rock really know who they are, and the writers have perfected the situations that are most enjoyable.  Outlandish, sure, but also consistently charming and hilarious.  This past week's Christmas episode, entitled "Christmas Attack Zone", was no different.  It was not only a good holiday themed special, but it was a nice, solid example of what makes 30 Rock so great.

     The best part was Jack's (Alec Baldwin) Christmas Eve dinner.  He invited Liz (Tina Fey), who was desperate to escape the drama of her family, to dine with himself and his mother, Colleen (Elaine Stritch).  Once Colleen found out about Jack's impending baby, though, which was done at the urging of Liz, by the way, she went on the attack.  To defend himself, Jack invited his pregnant girlfriend Avery (Elizabeth Banks), who was angry that Colleen wouldn't accept her, as well as his biological father Milton Greene (Alan Alda), whom Colleen didn't even know Jack knew about.  The result of putting five actors of such comedic calibur in one room can not be oversold.  Hilarity ensued, fights erupted, and Colleen faked a heart attack, earning Avery and Milton's sympathy, and turning them against Jack.  Jack, however, ended up with the perfect Christmas as both of his parents yelled at him, something he'd never had.

     That's what 30 Rock does.  Sure, it seems easy for the show to land huge guests, and what's more, keep them coming back. While Alda was only appearing for the third time, his liberal clashing with conservative son Jack is already an invaluable continuing plot.  Stritch has been in seven episodes, and is always welcome.  She has gotten to do comedy and some drama, but this time was pretty much a comedy-only visit.  But while both have very successful careers, and they still work, 30 Rock doesn't have to fight fully packed schedules to get them.  At least not compared to Banks, who has no fewer than four movies currently coming down the pipeline and has still squeezed in a whopping ten episodes in less than a year.  Considering her and Jack's impending nuptials and offspring, it looks likely that while she may not maintain that hectic number, her run has no end in sight.

     And those are just the guest stars!  30 Rock has a full cast, with many supporting characters surrounding the principals, who are mainly Liz, Jack, Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), and Jenna (Jane Krakowski).  The latter two, while mostly there for comic relief, as if such was needed on a show teeming with the funny, have actually had some deeper pathos lately.  Jenna recently went through a breakup with boyfriend Paul (Will Forte).  While only having appeared in a handful of episodes, Paul has become one of my favorite characters.  He is perfect for Jenna, worshipping the ground she walks upon, and even dressing as her in public.  It's a bizarre twist, but the show finally answered the (not really) nagging question, "What type of guy would Jenna actually go for?"  Thank goodness they had a bit of a resolution this week, because Forte is no longer on Saturday Night Live, and hopefully the show will retain his services.

     Tracy is up for a serious acting award, and this week tried to keep up that solemn image, resisting his new comedy movie's release.  That is, until Kenneth pointed out that the world needs laughter, too.  We certainly do, Kenneth.  We certainly, do.  And thank you 30 Rock for providing it.

     30 Rock is on winter hiatus, but will return Thursday nights on NBC early in the new year.

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30 Rock goes live!

     NBC's 30 Rock did a live show for each coast last night.  Having just completed viewing the West Coast episode online (I like in the Eastern time zone), I could identify only 5 intentional differences between the two, and most involved the guest stars:  In the East version, Jenna (Jane Krakowski) sang words to 30 Rock's normal theme music about the show being live, and in the West Danny (Cheyenne Jackson, Glee) did it with completly different lyrics.  Flashback Liz Lemon (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Seinfeld) made fun of Jonathan by referencing Slum Dog Millionaire in one version, and Aladdin in the other.  In the East, the entire cast yelled together at Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) to spit out his idea, while the West only saw Jack (Alec Baldwin) yell at him.  Dr. Spaceman (Chris Parnell, Saturday Night Live) sang different songs in his commerical.  And Drew (Jon Hamm, Mad Men) had a black hand from an executed felon in one version, and a woman's hand from a Frankenstein company in the other, though both versions ended with the new hand on his crotch.

     What that means is, joke by joke, facial expression by facial expression, the cast had this piece rehearsed down.  Everything landed almost the exact same way.  The only unintentional difference I saw was that Danny as Dr. Drew actually did break on the East coast feed during a sketch about Tracy (Tracy Jordan) fake breaking.  The show didn't feel fresh and raw, as live shows sometimes do.  It felt like they were performing something they'd done over and over again.  They filmed with the help of Saturday Night Live, and as 30 Rock is usually funnier than SNL, I wonder if it is the various takes that help that along.  This was not 30 Rock's finest episode by a long shot.  The novelty was what sold the episode, and I admit I enjoyed it.  But not because of the quality.  If the show was like this every week, it wouldn't be half as good.

     Along with the uniqueness of the live feature, a lot of guest stars also showed up to help.  Much more than normal.  I already mentioned Louis-Dreyfus (the most unexpected of the bunch, and probably the funniest), Parnell, Jackson, and Hamm.  Carol (Matt Damon) also did two scenes, and Bill Hader (SNL) played the co-pilot in love with him.  Last, but not least, after a far-too-long absence, Rachel Dratch, who was originally cast as Jenna, and did a number of characters in twelve episodes of season one, returned.

