30 Rock: Rosemary's Baby

30 Rock: Rosemary's Baby
NBC
October 25, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Jack Burditt story asks you to get past the fact that Carrie Fisher at 51 was too young to play a comedy writer from the '60s.  Her character is Liz's mentor, but I was actually more interested in the hidden world of NBC pages, and the funniest scene is the roleplaying therapy where Jack imitates Fred Sanford and J.J. Evans in order to help Tracy resolve some of his childhood issues.

Elijah Isaiah Cook is again Young Tracy.  Marcella Roy takes over the role of Young Liz, which she'd still be playing in 2012.  Paul Scheer plays Donny Lawson, the Head of Paging, for the first of two times.  Frank Anello, his fans will be pleased to learn, plays part of the Production Staff.

The Big Bang Theory: The Hamburger Postulate

The Big Bang Theory: The Hamburger Postulate
CBS
October 22, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B

Jennifer Glickman wrote this story and would do five more, while the teleplay is by Goetsch & Molaro.  Leslie Winkle seduces Leonard and, although it's just a one-night stand for her, we can see that Galecki & Gilbert still had chemistry.  Penny is happy for him getting together with Leslie, and sympathetic when she hears it didn't work out.  Leonard overanalyzes all this.  And poor Sheldon has to deal with all these interpersonal relationships.  Note that although Leslie is a very different character from Darlene Conner, we see a bit of snark in her put-downs of Sheldon.

Andrew D. Weyman directed 45 episodes of Roseanne and five of Ellen, but this is only one for TBBT.

30 Rock: The Collection

30 Rock: The Collection
NBC
October 18, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Matt Hubbard wrote this story where Jack hires a private investigator, Lenny Wosniak (Steve Buscemi, who'd play the role five times more), to find skeletons in his own closet, which leads to Jack reluctantly giving his cookie jar collection to Kenneth.  Meanwhile Kenneth tries to help Jenna regain the weight she's losing, which leads to her licking his face enough that he thinks that they'll now have to get married.  And Angie (Sherri Shepherd) tries to control too much of not only Tracy but of TGS, so Liz has to deal with her.

Frank Anello is a member of the, uh huh, Production Staff.  A lot of the regulars are absent, even Frank Rossitano.

The Big Bang Theory: The Luminous Fish Effect

The Big Bang Theory: The Luminous Fish Effect
CBS
October 15, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Lorre and Prady wrote the story turned into a teleplay by David Litt (who'd do only one more) and Lee Aronsohn (who'd done three for Who's the Boss? and would do forty-three more for TBBT).  The plot has Sheldon insulting his boss, Dr. Eric Gablehauser (Mark Harelik in his first of five appearances in the role), and then getting fired and being at loose ends.  It's a bit slow but perked up by the introduction of Sheldon's Bible-Belt mother, Mary Cooper (Laurie Metcalf, another of Galecki's Roseanne costars).

30 Rock: Jack Gets in the Game

30 Rock: Jack Gets in the Game

NBC

October 11, 2007

Sitcom

DVD
B+

This Robert Carlock story has some great threads and, yes, even the Tracy subplot works.  In order of my preference:

• Devon Banks (the still wonderful Arnett) returns, claims to have had the gay prayed away, announces his engagement to Don Geiss's plain and silent daughter Kathy (Marceline Hugot, who was a Nurse on Ellen), and tries to flirt with Kenneth, who reveals Jack's secret heart attack, so then Banks tries to "make Jack's heart explode," but Jack is a worthy opponent and wins this round;
• Kenneth decides that the way to reunite the estranged Jordans is by flirting with Angie, who plays along with this, but then Tracy wants Kenneth to have sex with Angie to make up for all the times Tracy cheated*;
• Liz, after Jack's nagging, decides to get her life together, partly symbolized by her ordering a piece of Ikea furniture called "Blerg," with an umlaut;
• and Liz wants Jenna to embrace her weight gain and change America's attitude about body image, but instead Jenna finds popularity with the catchphrase Jack came up with for her: "Me want food!"

There are a lot of funny, quotable lines, but also some good acting, as with Torn's performance as Don Geiss.  Donald Glover's second of four 30 Rock roles is the voice of a nameless Producer.  Frank Anello of course plays a member of the Production Staff.  Much of the regular cast is absent.

*This is another thread that would become ironic when we find out the truth about Tracy's "adultery."

