
(S03E07) Love was in the air in this episode of 30 Rock. It seems as though everyone had something going on in their personal life. Jack fell in love with his mother's nurse, Liz found a little person to fill the baby-shaped hole in her heart, Tracy and Angie reignited the spark in their marriage, and Frank, well, Frank got to watch Tracy and Angie do it on Kenneth's desk. So everyone was a winner!
Generally, I think 30 Rock does a great job with guest stars, but this season has been a little disappointing so far. With the exception of the Oprah episode, the constant stunt casting has made it feel a little bit like the last seasons of Will and Grace. However, this week's episode, despite having three guest stars, didn't feel like that at all. Maybe it's because there were three, but they fit into the episode, instead of feeling like the episode was written around them.
As much as I dislike Sherri Shepherd on The View, I love it when she shows up and plays Angie. Tracy Jordan is such a weird character that's it's fun to watch him interact with this semi-normal woman who's in love with him. Her appearances aren't distracting either. When Tracy Jordan is basically humping her on every flat surface on the TGS set, it's easy to forget that she's that lady who hangs out with Barbara Walters.
Salma Hayak also started her multi-episode arc as Jack's love interest. I find the fact that Jack falls in love with a "commoner" pretty fun, but it seems like they moved into it pretty quickly. I love Salma Hayak, and I just hope that they find more to do with this storyline than concentrate on all of the class differences that drive her and Jack apart. Peter Dinklage was also pretty awesome as Liz's love interest, and I would have loved to see more of them together. I really think they could have done more with this storyline. It could have stretched out over a few episodes and explore Liz's baby obsession a bit more. As it is, it seemed very rushed. "Hi. I like you. Oops! I thought you were a kid! Bye!" He was pretty hot and more of his interactions with Liz would have been hilarious.
The only part of this episode that I wasn't crazy about was the "Jenna playing Janis Joplin" storyline. I loved the song she sang at the end, but since it didn't really involve anyone else in the cast, it just felt like an afterthought -- or an effort to give Jane Krakowski something to do.
Some of my favorite lines from this episode:
"Look at our biological clocks! You're going baby crazy and I keep getting turned on by car accidents." -- Jenna
"When Angie and I got married, my only assets were a toaster oven and two tickets to a Young MC concert. --Tracy
Jenna: "Is this part of your mommy thing?"
Liz: "Only insofar as we met because I touched his head thinking he was a child."
"Without getting into specifics, my exit involves a McFlurry machine and a video tape of risque commercials from overseas." -- Jack
"Thank you for telling me what I already know. You should work for The Huffington Post." -- Jack
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















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-09-2009 @ 8:56AM
Stone said...
The best episode of a very lackluster season so far. I think the stunt casting is getting out of hand, but Salma Hayek's role was very understated--maybe because she played a nurse?
Reply
1-09-2009 @ 8:57AM
Drex said...
BEST EPISODE OF 30ROCK EVR!!
It's easily the best comedy (dare I say show) on TV right now..
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1-11-2009 @ 3:05AM
Mags said...
I think I prefer the reunion episode. I mean:
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/47232/I-Cope-with-Sex-and-Awesomeness
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/47220/Ugly-Duckling-is-Now-an-Ethnic-Swan
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/47224/Trampoline-is-the-Key-to-Happiness
adds up to un episode fantastica.
1-09-2009 @ 9:06AM
Brandon said...
You know...who really cares about the stunt casting? I still think the show is way funnier than half the stuff on tv, regardless of who is playing what character.
I guess it's time to make 30 Rock an easy target now that it's not as underground as it once was.
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1-09-2009 @ 9:11AM
Drex said...
I LOVED the "Top That" rap A+
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1-09-2009 @ 1:47PM
MCW said...
God, I did too... check out this version on YouTube that cracks me up everytime I watch it. It's awesome.
1-10-2009 @ 12:01AM
lebow24 said...
As soon as I heard it, I knew where it came from :-)
1-09-2009 @ 9:42AM
Jojee said...
I will be using "cat sound" at appropriate and inappropriate times throughout the day. It is my new "that's-what-she-said." Too funny!
My favorite line (among many!) was - "...surround yourself with people and love and babies with pierced ears."
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1-09-2009 @ 10:35AM
cdawg said...
Best episode ever simply for Kenneth singing my favorite song of all time - I'm Hot from Teen Witch.
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1-09-2009 @ 1:51PM
MCW said...
I wish he'd done the whole rap though... 5 seconds wasn't enough...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmZQCm_BgnA
1-09-2009 @ 10:45AM
Ned said...
I'll need to rewatch this episode, because had a lot of trouble getting into it the first time. I'm a big fan of 30 Rock, but I don't remember episodes having quite this many storylines. Jack and his mom's nurse, Jenna as Janis, Liz's little man, and Tracey and Angie. It was all a little too much to handle. All these stories had a lot of potential, but mashed together I think something got lost in the mix.
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1-09-2009 @ 10:54AM
eric f. said...
Four words. Salma Hayek's ridiculous cleavage.
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1-09-2009 @ 12:33PM
MacLean said...
amen
1-09-2009 @ 1:51PM
MCW said...
Why does she tease us so? And how did Alec go the entire episode without making a joke about it?
1-11-2009 @ 6:08AM
Paul said...
Nicely put. The episode was almost worth it for those two alone.
1-09-2009 @ 12:53PM
Martin said...
Salma Hayak at the quiencera made this the best episode ever. I really need to rewatch a few times this weekend, not because I missed it, but because I already miss it!!!
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1-09-2009 @ 1:53PM
MCW said...
I personally loved when Lemon pulled the guy back from the fire: "Get back buddy"! That was really funny. I hope he'll be back in future episodes.
- http://UncoveredFilms.blogspot.com
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1-09-2009 @ 2:05PM
Greg said...
Nothing about "Cat sound!" with the claw hand?
Reply
1-09-2009 @ 2:11PM
samodernist said...
I also suprisingly agree with you about Sherri Sheppard...and to be honest I only put it together while rewatching season 2 over the Holidays with my wife. I said I never really realized that was the same annoying woman who is on The View, but I think she is TERRIFIC on 30 Rock esp. as both an often normal and frisky wife to Tracy. I really have to admit that it makes me happy to see her appear once in awhile. Good Observation.
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1-09-2009 @ 2:15PM
samodernist said...
I was also surprised Jack did not mention the cleavage during or after the Quincinera. Also I agree that Peter Dinklage was on the show too breifly (I felt the break up at the bridge was a bit too harsh and too quickly judged...could have at least been a two episode arc...he is always great - if you haven't seen it - he is great in "In Bruges"
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