(S03E04) "I just wish I could start a relationship about 12 years in, when you really don't have to try anymore, you can sit around and goof on TV shows, and go to bed without anyone trying any funny business." - LizIs there any other show on television that jam-packs as many jokes as 30 Rock does? And it's not one of those situations where they fire off 50 jokes and only 5 of them are really funny, 25 are just OK, and 20 are really terrible. Almost all of the jokes on this show work on some level. Ordinarily, I would worry about some sort of burnout, but here we are five episodes into the third season and the show is still in top form.
More big name guest stars this week: Steve Martin and a certain famous art collector/yeller.
I've been quite worried about all of the guest stars this show has, but I have to say that they've used most of them quite well. I haven't gotten the feeling that the guest stars have been squeezed in just to attract viewers. People like Carrie Fisher and Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Martin belong in the 30 Rock world, and Martin is quietly funny as the agoraphobic (not really), rich (not really) friend of Jack's who likes Liz (really). I do worry about Liz only wanting from a relationship a man who only wants to read celebrity gossip, eat, and not have sex.
Besides a good guest star and tons of funny lines, this episode (and the show in general) has two scenes where they comment on how TV shows are made and the industry, in general. One is Tracy Jordan's fake "The More You Know" NBC PSA featuring his sex doll lookalike. It would have been funny if the network had run a real "The More You Know" immediately following it (and I have to admit to being fooled by the appearance of the doll in the last scene where Tracy tackles Gavin - I didn't even realize he was sitting still).
The second is Tracy mentioning to Liz that she missed Jenna's father visiting the studio - a massively clever reference to how sometimes characters aren't on certain episodes of shows and there could be a whole other plot with them that we don't see (Jane Krakowski wasn't on the show tonight). You can tell this show is written by people who are good writers and TV fans.
I love the fact that John McEnroe is just randomly at Gavin's party as the art collector/yeller. This show is getting into the habit of having a second, secret guest star on each episode (like last week's Night Court cast along with Jennifer Aniston).
Some more quotes you can repeat to friends tomorrow:
"What the what?!?" - Liz, about Gavin asking her on a date
"How can I loosen up? I'm in Connecticut, I haven't eaten, and I'm stressed about an away toilet situation." - Liz, to Jack
"Of course, that's back when Jet was actually about jet ownership. That magazine took a weird turn." - Jack
"Camp of Approval? What does that even mean?" - Liz, on Paris Hilton's released-only-in-Canada movie
"I can't believe you're out of the game. It's like Picasso not painting, or Bruce Willis not combining action movies with rock harmonica." - Jack, to Gavin
"You're going to work this thing like a Chinese gymnast: wear something tight, force a smile, and lie about your age." - Jack, to Liz, about her date
"Those two have never paid me any attention. And rightly so. I'm a strange man who can't be taken seriously." - Tracy, about his sons
"I thought that was just a tagline from my movie. Death Bank." - Tracy, about the phrase "money is the root of all evil"
"And as always I keep one chair empty to symbolize our unfulfilled hopes and dreams. I'm just kidding. Eliot Spitzer's hooker couldn't make it." - Gavin, on his dinner table seating
"Laundry? I know we pay you a living wage. I fought against it." - Jack, to Ken, folding laundry for extra cash
"That's nothing. Sometimes to feel like I have company during dinner, I dispute credit card charges on speaker phone." - Liz, on being alone
"Great, I'll send a helicopter ... to take you to the train station." - Gavin, to Liz
"God, do I have a black thing?" - Jack, on men he would date (Michael Jordan, Denzel Washington, and Taye Diggs)
30 Rock' Show & Cast Photos
Actress Tina Fey arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Dan MacMedan/WireImage.com
Actor Alec Baldwin attends HBO
FilmMagic Inc/FilmMagic.com
Actors Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski attend HBO
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com
Actors Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski attend HBO
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com
Actresses Tina Fey(L) and Amy Poehler attend the Governors Ball for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com
Writer-actress Tina Fey leaves HBO
Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com
Actress Tina Fey and TV Host Stephen Colbert attend the Governors Ball for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com
Actor Alec Baldwin attends the Governors Ball for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com
Actress Tina Fey arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Governor
Jason Merritt/FilmMagic.com
Actresses Tina Fey and Amy Poehler arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Governor
Jason Merritt/FilmMagic.com
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-21-2008 @ 3:58AM
Mark Kawakami said...
