30 Rock: Gavin Volure

30 Rock: Gavin Volure
NBC
November 20, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This is a very funny episode, where Jack introduces Liz to his friend the title character, played by Steve Martin.  Gavin is quite taken with Liz, and she thinks he's perfect for her because he's agoraphobic and germaphobic, so he just wants to stay in and watch TV and not have sex.  He's also extremely wealthy, which doesn't hurt.  However, it all turns out to be a sham, as he's under house arrest and trying to escape.  Meanwhile, Tracy thinks his two sons want to kill him, and this is one of the best Tracy plots, even affecting the main plot with a life-size, realistic Japanese Tracy Jordan sex doll.

Adam Smith, Jr. would shortly return in the uncredited role of Prop Master.  Bobb'e J. Thompson makes his first of three appearances as Tracy, Jr.  And John McEnroe doesn't get a lot to do in his second appearance on the show, but he did make me laugh with his one line.

30 Rock: The Head and the Hair

30 Rock: The Head and the Hair
NBC
January 18, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this story co-written by Tina Fey and John Riggi (his second dealing with Liz's unlucky love life), Liz and Jenna meet the title characters (see the picture).  Jenna urges Liz to ask out the nerdy balding guy, but Gray, the handsome guy with nice hair, asks out Liz.  She has to get over her insecurities, and then it turns out that she and Gray are third cousins.  Meanwhile, Jack and Kevin trade jobs and the latter explains why he loves being a page; and, in the least interesting thread, Toofer and Frank try to help Tracy write his autobiography.

Teddy Coluda returns as the Stage Manager.  Craig Castaldo has his first of three 30 Rock roles, as Moonvest.  Executive Ali Reza previously was the Sandwich Guy.  Michal Antonov makes her first of two appearances that year as Young Liz.  I'm unclear how Marcus Collins, who previously played a Bartender, is "The Hair" when that is supposed to be Gray, but that's what IMDB says.  And John McEnroe makes his first of four appearances as himself.