(S02E08) "I got a squeezer from an Indian girl on a bunk bed, so I think I got the whole Harvard experience." - Frank
This episode has two plots we haven't seen much of this season: a solid plot involving the writing staff and a return to the whole Tracy/Jenna battle that was a main part of the first season. And that's good to see, since it was tilting to all Liz/Jack stuff or guest star plots. Not that this episode didn't have a lot of Liz and Jack and guest stars (the return of Edie Falco and a really bizarre cameo from political strategist James Carville), but 30 Rock has always shown a knack for balancing all of the plots really nicely. And for once I was glad to see Kenneth for the most part take a little breather.
Oh, and if you're wondering, I'm doing this review Cajun Style.
This episode surprised me in one big way. When I heard that Falco was returning to the show, I thought it was going to be one of those classic examples of a guest star making an appearance just to wrap up the loose ends of their storyline. So when this episode actually had Jack and C.C. not only continuing their relationship but also going public with their relationship, that was a surprise. That means Falco will return in the future and it takes the entire plot to a new level. The scene at the luncheon was very funny, and has probably the most bizarre episode-closing line of the season so far: "I murdered my wife." Did anyone else notice that the show ended and the credits came up really quickly after the line was said, so we didn't even have time to let in sink in? We're still laughing at the other lines said by the club members and this line was said quickly and the show just ended, giving viewers a little "WTF" moment. Well done.
If there's one plot I'd like to see explored more it's the personal life of Liz Lemon. Come on, this woman is extremely attractive and successful. Have some good things happen to her! In past episodes we've seen her have horrible luck on dates and staying home alone in her apartment on Friday nights eating subs and watching TV, and now in this episode we find out that she's given up caffeine and is going to bed at 5:30 (makes me wonder how much time she's putting in at TGS with Tracy Jordan, though we find out later in her confrontation with Jenna). She's lonely and now she's also given up her caffeine addiction? Where's the fun in that?
I praise this show so much that I guess I have to think of something that's a negative. OK, here goes. I think that the show sometimes goes overboard with the quick surreal flashbacks. Don't get me wrong, I love them, and they can give that extra special something to a show like 30 Rock, but there's a point where you do one or two too many in an episode and it ruins the effect. Like this episode, with the flashbacks to the dinner party games that Liz, Jack, C.C. and Kenneth played. I would have liked to have seen more of the actual dinner party play out in real time than the flashbacks, but that's a minor quibble, because we got more of the Frank/Toofer feud and Jenna's new entourage, and that was fine compensation. Good to see Josh a bit more too.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-06-2007 @ 11:36PM
Matt said...
So many great one-liners and bits of dialog in this one. The "I murdered my wife" was so wtf...I was still laughing at the black guy who stood up and said "I'm black".
As much as I'm with the writers and everything, they need to wrap this strike crap up ASAP, because all my favorite shows are ending too early. What do I have? Lost in February (hopefully)? BSG in March (hopefully)? That's about it, it seems.
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12-07-2007 @ 12:14AM
lordofthemidgets said...
My favorite quote - Tracy to Shaq in the animated family film - "Is what we did last night considered sex?"
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12-07-2007 @ 12:46AM
SJ said...
I almost fell out of my chair when the guy said "I'm black."
"She wants to tax us to death and wants to let men marry their dogs."
I also loved the Sheinhardt wig line, but can't fully recall it.
Also loved the line by one of Jenna's assistants to Liz about her face being at football practice.
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12-07-2007 @ 3:15PM
sitruc said...
I also appreciated, "I'm Black." "I murdered my wife" was a good closer, but the scene hit its' zenith with "I'm Black."
12-07-2007 @ 1:16AM
gday said...
"I got out of bed at 4 in the morning, went home, changed clothes and came here."
-Jenna
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12-07-2007 @ 1:48AM
jonashpdx said...
I only like that word when it comes between "meat" and "pizza"
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12-07-2007 @ 7:16AM
fred said...
Antoher great episode, always so many great lines on that show.
Here's one more I liked : "Where are the french fries I did not ask for !? You guys need to anticipate me !"
I do disagree with you on the scene before the credits though, or at least did not feel that way at all. No I mean sure it was hilarious, but I didn't feel that "the credits came up really quickly", I mean the line was said and then it faded to black, that's plenty more time than on the Greenzo episode when the line "we need a new one", after saying that this Earth was ruined, came right on during the black screen ("Executive Producer - Lorne Michaels"), and (so) I didn't feel like they "rushed" in to the credits or anything.