The Big Bang Theory: The Fuzzy Boots Corollary

The Big Bang Theory: The Fuzzy Boots Corollary
CBS
October 8, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B

Chuck Lorre wrote the story that became a teleplay by Bill Prady and Steven Molaro (his first of 202 TBBT scripts!), and it's laugh out loud funny.  Leonard sees Penny kissing another guy, which leads to him kissing, after much negotiation, his colleague Leslie Winkle (Sara Gilbert reuniting with Galecki, in her first of nine appearances in this role), and later going on an awkward non-date with Penny.  Sheldon again has the best lines, although not the only good lines this time.

30 Rock: SeinfeldVision

30 Rock: SeinfeldVision
NBC
October 4, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Fey wrote this second-season opener, where Jack wants to digitally insert Jerry Seinfeld into every NBC show during the month of October.  Meanwhile, Liz has officially broken up with Floyd, Tracy is temporarily separated from his wife, and Pete is apparently (although it's not mentioned here) still separated from his wife.  Oh, and Jenna gained weight doing Mystic Pizza: The Musical.  Cerie asks Liz and Jenna to be her bridesmaids, although from what I recall the wedding wouldn't be for another couple years.  There's nothing terribly wrong here, but this episode didn't hold my interest as much as some.

Michal Antonov again plays Young Liz.

The Big Bang Theory: The Big Bran Hypothesis

The Big Bang Theory: The Big Bran Hypothesis
CBS
October 1, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Lorre & Prady did the story that turned into a teleplay by Robert Cohen, who would do three more, and Dave Goetsch, who do sixty more!  And director Mark Cendrowski would do 211 more!!!  (So far.)  Yet it feels like a bit of a letdown from the pilot.  Although there are moments I laughed at, like Leonard using a lightsaber for a flashlight, it's hard to get past the idea that Sheldon goes into Penny's apartment while she's asleep in order to tidy up and sees nothing wrong with this, and Leonard, who does know better, goes along with it.

The Big Bang Theory: Pilot

The Big Bang Theory: Pilot
CBS
September 24, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The pilot introduces roommates Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki a decade after Roseanne), their friends Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and their new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco, who'd played Little Ellen on Ellen, as well as one of the daughters on 8 Simple Rules, which I don't own, and no, this character doesn't seem to have a last name).  It also establishes the blend of sex humor and geek humor.  (I'm not an expert on the series, but surely the title, with its Barenaked Ladies theme song, is a double entendre of sorts.)  There's not much plot here, other than the guys meeting Penny, and Sheldon and Leonard unsuccessfully trying to get her TV back from her ex-boyfriend Kurt (Brian Patrick Wade, who would return).  Sheldon has most of the good lines.  I own only this season at the moment and haven't decided whether to buy more, especially since it's still going and that would be a big investment of money and time.  I have seen episodes from different seasons, usually on hotel TVs.

This episode was written by show creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady.  Veteran director James Burrows didn't do any more episodes.  I'm pleased to see that Vernee Watson, still looking great and still with a dry delivery three decades after Welcome Back, Kotter, will be back as Althea the nurse.  And, yes, this is my first CBS sitcom since Square Pegs and M*A*S*H!

30 Rock: Hiatus

30 Rock: Hiatus
NBC
April 26, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Although this story written by Tina Fey introduces Elaine Stritch as Jack's outspoken mother Colleen and has some nice platonic chemistry between Fey and Baldwin, the Tracy held hostage by Kenneth's even more redneck cousin plot doesn't really work.  Emily Mortimer makes her last appearance as Phoebe, since it's clear Jack doesn't love her.  And Liz and Floyd accidentally break up over Skype.

Justin Smith returns as a Black Crusader and Lester Holt again appears as himself.  Matt Dickinson this time is nameless as Jack's Assistant, although he was Matt previously.  Frank Anello wraps up the season as a member of the onscreen Production Staff.  And in her last role on the show for awhile, Rachel Dratch is Dr. Beauvoir.  Most of the writers are absent again.

As the title implies, both TGS and 30 Rock went on hiatus.  This 21-episode season ranges from C to B+, with just over half of the episodes earning a B-, so it's not surprising that it averages out to a B-.  The show takes awhile to find itself, and I'm sorry but the Tracy character just doesn't appeal to me most of the time.  Still, there's some good stuff here, and I recall the second season as being sharper and funnier.

30 Rock: Cleveland

30 Rock: Cleveland
NBC
April 19, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This Burditt & Carlock episode works very well.  Floyd is tired of New York and wants to take a job offer in the title city.  Liz is tempted to go with him but they've only been dating a month and she thinks of herself as a New Yorker.  However, Jack and Phoebe (Emily Mortimer again) have been dating an even shorter time and Jack proposes to her.  Meanwhile, Tracy goes on the run when he finds out that the Black Crusaders are after him for all his stereotypical roles.  The best thing here is the musical tribute to Cleveland, very early to mid '60s sounding.

