Watching 30 Rock

So I was all hunkered down ready to watch one of the few spakin’ new episodes of 30 Rock left this season, but was apparently mislead. Us in this here part of Missouri were raped of our 30 Rock hopes and instead delivered a big steaming pile of shit burger in the form of Celebrating 60 Years in St. Louis. Yes our local NBC affiliate KSDK decided to autofellate itself like that guy in Short Bus; not during a Saturday afternoon mind you, but in freaking prime time. What the F KSDK?

Dear Tina Fey,

Please don’t hate us. I was totally ready and excited to recap one of the few remaining 30 Rocks, possibly of the season. But no, the stupid local NBC station (KSDK) picked to preempt a top 20 show in order to honor themselves for being on air for 60 years. Big woop. My dad is 60 and he didn’t preempt thanksgiving to celebrate his birthday. KSDK could learn a thing or two from my dad, not just because he helps me out when I run into legal trouble but he keeps his celebrations to their designated times.

Is there something you’re not sharing with us Tina Fey? Did you do something to piss off one of the heads of the network or this guy? (news anchor Mike Bush)
Even if you did do something we still love you Tina Fey and we hope you still love us. We’ll be anxiously awaiting 11:30 on Sunday night, which is the time KSDK thinks 30 Rock should air. Yes, we think they’re humorless fascists as well.

Anyway, we miss you on our TV tonight Tina Fey and wish you lots of fun Octopus time with your daughter this weekend.

Mike Bush, KSDK, St. Louis, 30 Rock

Hollywood Reporter recently published an article about product placement in 30 Rock. Anyone who watches the show on a regular basis has noticed the product placements and the clever way the show deals with them …. basically by making fun of both the product being placed and themselves for, uh, placing it. Here’s an example, from the recent episode “Somebody to Love:”

According to the article linked above, Nielson tracked almost 13 minutes worth of product placements this season on 30 Rock. I have to say that some of those placements must not be working so well, because I can’t say that I remember what they are. I remember Verizon from the clip above, because it was one of the most obvious (and funniest) and one from last season, involving all the writers complaining about being forced to do product integration, then all talking about how much they love Snapple. (I also remember the guy in the Snapple suit because, again, that was some funny stuff.)
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So after watching Sunday’s episode of Dexter I was craving more TV last night (go figure). I settled on the end of a train wreck holiday show from a couple years ago on Food network that featured Rachael Ray, Paula Dean, Bobby Flay and others making a meal together. Rachael Ray just doesn’t know when to shut the frack up! But anyway, I stuck around for Iron Chef America and lo and behold, Ms. Tina Fey was one of the guest judges.

Since food network reruns reruns of reruns you should still be able to catch this one. Tina isn’t around much until the judging at the end but the show is worth watching despite being Battle Sugar. Lame! (Japanese chairman Kaga is rolling over in his ruffled blazer).

Guest chef Paula Dean is paired up with Cat Cora and they’re up against Robert Irvine and Tyler Florence (I don’t know who they are but the Robert guy is one of those fat-muscle, muscle-fat guys who thinks he’s in really good shape and insists on wearing tight t-shirts). Anyway, Paula ends up biting that guy because he gets his finger too close to her mouth. When Paula see pork, Paula bite!
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Well here is some good news to break through all the bad news regarding the writer’s strike. Our very own Tina Fey has been named among Entertainment Weekly’s Top 25 performers of 2007. Below is a reprint of the article on the EW website:

Photo from EW online.

2007′S CLASS CLOWNS: TINA FEY

It takes a certain self-confidence to play a woman who accidentally dates her third cousin, erroneously assumes her neighbor is a terrorist, and gets called the C-word by a colleague. Especially when said character is based on you. ”I love going to those uncomfortable places,” says Fey, who stars as 30 Rock’s workaholic TV maven and is also the NBC show’s creator and exec producer. ”I’ll go down any weird avenue.” Maybe this year’s surprise Emmy win for best comedy will empower Fey to pursue some dreams for her alter ego. ”Liz Lemon could do an international adoption for a Russian baby and get the paperwork wrong with the European dates and somehow end up with a huge, muscular 13-year-old. Yeah, I could see that.” Hopefully we will too. —Jessica Shaw

Entertainment Weekly what took you so damn long? We’ve known how awesome Tina Fey is for years. And we hope that the extra exposure will help 30 Rock’s ratings and standing with the network. But we also have to say that we are a little bit sorry to have Tina getting such wide exposure … we sort of liked it when she was “our little secret.” But hey, we’d rather share the awesome and have her stay on TV than keep her all to ourselves and have her not on our TV screen anymore. We can’t be selfish!

