Yes you definitely will. Without even listing those shows I could have told you that you would have enjoyed 30 Rock. If you like to laugh you’ll like the show, smart but at the same time off the wall. It’s a great mix that’s totally enjoyable, I actually have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like it.
The first few episodes reminded me of a 21st Century Mary Tyler Moore Show. Liz Lemon was a single “career girl” surrounded by crazies, trying her best to get through the day. It quickly changed to show Liz as crazy as everyone else, and Alec Baldwin started to change from being a Bill McNeil type into a full-fledged evil genius.
I look at Season 1 as the necessary backstory to get you to where you’ll really appreciate Season 2 and beyond.
Do it glee, buy the first two series, you won’t regret it (just remember, the show takes about 6 episodes…maybe 12 to hit it’s stride. You don’t have to watch them if you don’t want to). I am finding that 30 Rock has *great *replay value this summer. It’s the only show whos re-runs I am liking right now.
I appreciate the suggestion that I watch it first, but it’s tricky doing that in the UK.
(In compensation, we get the Doctor Who stuff first. 
)
Anyway mz*n are doing an offer, so it won’t cost much.
Sounding like I may have given up on the series a bit early then. I think I got to the first DVD of the second season through Netflix and many of the characters were just way too much. The reparte between Liz and Jack where the only reason I put up with Tracy Morgan.
ETA: LOVED Arrested Development
Maybe I would like 30 Rock more if I thought of it that way, but I don’t see it.
Similarities between NewsRadio & 30 Rock:
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Staff works at an “also-ran” broadcasting product that’s not very successful and is often at risk (TGS / WNYX – of course, this fits pretty much any broadcasting-based TV show, like WKRP, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Frasier)
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“Normal” manager who corrals all the weirdos in his or her stable, but hides (not always very successfully) plenty of weirdo quirks and insecurities (Liz / Dave);
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Manager must deal wearily with blustery, eccentric, wealthy & influential boss with a heart of gold searching for love (Jack / Jimmy), and their initial wary relationship turns mentorial;
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S/he also must alternately indulge/ rein in an egocentric, temperamental, somewhat warped star talent (Tracy/Bill).
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Assisting the manager is an opposite sex producer with whom s/he gets along very well, and who seems normal but also has issues of his/her own (Pete & Lisa).
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There’s a nerdy/geeky/naif skinny guy who (rather bizarrely, considering his own morals) idolizes the premium star talent (Kenneth / Matthew);
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…And also a sexy but underappreciated female second-string talent who, in her way, is just as egotistical is the other star (Jenna / Catherine);
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Then there’s the not-very-hard-working young assistant/secretary with tendency for very revealing or otherwise bizarre clothing (Cerie / Beth).
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Sometimes this motley crew don’t seem to get along, and the show in general has a reputation for being a bit dark, so some critics contend that the characters aren’t very likeable. But there’s an underlying affection amongst the staffers.
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Jokes are very fast-paced and all the actors/characters have chemistry with each other, so there are often different pairings that work (NewsRadio: Bill/Dave, Bill/Matthew, Bill/Lisa, Bill/Beth, Jimmy/Beth, Jimmy/Dave, Dave/Lisa, Dave/Matthew, Beth/Catherine/Lisa, Catherine/Joe, Joe/Matthew. 30Rock: Liz/Jack, Liz/Tracy, Tracy/Jack, Tracy/Jenna, Jenna/Liz, Liz/Pete, Kenneth/Tracy, Kenneth/Jack, Jenna/Kenneth)
That’s rather a lot of similarities, no? Obviously, some of these elements are true for many sitcoms; for example, the “normal person surrounded by freaks” is Sitcom 101. And there are many unique aspects to each show. Joe doesn’t really have an analogue in 30Rock, nor do Grizz/DotCom. 30Rock is far more experimental and risky, which is to be expected post-Arrested Development and in a single-camera comedy premiering ten years after NewsRadio, which is more traditional multi-camera production filmed in front of a live audience. 30Rock relies more on sexual/gross-out humor, not to mention pop culture references, but again, that’s to be expected these days. But I think there’s a lot of wit, surprising references, fast-paced humor, and intelligence in both shows.
I understand not liking 30Rock, don’t get me wrong. It can be kinda vulgar and obvious and too in love with its own pop culture references. Sometimes I just want to smack Liz, who for the central figure of the show can be staggeringly unlikeable. I dig its style, though, and when it’s on its game, it’s hilarious.
(But I still prefer NewsRadio, which was sublime.)
Nicely done comparison choie. It seems the general formula that News Radio and 30 Rock use might have started with Mary Tyler Moore, but each show has it’s own “feel” and I’m still not sure I’m feeling 30 Rock. I just need to give it more of a chance. I think the stuntcasting turns me off.
I think some people that Tracy’s acting is overdone and hammy. I prefer to think of it as his character acting in real life, as he’s pointed out that he’s maintaining his image very consciously. If you can get over that, the Jordan character creates some real laughs.
I love Tracy’s character. When he really starts rolling, he says some of the funniest stuff on the show. There’s a scene where he’s hooked up to some sort of Scientology-style mind machine and he’s going, “I believe that the moon does not exist. I believe that vampires are the world’s greatest golfers but their curse is they never get a chance to prove it. I believe that there are 31 letters in the white alphabet.” That scene alone was enough to make me a fan.
Tina Fay chews someone out for using her white guilt for evil, when it is only supposed to be used for good things like voting for Obama. I was hooked after that line, because that was the last thing I expected her to say, and if I had been drinking milk at the time it would have come out my nose. Alec Baldwin is at the top of his game here, too. The rest of the cast are occasionally funny, but for the most part I don’t like them too much. Overall the show is outstanding.