(S03E01) "It's not at all erotic and fun, like when men do it to women." - Jack, about being sexually harassed by KathyJason asked earlier today if Governor Sarah Palin would help 30 Rock finally get out of the ratings doldrums and become the hit it deserves to be. I don't know if that will happen. It seems more like a weird little show that just so happens to be on a big network on a big night with big stars (I think NBC will stick with the show no matter what the ratings are, at least for a few more seasons), but fans of great comedy should definitely tune in. It's the best comedy on TV right now, not just Emmy-wise but also funny-wise, and tonight's third season opener shows that it's still running on all cylinders.
From the opening scenes where Liz welcomes Jack back from his job in D.C. (he really can't talk about how he got out of the position, and we never find out what happened when the gay bomb took effect) to the closing scenes where Liz tells Jack that she really loves seeing him back sitting behind his old desk, this episode manages to do what the show has always done, mix crazy, almost surreal humor with a genuine (not manufactured) heart.
How do they do that? The show can be cynical and snarky and rapid fire with the one-liners and insults, and then have really nice moments between Liz and Jack that show you how much they care for each other. I don't mean in a romantic way, I just mean deep friendship. They don't go overboard with it at all, they just hit the right notes and then move on. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin are great together.
I'm glad that Liz doesn't end up getting a baby. That might have taken the into that weird sitcom territory, a third or fourth season where they have to add a kid to keep things lively. Though I guess the show could have had some funny riffs on that TV cliche. Liz doesn't get the kid, because of the crazy stuff adoption agency rep Megan Mullally sees at NBC and her subsequent short-term amnesia, but they do keep the door open for it happening later in the series, and that's a good decision.
I also like how the opener gives us an update on how things are going with the other characters. Tracy's video game is a success, Jenna got $300 for starring in a Japanese commercial where she got slapped, what happened after Pete shot the page with the arrow. Though we never do find out how Kenneth got out of his predicament in China.
Devin wants to shut down NBC for two years which sounds crazy, though I wonder if it's any worse than what Ben Silverman is doing.
Some more great quotes from this episode:
- "I heard that theme park fire didn't destroy everything it was supposed to." - Jack, to Devin
- "That's not slang. He has a speech impediment!" - Grizz, to Jenna, after she repeats what Tracy says
- "I even got rid of all of my Colin Firth movies in case they think they could be erotica." - Liz, about her adoption interview at home
- "The man can wear a sweater." - Jack, about Firth
- "I was arrested once, in Germany. for public nudity. I thought it was a topless beach. It was a shipyard." - Liz
- "I mean, I never do anything for Yolanda, and she sends me those headless dolls." - Jenna, about her stalker
- "Hey, Tracy, did you read in the paper today that when Lil' Wayne ... that's a person, right?" - Liz
- "Can I hide this box of penis pasta in your office?" - Liz
- "I'm Rick, the other black guy." - Rick, to Liz
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-30-2008 @ 9:42PM
Joel Keller said...
How about the hat gag? Liz tells Frank to change his baseball cap that says "Horny." So we see him later with a bowler... that says "Horny." Best gag of the episode.
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10-30-2008 @ 10:15PM
Steve said...
Ya i was rolling in laughter when i saw that, this was a great season premier and probably one of the funniest 30 Rock episodes in my opinion.
So glad this show is back.
10-30-2008 @ 11:21PM
radwimp said...
definitely the strongest season premiere for the show! very funny as always. personal favourites were the japanese jenna commercial and the soap opera hilarity. god am i happy to have 30 rock back!
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10-30-2008 @ 11:59PM
Tacocartguy said...
In the words of Jack Donaghy:
OH HAPPY DAY!!
Thank You, Lord Colbert Almighty, for bringing us this show for a third season. We shall show our appreciation by loving, caring, and maybe even caressing the show with our gentle and warm laughter at the hilarity that ensues whenever we hear those beautiful horns that make up the 30 Rock Theme Song
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10-31-2008 @ 12:21AM
rhume55 said...
> tonight's third season opener shows that it's still running on all cylinders
Oh dear. I must say that 30 ROCK has felt off the rails and decidedly unfunny since mid-way through season two.
I really hate to have to say this, but there wasn't a genuine laugh to be had in this season premiere. I don't know what Fey is thinking -- and I feel those of you who are singing its praises have hold-over memories from the great episodes from season one.