Jennifer Bassey was Beverly Fiske on Who's the Boss? and is the Old Vibrant Lady here.  Gambling Fisherman Kevin Cannon would return as Hobo Flint, while Raymond McAnally [who's his agent???] is a Cleveland Dude but would later be a character named Tony.  Frank Anello is, wait for it, a member of the Production Staff.  Eric Dysart would be Alan Garkel again four years later.  Justin Smith would be a nameless Black Crusader on the next episode, too, while Lester Holt plays himself here, in the following episode, and in three more episodes in future seasons.  Pete and most of the writers are gone again but Jenna is back.

And this is the only episode directed by Paul Feig, who was Pete on Roseanne and Peterson on Ellen, along with a lot of other acting roles, but he's probably best known now as a movie director-- Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters, etc.

30 Rock: Corporate Crush

30 Rock: Corporate Crush
NBC
April 12, 2007
Sitcom
NBC
B

In this episode, Jack bonds with Floyd, to the point that he's monopolizing Floyd's attention, until Jack gets together with posh Brit Phoebe (no last name, played by Emily Mortimer here and in the next two episodes).  Meanwhile, Tracy tries to sell Don Geiss (Rip Torn again) on his Thomas Jefferson movie idea.

Frank Anello is unsurprisingly part of the Production Staff.  Both Jenna, Pete, and most of the writers are absent.

30 Rock: Fireworks

30 Rock: Fireworks
NBC
April 5, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This episode introduces Will Arnett as one of my favorite recurring characters, Devon Banks.  But that's not the only reason why this is the first great episode of 30 Rock.  

• Arnett is awesome though, from his double-entendrous exchanges with his rival Jack to his flirtation with Kenneth, he is fun to watch;
• Banks come up with the 15-second sitcom, and we get to see an entire webisode;
• Jack believes that television shouldn't be smaller but should embrace the spectacle, so he offers live fireworks, not a good idea in midtown Manhattan only five and a half years after 9/11;
• For once the Tracy plot is good, with Tray finding out (from Dr. Spaceman, but no one questions this) that he's descended from Thomas Jefferson, who's played by Baldwin in Tracy's dream;
• Pete is staying at Liz's while his wife is mad at him, which leads to such funny moments as him dressing like Liz one morning;
• Liz pursues Floyd into an AA meeting and claims to be an alcoholic, but she does confess when she doesn't have to;
• And Tootsie jokes!

Frank Anello and Sue Galloway return as respectively a member of the Production Staff and Sue.  Matt Dickinson, who's Matt here, would return as Jack's Assistant (possibly the same character).  Dave Finkel, who plays the Husband in the Makin' It Happen episode, had previously played the 2nd AD and wrote two episodes, including this one (with Brett Baer), while Kay Cannon, who plays the Wife, would have two more roles and wrote the "Black Tie" episode and would do eleven more.  Al Roker would return as himself, but Maury Povich would not.  And Jenna is absent.

30 Rock: The Fighting Irish

30 Rock: The Fighting Irish
NBC
March 8, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B

You know there's questionable behavior in this story by Jack Burditt story when Pete lectures Liz for firing Flower Guy's girlfriend and he doesn't really have the moral high ground considering he lied to his wife about a vasectomy.  Still, this is a funny, clever episode.  The title refers to Jack's family, who drink, argue, connive, hug, and, yes, punch each other, and Liz.

Frank Anello is, that's right, a member of the onscreen Production Staff.  Henry Boyle, Henry here, was previously Billy Huckster.  John F. Mooney makes his first of three appearances as Kenneth's spiritual leader, Reverend Gary.  I'm guessing that Aerobics Instructor Kristen Sudeikis is Jason's wife.  Molly Shannon of course has a lot of credits, but for our purposes she was a nameless woman on Ellen in '94 and is Jack's sister Katherine Catherine.

30 Rock: The Source Awards

30 Rock: The Source Awards
NBC
March 1, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
C

This episode, written by Robert Carlock and a writer who didn't do any other of my shows, is the least funny so far, despite the presence of Wayne Brady as Steven Black, a man who refuses to believe that it's incompatibility rather than race that makes Liz not like him.  A lot of the jokes just don't land for me, although Jack's winery being bad had potential.

