Watching 30 Rock

So if you haven’t watched 30 Rock you may remember Jane Krakowski as sexpot Elaine Vassal on Alley McBeal. However Ms. Krakowski is much more of a rounded actress than a Calista Flockhart sidekick (anyone remember her role in National Lampoon’s Vacation?) Check out Krakowsk’s take on the new season of 30 Rock.

When asked about the upcoming season, Krakowski said, “Hopefully winning the Emmy will bring a bit more of people’s awareness to it and that we’ll get to keep making them because it’s so fun to make. The first 5 episodes are so hilarious. We shot 5 of them already. The writers have come up with such funny stuff, I think the first 5 are as good as the best ones of last season and even better. I hope we just get to make more.”

And Jack McBrayer AKA Kenneth, may seem like a showbiz newcomer but the Macon, Georgia native has actually a product of the renown Second City Improv Theater (where Tina Fey came from).
When discussing the new season, McBrayer reveals that a lot of struggle and hard work are also attached to creating the show, along with traditional slapstick.

“It is so difficult just to keep it together because the scripts are so funny. As long as you keep the main goal in line of, okay, lets put this story together so hopefully the rest of American can laugh as much as we are. Everybody here is such professionals and our crew is fantastic, so we run a tight ship here and get the job done,” he said describing the set on a day to day basis.

Quote source: Source: Movieweb.com

Don’t forget that 30 Rock premieres Thursday, October 4 at 8:30/7:30c on NBC.

Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock

Even casual viewers of Saturday Night Live know just how funny Alec Baldwin can be. (In fact, he is one of only two actors with a standing invitation to host SNL each season — the other being Christopher Walken.) His delivery of his lines and his sense of comic timing are part of what make the show so great. That and his terrific chemistry with most of the other actors on the show …. especially Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan.

NBC ever so kindly put together a video of some of Baldwin’s “greatest moments.” Personally, I don’t think this even comes close to some of the best, but it’s a good place to start if you are still trying to get a feel for the character and for Baldwin’s method of playing him. (Well, I can’t tell what his method really is, beyond: Be Funny.)

Those of us who follow 30 Rock news even during the show’s hiatus had a bit of a scare last spring when Baldwin apparently asked to be released from his contract with the show during a brief scandal when an angry voice mail he left for his daughter was released to the gossip site TMZ. He apparently asked to be released so his problem would not affect the show and so that he could “devote [him]self to the cause of parental alienation.” And while I certainly couldn’t begrudge him quitting if he wanted to spend more time with his daughter, I certainly can’t imagine the show without him as Jack Donaghy.

In a future entry, more about the character of Jack Donaghy, who always wears a tuxedo after 6pm, dated Condoleezza Rice, and named his fists after St. Patrick and St. Michael!

Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, Christopher Walken

Judging from this clip of season 2 we’ll have to deal with Jerry Seinfeld’s return to the sitcom world. However we’re sure Ms. Fey will do a good job of keeping his ego in check.

Also check out this article about Tina Fey from this weekend’s New York Times.

Tina Fey, 30 Rock, New York Times

Just in case you missed the Emmys last weekend (I’m talking to you most of America). Here’s what the win looked like (including uncomfortable Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton banter).

Those shoes are definitely bi-curious. - Jack Donaghy

30 Rock, Tina Fey, Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton

And of course, we love 30 Rock as well.

We are looking forward to writing this blog and offering news about one of the funniest shows on TV, created by and starring one of the funniest women on TV. She even makes credit card commercials funny!

Watch for recaps of both season one and season two shows, information about the cast, rumors, spoilers, guest stars, and quotable lines you can repeat over and over and drive your loved ones crazy (i.e., “Octopus Time!”)

So tune in Thursday nights at 7:30 CST on NBC and watch 30 Rock and then tune in here for all the information you need about the show (and probably a lot you don’t need as well.)

It’s after six, Lemon. What am I, a farmer?” - Jack Donaghy

Tina Fey, 30 Rock, Tina Fey American Express Commercial