(S01E16) You can't hit it out of the park every time. While "The Source Awards" delivered plenty of funny, the episode seemed a bit off-kilter. It had fewer laughs-per-minute than the past few episodes, and structurally, I think the writers couldn't decide which story to foreground. Maybe, they couldn't decide if LL Cool J or Wayne Brady should get more lines. My answer to that quandary - Ghostface Killah. Who, other than Dave Chappelle, gets the Wu on their sitcom? You don't see Raekwon and GZA turning up on Scrubs? (They haven't been on Scrubs, right?) Actually, this points to a sorta interesting and unexpected thing about 30 Rock. In addition to being your weekly one-stop shop for Alec Baldwin greatness, Tina Fey smartness and all-around goofiness, 30 Rock is one of the only comedy outlets sending up the excesses of hip-hop culture and white guilt on a regular basis.I think the writers spend the better part of their day coming up with absurd names for hip-hoppers and their entourages. Ri-DICK-ilous, Dotcom, Catch-22, Homunculus. Tracy's right. At this point in hip-hop history, Hot 97 and The Source Awards are not good places for anyone embroiled in a public feud to be hanging out. And, the Cristal controversy is all real except the Dane Cook part, or maybe that didn't make the original Economist interview in which Frederic Rouzaud lamented that he couldn't prevent rappers from buying the company's champagne. The world of hip-hop celebrity is ripe for satire, and 30 Rock has an interesting take on it since it's juxtaposed against Liz's own adventures in white guilt.
What did you guys think of Wayne Brady's appearance? An interesting contrast to his Chappelle Show outing. The black guy accused of being too white by his critics makes an appearance on 30 Rock and shows us just what being super, super white (or super, super boring regardless of race) might mean - loving Mark Russell, collecting tote bags and blogging about STAR WARS - the Reagan, not the Lucas, kind. The entire set-up was worth it just for the "why can't we all just not get along" exchange. If only we could just hate each other as people regardless of race, creed, gender or sexual orientation. That will be a beautiful day.
Among my other favorite moments in this week's episode:
- This mess is going to get raw like sushi so haters to the left.
- RIDICULOUS: What kind of plane you want to buy? JACK: Clear, like Wonder Woman's.
- Live every week like it's Shark Week.
- KENNETH: I've got your nose. RIDICULOUS: Jay, go get my nose back.
Did anyone else catch that Wayne Brady's character worked for Dewie, Cheatum and Livingston, a play on classic law firm pun "Dewie, Cheatum and Howe?" They do know how to layer the jokes at 30 Rock. Speaking of layering, check out Todd at Dead Frog's screen capture from last week's 30 Rock episode. One of The Girlie Show protesters standing outside NBC is holding a sign that read "Ecclesiastes 10:19," a bible verse which reads, "A meal is made for laughter, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is the answer for everything." They've got so much funny to spare, they're cramming every inch of the frame with yuks.
Doctor Who panel - Comic-Con Report
NBC's Kings panel - Comic-Con Report
The Dharma Initiative wants you - VIDEO - Comic-Con Report
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-02-2007 @ 3:07AM
chattifrear said...
Love the overview of the show. Good job, man. Well, woman.
"30 Rock" is a real TV gem. It's TOTALLY Must-See-TV. Too bad not many people are taking notice. Well, not many viewers, anyway.
Oh, and how you mentioned about the one rapper on there being named Catch-22, Catch 22 is the name of a real band. They're pretty good. You should check 'em.
--->Chatti.
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3-02-2007 @ 3:12AM
Pete said...
Probably the worst show yet. It seemed very rushed...so much so that there was a typo in the French guy's captioning.
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3-02-2007 @ 3:45AM
jordancda said...
You know, every week I ask my friends, did you watch 30 Rock this last night? And they say, "No, I turned the TV off after The Office." I just don't know what to do.... Don't get me wrong, I love The Office, but 30 Rock gets more out and out laughs from me. I like them for different reasons, but 30 Rock is straight up the most laugh-out-loud funny show on the telly right now.
And this wasn't even a great episode compared to the last four weeks.
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3-02-2007 @ 9:41AM
Evan said...