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10-31-2008 @ 1:12AM
Steve said...
clearly we disagree because i think all the praise is well deserved, Frank's hat gag alone had me laughing histarically
10-31-2008 @ 3:37AM
braden said...
My wife and I decided to give the show a chance since we had heard good things but had never seen it.
We might have laughed twice between the two of us through the entire show, and we love quirky, silly comedy.
I will grant the possibility that we would have enjoyed this episode more if we were familiar with what had happened in previous seasons, but even then, we should be able to pick up on some of the jokes and at least enjoy the sight gags. Throughout the episode, this was a show that was consistently almost-funny with jokes that you could see coming from way too far away so that they were boring by the time the expected punchline hit. The acting was childish and the plotlines were about as subtle as a 9th grade creative writing project.
I'd still watch it over Pushing Daisies if forced to make the choice in a POW camp, but that isn't saying much.
If this is indeed the "best comedy on TV right now" (it isn't - I at least know that The Office could waste some rock booty) then I am very scared indeed for the future of TV comedy.
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10-31-2008 @ 7:16AM
Kate said...
I thought this episode was a great season opener. I particularly liked the random Jack quote: “It will be just like when I worked the day shift at that graveyard and the graveyard shift at that Days Inn.”
I am worried though. I hope this show doesn’t start relying so heavily on special guest stars like certain other shows. 30 Rock is already funny. They don’t need to ruin it with unnecessary casting stunts.
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10-31-2008 @ 10:28AM
Justin said...
I wish people would stop saying it's the best comedy with the best cast yada yada yada. That may be but that's just by default considering how far and few sitcoms are these days. It really isn't that good and I wish there were better sitcoms around that would aid people in realizing that.
That said, this wasn't a bad episode. 30 Rock has to do at the moment because nothing else is funny (except Scrubs and it's had a rocky few seasons as of late).
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10-31-2008 @ 11:47AM
Mitch said...
This show is just not funny, that is why the ratings are so low. I tried once again to watch to see why the critics like this show and for the life of me have no idea what they think is funny.
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10-31-2008 @ 2:09PM
Dan said...
I laugh more during this show than any other on TV. So many of the jokes are said in such an understated way that it's not clear that it's a joke to a lot of people. The lack of a laugh track probably keeps a lot of people from realizing what is a joke. 30 Rock just has too many intellectual and political jokes hidden inside the silliness that a lot of people don't catch it. The only people I know who like 30 Rock are either those with Graduate degrees or people who are very intellectual. The people I know who are blue-collar or just not intellectual do not like the show.
10-31-2008 @ 12:11PM
Amber said...
My favorite was Jack figuring out how far he had to go with Kathy "Do I have to give her my gift?"
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10-31-2008 @ 1:27PM
ac said...
Devon coming out of the bushes with the gay bikers coming out from the same spot in the background was my favorite sightgag.
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10-31-2008 @ 1:23PM
Mike said...
I love 30 Rock, but I can't say this was one of its best episodes. Despite some funny moments, I don't think I'd be too impressed if this were my first time watching it.
Something magical happens when 30 Rock is really firing on all cylinders. This one just didn't have that spark.
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10-31-2008 @ 4:54PM
Paul said...
30 Rock is always fantastic but I feel it needs Dr Spaceman to just tip it over the edge.
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10-31-2008 @ 7:25PM
Kallie said...
Dan---
I don't have a Graduates degree nor do I consider myself "very intellectual" but I had yesterday marked on my calendar in anticipation of the premier, which I really enjoyed. Not the best episode of all time ever, but great all the same. I almost got too much of a Baby Mama vibe from it, having just seen the movie, but was so happy to have this wonderful show back in my life again. I am also still a huge Arrested Development fan and hope that 30 Rock outlives them. So even though I don't agree with your assumption you have to be super educated to enjoy 30 Rock, I do agree that there is just a nitch of the general television audience who truly understand all the referrences and appreciate this kind of humor.
And is it wrong of me to want Devin to stay forever because I love Wil Arnett so much??
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11-01-2008 @ 7:11AM
shalini said...
Ya i was rolling in laughter when i saw that, this was a great season premier and probably one of the funniest 30 Rock episodes in my opinion. you can download this show That 70s Show Download from this link.
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11-03-2008 @ 7:47AM
Martin said...
Jack running into Devin in the middle of the park shoeless was great, especially when he runs off up the hill barefoot to his "meeting"
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