30 Rock: Black Light Attack!

30 Rock: Black Light Attack!
NBC
January 14, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
B

I guess this episode aired the same night as the previous one, but it's much funnier.  In a sort of replay of a first season episode with Floyd, Jack wants to hang out with Danny (Cheyenne Jackson), especially when he finds out that Danny is casually dating Liz.  Meanwhile, Tracy is looking for a female perspective, since he's hoping to have a daughter, so he adds Sue to his entourage.  (Sue Galloway has as many lines in one scene as she's had total in previous episodes.)  And Jenna has to face that she's now being cast as middle-aged mothers rather than college students.  Note that Jack breaks up Liz and Danny by confessing he's in love with Liz, but it's clear to the audience and Liz that he doesn't mean it.

Joseph D'Onofrio is a Crew Guy for the last time.  Jonathan Cohn is again a Cute Guy, while Andrew Goldfarb is again a Page.  Russ Spiegel makes his first of four appearances as a TGS Band Member.  Hockey Fan James Coker would later be a Gen-Y D-Bag.  (Or is that a proper name?)  The screenwriter Steve Hely would play Jerem later in the year.

30 Rock: Klaus and Greta

30 Rock: Klaus and Greta
NBC
January 14, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Robert Carlock wrote this episode where people do stupid things:

• Jack and Kenneth break into Nancy's house in order to erase a drunk message Jack left on her voicemail;
• Tracy realizes that all women are someone's daughters;
• Liz outs her young cousin and then has to deal with the consequences when he visits her in New York;
• Jenna pretends to date James Franco in order to improve his reputation (I know, more ironic now) and falls for him, until Liz advises her to break up, but then Liz sleeps with Franco and his sex pillow.

Matt Lauer returns as himself.

Watching TV in the Aughts and Watching Aughts TV

As I've said more than once, I watched very little TV in the first decade of the twenty-first century, which of course meant I didn't see much of it after the fact.  If not for "discovering" 30 Rock last year (and I still haven't seen Season Seven), there would be a lot fewer entries for that decade.  Nonetheless, here are the Top and Bottom lists, in chronological order:

1. Fruits Basket: True Form, May 27, 2003
2. 30 Rock: Fireworks, April 5, 2007
3. 30 Rock: Cleveland, April 19, 2007
4. 30 Rock: Jack Gets in the Game, October 11, 2007
5. 30 Rock: Succession, April 24, 2008
6. 30 Rock: Cooter, May 8, 2008
7. 30 Rock: Gavin Volure, November 20, 2008
8. 30 Rock: Christmas Special, December 11, 2008
9. 30 Rock: Goodbye, My Friend, March 5, 2009 (the only A- among these B+s)

All C-s (no really terrible shows this decade, at least in my collection):

1. Fruits Basket: Is the Rumored Ri That Mother's Daughter?, May 27, 2003
2. The Daily Show: The Secretaries' Tour, August 11, 2004
3. 30 Rock: Cutbacks, April 9, 2009

30 Rock: Secret Santa

30 Rock: Secret Santa
NBC
December 10, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Fey wrote this episode which introduces the marvelous Julianne Moore as Jack's old high school crush Nancy Donovan.  Baldwin and Moore have great chemistry together, and Moore is a hoot here with her Boston accent and down-to-earth attitude, so I'm very glad they brought her back.  (I'm less glad with what happened to her character, but that's down the road, and we're only one-third into this season.)  The other threads, with Liz trying to find the right gift for Jack, Pete trying to use the surprisingly great singer Danny (Cheyenne Jackson) for revenge against Jenna, and Tracy making the writers feel guilty for lying to Kenneth, don't work nearly as well, but this episode is definitely a step up from the previous ones.

Chris Fischer would again play a Policeman.  Subhas Ramsaywack returns as Subhas.  This is the last time that Teddy Coluca would be the Stage Manager.  It's also the 1100th B- I've given, as well as the show that closes out the Oughts.

30 Rock: Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001

30 Rock: Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001
NBC
December 3, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
C

Devon Banks calls Jack and makes him insecure enough to make Liz insecure about her new talk show.  And meanwhile Tracy decides to go for EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).  This Kay Cannon story would've been a C- if not for Frank becoming Liz in her absence.

Ali Reza's last 30 Rock appearance is as Yakov.  John Anderson makes his first of five appearances as Liz's fantasy husband Astronaut Mike Dexter.  Sherri Shepherd returns as Angie.  Sue Galloway plays Sue.  And Kristian Alfonso, here in her most famous role of Days of Our Lives' Hope Brady, had had a series-changing role on Who's the Boss?, playing Tony's girlfriend Frankie, who makes Angela realize her love for Tony.  And I'm unable to tag Whoopi Goldberg this time.

30 Rock: Sun Tea

30 Rock: Sun Tea
NBC
November 19, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
C

This episode, the first of seven written by Dylan Morgan and Josh Siegal, is best symbolized either by Al Gore returning and telling us why it's important to recycle jokes, or by the title, which is Frank's term for the urine he collects in jars.  Liz moves in with a cool gay cop, but only so she can drive him away and she can buy his apartment when the building goes condo, and she actually uses "sun tea" to achieve her goal.  Meanwhile both Jack and Tracy consider getting vasectomies but don't go through with it, mostly so the series can go on to make them have baby daughters that they'll neglect (Tracy's in particular).  I would've given a C- if not for the Cosby Show parody.

