(S01E18) There were so many spectacular moments in this episode that I don't even know where to begin. This has to be one of the best episodes so far this season, because the writers juggled a handful of storylines very, very well. Most of the stories were flat-out hilarious, but they also managed to sneak in a very sweet storyline for Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and it totally worked for me. But, the best part of the show? The one-liners. They had me laughing so hard that I frequently had to pause the TiVo to recover. Does that happen to anyone else with this show? Let's just say I'm thrilled that NBC renewed 30 Rock for a second season.
One thing I noticed about this episode was that Jane Krakowski was not in it at all. And, I'm sorry, but I kind-of liked that. I think she is the weakest character on the show and is having a hard time finding her comedic timing. While all of the supporting characters are ridiculous, her character seems... well, typical. I haven't given up on her, though.
Reasons why this episode was so great:
- Will Arnett guest stars as Devon Banks, "our vice president of west coast news, web content and theme park talent relations." Arnett is after Jack Donaghy's job, but also after Kenneth the Page's tail. The interactions between him and Kenneth were so unbelievably uncomfortable, yet completely silly. Arnett's short robe ("I had to cut it off myself") and Kenneth's attempts at seduction via dance were terrific scenes.
- Toofer's past. He gives a monologue about his proud heritage. He's a descendent of one of the nation's first black officers during the Civil War. Oh, except Frank bursts his bubble and points out that Toofer's ancestor is shaking Gen. Robert E. Lee's hand in an old photo. "You're related to a black, Confederate officer. Do you think these other black guys are his prisoners, or what?" - Frank
- Tracy Jordan's dream about meeting his real father, Thomas Jefferson, on the Maury Povich show. His "father" is Jack Donaghy dressed up in a period costume, and he flips off the audience when they boo him.
- Liz's storyline. She follows her crush into an AA meeting and pretends to be an alcoholic. It's completely innocent on her part ("I know, I know. It makes me seem nutlug, Anne Heche-crazy."). Unlike the other storylines, this one was not ridiculously funny. It was sweet and sad, and, in the end, it was heartwarming. I was particularly happy about Liz's tell-all at the end of the episode. I thought for sure the guy she was talking to would be in the middle of a speaker phone call, but they didn't go there.
- Fireworks at Rockefeller Center.
- "Those jokes you wrote for my Mitt Romney fundraiser? They were top notch." - Jack Donaghy "Those weren't jokes. That was an appeal for a return to common sense and decency." - Liz Lemon "Well, it got big laughs." - Jack Donaghy
- "I never got out of my car, and she never got all the way out of her toll booth." - Tracy Jordan, on why he's not someone's baby daddy
- "Dr. Spaceman, when they check my DNA, will it tell me what diseases I might get or help me remember my ATM pin code?" - Tracy Jordan "Absolutely. Science is whatever we want it to be." - Dr. Spaceman
- "I have an idea for a show about a teacher named 'Art'. I call that one Art School. And one about a Jewish guy who opens an ice cream parlor. That one's called Ice Cream Cohen. And a drama about two cops: one named 'Cash' and one named 'Carry'. I don't have a title for that one." - Kenneth the Page
- "You're going down." -Devon Banks "No Devon... I don't do that." - Jack Donaghy
- "Just like Sidney Bristow on Alias, I will use my sexuality as a weapon. To the wig shop!" - Kenneth the Page
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-06-2007 @ 12:30PM
Gordy said...
Jane's character was probably doing the press tour for The Rural Juror.
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4-06-2007 @ 2:24PM
Dave said...
The what? I couldn't understand what you were saying.
What a great show.
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4-06-2007 @ 1:01PM
magnumpc said...
A TV show hasn't made me laugh this hard in a long time!
Of course, the other shows I watch are Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, and 24.
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4-06-2007 @ 1:06PM
Scott said...
tina fey's "confession at the end was in no way comparable to those of people in AA meetings. "I ate 3 donuts... nope, i lied, 5 donuts" vs true introspectional confession. not the same.
that said; i laughed my ass off to this episode.
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4-06-2007 @ 1:06PM
Scott said...
tina fey's confession at the end was in no way comparable to those of people in AA meetings. "I ate 3 donuts... nope, i lied, 5 donuts" vs true introspectional confession. not the same.
that said; i laughed my ass off to this episode.
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4-06-2007 @ 1:11PM
Bill said...
I love how the show just keeps getting better and better. Great episode. The one line that killed me that you didn't mention was "What's that? MC Lyte just murdered Danny Bonaduce? Thanks, phone!"
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com/
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4-06-2007 @ 1:13PM
bgdc said...
This is THE show I look forward to watching every week.
