Best episode so far. Took NBC’s “Green” week promotion and mocked it up down and sideways and did so as just one of two main story arcs. David Schwimmer was 5000 times better as a guest than Jerry Seinfeld. And they brought the writers into the show. Great lines all over the script.
Take that, Heroes fans. 
I’ll never look at Pop Tarts the same.
My favorite line was when Jack was reading off Greenzo’s ratings numbers: “He’s a hit in every demographic: colored people, broads, faeries, commies – gosh, we need to update these forms.”
And I don’t know if this was intended or not, but it seemed that once Greenzo thought he didn’t need the writers anymore, he tanked.
This was the best episode this season, and IMO “30 Rock” is the funniest thing on TV.
The “pop tart” was perhaps the most hilarious (my wife and I had to pause the Tivo we were laughing so hard). IMO it’s a good example of how expertly the show constructs a joke. In the setup, Liz pulls it from under her couch when she’s telling Jenna about a lipstick she found, something that hinted at Pete’s having an affair. Her biting into the discarded pop tart then looks like a simple “Look at how nerdy/disgusting Liz is” bit (she even says “I don’t know why I told you about that”). We don’t learn until later that this was a setup for a hilarious gag, so it’s funny and unexpected. The plot made it clear Liz was going to discover the truth about Phil’s affair, but this added detail exponentiated the humor.
I also appreciate the way “30 Rock” works hard on small bits like sight gags. The incredibly detailed “Werewolf Bar-Mitzvah” from a few episodes back is an internet phenomenon even though it was on for only about 5 seconds. A similar, highly-detailed short gag came up last night in the montage of Kenneth’s bad parties (Fey’s brief appearance in a Harry Potter outfit was the capper), and even the hustling conclusion with scenes from Kenneth’s latest blowout had its moments.
“30 Rock” seems to know how to be wacky without going off the rails, and finds ways to get everyone into the act (“We’re out of string cheese so I decided to go home”; “Are bare feet in this year?”; the way Dot-Com and Grizz change the party guest from T.I. to Fallout Boy in order to impress Josh; Jonathan with TOOL written on his forehead). Contrast that with last night’s “Office” episode, which was funny enough but which IMO relied too much on Steve Carell’s over-the-top “Survivorman” to carry a big chunk of the episode (as if the writers said “Steve, we’re about 10 minutes short this week, you think you could do a long stand-up riff?”).
Really? I found it all painfully unfunny and turned it off halfway. Turned it back on just enough to see the only funny line in the show – and since it was delivered by Al Gore (“A whale is in trouble.”), that’s pretty sad. Gore can be very funny, but when the pros in the show can’t come close, it says something.
Everyone is trying too hard to be wacky. It’s like they’re dressing up in clown suits and wearing a lampshade on their head and making funny sounds on noisemakers as they talk just to make the point on how funny they’re being.
I keep giving the show a try (the slot between “Earl” and “CSI” is too short to do any work), but I’m always disappointed by lines that seem funny on paper but which never play funny.
Funniest line: “(Foxy Boxing) combines my two favorite things. Boxing and umpires.”
I thought this episode was hilarious, but I was a bit irritated that I kept not quite understanding some of the throwaway lines and asides. Was the audio mixed differently or something?
My husband and I both nearly choked to death from laughing at this line. It’s the “gosh” that really sells it.
I loved this episode. The flashes of Kenneth’s party were outstanding, as was Jack’s post-party hair.
“This Earth is ruined. We’re going to need another one.”
I think 30 Rock snuck up and became my favorite TV show while Battlestar Galactica’s been on hiatus!
The brief shots of the party were hilarious. Especially when someone punched Jack in the face.
That was either Cerie or one of her Dutch cousins who punched Jack.
You know, you just made me flash on Jack’s morning after look (“I’m going to need . . . a moment”), and I laughed out loud again.
The whole horror movie riff was done better than some much longer parodies I’ve seen, and made me laugh - especially when Liz fell down.
But of course, the line that will live in infamy:
“WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE POPTARTS!!!”