Marceline Hugot returns as Kathy Geiss, while Rip Torn's actual son Tony plays Bertram Geiss, presumably the father of Don Geiss's grandchildren.  Bobb'e J. Thompson returns as Tracy, Jr., and impacts the plot.  Exercise Woman Kristin McGee would next be seen as Kaitlin.  And Sue Galloway is Sue.

30 Rock: The Problem Solvers

30 Rock: The Problem Solvers
NBC
November 12, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Nothing quite works in this Ron-Weiner-written episode, which introduces Cheyenne Jackson as new TGS cast member Danny Baker.  (Real first name Jack, but Jack Donaghy immediately renames him.)  "Danny" is trying to get his bearings, but he gets dubious advice, including from the title team.  Tracy and Jenna also give Liz bad business advice that pits her against Jack, until the rom-com-ish resolution scene.  This isn't as painful as a Season Five episode, but it does show the beginnings of the decline, with characters Flanderized for the sake of jokes, rather than jokes revealing character.

Old Janitor Stewart Steinberg returns.  Josh Fadem would be back as Liz's new agent, Simon Barrons.

30 Rock: Audition Day

Goodbye, Josh.  Sorry
things didn't work out.

30 Rock: Audition Day
NBC
November 5, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

Matt Hubbard wrote this story that has some trends that would be troublesome in the next two or three seasons but are still reasonably under control here, with enough wit and intelligence coming through.  Liz and Pete have finally selected a new cast member, but they have to stack the auditions for Jack, using "the Hornberger System."  Unfortunately, the audition is thrown wide open by Jack, who has a different perspective on life now that he's suffering from bedbugs.  Ironically, when Pete literally pulls in a guy off the street-- a robot mime-- that's who Jack likes best.  (The performer is played by a different actor than later, and as Liz observes, "I hope he can speak English.")  As for those trends, the already established Tracy and Jenna Act Like Vain Morons team is obvious here, where they feel threatened by the new cast person, especially since Jenna has baggage with Liz's choice, so they go out and try to find more talented people.  And Jack being humbled works OK here, but it would be an abused motif starting in Season Five.  Not to mention that Jack and Pete making fun of Liz's age feels odd when they're both older than her.

Crew Guy Joseph D'Onofrio previously had played Dave.  Old Janitor Stewart Steinberg would return five more times.  Angela Grovey is Kolandra here and would be Portia in 2011.  Brian Williams returns and is one of the people auditioning, as is Marceline Hugot as Kathy Geiss.

30 Rock: Stone Mountain

She'll outlive us all.

30 Rock: Stone Mountain
NBC
October 29, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

John Riggi wrote this episode where Jack and Liz go to the location of the title, Kenneth's hometown.  (McBrayer plays two of the locals, one a mustached man, another a blonde woman.)  They're looking for someone for TGS, and Jack thinks a ventriloquist act is perfect.  Meanwhile, Frank, Toofer, and Lutz butter up Jenna so that she'll invite him to her gay friends' Halloween party, where all the hot girls will be.  And Tracy fears the Rule of Three of Celebrity Deaths will hit him next.  For a change, all three threads cross over in the end, when the obnoxious dummy (think Soap's Bob without a conscience and a filthier mouth) is beheaded by Jack, and so Tracy can relax and enjoy the Halloween party.

Blaine Horton repeats his role as Jenna's gay friend Sacha.  Frank Anello takes time out of his busy schedule to play a member of the Production Staff, and Sue Galloway is typecast as Sue.   Jimmy Fallon makes his first of four appearances on 30 Rock.  Then 87-year-old Betty White plays herself and in a nice sight gag is shown reading Milton Greene's Carter biography.

30 Rock: Into the Crevasse

30 Rock: Into the Crevasse
NBC
October 22, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Considering this has Jenna filming an Icelandic werewolf movie, Kenneth popping up in an American Bandstand episode from the early '60s, Tracy making Liz's life into a porno, and the return of Devon Banks, this isn't as funny as it could be.  Note that Liz's "Dealbreaker" book shares space in the bookstore window with Dr. Spaceman's "sex book for couples" and Milton Greene's Jimmy Carter biography.

Subhas Ramsaywack makes his debut as Subhas the janitor, while Seth Kirschner first appears as Shawn here.  John G. Pavelec, an Attorney here, previously played a Congressman.  Frank Anello is in a rut as a member of the Production Staff, while Sue Galloway continues in the role of Sue.

30 Rock: Season 4

30 Rock: Season 4
NBC
October 15, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Yes, Season 4 starts here, as well as in a restaurant called Season 4.  (And Alan Alda once made a movie called Four Seasons.)  Jack wants Liz to cast someone that middle America can relate to better than they can to Tracy and Jenna.  So Liz and Pete sneak around to comedy clubs and eventually try lying that they're having an affair (or "intercoursing each other" as Liz puts it), so of course Pete's wife, Paula (Paula Pell again), walks in at that moment.  Meanwhile, Kenneth leads a pages' strike when he finds out what a big bonus Jack got when the company is supposed to be cutting corners.

Writer Eric Gurian's second onscreen role is as 30 Rockefeller Plaza Stranger, while writer Matt  Hubbard's only one is as a Payroll Guy.  Andrew Goldfarb would return as a nameless Page.  Frank Anello is typecast as a member of the Production Staff, and Sue is again played by Sue Galloway.  Lonny Ross makes his penultimate appearance as Josh Girard, with the script by Fey lampshading the neglect of this character and having him quit.

