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.