Tina is in excellent company with the list as well. Others included in the “Class Clowns of 2007″ list are Will Ferrell and Andy McKay of Funny or Die, Judd Apatow and his “crew” (including Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan), The Simpsons, and Vanessa Williams. And writing that, I have to say, how awesome would it be if Tina Fey and Judd Apatow were to work together? Some combination of Mean Girls and Superbad would be awesome. She’s already worked with Will Ferrell on Saturday Night Live and we know how (usually) great that could be. And I would dig seeing Vanessa Williams show up as a guest star on 30 Rock (or Tina Fey show up as a guest star on Ugly Betty.) Come on, how about some Entertainment Weekly inspired crossovers here?

Tina Fey, 30 Rock, Entertainment Weekly

This picture of the cast of 30 Rock would like you to know that it is still digesting yesterday’s meal and will not be hitting the mall today for the holiday sales.

30 Rock, After Thanksgiving Sales, Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving from this picture of the cast of 30 Rock.

30 Rock, Thanksgiving

We wish. We would so see 30 Rock on Ice. Especially if there were bigheaded mascots of Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy skating around with Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano inside. That would so rock out nuts. We’d get to our seats early, thumbing excitedly through our big glossy program that featured highlights from the show. Who knew there’d be a number about how Frank comes up with the sayings on his hats? (Pennywise flyer ads). At intermission we’d order cotton candy and hold it because we wouldn’t want to miss a thing waiting in that bathroom line…But I digress.

There is no such thing as 30 Rock on Ice but a lucky 150 or so got to see a live version of 30 Rock on Monday at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York. I myself had an uncomfortable experience at UCB a few years back. I was in New York with my dad and grandma for a matinee of Wicked. We were in the mood for some more live entertainment and I suggested UCB. I’d attended some mighty fine improv shows in New York before and didn’t take into account the 27 and 50 year age difference of my travel partners. Opps.
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Dear Tina Fey,

How are you doing Tina Fey? Sorry we haven’t written in a while. Do you miss us, Tina Fey? Because we are writing to tell you how much we will miss you once the new episodes of 30 Rock have all been shown and there are no more to show because of the writers strike. We will miss you a lot, Tina Fey.

I know this must be a hard time for you, Tina Fey, with the strike and all. I’m sure you are torn between wanting what is best for your writers, yet also not wanting your show to be off the air too long. We know that November its sweeps month, so it’s important that good, funny, quality shows get aired and get good ratings. Yet I know how much you support your writers. We do to, Tina Fey! In fact, in a parallel universe, we like to believe that WE are a couple of your writers!
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The fan-freakin’-tabulous cast of 30 Rock is putting on a live version of the show tonight at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (307 W. 26th Street). A performance of “30 Rock — On Strike!” tonight at 8 p.m. being held in the 150-seat theater will include the show’s full cast performing a complete episode. So we’re guessing this includes show’s stars Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski and Alec Baldwin will all be there.

The show, for the most part is sold out, except for a handful of tickets to be made available at the door so get there early or check Craig’s List for jacked up tickets.

On Saturday night, Michael Cera hosted a live version of Saturday Night Live there as well (he agreed to host after Amy Poehler sent him a text message). The cast which was made up of current cast members as well as some recent departures, performed about 15 sketches including a hip-hop game show, Weekend Update segment and of a live performance of the “Iran so Far” digital short.

Proceeds from the SNL and 30 Rock performances will benefit the behind-the-scenes staffers who have lost work because of the shutdowns caused by the two-week strike by the Writers Guild of America.