     The plot was simple, as with everything else going on, there wasn't too much time to squeeze it in.  Everyone forgot Liz's (Tina Fey) birthday, Jack gave up alcohol, and Tracy decided he wanted to break during TGS.  No one will probably remember that part of the show.

     It was an interesting experiment, and I'm glad that 30 Rock did it.  I laughed a lot.  Now please don't do it again.

     30 Rock airs Thursday nights at 8:30 on NBC.


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2010 Emmys: Comedy Part 2

    The Emmy nominations for this year are out. This is television's biggest awards show, and as a television reviewer, I couldn't help but be excited. Sure, there were some snubs, but there were also some pleasant surprises. With lots of time left until the statues are handed out on August 29th, there is plenty of time to examine who's up for what. In this fourth in a series of articles, I'll look at the the supporting player categories for Comedies.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Chris Colfer, Glee (Fox), Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother (CBS), Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family (ABC), Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family, (ABC), Ty Burrell, Modern Family (ABC), Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men (CBS).  So tough.  I have been lobbying for NPH for years, but now that Jeremy Piven has finally dropped off the list, and HIMYM had such a lackluster year, I just can't bring myself to support him for the award this time.  Cryer is a joke (just like his series), and should not be on this list.  People either love or hate the show, and I firmly fall into the second category.  Instead, Ed O'Neill, the one Modern Family adult that did not get a nomination, should be on here.  Of the MF guys, Stonestreet is my first instinct, but as soon as I consider Burrell's work, I go into deadlock.  I think the former has a better chance of winning, but the latter is just as deserving.  As is Ferguson, don't get me wrong.  What's working against his character is that he seems so toned down compared to the others.  I am a big fan of Colfer.  He's my favorite member of the Glee club, and I'm thrilled to see him get the nod.  But up against comedy veterans, this looks like a MF win.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jane Lynch, Glee (Fox), Julie Bowen, Modern Family (CBS), Sofia Vergara, Modern Family (CBS), Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live (NBC), Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock (NBC), Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men (CBS). Jane Lynch, hands down.  The comedy goddess has been overlooked for many an award, but as Sue Sylvester, she is a powerhouse that cannot be stopped, nor should she be.  If the award is stolen from her (and if she doesn't win, it will be a crime), it will go to one of the Modern Family ladies, both equally deserving, and had Lynch not been on television this year, they would stand a real chance.  Wiig is carrying SNL by herself these days, but it's leading to a little bit of overexposure, which coupled with bad writing, will probably sink her ship.  It's nice to see Krakowski get a nod.  I often view her as pushed out of the spotlight by the many other hams she works with, but in retrospect, she does hold her own.  I like the actress Holland Taylor, but why she would even consent to being on such a show, I do not know, and cannot in good conscience write anything even suggesting that Two and a Half Men might deserve the slightest praise.

     The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Sunday, August 29th at 8pm on NBC.

30 Rock and roll

     NBC brought the latest season of 30 Rock to a close with a shocking development.  No, I'm not talking about the title, "I Do Do".  Nor any weddings, breakups, romantic overtures, or pregnancies.  Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer), the best page ever, was fired.  He was actually bad at his job on purpose to avoid a promotion that would have forced him to move to L.A.  Surely, this will quickly be remedied when the show returns next fall, as the show could not possibly be the same without him.  Plus, the series has made him a star.  McBrayer wouldn't leave for real, would he?  Its doubtful.

     Liz (Tina Fey) did finally have some luck in the romance department, though.  Despite Fey stating in an interview that Liz would most likely end up with Wesley (Michael Sheen) in the end, she met the man of her dreams, played by none other than Matt Damon.  What are the chances a big movie star like Matt Damon would settle into a recurring character on a sitcom though?

     Interesting that I you should ask that.  Sheen has appeared several times already, and Jack (Alec Baldwin) has been juggling dating two women, Avery (Elizabeth Banks) and Nancy (Julianne Moore), both played by movie stars.  Though, it seems Nancy will soon be moving on, what with the surprise pregnancy of Avery.  How does 30 Rock get such big name recurring characters?  Because it's a hell of a witty show, with plenty of connections behind the scenes.  Fey and Baldwin have headlines a few films themselves in recent years.  It's led to something I never though I'd worry about on the show, or really, any sitcom for that matter.  Some of the central characters are in danger of being overshadowed by the guests.  It hasn't happened yet, but it's been close.

      However, that doesn't mean I want them to stop bringing in the big talent.  It adds some gravitas to the show, and they've all been, without exception, exceptionally funny.  And it's not just the A-listers that succeed.  Plenty of Saturday Night Live alumni have killed, most recently Will Forte (who is currently starring in the film MacGruber) as Jenna's (Jane Krakowski) boyfriend slash impersonator.

     30 Rock has already been picked up for another season and will return to NBC in the fall.