TV's best show rocks on
Chicago Sun-Times, Oct 4, 2007 by Doug Elfman
'30 ROCK' Rating 4 out of 4
- - -
Thank God, thank God, thank God. "30 Rock" is still the best show on TV. The producers had talked about making it "less dense" in its second season. Did they? I can't tell. It's still seamlessly funny.
Surprise, surprise. Alec Baldwin gets the first great piece of dialogue in the first new episode, when NBC executive Jack Donaghy counts his ridiculous blessings:
"All of my summer replacement shows were big hits: 'America's Next Top Pirate.' 'Are You Stronger Than a Dog?' 'MILF Island.' ..."
As usual, "30 Rock" looks like it could be the next "Seinfeld." Only, the ratings have never been great, since it competes against behemoth hits on other networks.
So NBC is trying to make a splash with "event" casting when the second season debuts tonight. Jerry Seinfeld appears as himself. I don't want to spoil your pleasure of seeing the story unfold, but I'll say Jack decides to digitally insert the star's image from "Seinfeld" into all of NBC's current programming.
As "30 Rock" creator and star Tina Fey said this summer, "We could not be more excited to have Jerry Seinfeld on the show because hopefully then, regular America might actually find out that we have a show and watch it maybe at least that one time."
Hopefully. Stunt casting is stupid by definition. But I wouldn't be opposed to Britney Spears making a fool-of-herself appearance if it got more eyeballs pointing "30 Rock's" way.
If you've not seen much of the comedy, you don't need to know much to jump right in. The cast, writing and directing are so perfect, you should be able to get the who's who and what's what.
Tonight, TV comedy writer Liz Lemon (Fey) eats the pain away after her breakup. Jenna (Jane Krakowski) puts on loads of weight but remains a narcissistic actress. Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) gets dumped by his wife.
And it only seems like Jack gets all the best compliment-insults to deliver, because Baldwin is the funniest person on TV since I don't know who or when.
"Lemon," he tells Lemon (and Baldwin is a Zen Buddha of comedy here), "don't ever say you're 'just' you. Because you are better than you. ... Now give me the ham."
Seinfeld's performance is slightly uneven once or twice, but when he's on, he and Baldwin -- and he and Fey -- are excellent.
There is a funnier comedy on TV (Fox's "Family Guy"), a bigger risk-taker (FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") and a more socially relevant half hour (Showtime's "Californication").
But there's something about "30 Rock" that speaks to me. I think it's the perfect live-action TV comedy, at least the first since "Seinfeld" to take no prisoners in constructing a funny story, a dumb gag or an unpredictable punch- line.
The approach is one other comedies should adopt. Plots can be outrageous, but they're played straight. The actors and rhythms create a pretend land where everyone is eccentric and funny without going annoyingly over the top. None of them is winking at the camera.
Well, Seinfeld addresses the camera once, but it works, because everything works on "30 Rock." It is not anywhere near a sophomore slump. Nay, it is the most masterful thing on TV, reveling in the splendiferous bosom of its nascent glory. Or something. I'm not sure how else to end this without sounding like a total tool in love with a TV show.
ON AIR:
FLIPPING THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS
SEASON PREMIERES
TONIGHT
"Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (7 p.m., WFLD-Channel 32): The game show starts a second season by replacing last year's fifth- grade models with new, shinier smartypants kids. One is Olivia, a 10- year-old Chicagoan who loves Greek mythology and Eleanor Roosevelt. Another installment airs at 7 p.m. Friday.
"Supernatural" (8 p.m., WGN-Channel 9): A third season starts for the brother-brother detective mystery, beginning with a demon- slaying fest.
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (9 p.m., USA): "CI" moves from NBC to USA as part of a deal that kept the original "Law & Order" and "SVU" on NBC. Back are Vincent D'Onofrio, Eric Bogosian, Kathryn Erbe and Chris Noth. Julianne Nicholson is on leave having a baby, so Noth is partnered for now with Alicia Witt. Before this new episode airs, USA runs a marathon of oldies from 5 a.m.-7 p.m. The new episode reruns at midnight.
FRIDAY
"Friday Night Lights" (8 p.m. Friday, WMAQ-Channel 5): The acclaimed high school football drama starts its second season. Finally, "Friday" airs on Fridays. Tonight, Coach starts new work in college ball. Landry has last season's rape violence on his mind. And everyone else engages in their usual Texas twang while talkin' 'bout Jesus and baby motherin' and datin'.
