(S04E05) "He looks like all the guys in my magazines!" - janitor, about Danny
Another week, another "30 Rock isn't as good as it used to be" article. This one is from The Atlantic, of all places. The gist is this: "30 Rock used to be funny, but now it's not!" The Onion thinks so, too.
Oh, that's such crap.
I was talking to Joel about this earlier this week, and while it's probably true that the show doesn't have that "new car smell" anymore, so what? It isn't like the show is halfway through it's first season and it has fallen apart, the show is in its fourth season and it's still strong. This show has more jokes (and funny jokes) in one episode than most sitcoms have in six episodes. In fact, tonight's episode had more jokes before the opening credits than most shows have in six episodes.
And ladies, if you date a guy who doesn't think 30 Rock is still great? That's a dealbreaker.
Some of the best episodes of 30 Rock contain not just smart, wacky humor but also some real heartfelt feelings between Liz and Jack. No, not romantic feelings, but a sense that Jack really does care for her and wants to take care of her. Tonight was a good example of that, as he was trying to help her with the Dealbreakers talk show (not screw her over in any way) and how he moved the candle away from her because he knew she was going to reach across the table to sample his dessert.
And the way that both of them came together in Rockefeller Center at the end, sort of like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan coming together at the end of You've Got Mail. Only this ended in a handshake and not a kiss and hug. I love when 30 Rock remembers that about these two.
I'm not quite sure if having Liz actually be more successful and/or wealthy from this new talk show is something I want to see. Well, I do (as I've said many times I want to see Liz have more victories and not be a lonely schlub all the time), I just hope it doesn't tilt the show in the wrong direction. Nah, I'm sure future episodes will throw plenty of obstacles in Liz's way.
The new guy is played by Cheyenne Jackson. I'd love to know if he was really underneath all of that make-up as "Partybot." He could make for an interesting character: the good-looking normal guy surrounded by all the madness at TGS. OK, he's not completely normal, he's Canadian after all and says "about" funny, but it's going to see him try to fit in. Of course, the question is, is Jackson's stay just a multi-episode arc or is he on the show for good?
More thoughts:
- The awful rear screen projection in the flashback to Danny's football movie he made in Canada was funny. The pic above shows you what the scene is like without the background.
- This episode had more visual humor than usual, from Kenneth walking backwards to Jack's suggestion of a weird arm movement for Liz's signature move
- Did you notice that during Liz's opening scene talk with Jack about TV show continuity a scarf magically appeared around Tina Fey's neck and then quickly vanished a couple of seconds later?
- Kenneth says that in ten years NBC won't even be a network anymore. Actually, some are saying that now.
- I love how this show takes TV cliches and takes them for a spin. Besides the continuity joke, this episode brought up something that sometimes bugs me about shows (at least ones with big casts), that two characters can't have the same first name. Danny's real name is Jack but Donaghy can't have two Jacks around now can he? (And neither can viewers.)
- Sports Shouting made me laugh out loud.
- If someone could tell me what the hell Kenneth was saying in that song I'd appreciate it. I think only dogs could have understood it. And are we to assume now that Kenneth has been alive forever?
Quotes:
"Dealbreaker, the book for you, man no good, by Lesbian Flower Sour Fruit." - Chinese translation of Liz's Dealbreakers book cover
"I do! I bought an Activia microwaveable panini..." - Liz, to Jack, about her dinner plans
"I've worked here for three years. I gave you that car I won?" - Lutz, to Cerie
"Last week I was just this street performer getting 50 bucks a day and getting memory loss from all the silver paint fumes, and now I'm...um...um..." - Danny
"Two questions: must I live by Superman's moral code and will the woman get older?" - Jack, about Liz's "would you rather" quiz
"Spit take. Are you serious?" - Liz, to Jack
"Wade Boggs Carpet World, Wade Boggs Carpet World, Wade Boggs Carpet World, Wade Boggs Carpet World." - Tracy, who once signed a contract and has to say the phrase five times whenever he's on screen
"He knows you're special, like a black stripper with blue eyes." - Tracy
"I feel about as useless as a mom's college degree." - Kenneth
"My book is number 15 on the non-fiction bestseller list, behind The Founding Fathers Diet." - Liz
"Oh, he called about your lunch but I told him you had already eaten a weird panini." - Cerie, to Liz
"That's exactly how you look." Cerie, to Liz, who asked "do I look OK?"