30 Rock: Kidney Now!

30 Rock: Kidney Now!
NBC
May 14, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

In this Burditt & Carlock episode, Jack holds a musical benefit to find a kidney for his father.  Meanwhile Kenneth encourages Tracy to accept an invitation to speak at Tracy's old high school.  And Liz gives out bad romantic advice to various women as part of her "Dealbreaker" persona.

I won't name all the singers in this episode (OK, it's cool to see Cyndi Lauper), but I will note Michael McDonald had also played himself on the Doobie Brothers episode of What's Happening!!  (an episode that a previous 30 Rock episode referred to).  Staff writer Kay Cannon's last onscreen appearance on the show is as the Young Woman whose boyfriend runs a tanning salon, while staff writer Donald Glover's third is as the Gay Kid.  (He was 25 at the time he was playing 18.)  Paula Pell and Sherri Shepherd return as Paula and Angie respectively.  Frank Anello captures the essence of the Production Staff, and Sue Galloway gets another line as Sue.

Near the end of the episode, Liz tells Jack, "It's been quite a year," and he replies that it's May.  Of course this episode wraps up the second year of 30 Rock, and of TGS.   The former, with the exception of one C-, ranges from B- to A-, averaging out to roughly the B-/B border, slightly on the B side.  The regular cast continues to work well, even if some Flanderization is setting in already.  The guest stars are good to great.  And the writing is still mostly solid.  I recall Season Four as a decline, if not to the point of Season Five of course.

30 Rock: Mamma Mia

30 Rock: Mamma Mia
NBC
May 7, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

In this Ron-Weiner-written episode, Pete and Liz are suspicious of Tracy's supposed "love child" Donald (Michael Benjamin Washington in his first of two appearances), while Jack, at Liz's urging, finds out whose love child he is.  And meanwhile, Liz resents Jenna taking credit for the "dealbreaker" catchphrase, and the photo shoot shows that Jenna has learned from the Maxim debacle of the first season.  The title here is, as is made clear, a reference to the stageplay and film of that name, although in this case two of the three potential dads are immediately ruled out, leaving Jack to deal with the fact that his biological father is a liberal, secular humanist agnostic History professor from Vermont, perfectly cast with Alan Alda.

I'm omitting Friedlander and Powell from the overcrowded tags.  Frank Anello works hard at playing a member of the Production Staff.  And while Alda is of course going to walk away with the "Most Shows In My Collection" Award (if there was ever any doubt), the Longevity award will likely see Stuart Margolin pushing Ann B. Davis out of the way, since his role as Jack's potential-if-not-injured-in-the-war dad Fred comes a good 41 years after his first That Girl cameo.

30 Rock: The Natural Order

30 Rock: The Natural Order
NBC
April 30, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Liz scolds Tracy, so he brings in a gibbon as his stand-in, behaves professionally, and makes some muddled point about how Liz also wants special treatment because she doesn't like changing the water tank and going to strip clubs.  (Both of these done funnier on Ellen.)  Meanwhile, Jack deals with the 35th anniversary of his father's final abandonment, and finds out that the first abandonment coincided with Jack's conception! 

Dancer #1 Semar Ghebremichael would later be Dancer #2.  Frank Anello gives under-appreciated contributions as a member of the Production Staff.

30 Rock: The Ones

Sue in a Slanket

30 Rock: The Ones
NBC
April 23, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

The Ones:

• Elisa is The One for Jack, so he goes with Liz to pick out an engagement ring;
• Jack es El Uno para Elisa, pero ella es La Viuda Negra;
• Angie is The One for Tracy, who confesses to Jack that he's never actually cheated on her, but he does worry that getting her face tattooed on his back will make him less popular with women;
• And a handsome EMT might be the one for Jenna, but is she willing to kill off Kenneth to get the guy back?

Frank Anello is keeping it real as a member of the Production Staff.  Brian Williams makes his first of eight appearances on 30 Rock, usually as himself.

30 Rock: Jackie Jormp-Jomp

30 Rock: Jackie Jormp-Jomp
NBC
April 16, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is the first of nine 30 Rock episodes Tracey Wigfield wrote, here working with Kay Cannon.  It's also the episode where we actually find out the name, and pronunciation of Jeffrey Weinerslav (Todd Buonopane).  Liz is on probation for "sexual harassment," having in the previous episode unsuccessfully tried to save her show's budget through quid pro quo second base.  At first, she misses the stress, until she meets neighbors who've raised leisure to an art form.  Meanwhile, Jenna is mistakenly reported as dead, which Jack hopes will create some buzz for her Janis Joplin biopic which has no rights to Janis's life.  And Tracy Al-Haigs it in the vacuum of Liz's absence, firing Kenneth's crush that Dot Com is dating.

Danielle Flora, who plays Daphne, would return as a nameless Dancer.  Frank Anello shatters stereotypes with his appearance as a member of the Production Staff.

30 Rock: Cutbacks

30 Rock: Cutbacks
NBC
April 9, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
C-

Matt Hubbard wrote this, the weakest 30 Rock episode so far.  Jack and Liz both have to deal with budget cutbacks, which is a promising storyline, but there are too many unfunny and implausible moments, particularly in the thread where Tracy and Jenna think Kenneth is a serial killer, so they accidentally kill his pet bird.

