OMG, people find differnt things funny! Stop the presses!
I love 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and The Office (US). I hate South Park and Family Guy. Does that mean people who think otherwise are wrong, bad, dumb, unable to recognize good or bad comedy? Nope. There is nothing as subjective is humor, and it’s amazing that people get so damn offended (and/or vitriolic) when others admit to liking or disliking different shows. Nothing wrong with being passionate, but dayum.
It usually takes me about four episodes to decide whether a show’s gonna grab me or not. (The Office had me with the first two eps I saw, which were “Performance Review” and “The Injury.”) That was certainly the case with both 30 Rock and AD. These are strange fictional universes and for me, it took some time to get into the groove. I fell for the rapid-fire wit, both the smartness of the dialogue coupled with the undeniable silliness, and the talent of the cast. I’m attracted to behind-the-scenes looks at showbiz and that was a big help too. The self-deprecatory slams at the show itself and NBC are always fun.
And I’m a particular rarity because while I went in certain I’d hate Tracy Morgan, Tracy Jordan has turned into my favorite character on the show. His vacillations between lecherous playa and oddly childlike vulnerability – and above all, the way he displays both ends of his personality spectrum with complete wholehearted sincerity – crack me the hell up. And his line readings are gold.
Jane Krakowski is fabulous, and I also thought I’d dislike her. Of course, Alec Baldwin is perfection (and yes, that “It’s after six, what am I, a farmer?” is the best line of the series, IMO) and I’m surprised anyone finds his performing style mugging – Jack is usually pretty low key and controlled, with notable exceptions such as the absolutely brilliant bit where he roleplays Tracy’s entire family and next door neighbors as stereotypes from Sanford & Son and a variety of Norman Lear comedies.
If NewsRadio was hopped up on laughing gas, it’d be 30 Rock. Love 'em both.
I agree that it can feel a bit cloying at times, but I don’t agree that all the zaniness is completely arbitrary from character to character. It might’ve been me misspeaking in my last post, but the quirks assigned to each character are pretty obviously specific to that character (Jack is rich, Liz is insecure, Tracy is oblivious, etc.). What I find funny is the way that the quirks for each character manage to build on and one-up each other, in very surprising and delightful (for me) ways. I’d look at Family Guy as an example of a show where the gags really are not in any way tied down by character. 30 Rock is a far more grounded in its randomness and, in my opinion, better for it.
Why do people even try to judge an entire series (with 3 seasons and counting) by a single episode? Do you seriously think you can get a proper feel of the characters and various situations of the show from watching one random episode? Even beyond that, every show has its good and not-so-good episodes.
I think 30 Rock is a funny show when its not delving into Liz’s (Fey) personal dating life and when it focuses more on the show (which is obviously a parody of SNL). Give it a chance and perhaps watch a few more episodes before casting judgment.
I’m also going to rise to Tracy Morgan’s defense. I had no idea who he was before 30 Rock, having not seen SNL for quite some time. So he was a blank slate to me, and I’ve enjoyed learning about his character’s background.
Although I don’t think he’s the best part of the show, he consistently makes me laugh. It must be fun writing all of the non-sequitors and general weirdness for his character.
Alec Baldwin is terrific. Can’t believe he’s the same guy who was in Hunt For Red October.
My favorite Jack moment from 30 Rock was the first episode dealing with his mother calling him. His assistant Jonathon freaks out when he realizes he’s failed to screen the call. We hear screaming and crashing noises. Then Alec Baldwin comes out red-faced and rasps…
“Who let 407 through? Jonathon, we have DRILLS for this!!!”
What I love about 30 Rock is that it is wacky, but only 1 degree of wackiness removed from real life. Like NBC is owned by GE which is owned by the Sheinhardt Wig Corporation. Or you could almost imagine Fox airing a show called “MILF Island.”
Count me as another fan of 30 Rock. I’ve been watching the show on DVD, one episode at a time every few days (as I watch many shows), and I have been burning through the episodes faster than with any other show I’ve ever watched on DVD, and have to force myself not to go through them even faster. Some of the things they come up with are really inspired. I like it better than Arrested Devlopment, maybe because I find the characters actually likeable and the situations are a teensy bit closer to reality and believability, but there’s still plenty of silliness.
And I like Tracy Jordan. I agree with what choie says. I loved some of what he did on SNL (“I’m Brian Fellow!”) but think he’s limited and suspect his schtick only works within a relatively narrow context. But 30 Rock plays to his strengths.
This was the first episode that I saw, and it completely hooked me. Jack’s roleplaying and Tracy’s admonishment to “not get racist,” coupled with the shrink’s absolute horror at what was happening (“This is just Happy Days now”), just killed me. That would have been enough on it’s own, but it’s also the episode where Liz meets her comedy idol, played perfectly by Carrie Fischer. I knew I would love the series forever when Jack looks at Liz with shock and says, “What are you? An immigrant?”
I also agree that it’s just one step away from reality. I mean, MILF Island is funny, and it’s even better now that TVLand has had a series called “The Cougar.” And I could totally see NBC trying to get away with something like Seinfeldvision.
I think I remember the bit that really sold me on the show – when Jack referred to his current girlfriend – “a prominent African American in the Bush Administration” – as his “neo-con inamorata.”
Anyway a couple points late to the game
[ul]
[li]Stop comparing comedies to Arrested Development. It’s an impossibly high standard of subtlety and craft. [/li][li]30 Rock isn’t a laugh a minute show for everyone. What I love is the one or two brilliant lines per episode that leave me in stitches, plus the hit-and-miss average other parts. [/li][li]Tracy Morgan is a deconstruction of stereotypical black humor and spoiled celebrity humor. He frequently takes a regular black vs. white observation to an absurd extreme. I found him excruciating on SNL, but he’s my 2nd favorite character on the show now. “I was in an adaptation of that movie, A Blaffair to Rememblack.” In fact, I found Chris Parnell and Tina Fey painfully unfunny on SNL, but rewarding on 30 Rock. [/li][li]Watch Glengarry Glenross and then watch Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock. And Jack’s on-camera intro in his construction-zone office is great. [/li][li]If you’re still confounded, try watching the same episodes again, I didn’t like the show the first time I saw it, and upon re-watching I found the same episodes great.[/li][li]Dr. Spaceman is pure gold.[/li][/ul]
And you haven’t noticed that Tiny Fey plays Mary Richards, single girl producer; Alec Baldwin plays Lou Grant, crusty but respected get it done boss; Tracy Morgan plays Ted Baxter, talentless talent and the writing crew plays Murray and Sue Ann?
The setting is switched from a news station to a comedy variety show and the jokes borrowed from other shows. But borrowed well.
I tolerate Tracy Morgan in this show, but the only thing he was ever funny in was Astronaut Jones. I can see how the show isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it is the funniest thing on TV besides The Daily Show.
30 Rock is funny. It was scientifically proven in a series of controlled peer experiments at the UCLA School of Comedyology. So those of who don;'t find it funny obviously are anti-science.