Elijah Isaiah Cook is Young Tracy for the first of two times that year.  French Dude Guy Bayo would later be Guy (or perhaps a Guy).  Ghostface Killah again appears as himself.  A member of the onscreen Production Staff is of course played by Frank Anello.  We get a quick glimpse of Floyd, whom Liz still refers to as "Flower Guy."  Pete and most of the writers are absent.

30 Rock: Hard Ball

30 Rock: Hard Ball
NBC
February 22, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Matt Hubbard wrote this story where Josh is renegotiating his contract and Liz doesn't know whether to be on his side or Jack's; Tracy adds Kenneth to his entourage and temporarily gets rid of Grizz and Dot Com; and Jenna is quoted in Maxim as being against the troops, and then later mixes up (Barack) Obama and Osama (bin Laden) on TV.

Frank Anello is as always a member of the onscreen Production Staff.  This time, Rachel Dratch plays protester Martha Blanch.  As you might guess from the title, Chris Matthews appears as himself (as he did on The Daily Show during the '04 campaign).

30 Rock: The C Word

30 Rock: The C Word
NBC
February 15, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I'm not crazy about either of the two main threads here, but it is interesting to see the introduction of Rip Torn as Jack's boss, Don Geiss, here with grandchildren.  (I'm not sure if that would end up being canonical, but we'll get to that later.)  Jack goes to a diabetes fundraiser golf tournament thrown by Geiss, and he brings Tracy along, but Tracy gets mad when he realizes that Jack brought him there to entertain people.  But in the end Tracy tells a moving story about his nonexistent daughter who was diagnosed with diabetes.  In the other thread, Lutz calls Liz a not-actually-said-but-implied "cunt," apparently based on a real incident that happened to Fey, who wrote this episode, although Liz decides it's a sign she should be nicer.  (But then wouldn't she be called a pussy?)  Even Kevin's "romance" with another page doesn't really go anywhere, as he literally shoves her aside when Geiss asks for his coat.

Frank Conello is again an onscreen member of the Production Staff.  Rachel Hamilton is again Rachel, while Rachel Dratch is again Greta the cat wrangler.  Teresa Yenque is Teresa here and would later play Concepcion.  Tom Treadwell is Landis here and would be Executive #3.  Jenna is absent, although again it would be interesting to get her perspective on the Liz plot.

30 Rock: Up All Night

Suzanne Somers look

30 Rock: Up All Night
NBC
February 8, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Jack and Bianca (Rossellini again) finally sign their divorce papers, after being separated since the late '80s, but he has trouble letting her go.  (Emotionally.  Rossellini wouldn't be back.)  The episode is also notable for (re)introducing Tracy's wife Angie (played from here on out by Sherri Shepherd) and a new romantic prospect for Liz, a man named Floyd (played by Jason Sudeikis).  However, Floyd meets Liz because he sent flowers to his girlfriend for Valentine's Day and they were delivered to the similarly named Liz Lemon by mistake.  Meanwhile, another future "couple" is being set-up, with Frank and Jenna having it out about his dislike of her, leading to them laughing together and sort of becoming friends.  And I guess you can say that Kenneth/Cerie starts here, although I don't think we're meant to take that at all seriously, especially since she makes up with her fiance.  Note the irony of Jack wanting to buzz Trump Tower with a helicopter, just to annoy "Donald."

Rachel Hamilton makes her first of two appearances as Rachel, while Rachel Dratch's role is Vlem the Polish (?) prostitute.  Joy Behar appears as herself, talking about losing her virginity at the '68 Democratic Convention.  This is one of the episodes that IMDB has Sue Galloway as uncredited for, although I've seen her before.  She plays Sue, one of the female writers, whom we'll eventually find out is European (Dutch and something I think).  So far she hasn't had any lines, although the brunette female writer has a couple here.  Fey wrote this episode and it's the first of eleven directed by Michael Engler.

30 Rock: Black Tie

30 Rock: Black Tie
NBC
February 1, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is boosted by not only a funny script by Tina Fey and Kay Cannon (her first of forty-six), but two memorable cameos: Isabella Rossellini as Jack's ex-wife, Bianca, and the incomparable Paul Reubens as Prince Gerhardt, the feeble and inbred last member of the Hapsburg line.  Jack asks Liz on a not-date to Gerhardt's birthday party and he runs into Bianca, whom he's still hung up on.  Jenna crashes the party and has a "romance" with the prince.  Meanwhile, Pete has a chance to commit adultery, with Tracy and Kenneth as devil and angel, not on Pete's shoulders but in bathroom windows.  I would've gone with a B+, since this is arguably the best episode so far, but one, I don't like Tracy pressuring Pete about adultery (even if this would end up being ironic in retrospect) and  two, the episode does take awhile to get going.