Shockingly, Frank Anello plays a member of the Production Staff.  Then 91-year-old Don Pardo is winkingly cast as Sid, the elderly announcer for TGS.  And Todd Buonopane returns as Jeffrey Weinerslav.

30 Rock: Apollo, Apollo

30 Rock: Apollo, Apollo
NBC
March 26, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Robert Carlock wrote this story where Tracy wants to go into outer space and Jack wants to recapture the joy he felt on his tenth birthday.  Oh, and Liz has to deal with finding out that Dennis and Jenna had sex a few years ago, while he was dating Liz.  The highlight here is the staff watching Liz's 1-900 commercial from the '90s, although the way Kenneth sees everyone as Muppets is cute.

Carmen Osbahr would again be a Puppeteer (or "Pupeteer" according to the credits).  Dylan Clark Marshall would be Young Jack again in 2012.  Frank Anello shows his versatility as a member of the Production Staff.  Eighty-year-old Adam West appears as himself.  Millicent Shelton would direct only one more 30 Rock episode.

30 Rock: The Bubble

30 Rock: The Bubble
NBC
March 19, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Tina Fey wrote this story where Liz tries to teach Drew what life is outside of "the bubble" that great-looking people exist in.  (I think Hamm is actually kind of plain, but I understand I'm in the minority on that.)  Meanwhile, Jack accidentally makes Tracy quit by pointing out that Tracy can now afford to quit, and poor Kenneth gets caught in the middle.

Richard F. Esposito again plays himself as Jenna's hairstylist.  Frank Anello doesn't disappoint as a member of the Production Staff.  Meredith Vierira again plays herself.  And Bobb'e J. Thompson returns as Tracy, Jr.  Tricia Block would direct another episode in '11, but I won't be reviewing it on this blog.

30 Rock: The Funcooker

30 Rock: The Funcooker
NBC
March 12, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

This, the first of four 30 Rock scripts by Tom Ceraulo, here co-writing with Donald Glover, is uneven but sometimes very funny.  Liz gets stuck doing jury duty, when her Princess Leia scheme doesn't work as well as it did in Chicago.  So of course chaos breaks out with no one in charge.  (Pete is spending Spring Break with his kids.)  Jack could help run TGS, but instead he puts the staff to work coming up with names for his new mini-microwave, hence the title of this episode. Meanwhile Dr. Spaceman prescribes extreme uppers for Jenna, and Tracy's wealth allows him to circumvent the FCC.

Nancy O'Dell appears as herself for the second time.  Andrew Polk had previously played Executive #6 and here is Steven Spielberger [sic], director of the Janis-Joplin-ish biopic that Jenna is starring in and which has been referred to in a couple earlier episodes.  Not only does Sue (Sue Galloway) finally get her first line after two and a half years, but we find out that she's Franco-Dutch.  This is the first of six 30 Rock episodes directed by Ken Whittingham.

30 Rock: Goodbye, My Friend

30 Rock: Goodbye, My Friend
NBC
March 5, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
A-

This episode written by Ron Weiner is my favorite so far, perhaps ever.  You've got two very strong threads and one pretty good one, tied together in sometimes surprising ways.  Liz befriends a pregnant teen named Becca (very well played by 26-year-old Phoebe Strole), in hopes that she can adopt Becca's baby.  Meanwhile, Jack bonds with and then sort of plays father to Frank, encouraging him to go back to law school, until Jack meets Frank's fierce mother Sylvia (Patti LuPone in the first of three appearances).  And even the Jenna & Tracy plot has its moments of heart and belly laughs.  I like how Pete is again playing Liz's conscience, including telling her what it's like to be a very young parent.  And I love Jack's long line about the meaning of Harry and the Hendersons, which had me flailing with laughter even the third or fourth time through.  Another great moment is when Sylvia asks, "Do I have to paint you a picture?" and it turns out she already has, which works like a classic cartoon moment.  Just delightful from beginning to end.

Stefanie Grassley, who's Tracy's Fan, would later be a Grieving Mistress (not of Tracy's).  Frank Anello fulfills your expectations by playing part of the Production Staff.  This is the first of fifteen 30 Rock episodes directed by writer John Riggi.

30 Rock: Larry King

30 Rock: Larry King
NBC
February 26, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Matt-Hubbard-written episode takes awhile to get going, but it's worth it to see how the threads cross over and pay off.  Tracy goes on the title character's talk show and for some reason is treated as an expert on economics (OK, he is wealthy, but that seems to mostly be dumb luck), and then he induces a worldwide financial panic, and he gives clues to where he's hidden money at 30 Rock, so Pete calls up for more specifics, is identified as "Peter Frampton, Guitar Icon," and still can't figure the puzzle out, but Kenneth, who's helping Liz retrieve her phone from a blackmailing cabbie, figures out that he himself is the safe place.  And meanwhile Jack must choose between love with Elisa (at this point, Liz has had sex twice in '09, Jack not at all) and saving the world's economy, especially GE.

Brian Berrebbi plays Reynolds here and previously was Dave.  Bill Walters is "ND Background" and would later be "Soup Kitchen."  Brian Stack makes his last appearance as Howard Jorgensen.  Frank Anello's fans will be pleased to see him appear as a member of the Production Staff.  And Meredith Vieira makes her second cameo on the show.

