TVSquad

(S02E11) "When you Google 'class A moron', my name comes up first now...so step aside Randy Quaid." - Jack

Is this a happy day or what? No more writers strike, no more hiatus, no more repeats, no more Thursday nights spent crying, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, eating tons of chocolate, depressed that new NBC Thursday comedies are nowhere on the horizon. Sorry, I may have just told you a little too much information there.

Anyway, 30 Rock is back! It's almost as if this was the season opener, but it's actually the 11th episode of the season (four more new episodes to follow this season), and it features a call back to a joke in an episode from earlier this season.

This is actually an ambitious episode, because the main plot (Liz trying to keep Jack from finding out that she was the one who accidentally told The New York Post's Page Six that he was a "class A moron" and that he could "eat my poo") runs parallel to the actions on the season finale of the NBC reality hit MILF Island (I'm not going to spell it out for you but you probably know what it is), which the cast is watching on TV screens around the NBC studios. All except Pete, that is, in a weird plot we've seen used on many sitcoms: he gets his arm caught in a vending machine trying to get a free Soy Joy bar (they're also the sponsor for MILF Island: "Sponsored by Soy Joy - Fortified with Optimism!").

Of course, Liz tries to blame several of the other writers for the quote, but Kenneth actually heard her say it in the elevator to the reporter. Why didn't she notice Kenneth was there? He was standing behind the life-sized cardboard cutout of a wrestler (at least I'm assuming it was a wrestler - I didn't get a good look at the pic and I'm not up on my wrestling-type sports). I was actually a little disappointed in this plot. It had many funny moments, but I'm sure you guessed that Jack knew all along that Liz was the guilty party. You knew that the whole "stuttering in Massachusetts" story was a ploy to make Liz eventually confess her sin. But it was interesting to hear that Liz was born with a deformed extra foot coming out the side of one of her regular feet and that doctors think she might have eaten her twin before she was born. That has NBC reality show written all over it.

Choice Quotes:

"Tabora and Shana are facing off in Erection Cove!" - Jack, describing a MILF Island scene

"Shakespeare never had a confessional shower sponsored by Dove Pro-Age." - Liz, about MILF Island

"Eating bugs for tampons?" - Liz about one of MILF Island's challenges

"We no longer want to hit that. Get the hell off of MILF Island." - the show's catch phrase

"Your eyes look like my uncle's after he drinks from the air conditioner." - Kenneth, to an angry Liz

"Chocolate...chocolate...chocolate...ack!" - Liz, copied by the new Cathy comic strip

"Soccer moms, NASCAR dad, white pervs, and the obese." - Jack, describing the demo that MILF Island appeals to

Debora (not to be confused with Deborah) wins MILF Island, and as her punishment for the quote, Liz has to write a new show for her. Jack is thinking about a talk show (and did you notice the credit at the end of MILF Island? "Produced by Jack Donaghy and Jerry Seinfeld").

I don't know if this episode would be in the top 10 of 30 Rock episodes so far, but even an 8 out of 10 for 30 Rock is a 10 out of 10 for any other sitcom on the air. I'm not even sure if that makes any sense, but math was never my strong subject.

Oh, and about that quote at the beginning. I did indeed Google "class A moron," and Jack is actually the second result.