Watching 30 Rock

Amy and I have tickets to see a show at Second City in Chicago this weekend, so with that in mind I am running with a slight Second City theme this week at Watching 30 Rock. We all know that our Tina Fey got her start at Second City, as did costar Scott Adsit and season one guest star Rachel Dratch. The Chicago Tribune recently ran an article “Before they were stars” with info about comedians who got their start in Chicago. The best part of the article … the photo gallery including pictures of the “stars before they were stars. Yeehaw!

Here’s one of Tina and Scott. I have an idea that the concept from this sketch won’t make it onto 30 Rock:

Here’s another one of our girl Tina. Very very early to mid 90s there, Miss Fey. The only thing separating this from what I wore every single day in college is holes in the knees of the jeans. She looks like she’s on her way to a Collective Soul concert.

Funny pictures aside, I am looking forward to the Second City show and the chance to see comic actors that might be on Saturday Night Live or some other hip, edgy sitcom in the years to come. And yeah, I admit that I had a little daydream that Fey or Amy Poehler or Rachel Dratch might make a surprise appearance. Unlikely, especially now that the writer’s strike is over(!!!) but hey, who knows, maybe they’ll be out celebrating. Just please don’t bring Horatio Sanz.

Second City, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Scott Adsit

Anticipational Disorder - Kenneth introduces himself to the camera and announces that he has a rare disorder called Holiday Anticipational Disorder. He puts a Santa hat on Lutz and muses that some people only wear their Halloween costumes once a year. Josh appears with an old pumpkin that Kenneth has put in his dressing room. “Happy Halloween,” he announces as Josh throws out the pumpkin. Frank comes up to Kenneth with an Easter basket and tells him the holiday junk is driving people nuts. Kenneth instructs him to take it up with the Easter Bunny. Kenneth has a crazy happy look on his face through this whole sketch but I think he usually looks like that. He announces that March 28th is holiday anticipational disorder awareness day and Happy President’s Day.

Kenneth’s Gifts - Kenneth gives Cerie a gift certificate for unlimited hugs. Josh is pissed he didn’t think of that. For Jenna he has a Native American complaint catcher so next time she has a problem she can say it into the catcher instead of telling it to him. That’s about it for that one. Not too exciting. I think the few they give to non-card members are a bit shorter and this must be one of those. Don’t you wish you were me?

Winter Fun - Pete catches Kenneth wearing a Santa hat and playing with a train set as jingle bell sort of sounds are heard in the background. He warns Kenneth about the no Christmas decoration rule. Kenneth insists they’re not Christmas decorations but winter fun decorations since the snowman behind him is an atheist and there’s a golf ball (where baby Jesus should be) in the manger. Pete says all the stuff can stay but only for generic winter fun. After Pete leaves Kenneth turns on a sign behind him that says Christmas is #1.

30 Rock, American Express, Winter Fun Time, Holiday Fun Times, holiday anticipational disorder

So while researching Scott Adsit, the actor who plays Pete Hornberger on 30 Rock, I discovered I’m a couple weeks older than him. Really? But he’s mostly bald and just seems older than me. Meh, I frequently forget my age that is until the music gets too loud and I seriously consider elastic waist jeans. But enough about me, on with Scott.

So Scott is another chap who’s roots are with Second City in Chicago. Hailing from Circle Pines, Minnesota, Scott joined the Second City main stage in 1994 and continued to work on productions there for most of the 90’s. This is also where he first worked with Tina Fey, a mighty fine connection to have.

But Scott isn’t entirelly a comedic actor. In 1996, he portrayed an alcoholic and drug-addicted father in the Hazleton Substance Abuse Clinic (Minnesota) short-subject production “Reflections From The Heart Of A Child”. According to Wikipedia, this 26-minute feature is required curriculum in most DWI Repeat Offender classes and substance abuse rehabilitation clinics nationwide to this day.

Scott gave a long-awaited quote to the media on this project to the lucky folks at gothmaist.com. Said Scott, “it was my first big roll in anything (also my last). If you ever find yourself watching this instructive, yet highly emotional film, then you have truly and irreparably screwed up your life. Your own misjudgment lead you to this fate and it’s the punishment you deserve. I feel sorry for you. It could very well be the movie itself that you need help recovering from.
Oh, no, sorry. I’m thinking of Mr. Woodcock, there (in which, according to IMDB he played a role credidted as “Cheesy Sales man). Reflections is a great teaching aid.

From the late nineties until he joined the cast of 30 Rock in 2006, Scott bounced around LA appearing in small roles in Friends, Mr. Show, as well as the cult favorite Moral Orel on Cartoon Network.

On 30 Rock, Pete is a producer for TGS with Tracy Jordan and works closely with head writer Liz Lemon (Fey). Liz tends to confide in Pete as he seems to be he only competent person who works there. After being featured in many episodes last season, Pete finally made an appearance this season last week in episode three called The Collection.

Apart from 30 Rock, Scott starred in a pilot for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim entitled Let’s Fish.

Scott Adsit, 30 Rock, Second City Chicago, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Let’s Fish, Moral Orel