Subscribe
30 Rock - Season 3, Episode 1: "Do-Over" 
Fri, Oct 31
I don't know which is more annoying: having a zany show you love not get the attention it deserves, or having a show you love all of a sudden get so much attention that watching it starts to feel like a fad rather than a personal choice (I like to call this The Borat Effect.) At any rate, there's no denying it: Despite its huge marketing boost and slew of big name guest stars, all of which shouts "Watch me, middle America!", 30 Rock is still a brilliantly crafted, wacky show that's a damn pleasure to watch. Let's break down last night's stellar season premiere:
What makes this show funny? In my opinion, its the wackiness of the characters. The more absurd, off-the-wall and unexpected their behavior, the better. This is why characters like Frank and Pete are not funny, and characters like Tracy and Kenneth are. Frank and Pete are not absurd or whacky. I can imagine knowing a sloppy, kindhearted dude like Pete or an obnoxious guy like Frank. But a dude who buys these guys a box of gold watches and a chinchilla fur coat as a token for gratitude for working on his pornographic video game? THAT'S funny.
Along these lines, I didn't think last night's story was particularly funny. This isn't It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (which was hilarious last night, by the way) where the situational comedy aspects are going to drive the humor of the show. Jack wants to get back to the top and Liz wants to adopt a baby. And, just like the Chuck season premiere, by the end of the episode, we've returned to the status quo necessary to maintain the rest of the season at its usual clip. Jack is back on top and Liz is not getting a baby anytime soon. Season 3, you may now continue as usual!
Another regular attribute of this series is famous special guest stars. I can't think of any show I've ever seen that incorporates as many big name stars on a consistent basis. Last night, we had Will Arnett (whose wife Amy Poehler gave birth to a son Archie last week!) back as Devin, the gay, wildly under-qualified head of G.E. (one of my fav lines of the episode: "I sold the "E" to Samsung. Now it's Samesung." Genius.) Also, we had Megan Mullally as Liz's over-inquisitive adoption agent-- I thought she did a great job, especially considering that the dialogue she was given wasn't all that funny.
I'm nervous we've got a reverse The Office situation on our hands. In the first 2 seasons of The Office, the show was about 75% Michael, 20% Pam/Jim/Dwight, 5% everyone else. But the past few years, they've found a better balance and have incorporated all the terrific supporting characters like Andy, Angela, Kevin, etc. On 30 Rock, we started in season 1 with a great balance between Jack/Liz and the hilarious support of Kenneth/Jenna/Tracy, but the past few episodes, carrying over from season 2 in to last night, have seen these players relegated to a much more diminished role. I know that Tina Fey is the face of this show and that she and Baldwin are both Emmy winners for their roles, but with screentime already devoted to the big name guest star each week plus Liz & Jack, I just hope the brilliant other characters get time to flex their muscles a bit.
That being said, Tina and Alec are frickin awesome (plus, how cute did Tina look in that black and white number at the studio?). I loved seeing Alec work his way back up the food chain ("I got promoted again this morning!") and Tina's Sex and the City bit at the beginning was great. Moreover, how kickass was Tina's heartfelt speech to the adoption agent at the end? Girls got mad chops yo.
Best line of the episode: "I used to work the day shift at a graveyard and the graveyard shift at a Days Inn." Wow. I love you, Tina Fey.
Speaking of Tina Fey being the face of this series, that chick is everywhere! Thanks to Sarah Palin, everyone knows who Tina Fey is now. But do these people who laugh at her impersonations realize they're watching the Emmy-winning writer/creator of the Emmy-winning series on which she is the Emmy-winning star? She is flat out the most talented woman in comedy today. Period. Is she the funniest? On paper, yes. As an actress, I've got a few other ladies I'd pick ahead of her, but she's still so strong and her writing is so damn smart, that it elevates her game to the very top. You're looking at the Kobe Bryant of female comics folks-- this girl can do it all.
That's about all. I think we're in for another Emmy-worthy season here folks-- As long as they keep the emphasis on the crazy and not on the drama, I don't see how this show goes anywhere but up.
Grade: A- I don’t know which is more annoying: having a zany show you love not get the attention it dese
RSS Feed for 30 Rock
Loading...