(S02E10) "I've become one of them. I've been Sodomized!" - Kenneth, explaining how the 21st century Sodom (NYC) has changed him.
OK, so I was wrong. In my review of the previous episode, I mentioned that it was the last one finished before the strike. But this episode is the last episode finished before the strike. No, seriously, it is! I was bummed out after I realized the previous episode was the last (I thought). Now I have to be bummed out all over again.
But it was a good episode to go into the hiatus with, if that makes things better.
I'm not sure what the name of this episode will eventually turn out to be. Right now it's just listed as "Episode 210," but I'm sure that's just a filler title until one is finalized (the same thing happened with the previous episode). Maybe it could be called "Gladys Night" (she was the guest on TGS with Tracy Jordan and one of her songs featured prominently at the end of the episode) or "Wine and Coffee" (Liz overdid the former, Kenneth the latter) or maybe even "Sodomized!" (explained in the opening quote) with an exclamation point.
I'm not sure they planned it this way, but this episode could stand as a sort-of season finale if the strike isn't settled. Not only did we get some closure to the Jack/CC relationship (they both realize it won't work because they put careers first), but we see Liz wanting to grow up a little bit by buying an apartment (the scene with Liz scantily dressed, saying bizarre things as she tried to convince the co-op board that she was right for the building really made me cringe). I like how the ending had Jack and Liz talking again about something they talked about earlier this season, how it was going to be their year and that they can try to have it all. Jack realizes that a person can't have it all, so he breaks up with CC. And he says that Liz can't have it all either. She made a choice to break up with Floyd for her career (another nice throwback to an earlier ep). I wonder if this will get Liz thinking about Floyd again.
Now let's talk about that surreal ending. When I first saw the promo pics for this episode, with Kenneth in overalls and a straw hat, surrounded by Jenna and Grizz and Dotcom, dancing, I had no idea what the hell it all meant. I assumed that Kenneth got on TGS somehow, and I was truly surprised when Tracy just broke into "Midnight Train To Georgia," joined musical-theater style by Jenna, Grizz, Dotcom, singing about Kenneth's decision to go back to Georgia after he was turned bad by the city of New York (he had a Jewish donut!). Liz and Jack joined in a bit too, singing about their subplots, and Kenneth took it home by coming back into the studio and singing about staying in New York after all. He missed his midnight train to Georgia because he misread the schedule.
The only downside to this ep was that the writing staff wasn't involved in the show. It's always good to have them on, even if it is for a joke or two (it would have been funny to have them join in the singing at the end). And I really wish they'd have more positive things happen to Liz, instead of keeping her alone and financially screwed up. But we've learned from this show that when one episode has certain characters featured or certain plots, the next episode will surprise us by having different characters featured and new plots given airtime.
Of course, the "next episode" is very much up in the air.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-10-2008 @ 11:23PM
Oreo said...
Is this episode called "Episode 210" because the writers are on strike and never named it?
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 11:06PM
Discosis said...
I think that might be the case ... maybe episode names are decided late in the game.
1-11-2008 @ 12:24AM
Jimmy said...
Please clarify, Bob: Seeing Liz's breasts made you cringe?
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 1:10AM
R said...
This was a really weird episode. I thought it was a little more over the top than most 30 Rock episodes, and the musical number at the end was really surreal. It came out of nowhere! (Love that song though.) I also thought it was pretty odd that there were no TGS writers in this show. Oddly timed.
Another episode recap:
http://thingsiwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/30-rock-episode-210.html
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 1:12AM
R said...
This was a really weird episode. I thought it was a little more over the top than most 30 Rock episodes, and the musical number at the end was really surreal. It came out of nowhere! (Love that song though.) I also thought it was pretty odd that there were no TGS writers in this show. Oddly timed.
Another episode recap:
http://thingsiwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/30-rock-episode-210.html
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 1:12AM
R said...
This was a really weird episode. I thought it was a little more over the top than most 30 Rock episodes, and the musical number at the end was really surreal. It came out of nowhere! (Love that song though.) I also thought it was pretty odd that there were no TGS writers in this show. Oddly timed.
Another episode recap:
http://thingsiwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/30-rock-episode-210.html
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 1:14AM
R said...
So sorry, I didn't mean to multi-post.
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 1:21AM
Jojee said...
Disturbing was the trailer for First Sunday.
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1-11-2008 @ 1:29AM
Troy said...
I absolutely *love* 30 Rock. With that said, however...
I think this episode suffered from the strike. I didn't laugh a single time, and the whole thing just seemed unpolished and 'sitcommy.' Even the flashbacks felt forced.
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 2:42AM
radwimp said...
Wow yeah, this was a really weird episode. It was a bit too surreal for my tastes... really bizarre camera work as well.
However, awkward Liz will always make me laugh. I enjoyed the episode.
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1-11-2008 @ 8:44AM
Shannon said...
I loved this episode, for the weirdness factor. How could you not laugh at Liz drunk dialing the co-op board?? And running on the treadmill with a bottle of wine at 3am? Classic. I thought it was very interesting that the writers weren't on this episode and in thinking about it, I wonder if it wasn't on purpose. I'm sure they were aware that this would be the last episode if the strike happened, so maybe they were making a point-- get used to not having the writers.
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1-11-2008 @ 8:55AM
Chris said...
The writing staff not being a part of this episode made it seem like it was intended. Or pure coincidence. Any thoughts?
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1-11-2008 @ 12:19PM
bob sakamano said...
i think they werent there on purpose. just to show the quality of a show without a writing staff.
30 rock is trying to send a message, this episode was writers.
1-11-2008 @ 9:36AM
horsenbuggy said...
OK, I must be weird because I thought this was one of the funniest episodes in a while. It could be because I have been trying to hook some friends on this show and this was THE episode to do it. (Or, that I think will do it.) He's from Georgia and she's German - so, pretty much all of the jokes play to them.
Seriously, the German jokes/gags were hilarious. Maybe you have to know a German to get them, but I was howling every time they showed something weird on the screen that was supposed to be German TV. The shot of the freckle-faced kid playing tuba was priceless. And the weird way the German guys celebrated after the "deal" ... good times, good times. I just wish that I spoke German - I'm sure there were jokes buried in the dialog that wasn't translated.
And boy, did I forget what a powerful voice Jenna has (can't think of her real name)! She sounded awesome.
Reply
1-13-2008 @ 10:41PM
Kelsey said...
The woman who plays Jenna is/was (I have no idea if she is still active) a Broadway actor. So she better have a strong voice!
1-11-2008 @ 9:41AM
theConundrumm said...
loved every second of it... and the musical number... surreal is not the word.
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 9:44AM
Bob Sassone said...
Jimmy: I enjoyed Tina's breasts (both of them!), it's just that the bizarre stuff she was saying made me cringe, as she dug herself deeper and deeper into a hole with the co-op board.
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 10:31AM
Haggis said...
No quotes, people? Come ON!!! (Said Gob Blue style)
My fav of the night:
"I'm going to love you like my boss is watching"
Reply
1-11-2008 @ 11:19AM
Jimmy said...
Townperson [with disdain]: "I wish we weren't halfway between New York and Washington, D.C."
1-11-2008 @ 12:07PM
Andrew said...
I loved the subtitles when Liz was trying to understand the germans. "Hubcap(?)"
Reply