(S01E19) Would it be at all possible to have Will Arnett join the cast of 30 Rock? Last week's episode was so fantastic that this one didn't have a prayer of living up to it. At least, Jenna was a no-show again this week. I actually like Jane Krakowski, but I can't say that I've missed her. Nevertheless, this episode had plenty of fine one-liners and Tracy's Jefferson preview. Before getting to the funny, let's take a moment to think about Jack and Liz's relationship. 30 Rock wisely shifted their relationship from being one of corporate tycoon bossman versus sympathetic creative type to one of reluctant mentor and mentee. This episode, however, took the relationship to another level.
Liz wanted to have Jack meet her boyfriend, and Jack essentially asked for Liz's approval before proposing to Phoebe. They've got an uneasy mutual respect thing going on, which is good in that it lets super actor Alec Baldwin exercise his thespian prowess. Plot-wise, I don't care about Jack's surprise engagement, but I did feel sorry for Jack because Alec Baldwin is just so good at conveying real loneliness and regret under all that steely arrogance. (See his performance in Running with Scissors.) When Liz told him that his life was like the skybox - "fancy, empty and smells like crab cakes" - I felt for the guy.
However, back to the part where ultimately I don't care. Does anyone watch 30 Rock for the continuing storylines - Liz's romances or Jack's network fall-out? I watch the show for the wacky. And, fortunately, this week had the requisite amount of it.
Among this week's funniest lines/moments:
- "The call is coming from inside the house."
- "I wish I were a horse - strong, free, my chesnut haunches glistening in the sun."
- "I'm not a creative type like you with your work sneakers and left handedness."
- The movie poster - "Fat Bitch - She's off the leash."
- "The dedicated popcorn setting on your microwave was the imagination breakthrough of 1995."
- "On a personal note, sir, in my mind, the Foo Fighters song "Best of You" is about your managerial skills."
- "I got to get rid of Freddie's erection." - Tracy referring to the horse, of course
- "The Floydster? Don't give him a nickname before I do."
- "Stand by his rump, and await it in his droppings." - Tracy on hearing that his wig was eaten by the horse
- "I shall call it Susan." - Tracy as Jefferson, the inventor
- "I'm going to get an iPhone. Everybody's going to be jealous."
- "You probably don't remember me." - Phoebe and her hollow "avian" bones
- As slaves in the Jefferson preview, Dotcom was wearing a bluetooth headset.
Out of a possible score of 7, I'm giving this episode a 5. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-13-2007 @ 3:59AM
bgdc said...
Would you like some grenadine or fried rice?
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4-13-2007 @ 4:12AM
radwimp said...
solid ep, but I agree, it paled in comparison to last weeks.
where is Jane anyway? Odd to be MIA for two shows... not that I had really noticed anyway.
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4-13-2007 @ 4:25AM
Jon said...
I am so glad that someone else thought the bluetooth earpiece was as funny as I did.
Liz's pajama bringin'-tha-sexy cracked me the hell up, too. She actually has great chemistry with Floyd. I hope that the relationship holds up for a while. (Of course, my secret wish is for Conan to make a power play for her.)
Tracy looked scarily convincing a woman. I did love the fact that his Jefferson makeup was only on his face...his hands were still dark.
And Rip Torn is God. Period. Alec's "so sorry to hear that" when he was describing the jellyfish bite was AMAZING. Those two could easily use this show as an act-off. James Lipton's head would explode.
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4-13-2007 @ 5:51AM
Clint said...
I gotta admit I hated 30 Rock when it first came out, but I have slowly grown to really like it a lot, especially these episodes without Jane.
For me the best part was seeing Baldwin in the phone monitor. God was that creepy!
http://www.tvdeuce.com
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4-13-2007 @ 7:01AM
docinaustin said...
I'm not missing Jane... which I don't understand because I do like her. However, I wish they would do more of the Rachel Dratch cameos. She kills me.
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4-13-2007 @ 7:25AM
courtney said...
I also loved Jack's confessional to Phoebe about having Lemon troubles, eating too much and something about "no one needs 16 flautus (sp?) after midnight" - so funny.
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4-13-2007 @ 7:35AM
Bill said...
I don't miss Jane K. either, but I do miss Cerie. Because of... uh... her acting skills.
And Jon is right on. Rip Torn is awesome. They didn't give him too much to work with the first time, but last night he was great. "It's like my old man said, 'If you try, you win.' And he was a hell of a garbage man."
Also, did anyone catch the movie titles when Liz and Floyd were leaving the theater? "The President's Wife", "MoonQuest: Quest for the Moon", "Speaking of Emily", and "The Boy Made of Corn."
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com
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4-13-2007 @ 1:12PM
shawn said...
i don't watch it for the plot either. but it needs one so they can hang the gags off of it. y'know!
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4-13-2007 @ 11:39AM
scot said...
what happened to Jane Krakowski anyway? Did she quiit? Preggers? anyone?
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