Will Forte is Tomas here but would be Paul when he came back a few years later.  The writer characters are mostly absent on this episode, and we don't really see any behind-the-scenes stuff, unless you count Pete working late at his desk.

Mansfield Park

Modest and unassuming

Mansfield Park
ITV
27 January 2007
Historical Drama, Romance
DVD
C

Well, this is at least better than the 1999 Patricia Rozema big-screen travesty.  The truth is, no one wants to present Jane Austen's Fanny Price.  (The '83 TV-movie is better but does have the heroine hearing voices in her head.)  Much more than Emma Woodehouse, she's a heroine that (almost) no one but the author likes.  What's peculiar here though is how literal the title is.  Not only don't we see Portsmouth or London (even in flashbacks), but there's no Sotherton or even parsonage.  Every scene, whether it makes sense for it to happen this way or not, takes place in the mansion or grounds of Sir Thomas's estate.

A similar skimpiness means that supporting characters are erased, not just most of Fanny's family but the Grants, Mr. Yates, and anyone not absolutely necessary to the main action.  Even characters we see onscreen we don't necessarily get to know at all, and that includes Maria and Julia.  And then there are the characters who are simply misunderstood: a shrewd Lady Bertram and a slightly annoying but oddly attractive Mrs. Norris being the most obvious.

Which brings us back to Fanny.  Now, I'm not saying there might not be roles where a romping, laughing, bleached-blonde, pouty-lipped, cleavage-baring Billie Piper would be welcome (and not just Dr. Who or, going by her looks, porn), but this isn't one of them.  As always, when the shy, judgmental, but loving Fanny of the book is replaced by an impostor, I have to ask, to what purpose?  If she's perfectly capable of mouthing off to Mrs. Norris, or seeming to welcome Henry Crawford's attentions, then don't have dialogue that contradicts this.

What works here?  The costumes, sets, and music are serviceable.  Much of the dialogue remains intact.  Blake Ritson is quite good, until we get up to the Edmund-gets-twitterpated-with-love-for-Fanny sequence.  Still, I wasn't laughing bitterly like I was at the Jane Eyre adaptation of '97.  Verdict: for completists.

James D'Arcy is almost unrecognizable here as the dissolute but redeemable Tom Bertram, the polar opposite of his villainously priggish Blifil in '97's Tom Jones.  This adaptation is by Maggie Wadey, and the direction is by Iain B. McDonald, neither of whom worked on any other of my shows.

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.

30 Rock: The Rural Juror

30 Rock: The Rural Juror
NBC
January 11, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

After a couple episodes where the title of Jenna's movie was unclear, Liz and the others finally learn how to pronounce it.  Unfortunately, Liz doesn't like it and we see both Liz and Jenna's flashbacks on Liz's past reactions to Jenna's career.  Meanwhile, Tracy comes up with a meat machine, endorsed by Dr. Spaceman.  Note that Tracy is relatively broke despite fourteen successful movies, not for the last time.

Executive #1 Bob Wiltfong was last seen by us on The Daily Show.  Executive #2 Matt Oberg would be Edward in the last season.  This time Rachel Dratch is Barbara Walters, mangling the movie title further.  And Whoopi Goldberg plays herself.  This is the first of 17 30 Rock scripts by Matt Hubbard and the first of 23 episodes directed by Beth McCarthy.

30 Rock: The Baby Show

30 Rock: The Baby Show
NBC
January 4, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Cerie is engaged on a short acquaintance, although it'll end up being a comparatively long engagement.  She's still young (her mom recently turned 38 we learned in another episode) and Liz thinks she should wait, but she wants to be a "young hot mom."  Liz's biological clock goes off, leading to several offers of sperm.  Meanwhile, Jack has troubles with his mother, not yet seen but later to be memorably played by Elaine Stritch.  And we find out that Dr. Spaceman (mal)practices in other fields.

Jeff Richmond makes his first of seven appearances as Alfonso Disparioso. Rachel Dratch returns as Greta the cat trainer.