But that line was awesome either way.
The only thing I was a little disappointed about was the "Mulholland Drive" scene. They usually always use real names & products, but not here, cause that scene was nothing like the Lynch movie !
In fact, while he said "Mulholland Drive" I believe, what we saw when he put the disc on was actually "Mudhollund Drive"...
http://88.191.26.34/i_watch_tv/2007/12/07/30-rock-secrets-and-lies/
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12-07-2007 @ 7:39AM
SHANNON said...
I can't remeber the exact wording, but Tracy's line about how he's "gonna give up and go try this Meth stuff he keeps hearing about" made me pee...
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12-07-2007 @ 8:23AM
fred said...
"Maybe I should just give up and try this crystal meth I've been hearing so much about" - World's #4 Dad
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12-07-2007 @ 8:33AM
horsenbuggy said...
I. LOVE. KENNETH. He is such a hoot. The questions he had prepared for Liz to be her dinner companion were a riot. But his delivery of the lines was even better. I don't remember which question, but after asking one, he just got this goofy look of, "I'm listening," and put his elbow down on the table. Only, his elbow came down on his silverware and he tried to act like he meant to do that. It was just awkwardness personified - the man is a brilliant comedian.
Was it just my DVR, or was the production quality on this episode not up to par? The version I watched was really grainy, like the editors had gone on strike. Also, did anyone notice that the scene in Liz's office where Jack explains who CC really is was looped? Baldwin did a good job - makes sense, he's probably done ADR his whole career. But Fey's track was noticeably off - which again makes sense given that most of her experience is with live work.
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12-07-2007 @ 8:37AM
D said...
I thought it was a decent ep overall but not quite as good as the past few weeks. The Carville stuff was too out there and didn't really make sense.
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12-07-2007 @ 10:22AM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Best Line:
I can't do it, Lemon. The company has a strict "bros before hos" policy.
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12-07-2007 @ 10:40AM
olucy said...
Your callout quote is off a little. It's a bunk bed, not a waterbed.
And fred - there was no Mulholland Drive scene in this ep. Those are AmEx commercials - everything with Kenneth and Christmas/Secret Rodney. The bacon mint gum last week. Josh and Frank in the Rodney costume. Pete having "alone time" at work. All commercials.
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12-07-2007 @ 11:42AM
Joey Geraci said...
Yea, but they as well written and acted as any scene in the show, and there is no mention of American Express in the actual scene.
12-07-2007 @ 11:59AM
olucy said...
But they END with a reference to 30 Rock Holiday Fun Times and an nbc/amex URL.
12-07-2007 @ 12:23PM
marah said...
"What's your favorite pizza topping? Mine's plain, but I like others!"
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12-07-2007 @ 12:34PM
Dan said...
This is simply the funniest show on television today. No show comes close. World's #4 dad, "I'm black!" and every exchange (including the outfits) in the writer's battle were such laugh out loud moments that I'm gonna have to watch the show over again. LOVE THIS SHOW!
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12-07-2007 @ 1:31PM
Karen said...
@horsenbuggy: you're absolutely right. McBrayer's delivery of that, "Liz, tell me an embarassing anecdote from your teenage years," complete with the official "I'm listening" head tilt and elbow-displacing-silverware move was just brilliant.
I agree with Bob on this--this was so full of quality one-liners and great set-ups that it's impossible to keep track. As the reviewe said on the "My Name is Earl" post, this is the kind of quality you only get from union writers!
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12-07-2007 @ 2:24PM
Kevin said...
Dan,
30 Rock is damn funny, but I wouldn't say that no other show comes close. The Office is the only one out there in TV that can match 30 Rock. Both terrific writing with outstanding casts (with superb male leads) but completely different styles. Even though Office has dipped a bit, it and 30 Rock are great. They have set the standards in comedy...so it's 30 ROck standards and Office standards. For any other show, decrease in quality comes out to terrific episode. Not those two.
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12-07-2007 @ 2:01PM
edgore said...
I have to say that the AMEX ads are a very clever strategy for getting DVR users to watch the commercials. When I am skipping through I consistantly stopped for them, since it's impossible to be sure it's not the show.
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