(S03E05) "We all have ways of coping. I use sex and awesomeness." - JackI haven't gone to any of the many reunions my high school class has had over the past 25 years. I mean, one of the great things about graduating from high school is that you don't have to see these people anymore. I have a few friends from high school I'm still good friends with, and that's enough.
I was certainly more liked in high school than Liz Lemon was (I think we all were!), but this episode just confirms my suspicions that going to a high school reunion would be a very, very bad idea.
This was a weird episode. I'm not always thrilled with episodes of TV shows that take viewers away from the main stage of action (in this case, NBC). But having Jack go to the reunion with Liz (OK, he didn't want to go, he was forced by snow) was pretty great, and Jack impersonating a former student is a well-used plot device but Alec Baldwin made it believable. I was waiting for the real Larry Braverman to show up, but it's rather impressive that the show didn't even go there.
I knew Jack wouldn't become CEO of NBC even when Geiss woke up from his coma. If he did, that would change the entire dynamic of the show. He wouldn't be around Liz and the gang as much. Wouldn't make sense. Maybe they'll keep that for the series finale.
Still irritated that there's no subplots for Josh, Pete, Frank, and Toofer. In fact, Josh and Toofer seemed to have vanished altogether. I don't want the show to push them aside in favor of guest stars and more Kenneth and Tracy (even if I do love their scenes). I'd also like the show to get back to showing the behind-the-scenes goings on at TGS, like we had the first season. It's starting to get like NewsRadio, which had less and less "on-air" stuff as the seasons went on.
Great to see Janel Maloney as the former girlfriend of "Larry Braverman."
Some more great quotes from "Reunion:"
"Are you the one buying cream soda in bulk?" - Kenneth, to Liz
"Your landlord called. It's not the toilet, it's you." - Kenneth, to Liz
"How come there are no Puerto Ricans on Star Trek?" - Tracy
"It's Dove Age-Fighting Acne Cream." - Liz, after Jack kisses her head and asks her what the flavor is
"You can only say 'cat anus' twice, but I'll be fighting for you." - Jack, to Liz
"Still think I"m gayer than the volleyball scene in Top Gun?" - obviously gay former classmate of Liz's
"How is this working? You're 12 years older than anyone here." - Liz, to Jack
"Rich 50 is middle class 38 now." - Jack
"Attention is what gives us power." - Jenna
"I want to go to there!" - Liz, on two different occasions
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
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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
Gareth David-Lloyd of Torchwood: The TV Squad Interview 
Seven greatest hand cannons in TV history
TV Squad previews NBC's new shows (part 1)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-05-2008 @ 9:54AM
ac said...
I agree I miss all the side characters that have vanished after the season premire.
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 10:10AM
charli said...
Exept the fact that I also miss the writers of TGS, I really enjoyed this episode.
Quotes :
"Of course Tracy, we are actors, if we didn't exist how do people would know who to vote for." Jenna
"What is up with that ?So she can put her feet in her mouth, so can I" Jenna
And the end
That's right, a jet, TO NEW YORK CITY, LEMON OUT
ahaha great episode !
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 10:12AM
Max said...
"Rich 50 is middle-aged 38 now." - Jack
should be
"Rich 50 is middle-class 38 now." - Jack
The joke being that since Jack is rich, although he's 50 he can pass as a contemporary of these middle-class people.
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12-05-2008 @ 10:44AM
Lauren said...
"I WANT TO GO TO THERE."
Thanks for acknowledging that one...it was my favorite quote from last night!!
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12-05-2008 @ 11:07AM
dkny said...
100% - stop the guests and stick with what works - it's still funny but not as much fun
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12-05-2008 @ 11:14AM
MCW said...
I liked this episode much better than previous weeks, especially due to the flashbacks of Lemon's past. That sweater she was wearing, her glasses. Really good stuff.
I WANT to go to there.
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12-05-2008 @ 11:20AM
JJ Forde said...
Another great quote that got left of the list
"We all have our ways of coping... I use sex and awesomeness"
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 12:54PM
Xevious said...
It so awesome it actually leads this article.
12-05-2008 @ 1:37PM
JJ Forde said...
Wow, thats embarrassing. Lesson of the day, don't post before I have my morning cup of coffee.
12-05-2008 @ 11:29AM
danmerriman said...
I'm pretty sure the relaying of messages to Lemon was just a veiled reference to the Amex commercial Fey did a couple of years ago.
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12-05-2008 @ 11:55AM
charli said...
Oh, and I'm looking for the name of the track playing when Liz gets to the reunion ? Anyone ?
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12-05-2008 @ 11:22AM
pikovandropov said...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZhHph4IOkc
If you are too young (or old) to immediately recognize every song played during the reunion scenes, I guess I can give you a pass, otherwise, FOR SHAME! :-)
12-05-2008 @ 12:00PM
Bob Sassone said...
JJ: That's the first quote I used in my review!
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12-05-2008 @ 12:39PM
charli said...
thanks, that would be a too young for me, and the non-american thing works an average excuse for me ...
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12-05-2008 @ 1:09PM
jazzup835 said...
I LOVED this episode, although I have to admit I agreed with some of The New Yorker's comments from last week. I don't think Tina Fey is cold, but I do think the back cast (I don't know the correct word for it) isn't as interesting as the main characters and that Tracy Morgan is boring.
I'd like to see more of Katrina Bowden (the hot girl who's the secretary). I hear she's coming out in a new movie called Ratko coming out in February.
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12-05-2008 @ 1:48PM
John said...
"I want to go to there" & "Lemon out" made the show.
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 1:55PM
Malfoy Roark said...
YES! This is one of my favorite episodes because of the last 20 secs.
"suck it you widdly ihop monkeys"
"lemon the jets waiting"
thats right, a jet to new york citttttty,
Lemon out.
the way she held the mic it was like she owned the room. OMG i love Mrs. Fey. ^_^
12-07-2008 @ 8:57PM
ana glerg said...
(actually replying to the comment replying to John)
not widdley--the snarkiness is with respect to living in hicksville; hence referring to whittling and jug-blowing (i.e. woodcarving and participating in jug bands)
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/47218/Whittling-Jug-Bowing-IHOP-Monkeys
12-05-2008 @ 4:35PM
Basketcase456 said...
There was so much in this episode to laugh at that it was fantastic. I am starting to miss the supporting characters too since the show is starting to get very Liz, Jack, Kenneth and Tracy centric. However, they do provide the best jokes. I believe part of why they are getting more screen time is that Tina Fey is coming into her own as an actor. On SNL, she didn't do many skits, and when she did, it was a background character.
The other part of this episode that cracked me up is that the town she is from is White Haven, which is an actual town in Pennsylvania, but nothing like she described. It is actually become a very boring town, and her twist made it quite interesting.
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12-05-2008 @ 5:49PM
traceyjordanmeatmachine said...
I believe this is actually episode 5
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