30 Rock: The Break-Up

30 Rock: The Break-Up
NBC
December 14, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B

This story by Dave Finkel and Brett Baer, who'd team up for one more, is the first one where I feel like everything clicks.  The title situation has Liz breaking up with Dennis and then him manipulating her to get back together, until she sees him on To Catch a Predator.  Meanwhile, Toofer (whose real name is revealed here to be James) and Tracy clash over stereotypes, and Jack is offscreen dating Condoleezza Rice.  Along with the interesting storylines, this not only ups the use of cutaways-- Black Frasier is a mini-classic-- but it was probably the first time on my initial viewing that I had to pause to read something onscreen, in this case Liz's very funny list of pros and cons about Dennis.  (The running joke about his mother in the cons is worth it alone.)  At the series' peak, this would be a winning formula, although I don't know if they'd yet realized that.

Frank Anello continues to be an onscreen member of the Production Staff.  Henry Boyle, who's Billy Huckster here, would play Henry the next year, while Joe Forbrich, who's Kevin, would be Crew Guy #1 in the last season.  This time Rachel Dratch plays Pamela Smew, the sensitivity trainer.  And many of the regulars, even Pete and Kenneth, are absent.  Scott Ellis wouldn't direct another episode until '09.

30 Rock: Tracy Does Conan

30 Rock: Tracy Does Conan
NBC
December 7, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Fey was nominated for an Emmy for this script, and the episode does have a fast-paced madness to it, emphasized by the ever improving background music.  However, I'm not a big fan of the crazy!Tracy of the first season.  Yes, he's mad in later seasons, but more likably.  (Do we really have to hear that he and his wife like to play "rape" games?)  Still, his meltdown here does bring on one of my favorite minor characters, Dr. Leo Spaceman (pronounced like you think by Tracy, "Spuh-chemmin" by everyone else), played hilariously by Chris Parnell, who I knew from a tiny role in Down with Love.  I also like the minor thread of Pete wearing a flattering toupee at Jack's urging.  Note that when Liz gets home from her draining day, she's too tired to break up with Dennis, so we begin to see the series' tendency to draw some threads out awhile.

Frank Anello is again a part of the onscreen Production Staff.  Nurse Johnnie Mae would return as a Screener, and 2nd AC Dave Frinkel would be back as a nameless Husband.  This time Rachel Dratch is the Blue Man that Tracy and later Liz hallucinates.  Conan O'Brien would be back as himself in the last season, although I don't own that at the moment, so I don't know if I'll be reviewing it on this blog.

30 Rock: Jack Meets Dennis

30 Rock: Jack Meets Dennis
NBC
November 30, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B-

As the title suggests, this episode introduces Liz's ex, Dennis Duffy (Dean Winters), whom she's gotten back together with. It's clearly a mistake, as both Jenna and Jack recognize.  Even Liz admits that she's settling.  She promises to break up with Dennis, but instead she lets him move in.  I like the humor about him being a beeper salesman and, yes, it's a sign that we are in the modern era of sitcoms.

Frank Anello and Teddy Coluca are again respectively part of the Production Staff and the Stage Manager.  Brian Stack is Howard Jorgensen for the first of three times.  Ali Reza's first of three 30 Rock roles is the Sandwich Guy.  And this time Rachel Dratch is Liz Taylor.  This is the first of 20 30 Rock episodes written by Jack Burditt, but director Juan J. Campanella didn't work on any other of my shows.

30 Rock: Jack-Tor

30 Rock: Jack-Tor
NBC
November 16, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Although this is still somewhat uneven, the show is beginning to find itself in this story by Robert Carlock, as with the parody of product placement and the flashback to Jack's childhood.  And it's nice to have Jenna back and given things to do, from singing her "Muffin Top" song to seducing Jack's supposed boss.  I'm not sure how well the "Liz thinks Tracy is illiterate" plot works, and the thread of Jack making a cameo on TGS could be sharper, but it does lead to some nice moments between Jack and Liz, even if he has to make clear (as he will again and again) that he's not attracted to her.  Note that Toofer sees through Jenna's scheme to trick him into ending up on the roof naked, but Frank is up for the chance to have sex with her, a chance he'll actually get later on.  Oh, and there's an Obama reference.

Frank Anello makes his first of 44 uncredited appearances as a member of the onscreen Production Staff, while Teddy Coluca is back as the Stage Manager.  Donald Glover has his first of four 30 Rock roles, as a Young P.A.  Ghostface Killah makes his first of two appearances as himself.  This is the first of 38 episodes directed by Don Scardino.

30 Rock: Jack the Writer

"Who's that lady?"