“The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater is a second home to a lot of these performers and writers,” Poehler said in a statement. “We are doing this to raise spirits, raise awareness and raise money for our hard-working production crews who will be having a hard holiday season if this strike continues.”

If anyone is lucky enough to see this live please give us a full report so we can hate you forever.

Amy Poehler, Upright Citizens Brigade, 30 Rock, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Saturday Night Live

Cold opening. Pete is hanging out on Liz’s couch in his comfy clothes, watching TV when Liz comes in. “Are you making waffles?” she asks. Liz can smell maple syrup and it smells delicious. Mmm, waffles. Pete is not making waffles. Liz calls up Tracy to make sure he is practicing his Rerun dance for the show. Tracy says he can’t practice because the delicious smell of maple syrup is too distracting. Just then Jack calls Liz and we get a three-way split screen with Liz and Jack discussing the maple syrup smell and Tracy doing the Rerun dance from What’s Happening. Jack thinks it could be a chemical attack of Northrax, a chemical agent sold to the Saudis in the 80s that smells exactly like maple syrup. Jack thinks it probably isn’t Northrax though, as they would be dead in ten seconds. They both are quiet, counting down the ten seconds, while Tracy continues to dance. After ten seconds, they hang up, relieved, and Jack goes back to reading his very Republican book while I get up and try to do the Rerun dance.

Credits. I love Alec Baldwin’s dramatic head turn.

When we return, Jack is getting a haircut. He asks the barber to make him look like Ronald Reagan. “Like that is a stretch,” the barber and I say at the same time. Liz comes in and thanks him for calling her last night about the maple syrup thing. She gets nervous about the whole homeland security thing, but Jack tells her she can always call him because he has NSA connections. Again, not surprising. She asks him why he gets his haircut so often. “Because your hair is your head suit.” That and because he is going to a party hosted by John McCain and Jack Bauer. I hope it is not a Christmas party. Jack is worried that he has to look perfect because no one is more bitchy about hair than conservative males. We briefly cut to a scene at a party were a bunch of Republicans are making fun of Jack’s hair. Before Liz leaves, Jack asks her to wear a T-shirt supporting the Sheinhardt Wig Company, an NBC parent company having PR problems. (The back of the shirt says “NOT poisoning rivers since 1997.) Liz is happy with the free shirt and leaves.
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Sopranos star and three-time Emmy winner Edie Falco is scheduled to appear in a three-episode run on 30 Rock starting tomorrow. Of course how many of those appearances will actually happen is yet to be seen. Thanks writer’s strike!

According to the NBC website, Falco plays a Democratic congresswoman from Vermont who Jack falls for.

Says Falco, “I have laughed out loud at this show, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with such great comic actors.” Series creator/star Tina Fey in turn says, “We’re thrilled to have such an amazing actress come join us. Also, a lot of guys on our crew want The Sopranos’ ending explained to them.” (Good luck as David Chase has said there’s nothing to explain).

Apparently, Fey is a big Sopranos fan so we wonder if she had other possible guest stars in her mind before settling on Falco. “Like who” you ask, well…

Tony Sirico, aka Paulie ‘Walnuts’ Gualtieri appears as Cerie’s mentally unstable, but fun loving uncle who comes in town for her wedding but stays a bit longer than planned. Jack gets nervous when Liz leads him to believe Sirico is Giest’s (Jack’s boss) brother gunning for his job.

Robert Iler aka A.J. Soprano guest stars as Frank’s muse for his catch phrase trucker hats. (no further development probably would have taken place past that).

Lorraine Bracco aka Dr. Jennifer Melfi acts as couples therapist for feuding Tracy and Toofer after their arguing reaches a boiling point. Again, no further development because of the writer’s strike…Yeah, I know my brain isn’t a union member but a girl can dream…

Robert Iler, The Sopranos, 30 Rock, Tony Sirico, Lorraine Bracco, Writer’s strike

The Ausiello Report on TVGuide.com has an updated list of television shows with a tentative schedule of when they will go “dark” for the season. We all are coming to accept that we will likely have a shorter television season, but just how short will it be? Since different shows all have different filming schedules, then that will depend on the show. Since here at Watching 30 Rock our favorite show is, well, 30 Rock (what? you thought I would say Grey’s Anatomy?) then that is what we are most interested in.

