30 Rock: Season 2

"Me want food!"

Season 2 of "30 Rock" was perhaps even stronger than Season 1. For me, the biggest improvement was a move away from having Liz (Tina Fey) fixed up with a man each week; instead, she has a few brief flings, notably with two exes from Season 1 - lawyer Floyd (Jason Sudeikis) and low-brow Dennis (Dean Winter). The show aso did a nice job of giving less screen time to some of the less funny characters, particular Pete the producer (Scott Adsit) and Judah (Judah Friedlander).

A number of funny plot arcs were developed over the season. Jenna (Jane Krakowski) gains weight because of her role in the musical version of "Mystic Pizza," which apparently involved eating a lot of said pizza. At first, she's desperate to lose the weight, contacting Dr. Spaceman and discussing drastic measures; however, she ends up embracing the weight when it makes her popular on the show and gives her a new catchphrase - "Me want food!" Jack (Alec Baldwin) spends much of the season sucking up to Don Geiss (Rip Torn), the CEO of GE who is in the process of naming a successor. This plot also introduces a new rival for Jack - Devon Banks (Will Arnett) - who's willing to do anything to get ahead, including marrying Don Geiss' intellectually challenged daughter.

These are just some of the subplots that keep "30 Rock" clicking during season 2. The season is also chock full of guest stars, some of whom do some of their best work in years, particularly Carrie Fisher as a desperate comedy writer. The show really found its pacing and tone during this season. On a negative note, some of the characters became increasingly silly, especially Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), and some of the episodes are almost surrealistic, but "30 Rock" never was a show grounded in reality anyway. Overall, the season was a great success and the show was awarded Emmy's for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor (Alec Baldwin) and Lead Actress (Tina Fey) in a Comedy Series. Tina Fey also won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
November 26, 2008

Squeezed from the Finest Mind Grapes...

I can only wonder how this show manages to stay on network TV with it's amazing writing and high quality acting. If that's not enough of an endorsement, then let me elaborate:

"30 Rock" is the kind of show you expect to see on HBO. It's well written, subversive, and chock full of the kind of talent that must be making the NBC accountants cry.

It's difficult to compare or classify comedy, but it's more "The Upright Citizen's Brigade" or "Arrested Development" then "Friends" or "How I Met your Mother." The excellent writing (some of it by Tina Fey who also plays Liz Lemon, the starring role) is both intelligent and absurd. It makes for a really interesting mix when the writers can combine a parody of "Amadeus" with the quest to create a video game based on pornography. This is only one example of the madness that lies in store when you watch "30 Rock."

Literally every actor in this amazing cast does a spectacular job. Alec Baldwin is the obvious big gun but that doesn't mean that he dominates the screen when Tracy Morgan or Tina Fey are on set. The characters the cast creates are equal parts SNL and Alice in Wonderland. Tracy Morgan's alter ego Tracy Jordan is mentally ill, (read: insane) Tina Fey's Liz Lemon is so comically flawed that you can't help but root for her, and Baldwin's Jack Donaghy is an iconic villian/mentor.

The "supporting" cast can barely be called that. These guys could easily hold up their own sitcom. Standouts are the incredibly naive Kenneth (played by Jack McBrayer) and the hilariously ditzy Jenna. (Jane Krakowski)

Do yourself a favor and pick up this DVD along with the first season. It's arguably the better season (it's definitely not in it's sophomore slump, at least) but it's most definitely even more absurd and insane then the first. November 25, 2008

Best Show Ever!

This is by far the most awesomest show on the planet. I have both seasons 1 and 2 and I watch them over and over again. I never tire of them. November 25, 2008

30 Rock = 30 Funny Minutes

30 Rock is fast, offbeat and consistently funny. Alec Baldwin's portrayal of Tracy Morgan's entire dysfunctional family (and neighbors!) is worth the price of the set, but every episode is terrrific. Don't miss the season's finale, one of the great TV episodes of all time. Baldwin finds himself trapped in a Washington agency so lame that he and boss Matthew Broderick can't even get themselves pens to write resignation letters. November 24, 2008

30 Rock ROCKS!!

This is officially my new favourite comedy. It is so hilarious that even when you're laughing, you're missing punchlines - which is precisely why you need the DVD. You definitely need to watch this series more than once to fully appreciate all the laughs. And trust me, you would have missed some during your first time (if you tend to laugh out loud like I do).
The extras aren't much to write home about, but there is a live re-enactment of one of the episodes that the cast puts on at a theatre (to help the staff affected by the writers' strike) and seeing them live is pretty funny. Apart from that, there's a live reading and Tina's prep for SNL (where she hosted). So not the greatest extras (like series one) but it is different.
Highly recommend! You won't regret! November 22, 2008

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