30 Rock: Jack the Writer
NBC
November 1, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
C

Robert Carlock's first of 26 30 Rock stories just doesn't work for me.  Not that it doesn't have its moments-- including references to not only Donald Trump but Jeb Bush-- but it kept irritating or boring me.  Tracy bossing around Kenneth was forgettable, although later this thread would be taken to sometimes entertainingly ridiculous limits.  The subplot of Liz policing Cerie's wardrobe so the mostly male writers wouldn't be distracted was as uncomfortable to watch as it looks like it was uncomfortable for Fey to perform, and the writers later laughing at Liz in an outfit Cerie picked out for her was just cruel.  As for Jack trying to sit in and contribute to the writing sessions, this had potential, but it just made me end up liking Jack less, especially when he simultaneously insults and quietly apologizes to Liz in front of two mucky-mucks.

Sharon Wilkins, who doesn't get any lines, just one moment, as Tracy's wife Angie, would be replaced by the much more vivid Sherri Shepherd.  Tom Broecker again plays Lee the costumer.  Jenna is absent again, although she's mentioned.  Mancuso had directed over 50 Roseanne episodes and seven for the last season of Ellen; this is her first of eight for 30 Rock.

30 Rock: Blind Date

30 Rock: Blind Date
NBC
October 25, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Jack interferes with Liz's personal life, not for the last time, by fixing her up with his friend "Thomas," as in Gretchen Thomas, a lesbian.  Liz does hit it off with Gretchen and keeps seeing her platonically.  Of course the irony is that we'll later find out that Liz has a lot of hang-ups about sex with men.  Note that her ex-boyfriend Dennis is referred to but not yet seen.  The other plot thread is that Jack beats everyone at poker, until he faces the unreadable Kenneth.  And it's funny to hear Kenneth referred to as "a kid," when we'll gradually find out he's much, much older than he seems.

Teddy Coluca is again the Stage Manager.  Bartender Marcus Collins would later play The Hair.  Jenna is absent this episode, but it would've been interesting to see her reaction to the lesbian plot.  This episode was written by John Riggi, who played a Manager on Ellen and who would write nine more episodes, as well as direct some.

30 Rock: The Aftermath

30 Rock: The Aftermath
NBC
October 18, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B-

As the title suggests, Liz has to deal with Tracy's addition to what was formerly known as The Girlie Show but from here on out will be TGS.  Tracy's solution is to throw a party on "his" yacht.  The writing is a bit sharper here, even if some of the pop-cultural references-- Ziggy, Theo Huxtable-- aren't exactly timely.  And the theme is in place, in fact serving as most of the incidental music, too, although that would get more varied.

Tom Broecker and Teddy Coluca return as respectively Lee and the Stage Manager.  This time Rachel Dratch plays Maria the frightened maid.

30 Rock: Pilot

The Laura Bush look

30 Rock: Pilot
NBC
October 11, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I seldom watched TV in the Oughts, so we'll skip right over '05 and move on to the year one of my new favorite shows (which I started watching this year) premiered.

The regulars, not all of whom are identified and/or given a chance to speak just yet:

• Scott Adsit as Pete Hornberger
• Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
• Katrina Bowden as Cerie
• Kevin Brown as Dot Com
• Grizz Chapman as Grizz
• Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
• Judah Friedlander as Frank Rossitano
• Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
• John Lutz as J.D. Lutz
• Jack McBrayer as Kenneth Parcell
• Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan
• Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan
• Keith Powell as Toofer
• Lonny Ross as Josh Girard

Also, Tom Broecker would be Lee twice more; Teddy Coluca would be the Stage Manager in eight more episodes; and Crew Guy Eric Gurian would have two later roles.  Furthermore, Rachel Dratch, who's Greta Johanssen the cat trainer here, would have several other offbeat roles, especially this first season.

Casting my mind back eleven years, I remember being aware of Tina Fey because of the movie Mean Girls, where she acted and wrote, as she does here.  But I was oblivious to most of current TV and this was never a ratings success.  I think the only reason I finally got around to watching it (and I haven't yet made it past the middle of Season Five) is that I was curious to see a Sarah Palin impersonator interact with a Donald Trump impersonator.  I was soon impressed, but not by this pilot, where the rhythm and energy are somewhat off, and the characters mostly not yet well defined.  That the incredibly catchy opening theme (written by Fey's husband) only appears as incidental music towards the end is telling.  We'll see how long it takes them to get their act together.  But it is an intriguing premise: a behind-the-scenes look at a show not unlike Saturday Night Live, where Fey had paid her dues.

Adam Bernstein, who directed the B-52s videos for "Roam" and "Love Shack," would direct five more first season episodes.