According to the TV Guide article linked above, ten episodes of 30 Rock were produced, and if you’ve been reading our recaps you know that five have aired so far, so that leaves five more new episodes. And for a new show (only in it’s second season) which has done moderately well in the ratings and has something of a cult following (think Arrested Development) then this really can present a problem. Popular shows like Heroes or Lost probably will fare just fine, as they have strong followings. But a smaller, quirkier show like 30 Rock needs time to build, time to develop an audience, time to convince viewers that smart, funny, clever comedies are good comedies. I mean, I don’t watch Two and a Half Men so I can’t really say, but when I imagine it, I just imagine a fairly steady stream of boob jokes. (An aside: Duckie Dale, I will never forgive you.)

Other shows that have five or fewer episodes remaining: Back to You, Bionic Woman, Chuck, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, The Office, Prison Break, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies , Reaper, Shark and maybe both Supernatural and Ugly Betty.

30 Rock, Writer’s Strike 2007, Pretty in Pink, Two and a Half Men, Back to You, Bionic Woman, Chuck, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, The Office, Prison Break, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Reaper, Shark, Supernatural, Ugly Betty

So we may be a little late to the party on this one, but Judah Friedlander writes a blog as his character Frank on the NBC website called Frank Talk. His current entry is just a pouty looking Frank actually wearing a BLANK HAT in lieu of the current writer’s strike (no we can’t have a 30 Rock entry without mentioning it). A lot of his entries seem to focus on making jabs at Jenna - From November 1st

So the way I’ve cut back my usage of paper is, I’ve stopped writing sketches for Jenna. Think about how many trees can be saved by not wasting paper on Jenna. Now I just have to figure out a way to save our ear drums for when she sings. One step at a time.

Other entries include stuff about his underware, ways he can get closer to Cerie and how to make drapes. Good stuff!

Judah Friedlander, Frank, Blog

Still confused about the Writer’s Strike? Here’s a video from the Writer’s Guild of America that explains the situation:

30 Rock, Writer’s strike, Writer’s Guild of America

Cold Opening. Liz approaches Jenna in the hallway and says she found her “Sunset Blush” lipstick at her apartment. Jenna says that isn’t hers as she wears “Tiger Orgasm.” Just like mom used to wear. Flashback to Liz finding the lipstick under her couch and Great Sid Caesar’s ghost! What is that? Oh it’s a pop tart under the couch as well. Score snack for Liz!

Liz thinks that’s odd since it’s just her and Pete at her place. I guess Pete is still crashing there since separating from his yet to be seen wife. Enter Pete looking perky and rocking “a sexy Justin Timberlake hat.” He actually looks more like my uncle Gary during his Indiana Jones phase but this makes Jenna think he’s having an affair. She goes on to say that “the only reason men start taking care of themselves is if they’re getting someone to have sex with them. If not for that they’d just sit around in their own filth.” Cue Frank looking so gnarly I can smell him from here saying something about how they’re out of string cheese so he’s going to take off.

Liz encounters Jack next holding a pair of big yellow hands. He tells Liz that they’re going green and introduces her to Mouth Breathing Ross…actually it’s Greenzo played by another must see TV dweeb David Schwimmer. “Saving the earth while maintaining profitability!” And go figure it was the first name that popped into Jack’s head. If Jennifer Aniston shows up as Greenzo’s perky mother earth girlfriend we’re tossing our Caesar salad. Credits.

And we’re back. Ew, I just sneezed on my computer. I hope you don’t catch my cold by reading this. Anyway Greenzo, real name Jarrett, is super psyched about this gig and says gig a lot since he hasn’t worked since appearing in a political ad for Rick Lazio’s New York senate campaign. Cue ad where Ross is holding a child saying, “Hilary Clinton wants an all homosexual army. How will that affect my family.” Heh. Jack tells Lemon. As NBC’s environmental mascot Greenzo will be releasing an endangered falcon at halftime of the Knicks game and (as if that weren’t enough) he’s been booked onto The Today Show.
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