# 30 Rock - most overrated show for years? Or am I missing something? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670 "2009-05-26T13:43:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/1 "2009-05-26T13:43:22Z")
Last night I happened to catch _30 Rock_ for the first time ever. It was a relatively recent episode, _The Bubble_, written, I noticed, by Tina Fey. I understand that this is a well regarded comedy but my God it was tedious, derivative and really unfunny. I can remember the story of the episode but cannot recall a single genuinely funny moment. I don’t recall even raising a grin at anything. The attempts at the sort of off-the-wall humour I like in _Scrubs_ and _Arrested Development_ were particularly forced and predictable. Is it simply that Fey is a crap writer (which would be no surprise as she is a crap actress/comedian) or is this the most overrated show in many years? Or even worse is the show actually good and I don’t get it? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/2 "2009-05-26T13:46:23Z")
You can check quite a few threads here in Cafe Society - lots of us Dopers think it is the best sitcom on network TV today. It is zany and sometimes the various “B” plots don’t quite work with the “A” main story - I get tired of Kenneth and Tracy’s antics. but Alec Baldwin (when he is on his game) is comedy GOLD. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/3 "2009-05-26T13:53:49Z")
I recently watched the first two seasons on DVD. I knew the show had a pretty good reputation with the kinds of people who have the same TV tastes as me, so I just kinda kept waiting to be struck by what exactly is so special. I would classify it as good, pretty funny, surely better than par for network comedies, but most definitely overrated. So yea I guess you have a point. Arrested development this is not. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/4 "2009-05-26T13:58:01Z")
I’ve seen the first half-dozen episodes and it’s a show I definitely plan on getting back to at some point, which is more than I can say for almost every other network sitcom I’ve seen over the past few years. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/5 "2009-05-26T14:01:08Z")
I’m not impressed with it. It tries too hard to be “wacky” – sort of like the guy who desperately needs to be the life of the party. There are some funny moments, but too much is the writers saying “Look at this! It’s funny! It really is! We’re just so wacky I can’t stand it!!!” Baldwin also overacts so much that any humor is lost in the mannerisms. I prefer subtlety in my comedies. I don’t mind broad humor, but not when it pretends to be hip and cool. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/6 "2009-05-26T14:03:36Z")
The American version of The Office is the most overrated. But this one is up there. I like Jack and Liz’s dynamic. The other characters are pretty tedious. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/7 "2009-05-26T14:15:51Z")
Usually, I’m the one who’s baffled by “love it or hate it” sitcoms. I hated Arrested Development, hated Gilmore Girls, etc. But I LOVE 30 Rock. I acknowledge the sorta zanyness of some of the more ridiculous plot threads, but the writing is usually very, very clever. Lots of little touches, too, like the “Who Dat Ninja?” poster in Tracy’s dressing room. > [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > The attempts at the sort of off-the-wall humour I like in _Scrubs_ and _Arrested Development_ were particularly forced and predictable. This is exactly how I feel about Arrested Development - forced and predictable. So I guess we just disagree. ETA: I haven’t seen the episode mentioned in the OP, so I can’t comment. Maybe it wasn’t so great, I dunno. Joe ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/8 "2009-05-26T15:03:11Z")
They can’t all be winners. But when 30 Rock is on, it’s funnier moments are funnier than anything on TV. I just the re-run of the Oprah episode; “I’m snitting next to Borpo” had me falling on the floor…literally. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/9 "2009-05-26T16:00:40Z")
I love 30 Rock, with the exception of Tracey, who could leave the show tomorrow and wouldn’t be missed by me. Alec Baldwin found his true calling on this show and Tina Fey is a genius. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/10 "2009-05-26T16:05:13Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m not impressed with it. It tries too hard to be “wacky” – sort of like the guy who desperately needs to be the life of the party. There are some funny moments, but too much is the writers saying “Look at this! It’s funny! It really is! We’re just so wacky I can’t stand it!!!” I pretty much agree. I find the plotlines predictable and the humor merely OK. I wonder if the esteem in which many hold the show is influenced by people’s views of Ms. Fey, who gained a lot of publicity from the Palin sketches. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/11 "2009-05-26T16:12:50Z")
It’s derivitive? I find it to be one of the least derivitive shows out there. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/12 "2009-05-26T16:18:13Z")
I watch next to no network TV, but I’ve got 30 Rock on my TiVo. I think Tina Fey is one of the most funny comedians out there right now. Baldwin is hilarious as well. I’m so-so on Tracy Morgan, but he doesn’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/13 "2009-05-26T16:40:45Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > I wonder if the esteem in which many hold the show is influenced by people’s views of Ms. Fey, who gained a lot of publicity from the Palin sketches. I doubt it. Most the fans here at any rate were fans in the first two seasons. And I do think this is the funniest show I watch. The line of which it has to walk is a fine one and the show sometimes slips, but even poor episodes have a number of truly funny lines and the good ones are brilliant. I started Scrubs and Arrested Development and I stopped watching those shows because the wackiness was so forced and the characters so unlikeable. You can’t please everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/14 "2009-05-26T16:51:01Z")
“Was any of it real? Beer Pong? Jazzercise? Women’s Soccer?” ---
**Author:** ![Jester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jester/32/8223_2.png) [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/15 "2009-05-26T17:20:52Z")
I know people who don’t like shows hate hearing this (I know I do when it’s told to me), but I would highly recommend watching a few more episodes. _30 Rock_ is a show that works by constantly building up the eccentricities and absurdities of its characters. It’s hard to get a feel for how funnily over-the-top the characters are from just one episode, but when you watch a few of them all those little weird things just pile up and make each successive one funnier and funnier. The characters themselves don’t really change; we just see more and more of the crazy stuff that makes up their lives. It works because, at a certain point, you’ve seen enough off-the-wall character information at you that when they through [Werewolf Bar Mitzva](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_P3PNuZU)h at you, it’s completely consistent with the character (and therefore funnier). ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/16 "2009-05-26T17:26:01Z")
How can it be overrated? Some people like it, some don’t. You don’t. I do. Saying it is underrated or overrated implies one person’s taste has some sort of exportability to what other people should like. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/17 "2009-05-26T17:35:42Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > …but Alec Baldwin (when he is on his game) is comedy GOLD. Yes. Mister Balwin is easily the best part of the show. In my opinion, the only funny part. I’m glad the show stopped focusing on Tina Fey’s shitty dating life; we get it, you’re kind of quirky, dating isn’t getting any easier with age, you have difficulties finding men you like, etc. Now let’s get back to Donaghy already! Lemon: Why are you wearing a tux? Donaghy: It’s after 6. What am I, a farmer? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/18 "2009-05-26T17:36:52Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Is it simply that Fey is a crap writer (which would be no surprise as she is a crap actress/comedian) or is this the most overrated show in many years? Both. Tina Fey is pretty much the antithesis of funny. > [@WordMan](#): > > You can check quite a few threads here in Cafe Society - lots of us Dopers think it is the best sitcom on network TV today. With perhaps the sole exception of AD, that’s like saying “it’s the best bloody, runny stool shat out by a disease-riddled homeless junkie!” ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/19 "2009-05-26T17:48:40Z")
I don’t get it either, and I’m big on comedies. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670/20 "2009-05-26T17:48:45Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > With perhaps the sole exception of AD, that’s like saying “it’s the best bloody, runny stool shat out by a disease-riddled homeless junkie!” Is it just me or do you kinda negate your declaration of someone being the antithesis of funny by throwing this knee slapping zinger out there ? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-rock-most-overrated-show-for-years-or-am-i-missing-something/497670.md?page=2)