NOBODY found "The Manatee has become the mentor" funny? Come on!
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3-02-2007 @ 9:42AM
Evan said...
We really need a way to change password here.
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3-02-2007 @ 9:49AM
Jason Lloren said...
Before last night's episode, I had watched only two whole episodes of "30 Rock," including the series opener, which I found lacking. "The Source Awards," however, I found hilarious. Maybe it was because I was in the company of good friends, maybe it was the wine; either way, I busted a gut a few times watching this. Time to play catchup.
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3-02-2007 @ 9:53AM
WireBoy said...
This show sucks a55.
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3-02-2007 @ 10:21AM
TuckerKatt said...
Ditto to jordancda. The Office is great and it's more of a continuing story where you get involved in the character subplots, but 30 Rock is the only show that has me laughing out loud several times a week. Hope it's not too clever to pull in the ratings.
It's also the only show I can watch in real-time (i.e. start watching when it comes on at 9:30p) and still not see any ads because I'm rewinding scenes so often.
"Is that a piece of corn?"
"Going to toss around the ol' leather pumpkin, huh?"
"Sorry, what? I couldn't hear you."
"Oh...uh...so I see you've got the ol' leather pumpkin there..."
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3-02-2007 @ 10:53AM
cdawg said...
"JOHN TRAVOLLLLLLLTAAAAAAAAAAAH"
Everyone there are scones under your seats
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3-02-2007 @ 10:53AM
Rick Foster said...
This episode wasn't really on par with the past episodes, but I can say this, the last five minutes was comedy gold. Kenneth grabbing Ridiculous's nose and then when Lemon shoots Wayne Brady. Jack coming over saying that she shot a black ("No thats his name") and then Rediculous is going to tel 2Pac about this. Hopefully next week's episode is good, considering its the last episode before Andy Barker, P.I. comes in, it'll be good for the show to go out with a bang.
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3-02-2007 @ 10:54AM
khamel said...
i thought this was a great episode. i love tracy jordan/morgan and after the "is wayne brady going to have to slap a bitch" line from the chapelle show, hes been golden in my book. and i just like shows making fun of racism.
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3-02-2007 @ 10:56AM
LM said...
line of the episode: when reading a review of his wine, Alec Baldwin says "it takes like Satan's urine after a hefty serving of asparagus"
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3-02-2007 @ 10:57AM
khamel said...
also, the tupac line was great. i loved alec baldwin's "i didnt hear anything" response.
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3-02-2007 @ 11:03AM
Borat said...
I think this show is absolutely hilarious, and if it keeps up it'll definitely become the funniest show on TV.
The "after-after-after-after-party" was funny, and both Tracy and Kenneth have become great characters after I initially found them annoying. Plus Liz's white guilt is hilarious.
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3-02-2007 @ 11:05AM
Daniella said...
I was cracking up, I thought Wayne Brady was awesome. Love that he is popping up everywhere like on "Dirt" a couple of weeks ago.
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3-02-2007 @ 11:20AM
Hugeliver said...
Did anyone catch the firm that Steve Black worked for?
Dewey, Cheatham and Livingston!! LMAO! That was brilliant.
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3-02-2007 @ 11:32AM
Frank said...
"The Manatee has become the mentor"
I believe it was "the manatee has become the mento".
Even better.
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3-02-2007 @ 12:52PM
Dave said...
"The manatee becomes the Mento" was great, but the Ron Mexico reference was outstanding. My wife had no idea why it was funny, though.
I'm expecting "you're with me, leather" next week....
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3-02-2007 @ 2:30PM
keepitreal said...
hi. i'm new. but my roommate and i could not stop laughing at "nothing is impossible...except dinosaurs" right after the shark week line. i had to give it props.
and the ron mexico was great...too bad it was lost on so many people. but therein lies the beauty...i guess.
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3-02-2007 @ 2:32PM
Ron said...
I thought the line of the night had to go to Ghostface Killah.
Jack: Ghostface, you think you could mention donaghyestates.com at any point?
Ghostface: Okay Jack, I'll go get my rhyming dictionary.
I don't know that just had my laughing so hard. The bit about Tupac in the end was brilliant too. Overall, not as good as last week but still a good show.
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