The Daily Show: Election Night '04, Prelude to a Recount

The Daily Show: Election Night '04, Prelude to a Recount
Comedy Central
November 2, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
C+

In the dozen years since Al Franken* hosted InDecision '92, Comedy Central had upped its technology-- the electoral map is definitely no longer hand drawn-- but apparently cut back on its election night coverage.  So one 40-minute hour, 10 to 11 p.m. EST, is all we get, and there's no definite winner by the end, although Bush is well ahead of Kerry.  The highlights here are the opening faked flashbacks from '00 and Colbert's prediction that America would continue to be an angry country.

This sampling of The Daily Show ranges from C- to B, but I'm doubling the value of this longer episode, and counting the four-minute sequences at one-quarter value, since a regular episode is about sixteen minutes if you subtract all the transitions.  The average therefore comes out to a B-.  Stewart is definitely the best part of the show, although the correspondents have their moments, not surprisingly Colbert in particular.  And, yes, it's time to move on to George W. Bush's second term.


*Sigh, I know.  But I didn't know when I was reviewing back then.

The Daily Show: So You Want to Bee...a 527 Organization?

Different episode, same fake earnestness

The Daily Show: So You Want to Bee...a 527 Organization?
Comedy Central
October 27, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B-

Samantha learns that attack ads are legal as long as they don't specifically tell you who to vote for or against.

The Daily Show: Principle Spinner

The Daily Show: Principle Spinner
Comedy Central
October 20, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
C+

Helms goes to another debate and is surprised to find out that each side claims their guy won.

The Daily Show: The First Presidential Debate, The Squabble in Coral Gables

The Daily Show: The First Presidential Debate, The Squabble in Coral Gables
Comedy Central
September 30, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B-

Kerry clearly wins, with Bush fumbling for words.  So obviously this had a big impact on the election.  The highlight here is Stewart easily outsmarting Giuliani.

The Daily Show: Continental Skiff Boat Oarsmen for Veracity

The Daily Show: Continental Skiff Boat Oarsmen for Veracity
ABC
September 19, 2004
Parody
DVD
B-

This was actually created for the Emmy Awards, and it of course parodies the "swift boat" attack ads on Kerry.  The guys play various oarsmen, while Samantha is a "trollop."

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 4

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 4
Comedy Central
September 3, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B

Even the Corddry sequence, with him acting like New York is a war zone, works this time.  And, yes, now George W. Bush is officially the Republican presidential candidate, again.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 3

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 3
Comedy Central
September 2, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B

The highlights here are very angry conservative Democrat Zell Miller and in-studio guest John McCain, who's much more open-minded.  And, oh, the retrospective irony is rich when Jon Stewart jokes that President Bush will randomly yell out the word "vagina" during his acceptance speech.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 2

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 2
Comedy Central
September 1, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B

The highlight here is unquestionably the fake campaign film for President Bush, His Words Speak Louder Than Actions, not only going for the easy laughs of W's incoherence but pointing out the lies that got us into war.  I also enjoyed Jon's reaction to Schwarzenegger's admiration of President Nixon.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 1

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 1
Comedy Central
August 31, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B-

The best thing here is surprisingly not the stuff about Repub Con, although Jon does point out the heavy mention of 9/11, but the interview with a surprisingly funny Ted Koppel.  And, yes, it's funny to hear Stewart call TDS "fake news."

The Daily Show: The Secretaries' Tour

Different episode but same year

The Daily Show: The Secretaries' Tour
Comedy Central
August 11, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
C-

Corddry treats the tour of the US cabinet like he's a groupie, and it just doesn't work.

The Daily Show: Minority Report

The Daily Show: Minority Report
Comedy Central
August 9, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
C+

Stephen gathers Democrats who fit into various categories and literally labels them.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 4

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 4
Comedy Central
July 30, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
C+

This episode just feels off compared to the rest of that week, no big laughs or insights.  But, yes, John Kerry is now the nominee.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 3

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 3
Comedy Central
July 29, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B

The show really finds itself, with zeroing in not just on politics but on news, from MSNBC to Fox, highlighting their dismissal of Al Sharpton, as they don't even discuss the substance, just the style, of his rousing speech.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 2

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 2
Comedy Central
July 28, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B-

Again, Stewart's commentary on the con itself is the best thing here.  Note that Obama appears because of his famous speech, while Biden is an in-studio guest.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 1

The Daily Show: Coverage of Democratic Convention Day 1
Comedy Central
July 27, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B-

This is at its best when Colbert is commenting on the convention itself, while the side reports by the reporters aren't as good.  And, yes, 80-year-old Jimmy Carter spoke at the Dem Con, along with the Clintons and Gore.