30 Rock: The Moms

30 Rock: The Moms
NBC
May 6, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Cannon & Carlock episode, some of the mothers of the performers and writers show up for a special Mother's Day episode of TGS.  It's the backstage drama, including in one scene between Frank and his mom (I'm omitting Patti LuPone and Judah Friedlander from the overcrowded tags),  that is the real focus here.  Note that Colleen Donaghy meets Avery and she pushes Jack to choose between his two girlfriends.

Frank Anello continues his streak as a member of the Production Staff.  John Anderson plays Astronaut Mike Dexter again, and Will Ferrell is back as Shane Hunter.

30 Rock: Ludachristmas

30 Rock: Ludachristmas
NBC
December 13, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In Tami Sagher's first of two 30 Rock stories, Liz's parents, Dick and Margaret Lemon (Buck Henry and Anita Gillette, and, yes, we haven't seen her in my TV collection since Match Game '73), and her brother Mitch (Andy Richter, who would not return) visit her for the holidays.  Jack finds himself charmed by their naivete, including Mitch being stuck in 1985, but his mother's cynicism causes the Lemons to turn against each other.  Meanwhile, Kenneth's Reverend Gary (John F. Mooney) tries to teach the TGS staff the true meaning of Christmas, which they of course misunderstand.

Frank Anello is a member of the Production Staff for the last time that year.  This time writer Kay Cannon appears as a Human Table.  I'm omitting Keith Powell and Judah Friedlander from the overcrowded tags.

Match Game 73: #1.3

Match Game 73: #1.3
CBS
July 4, 1973
Game Show
DVD
B-

Monday's winner, the black lady named Stanley, is still hanging in there on Wednesday of the first week.  The show is definitely still a work in progress, since Gene has to ask the judge(s) if words have to match exactly or if synonyms count.  But the contestants are getting the hang of things, and they're no longer scoring just a point or two each match.  Note that Gene calls Jack on all his insults of his wife Brett, little realizing that this would have long-ranging consequences for the show.  And with Richard's imitations of Paul Lynde, I'm starting to wonder if he should be credited with the Wait Till Your Father caterer's voice rather than Lynde.  (Dawson is listed for a different WTYF episode.)

Match Game 73: #1.1

I said "Brooklyn" and thus won 100 1973-dollars.

Match Game 73: #1.1
CBS
July 2, 1973
Game Show
DVD
B-

Revamped for the '70s but not yet quite Match Game as we know it, the show returns with Rayburn and Olson, but with six guest celebrities rather than just two.  And I have to admit that, although I played along, I wasn't any more drawn in than I was by the '62 episode.  It's partly that the questions and celebrity answers aren't either crude or refined enough, refined in the sense of being polished.  A contestant and I both said "wives" were traded, but the celebrities said things like "cars."  For "something you squeeze," the contestant said "a girl," while the panelists said "lemons" and "oranges," and I, trying to get in the mid-'70s mindset, said "Charmin."  It's not surprising that only Richard Dawson (who gets the Super-Match right with "London Bridge") would become a fixture on the panel.  It's not a bad (re)start by any means, but the show needed further retooling and development.

Marc Breslow directed this and future episodes.