30 Rock: St. Valentine's Day

30 Rock: St. Valentine's Day
NBC
February 12, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Fey & Burditt story, Jack and Elisa have religious differences; Tracy helps Kenneth woo a blind girl; and everything that could possibly go wrong on a first date, from Liz twice accidentally exposing herself to Drew's mother (actually grandmother) dying, goes wrong.  Isn't it romantic?  Note that the seemingly throwaway line about Dot Com being in love with Grizz's girlfriend would in fact have a pay-off down the line.

Jeff Richmond again plays Alfonso Disparioso.  Frank Anello incidentally is a member of the Production Staff.

30 Rock: Generalissimo

30 Rock: Generalissimo
NBC
February 5, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Robert-Carlock-written episode has one hilarious thread and two weaker ones.  Jack meets Elisa's grandmother Concepcion (Teresa Yenque, who previously was Teresa), who turns out to hate him because he looks like the title character, the villain on her favorite soap opera.  Not only does Hayek get some great lines that she just nails (I had to pause and rewind when she casually replies to Liz's "You're a nurse?" with "Yes, some of us are hot"), but I had to pause, laugh for several minutes, and then rewind when Jack and his doppelganger parodied the Patty Duke theme.  Meanwhile, Tracy has trouble keeping up with partying interns, and Liz uses underhanded methods to woo her new neighbor, Dr. Drew Baird (Jon Hamm in the first of seven cameos in the role), although she does realize that accidentally roofying him is a bad idea.

Matt Lauer makes his first of five appearances as himself on the show.  This time "30 Rock regulars" just means Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan.  Todd Holland would direct another episode the following year.

30 Rock: Retreat to Move Forward

If Liz danced in every episode, I'd totally be OK with that.

30 Rock: Retreat to Move Forward
NBC
January 22, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The three threads in this episode written by Tami Sagher:

• Jack begs Liz to accompany him to a Six Sigma retreat but ditches her, yet she's still willing to humiliate herself to cover up his humiliation because she's a good friend;
• Jenna and Frank hook up but he's more embarrassed by it than she is;
• And Kenneth tries to get Tracy to look after himself because of diabetes.

Not the most memorable or funniest episode of the season, but there are definitely some good moments.  

Buscemi, who had already done a guest shot on the show, is the director here, for the first of two times.  Brian Berrebbi, Dave here, would be Reynolds later in the year.  Sue Galloway isn't listed as IMDB but she definitely appears as Sue.  Frank Anello, I should note, is a member of the Production Staff.  And welcome to the Obama era, we won't be here long.

30 Rock: Flu Shot

30 Rock: Flu Shot
NBC
January 15, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Jon Pollack wrote this story where Liz initially refuses a flu shot when she finds out that there are only five available and thus the crew won't be able to receive any.  However, when, as Cerie puts it in text, "UR VAC8SH1 IS BAGON," Liz sells out and gets a shot, even dancing for Dr. Spaceman.  Meanwhile, in the weakest thread, Tracy and Jenna want to do something nice for the crew but have absolutely no idea how.  And Jack, having learned from his experience with C.C., decides to make time for Elisa, even if it means they have to take a feeble old man along on their dates, with Michael Bublé providing the "Mr. Templeton" song as background music.

Scott Bryce, who was Steve Barton on Who's the Boss?, is Michael Templeton here and would later be a character named Dave.  The Dave in this episode is played by Joseph D'Onofrio, who would later be a nameless Crew Guy.  Intoxicated Star Michel E. Bell had recently played an Audience Member.  Jimmy Palumbo, playing Matt Dowd here, would later be Enzo.  Staff writer Jack Burditt makes an uncredited appearance as Man in Donut Shop and in 2013 would twice play the Colonel.  Seventy-five-year-old George Bartenieff didn't work on any of my other shows, but he was Nitro in the campy movie Hercules in New York almost forty years earlier.  This time "30 Rock regulars" really only covers Lutz and Cerie, as much of the supporting cast is absent.

30 Rock: Señor Macho Solo

30 Rock: Señor Macho Solo
NBC
January 8, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
B

This episode written by Ron Weiner introduces the gorgeous and very funny Salma Hayek as Colleen's nurse and Jack's new love interest, Elisa Padriera, who'd appear six times more.  Jack is cynical about lasting love, to the point that he encourages Tracy, who's wasting his money very frivolously (see attached photo), to sign a post-nup with Angie (Sherri Shepherd).  And Liz's baby-craziness leads her to meet and then date a little person (Peter Dinklage, later of Game of Thrones).

Frank Anello obviously plays part of the Production Staff.  Nancy O'Dell would return later that year as herself, while her co-host Billy Bush wouldn't be back till 2012.

30 Rock: Christmas Special

30 Rock: Christmas Special
NBC
December 11, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Even though this Fey & Cannon story includes Jack accidentally hitting his mother with a car, it's one of the funnier episodes of the series.  Out of guilt, Jack flies his injured mother from Florida to New York, where she ends up staying with him and ruining his Christmas, until Liz makes him see that his mother really does love him, in her crusty way.  Before this discovery, however, Jack throws together a last-minute Christmas special, just so he can avoid his mother.  Meanwhile, Liz's faith in Christmas is shaken by what seems to be a scam, but Kenneth turns out to be right that everything is OK.  And Jenna gets to sing.