'30 ROCK' Rating 4 out of 4
- - -
Thank God, thank God, thank God. "30 Rock" is still the best show on TV. The producers had talked about making it "less dense" in its second season. Did they? I can't tell. It's still seamlessly funny.
Surprise, surprise. Alec Baldwin gets the first great piece of dialogue in the first new episode, when NBC executive Jack Donaghy counts his ridiculous blessings:
"All of my summer replacement shows were big hits: 'America's Next Top Pirate.' 'Are You Stronger Than a Dog?' 'MILF Island.' ..."
As usual, "30 Rock" looks like it could be the next "Seinfeld." Only, the ratings have never been great, since it competes against behemoth hits on other networks.
So NBC is trying to make a splash with "event" casting when the second season debuts tonight. Jerry Seinfeld appears as himself. I don't want to spoil your pleasure of seeing the story unfold, but I'll say Jack decides to digitally insert the star's image from "Seinfeld" into all of NBC's current programming.
As "30 Rock" creator and star Tina Fey said this summer, "We could not be more excited to have Jerry Seinfeld on the show because hopefully then, regular America might actually find out that we have a show and watch it maybe at least that one time."
Hopefully. Stunt casting is stupid by definition. But I wouldn't be opposed to Britney Spears making a fool-of-herself appearance if it got more eyeballs pointing "30 Rock's" way.
If you've not seen much of the comedy, you don't need to know much to jump right in. The cast, writing and directing are so perfect, you should be able to get the who's who and what's what.
Tonight, TV comedy writer Liz Lemon (Fey) eats the pain away after her breakup. Jenna (Jane Krakowski) puts on loads of weight but remains a narcissistic actress. Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) gets dumped by his wife.
And it only seems like Jack gets all the best compliment-insults to deliver, because Baldwin is the funniest person on TV since I don't know who or when.
"Lemon," he tells Lemon (and Baldwin is a Zen Buddha of comedy here), "don't ever say you're 'just' you. Because you are better than you. ... Now give me the ham."
Seinfeld's performance is slightly uneven once or twice, but when he's on, he and Baldwin -- and he and Fey -- are excellent.
There is a funnier comedy on TV (Fox's "Family Guy"), a bigger risk-taker (FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") and a more socially relevant half hour (Showtime's "Californication").
But there's something about "30 Rock" that speaks to me. I think it's the perfect live-action TV comedy, at least the first since "Seinfeld" to take no prisoners in constructing a funny story, a dumb gag or an unpredictable punch- line.
The approach is one other comedies should adopt. Plots can be outrageous, but they're played straight. The actors and rhythms create a pretend land where everyone is eccentric and funny without going annoyingly over the top. None of them is winking at the camera.
Well, Seinfeld addresses the camera once, but it works, because everything works on "30 Rock." It is not anywhere near a sophomore slump. Nay, it is the most masterful thing on TV, reveling in the splendiferous bosom of its nascent glory. Or something. I'm not sure how else to end this without sounding like a total tool in love with a TV show.
ON AIR:
FLIPPING THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS
SEASON PREMIERES
TONIGHT
"Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (7 p.m., WFLD-Channel 32): The game show starts a second season by replacing last year's fifth- grade models with new, shinier smartypants kids. One is Olivia, a 10- year-old Chicagoan who loves Greek mythology and Eleanor Roosevelt. Another installment airs at 7 p.m. Friday.
"Supernatural" (8 p.m., WGN-Channel 9): A third season starts for the brother-brother detective mystery, beginning with a demon- slaying fest.
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (9 p.m., USA): "CI" moves from NBC to USA as part of a deal that kept the original "Law & Order" and "SVU" on NBC. Back are Vincent D'Onofrio, Eric Bogosian, Kathryn Erbe and Chris Noth. Julianne Nicholson is on leave having a baby, so Noth is partnered for now with Alicia Witt. Before this new episode airs, USA runs a marathon of oldies from 5 a.m.-7 p.m. The new episode reruns at midnight.
FRIDAY
"Friday Night Lights" (8 p.m. Friday, WMAQ-Channel 5): The acclaimed high school football drama starts its second season. Finally, "Friday" airs on Fridays. Tonight, Coach starts new work in college ball. Landry has last season's rape violence on his mind. And everyone else engages in their usual Texas twang while talkin' 'bout Jesus and baby motherin' and datin'.
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