"Who cares if Kenneth is bitter? He's an underhuman." - Jenna
"Then who's going to host Top Chef? Aw Jack you're ruining my life!" - Liz, on getting replaced by Padma Lakshi
"I didn't get a bathroom door that looks like a wall by being bad at business." - Jack
"That was aboot the coolest thing I've ever seen." - Tracy
"Regular six, drunk seven." - agent, about Liz
"And one more piece of advice from someone who has been on this side of the business for a long time: Wade Boggs Carpet World." - Tracy
[Watch clips and episodes of 30 Rock and other shows at SlashControl.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-13-2009 @ 4:40AM
Ryan said...
Liz is also holding a can of generic Cola with a straw in the continuity scene.
Kenneth is singing "Making a new friend sure ain't easy... [scene cut] and that's how two become one."
The book was written by "lesbian yellow-sour-fruit."
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 5:15AM
BLV said...
Community beats 30rocks every week..
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 5:44AM
doug said...
i had to rewatch to see this but check the crawls underneath the Sports Shouter guys. One of the crawls said, "Rick Pitino was spotted at a bar, saying if there's any ladies that are looking for..." Stuff like that is what makes 30 rock so great. Has the ability to make you see something different each time you watch. the "30 rock used to be good" argument is like when Tiger Woods goes 2 tournaments in a row without winning, but he's still the favorite no matter who or when he plays. Thats what happens when the standard is set so high
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11-13-2009 @ 7:07AM
Lisa said...
I think the door is opening for another comedy to take the Emmy next year (Modern Family).
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11-13-2009 @ 9:09AM
010111 said...
having finally watched the recorded Modern Family i had... based entirely on people going off on how great it is... i expected to be blown away at the awesomeness.
um. no. it's okay. i think in 6 episodes i had the corner of my mouth raise into a small smirk once or twice.
30 Rock still manages at *least* 1 or 2 legitimate laugh-out-louds per episode.
is there some other different show that is called Modern Family? the one i am watching is on ABC and has Ed O'Neil in it. where is this other one that is supposedly funnier than 30 Rock?
Community is funnier and more interesting than Modern Family. Modern Family is amusing enough i'll probably keep watching it... but funnier than 30 Rock? i think not.
11-13-2009 @ 1:34PM
nytheatreguy said...
I totally disagree. "Community" is a crashing bore and good only for inducing sleep; "Modern Family" is a far superior series and deserves at least a nomination for best comedy series at next year's Emmys and maybe even the win, depending on how "30 Rock" holds up the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, the way it's looking, the overhyped, grossly overrated "Glee" will take the win from everyone, including "30 Rock" (which, in my opinion, was absolutely hilarious last night).
11-13-2009 @ 11:35AM
Romain said...
I had that feeling right from the beginning of Season 3, which started with a lot of guest starts but failed to reach the level of the first two seasons (esp. S1).
On the other hand, imho, Season 4 kicked off with a great episode and so far all episodes are superior to (almost) any of S3!
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11-13-2009 @ 12:44PM
Beanie said...
Cheyenne Jackson played Mark Bingham in Greengrass's United 93 (an awesome film, despite it's origin). I remember this as I photographed Bingham's father during the film's release. Just wanted to add that.
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11-13-2009 @ 2:22PM
Master Cylinder said...
How did no one mention the toothbrush sight gag? That was shocking for network primetime.
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11-13-2009 @ 3:07PM
Vijay said...
Don't forget, the whole point of the opening scene was this exchange (can't remember exact wording):
Jack: "Lemon, what do you always say about acting?"
Liz: "Hit your mark, and do it the same way every take."
Another favorite moment, the Canadian football flashback (again, don't remember exact wording):
"Guys, I don't know aboot you, but I want to win this game. So let's all 12 of us go out there, fight for every last meter, for all three downs!"
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11-13-2009 @ 3:50PM
Brice said...
30 Rock still is the best comedy show on television. I love Community, Psych, and even bits of Modern Family, but there's nothing that tops this show each week.
The shirt gags throughout the show with Tracy and Jenna? Fantastic.
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11-13-2009 @ 3:55PM
Mike said...
I like the new guy. I hope he stays.
Jane Krakowski is aging by the second. She needs more far shots and lots more makeup plus the padded chest to sell the vixen thing.