Series composer Jeff Richmond again appears onscreen as musician Alfonso Disparioso.  Audience Member Michael E. Bell would be an Intoxicated Star the next year, while Nilaja Sun would not reprise her role as Irene till 2012.  Sue Galloway not only appears as Sue but shows off the bra that the other writers chipped in for.  (Still not a speaking role yet though.)  And Frank Anello of course is a member of the Production Staff, while Teddy Coluca is again the Stage Manager.

30 Rock: Reunion

30 Rock: Reunion
NBC
December 4, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B

Matt Hubbard wrote this story where Jack ends up accompanying Liz to her 20-year high school reunion.  He's mistaken for a popular classmate, despite the age difference, but then "rich 50 is middle-class 38."  Liz, however, finds out that rather being the unpopular nerd she remembers, she was verbally abusive, which is believable given some of the times she's insulted her staff.  Meanwhile, Tracy and Jenna resent that Kenneth's cliched jokes in the elevator are more entertaining to the other riders than their own attempts to entertain.  And the episode kicks off with Don Geiss regaining consciousness and deciding to not yet retire.

Adam Smith, Jr. again plays the Propmaster.  Hotel Clerk Jeff Hiller would later play Stewart.  And Marceline Hugot appears briefly as Kathy Geiss.

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 One with the Cast of Night Court

30 Rock: The One with the Cast of Night Court
NBC
November 13, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B-

As the title of this Jack Burditt story suggests, we get not only three members of the cast of Night Court but also another Friends alum, this time Jennifer Aniston as Liz and Jenna's old friend Claire, who is wild and crazy, and crazy and wild, so of course Jack gets involved with her, despite Liz's warnings.  Meanwhile Tracy wants to make Kenneth happy so he tries to provide closure for NC.  In a world full of changes, Frank Anello still plays a member of the Production Staff.

30 Rock: Believe in the Stars

30 Rock: Believe in the Stars
NBC
November 6, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B-


Robert Carlock wrote this story where Liz thinks she meets Oprah while doped up on an airplane and then has "Oprah" (really a large 12-year-old girl) try to reconcile Jenna and Tracy, who are feuding again.  Meanwhile Jack tests Kenneth's ethics.  Todd Buonopane would return four more times as Jeffrey from HR, although I think it's only in a later episode that we find out that he has the unfortunate last name of Weinerslav.

30 Rock: Do-Over

30 Rock: Do-Over
NBC
October 30, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B

Fey wrote this season-opener that sort of picks up where we left off.  Jack returns to GE but Banks makes him start in the mail room, although Kathy Geiss (Marceline Hugot) seemingly offers to give Jack his old job back in exchange for sex.  He has to fake a romance with Liz, making Kathy utter perhaps her only line, urging Jack and Liz to kiss.  (They don't.)  Meanwhile, Liz tries to impress a lady from an adoption agency, getting a do-over when Frank hits the lady with the golden nunchucks that Tracy bought for him, after Liz prodded Tracy to reward the people who helped work on the now very successful porn video game.

Frank Anello's fans will be pleased that he continues his role as part of the Production Staff.  Megan Mullally would actually reprise her role of Bev, the lady from the adoption agency, in the final season.

Lost in Austen: Episode 4

Lost in Austen: Episode 4
ITV
24 September 2008
Fantasy, Historical Comedy, Romance
DVD
B-

In the conclusion, Lydia runs off with Bingley, but platonically.  Nonetheless, Mr. Bennet challenges Bingley to a duel and ends up giving himself a concussion.  Amanda is able to return to modern-day London, where she's followed by a confused Darcy.  She brings Lizzy back with her and tries to matchmake Lizzy with Darcy, but eventually realises that she is herself meant to be with Darcy.  Lady Catherine annuls the Collinses' marriage, and Jane and Bingley get married and move to America.  While I found this series entertaining, I don't think it lived up to its potential.  Still better than the recent Mansfield Park TV version of course.

Lost in Austen: Episode 3

Lost in Austen: Episode 3
ITV
17 September 2008
Fantasy, Historical Comedy, Romance,
DVD
B-

This episode introduces Lady Catherine de Bourgh, played by Lindsay Duncan, who was Lady Bellaston in the '97 version of Tom Jones.  It has some meta moments, like when, after Darcy proposes to Amanda, she asks him to reenact Colin Firth's wet shirt scene.  But I find it a bit hard to swallow that Darcy would invite not only Amanda, but Mr. and Mrs. Collins, and Lydia and Mrs. Bennet, to Pemberley.  Note that the romantic entanglements are getting even more entangled, including a pay-off to Amanda in the first episode telling Bingley she's a lesbian in order to speed up the transference of his affections to Jane.  And in case you're worried that Darcy won't end up with Lizzy, he has to dump when Amanda when he finds out she's not a virgin, although he does admire her honesty and bravery in telling him.

Lost in Austen: Episode 2

Lost in Austen: Episode 2
ITV
10 September 2008
Fantasy, Historical Comedy, Romance
DVD
B-

This episode introduces Tom Riley as Mr. Wickham and Guy Henry (who was John Knightley in the 1996 Emma TV-movie) as Mr. Collins.  Both men produce complications for the Bennets and "Miss Price," but not the ones of the original novel.  Amanda dislikes both men the moment she meets them, and not just because she's read the book.  However, they're both drawn to her, Collins proposing and Wickham propositioning.  She reluctantly accepts Mr. Collins, hoping to get out of it somehow and trying to prevent Jane marrying Mr. C out of duty.  However, after she rejects Wickham, he spreads a rumor that she's the daughter of a fishmonger.  Collins breaks the engagement, which is good, but then he proposes to Jane, who accepts, which is very bad.  Amanda is very angry at Mr. Darcy, who has discouraged Bingley from pursuing Jane, but mostly Amanda is mad at herself for the mess she's made.  (Charlotte despairs of ever marrying and so decides to become a missionary in Africa.)  I went with a slightly lower grade this time, since it felt odd for Amanda to pretty much confess to an indifferent Darcy that she's been a fan of his love story with Elizabeth for the past fourteen years.  Still, I am curious to see how all this is going to be untangled, since the episode ends soon after Collins and Jane's wedding.