"Yeah, that's the business." - Devon (my fiancee immediately said to me, "Oh god, I'm gonna hear that constantly now." as I have a habit of repeating so many of my favorite Will Arnett lines.)
The bit with the fireworks nearly had me on the floor.
Why can't all TV be this funny? Or good?
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4-06-2007 @ 1:27PM
James said...
It's so fun watching a brilliant show hitting its stride. The extra time helped develop all those storylines to comedic perfection. My favorite gags, besides the ones mentioned, had to be the 10-second internet sitcom "Making It Happen" and when Thomas Jefferson was booed and heckled on Maury for saying, "I invented America."
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4-06-2007 @ 2:01PM
Josh said...
I laughed consistently through the whole episode, but completely lost it over the fireworks at the end. It was "Ooh...THAT'S gonna scare a lot of people" that did it. Not a good thing when you're trying to be sneaky and watch it on the internet at work.
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4-06-2007 @ 2:45PM
BigTed said...
I thought this episode was brilliant and hilarious... right up until the fireworks scene at the end, which was an elliptical reference to how nervous New Yorkers are post-9/11. To me, that was just too serious -- it sapped the fun and silliness out of the show.
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4-06-2007 @ 2:55PM
Anita said...
I have to admit, I'm glad Jane's character wasn't in this ep, although I love the Krakowski. I don't think it's because she lacks comic timing, since she's been fabulous in every show I've seen her pre-30R. However, her character's personality doesn't fit with the wackiness of everyone else. Both Tracy and Jack are sexual hounddogs but they have other things going on. But, Fey (or whoever) writes Jane like the typical vapid actress without the extra layers of crazy that everyone else has. 30R has done such a great job fleshing out Tracy's character and now they need to do the same for the other minority :) If they let JK mirror the public persona of Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler or even Jenny McCarthy, she'd still remain a self-obsessed woman, but a bit more insanity would help her lose her one-dimensional nature. Plus, I never really imagined that successful sketch actresses could really be that vapid (unless they were on the WB's ill-fated 'Hype').
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9-27-2007 @ 3:59AM
Nick said...
I didn't even realize that Krakowski's character wasn't in the episode until I read this post. I really didn't miss her at all. I don't really see what she adds to the show. Fey's got a best friend/confidante in Scott Adsit's character, and any romantic stuff is going to be for Liz and not her. She's a fine comic actress and she's made me laugh a couple of times on the show, but as anything other than being a tiny character, I don't see her place in making 30 Rock a great show. Last nights episode was probably the best of the season, so glad it got renewed for next year.
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4-06-2007 @ 3:24PM
Borat said...
Funniest show on TV.
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4-06-2007 @ 5:18PM
cybele said...
I think this episode has to go on the list of "Bad Corporate Promotions Portrayed on SitComs" for the fireworks schitck.
Number one on that list would be Carl Carlson on WKPR who said, "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."
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4-06-2007 @ 5:24PM
lorilei13 said...
Anita - Very good point about JK. I have always loved her, but I agree her character here is more one-dimensional than it should be.
And funniest line of the show? Kenneth: "No, sir, we just mainly talked about Anderson Cooper mostly..."
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4-06-2007 @ 5:35PM
jordancda said...
Get rid of Jane Krakowski and sign on Will Arnett!!!! The show would improve tenfold.
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4-06-2007 @ 5:36PM
Amy said...
I have to agree about Jane K., although she did have one of the funniest lines to date: "You know how much I remind myself of Grace Kelly."
Maybe she'll get better with time.
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4-06-2007 @ 6:45PM
Segway said...
If you enjoy Will Arnett, check out the Will Arnett Research Project at http://blutharnett.blogspot.com
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4-06-2007 @ 7:08PM
radwimp said...
this was a fantastic episode. this is one show i'm always looking forward too now. i had no idea will arnett was going to guest star, so that was a huge surprise. every scene between him and balwin was golden.
also loved the AA storyline with liz! hilarious.
"Kenneth... you are the worst gay bait ever."
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4-06-2007 @ 10:33PM
Kelly Gingery said...
Yes....."30 Rock" rocks!
I loved the Jack and Liz "Mitt Romney" bit. Basically, any scene with Liz and Jack is guaranteed to be great.
How about that bathrobe on Will Arnett? I kept thinkin'.....yep, this is where we're gonna see somethin' we're NOT supposed to see! Classic.
I am so glad that NBC stepped up to the plate and renewed "30 Rock" for a second season. Looks like they are really tryin' to bring back "Must See TV."
Now, if we could only guarantee that they're gonna do the same for "Friday Night Lights".....I'd be one happy gal.
Hey, if you're interested.....check out my miscellaneous musings on the wacky world of Hollywood and beyond:
http://redcarpetrehab.blogspot.com
I'd love to hear your feedback!
Thanks.
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