I've been worried about all the stunt casting, all four of this season's episodes have had a famous guest star and that's the sort of thing that ruins a show faster than a shark tank and a motorcycle ramp. But since all four episodes have been outstanding, I've decided not to worry anymore. Plus it's nice to see Steve Martin in something watchable again.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 5:19AM
Benjh said...
Let's see.... "50 jokes and only 5 of them are really funny, 25 are just OK, and 10 are really terrible".
5+25+10=40, right? What, next week, the show is gonna be called 20 rock?
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 5:50AM
pantrygirl said...
Don't forget, the best cupcakes are located on 125th and President Clinton Boulevard. Hilarious.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 6:45AM
Kate said...
Best line of the night was Jack saying to Kenneth, “Just kidding. The middle class is dying. You will be renting forever.” I love the way the writers give Jack these throwaway lines to say in passing that turn out to be absolutely hilarious.
Also, when Gavin was threatening to jump and Kenneth asked if anyone wanted water or saltines. “I would feel better with some saltines.” - Tracey. For some reason, that cracked me up.
This episode was alright. Kind of weak compared to the season so far but still, for the most part, more enjoyable than most things on television now.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 7:42AM
Crow said...
Some favorite lines:
"Toronto is just like New York...without the stuff."
"Just think this time next year you can run for political office without pretending you're a fundamentalist."
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 9:36AM
Mike said...
The "Toronto" and "saltines" lines had me cracking up the hardest. I thought this was one of the better episodes of the season, even though the writing team (on the show) keeps getting pushed to the background.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 9:53AM
ConspiracyGuy said...
I liked the twist that Steve Martin's character did not end up being like Uncle Jack from Arrested Development, or even Pee Wee's character from season 1 of 30 Rock
I was impressed with Tracy's ruse and tackle in the end. It was out of character. It's nice to see him do the right thing, and a clever one at that.
Also, I don't like too many special guest stars, they kinda cheapen tv shows, (i.e like Paris Hilton on My name is Earl) So far on 30 Rock it's been ok. Not too much fawning over guest stars. (The Seinfeld and Oprah episodes did have fawning, but were tongue in cheek, which is cool)
What's with all the digs at Canada?
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11-21-2008 @ 10:44AM
lo82070 said...
McEnroe had me laughing for hours. Just that line "WHY ISN'T THERE ANY GOOD ART IN HERE!"
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 11:27AM
JJ Forde said...
Speaking of missing characters, is it just me or have twofer and josh both been absent this season?
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 2:12PM
edgore said...
Twofer was briefly on in the episode where Jenna and Tracy swap races and sexes to see who has it harder - just long enough to say he would have nothing to do with it. Other than that, I can't remember seeing him either.
11-21-2008 @ 11:44AM
teenagertc said...
Yes, where is Twofer!! I miss him on the show!
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 2:23PM
Bob Sassone said...
Benjh: I'm terrible at math. It's fixed, thanks.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 3:29PM
Elf said...
What was Kenneth's pricless line about "It wasn't always squirrel meat and rock soup. There were hard times too..."
Jack has an odd sense of honor though. He voted against employees like Kenneth making a living wage, but was willing to refund Kenneth's lost $4,000 out of his own pokcet after learning he'd led him astray with the bogus investment.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 8:06PM
Zachary said...
Liz: Tracy, get out of the hallway.
Tracy: Or am I?!
The parallels between the Jordans and the Menendi are uncanny: both families are rich, both families have two sons, and both families are staples of CourtTV.
Kenneth: What would this country be if our economy didn't allow wealthy people to take advantage of rubes?
Jack: Well, yes, that's true, but what about your family?
Kenneth: Don't worry about us. We Parcells have eaten our share of rock soup and squirrel tail, but we've also known lean times.
I've been taking in laundry to make some extra money. I just don't let myself read the t-shirts with off-color slogans. (California)
After years of inbreeding, the pigs are getting violent, and the pig-shield around the house has worn thin.
You've already done enough damage, taking advantage of her loneliness and her Big Ben-sized biological clock.
You stay back! I swear I will paint you. I am not going to real prison. I've lost everything. I'm financially ruined. I lost Liz. That paint is drying weird. And now prison??
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