Lost in Austen: Episode 1

Beware of strangers you meet in your
bathroom, even if you feel like you know them.

Lost in Austen: Episode 1
ITV
3 September 2008
Fantasy, Historical Comedy, Romance
DVD
B

Those who would be in at least one more episode:

• Gemma Arteron as Elizabeth Bennet
• Ruby Bentall as Mary Bennet
• Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Bennet
• Morven Christie as Jane Bennet
• Christina Cole as Caroline Bingley
• Elliot Cowan as Mr. Darcy
• Florence Hoath as Kitty Bennet
• Alex Kingston as Mrs. Bennet
• Michelle Duncan as Charlotte Lucas
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Piranha
• Tom Mison as Mr. Bingley
• Daniel Percival as Michael
• Jemima Rooper as Amanda Price
• and Perdita Weeks as Lydia Bennet

Guy Andrews wrote all four episodes of what is so far a funny and charming program.  I'm not technically re-viewing it, although I'd heard of it of course and had intended to watch it after my ex-husband burned it for me.  I will admit that I tend to be wary of things like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, which sound like they don't understand the true spirit of Jane Austen.  This mini-series, however, while it does mock the Austenian world, specifically of P & P, does so lovingly and intelligently.

The premise is that Lizzy Bennet is able to enter a modern London flat through one of the walls near the tub.  The owner of the flat, Austen-superfan Amanda Price, gets curious and goes through the wall, only to find that Lizzy has locked the door behind her, yes, hence the title.  Now it's up to Amanda to not muck things up too much.  (That she knows the story of P & P by heart turns out to not necessarily be an advantage.)  This episode takes us from the set-up, shortly after Mr. Bennet has secretly visited Mr. Bingley, to Jane's visit to Netherfield, on Amanda's urging, partly to get Mr. Bingley off his infatuation on Amanda, who did admittedly kiss him while she was drunk.  It looks as if the rest of the series stays specifically in P & P, although it would've been interesting if this had run six years and Amanda could've gone into all the novels.

Dan Zeff directed all four episodes.

The Big Bang Theory: The Tangerine Factor

The Big Bang Theory: The Tangerine Factor
CBS
May 19, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This story by Lorre & Prady, teleplay by Aronsohn & Molaro, has Penny (offscreen) breaking up with her latest boyfriend, and Leonard finally asking her out.  She worries it might ruin their friendship, and Leonard worries he might blow it, but Sheldon offers them the wisdom of Schrodinger's cat.  OK, this isn't exactly a Tony & Angela build-up.  It's only been a season (and an abbreviated season at that), and, yes, Peonard (or whatever the ship would be called) turns out to be incredibly successful, but ending the season with the beginning of their first date isn't a bad stopping point.  James Hong returns as Chen at the Chinese restaurant, this time dealing with Sheldon's complaints in terrible Chinese.

TBBT in its first season ranges from C to B, and as ten of the seventeen episodes get a B-, it's probably no surprise that this averages out to a B-.  I'm not going to run out and buy Season Two, but I probably will be taking a look at it for my next blog, details when we get there.  For now, I can sort of see why this show was renewed, if not why it's been such a hit for so long.  Galecki is nowhere near as good as he was on Roseanne most of the time, and Parsons's Leonard is really the only character I consistently enjoy.  That said, this is definitely better than Season Five of 30 Rock, which also might appear on my next blog.

The Big Bang Theory: The Peanut Reaction

The Big Bang Theory: The Peanut Reaction
CBS
May 12, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
C

Not even the return of Vernee Watson as Althea can make me care about this story by Aronsohn & Prady, teleplay by Goetsch & Molaro, where Penny convinces Leonard's friends to throw him a surprise party, and Howard fakes and then actually has a reaction to eating peanuts in order to keep Leonard from going home.  For one thing, they could've thrown the party at Penny's, and the episode could've had a different focus.

30 Rock: Cooter

30 Rock: Cooter
NBC
May 8, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Fey wrote this season finale, whose title comes from the character Cooter Burger (Matthew Broderick, in a role he'd reprise four years later), whom Jack meets during his brief stint during the "lame-eagle" Bush, Jr. administration.  Jack soon wants to be fired (since he's not allowed to resign), so he comes up with an elaborate scheme involving a "gay bomb" and his ex-girlfriend C.C. (Edie Falco in her last appearance on the show).  Meanwhile, Tracy, with voice-acting from Grizz and Jenna, completes his porn video game, which Frank spends three months playing non-stop, as we learn in the "how they spent their summer" tag for some of the characters.  Kenneth, with Jenna's help, gets to be a page at the Summer Olympics.  And Liz thinks she's pregnant after a one-night stand with her ex Dennis, but it's just the bull semen in her Mexican cheese curls.  Note that in a flashback we see a very hirsute Pete as being disappointed he can't do archery at the 1980 Olympics, which would have an echo in a later season.  This episode is very funny but occasionally poignant, a fine way to close out Season Two.