Tracy Morgan gets more comfortable -- and therefore funnier -- every week.
The writing is so good it is approaching what SNL used to be when it was funny. I am guessing Tina Fey has lots to do with that.
There is no funnier show on TV right now. Get over it kids, Community may last two seasons at most. They can start inscribing Tina Fey's next emmy now.
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11-13-2009 @ 4:56PM
izikavazo said...
I loved the fake romantic parts with Jack and Liz. So many people are still hoping for those two to get together so I love when they screw with them.
The new guy seems funny, but I think they used all the Canadian jokes in this episode. I guess they could find a way for him to say margarine.
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11-15-2009 @ 4:03AM
John Struckhoff said...
***** SPOILER ALERT *****
As to wondering if Cheyenne Jackson's role is a multiple arc or permanent ......
he's starring in the just opened Broadway hit "Finian's Rainbow" soooo
11-13-2009 @ 5:15PM
Sean said...
Anyone else notice that recently 30 Rock and the other shows have had similar jokes, like Aubrey Plaza's gay Halloween party and then the guys trying to go to the gay Halloween party on 30 Rock, and the last night there was Community and 30 Rock sharing the "I know what you're going to do next" due to character predictability. 30 Rock may have a leaky writer. It seems to work better for the other shows, maybe because they're first, but by the time we get to 30 Rock, the jokes aren't funny.
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11-13-2009 @ 5:39PM
Didi said...
Sorry. Wrong. It might read funny on paper, so maybe the writing is just as good, but somehow the spirit has gone out of it. They all look stiff and unhappy to me, out of touch with their original spark. Padma Lashki certainly didn't help the situation either. She makes Salma Hayek look like a brilliant comedienne.
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11-13-2009 @ 8:30PM
BugKiller said...
I'm sorry, but I've watched Community twice. The pilot which was so bad I couldn't finish. And then the weird guy with Ansberger's as Batman Halloween ep. And the ONLY time I laughed is when Chevy Chase said, "I'm Dar... you know, The Beastmaster!"
Community sucks. The main guy is smarmy and easy to root against. This is a show of what would happen if NBC employed the terribly unfunny Seth MacFarlane to make a live-action show. Unwatchable.
Modern Family, on the other hand, like 30 Rock, Arrested Development, Frasier, and Seinfeld before it... is SMART FUNNY.
That's my kinda funny. It's also sweet funny, which only 30 Rock has been able to do well since Cheers and Cosby went off the air.
The way Modern Family is able to make their characters funny, yet not charicatures is the core of it's success.
How easy would it be to make Cameron and Mitchell a copy of Will and Jack, fussy and flaming gay stereotypes? How easy would it be for O'Neil to be Al Bundy? How easy would it be for his wife to be a latina stereotype?
I'm sorry, but Modern Family is so great because it doesn't descend to those levels. Cam and Mitchell are great examples of what the vast majority of gay male couples are probably like. Not loud stereotypes in the vain of Nathan Lane. Jay is pitch-perfect as an older man coming to grips with having to raise yet another child, made tougher because they're not related by blood.
And Ty Burrell's character is actually the scariest because of how truthful he plays it. How many kids are being ruined by bad parents who want to be friends and not parents?
What a great show. How could you NOT have fallen out of your chair when Haley's boyfriend started singing his song, with the whole family listening, only to find out it was about how he wanted to have sex with Haley?
And then even funnier, during the credits, how all of them couldn't stop singing it to themselves?
Modern Family is a gem.
Community is crap.
Reply
11-13-2009 @ 8:36PM
Sebastian said...
Bob, I don’t know you or have anything against you, but you need to go back to the 1980's if you want to continue reviewing TV shows. Jack has been infatuated with Liz since the very first episode and that became very obvious when his ex-wife showed up. Since then they’re dancing around each other, so pretending that Jack only cares about her now is just stupid. This show is about the two of them and always has been. As a TV critic you should know that or critique something else.
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11-14-2009 @ 6:54PM
Nathan said...
funny, I come across this as I googled wade boggs carpet world while watching this episode for the third time [cause it is so good].
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11-15-2009 @ 12:40PM
Vince said...
I was watching Around the Horn on ESPN the next day, and they started the beginning with "Welcome back to Sports Shouting!"
Great job 30 Rock
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