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.

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment
Comedy Central
November 3, 1992
Politics
VHS
B-

Future Senator Al Franken and company, including Joy Behar, Roy Blount, Jr. and Buck Henry, cover Bill Clinton's election from a humorous and decidedly Democratic angle.  There are some slow moments, but it's worth watching again for things like footage of Calvin Trillin at the Republican Convention interviewing "the wrong George Bush," i.e. the giddy, somewhat goofy eldest son of the President.  Note that CC used this opportunity to promote not only Gaffney's Women Aloud but three of the classic sitcoms it was then airing:  Bilko, Car 54, and That Girl.  (I don't have enough space to tag Phil Silvers, but, yes, he was also on a great episode of Gilligan's Island.)