Marceline Hugot returns as Kathy Geiss and at one point reveals she has a Matchbox car in her mouth.  John G. Pavelec, a Congressman here, would later play an Attorney.  And Frank Anello concludes the season by playing a member of the Production Staff.

30 Rock in its Second Season ranges from one C+ to three B+s, averaging out to an impressive B.  The show is arguably at its peak here, with all the characters well defined and playing off each other.  The writing, direction, and music are all solid.  I recall Season Three as just as good, but we shall see....

The Big Bang Theory: The Pork Chop Indeterminacy

The Big Bang Theory: The Pork Chop Indeterminacy
CBS
May 5, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Lorre & Prady story, turned into a Aronsohn & Prady teleplay, introduces Sheldon's twin sister Missy, who's as tall as he is but gorgeous.  Courtney Henggeler is actually quite good in the role, and it's a surprise that she's never returned in the almost decade since.  She's not a genius but she is a lot better at assessing people than "Shelly" is.  All three of Sheldon's friends want to go out with her, so Leonard tries to make a genetic argument that Sheldon should have some say in who his sister mates with, but Missy sets Sheldon straight.  It's also nice to see Penny actually interact with another woman.  I understand that more of the regular cast would become female over time, but the imbalance is glaring in the first season, and this is definitely a series from a particular male perspective, where women have to point out that they're people.

30 Rock: Sandwich Day

30 Rock: Sandwich Day

NBC

May 1, 2008

Sitcom
DVD
B

The title of this Burditt & Carlock episode refers to the one day a year that the teamsters bring the staff wonderful sandwiches from a secret location.  Liz's writers eat her sandwich and she makes them get her another, which involves a drinking contest.  But Liz's more immediate problem is that Floyd is back in town and she's having trouble reading him.  Their reunion at the airport lampshades that rom-com trope.  And meanwhile, with Don Geiss still in a coma, his daughter Kathy (Marceline Hugot) is still the figurehead, and Jack has been banished to the weird and creepy (think David Lynch) 12th floor.  Note that Jack tries to revive Geiss by claiming that (the worst nightmare for both men) Hillary Clinton has become President.

Screener Johnnie Mae previously played a Nurse.  We haven't seen Brian Dennehy, here playing teamster Mickey J.,  in my TV collection since he was MP Ernie Connors on M*A*S*H.

The Big Bang Theory: The Nerdvana Annihilation

The Big Bang Theory: The Nerdvana Annihilation
CBS
April 28, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B

Bill Prady wrote the story, Engel & Molaro the teleplay, where Leonard bids on the time machine from the movie The Time Machine, thinking it's a miniature, when in fact it's a beautiful full-size model.  He can't even afford the $800, but his friends chip in so they can all share.  It's unclear how they would shuffle it back and forth between their homes, when it's hard for them to even get it up the stairs.  They're blocking the stairs when Penny is running late for work.  She has a series of mishaps when trying to go to work using the neighboring building and she in fact misses a day's pay.  She's so angry that, although usually sweet-natured, she yells at the guys, which is understandable.  However, she also calls them immature, which hits Leonard hard.  He's ready to give up his fandom merchandise, even after Penny apologizes.  Penny kisses his cheek and he wants to ask her out, but then her date shows up.

Watching this, I kept wishing that Leonard would go after a girl who would think the time machine was cool.  I understand that his pining for Penny is part of the set-up, and they would later date and marry, but it did bother me that he was willing to give up things that are important to him for a girl who thinks of him as a friend.  That said, his conflict is well done (Galecki can still act, even if he's never given anything as meaty as he got in the glory days of Roseanne), and the time machine and the gleeful geeking out over it are adorkable.

30 Rock: Succession

30 Rock: Succession
NBC
April 24, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B+

John Riggi's story, co-written with guest writer Andrew Guest (OK, he was script coordinator that season, but he didn't usually write scripts), is a great one, where actions rise and fall, against an Amadeus theme, musical and symbolic.  Although Devon Banks is engaged to Kathy Geiss (Marceline Hugot), Don Geiss chooses Jack as his successor, although he can't make the announcement until the board of directors approves.  Jack confides in Liz, promising to make her his successor.  She at first resists and then he shows her the salary.  The sequence of her reaction is hilarious: her mouth falls open and she slaps Jack, then she goes down to the writers' room and says, "Suck it, Monkeys!  I'm going corporate!"  When Pete worries about her abandoning him, she says he'll be promoted, too, and shows him the salary.  His mouth falls open and he slaps her.  She grins and says, "I know, right?"

However, although Liz quickly learns how to charm other executives, while "business drunk" and coming up with "Button Classic" for the microwave, Jack actually feels sorry for Banks, who looks miserable at the bachelor party.  And then Geiss goes into a diabetic coma, with a caped Dr. Spaceman called in to (mis)diagnose.  Banks maneuvers almost mute Kathy into her father's position as head of GE, so that Banks will be the puppetmaster.  And meanwhile, Tracy (we never learn how) conquers Uncanny Valley and invents a porn video game that is realistic without being disturbing, with Frank as his Salieri, and this is one of the best Tracy subplots I've seen.

Brian Stack again appears as human punching bag/punchline Howard Jorgensen.  This is the 2800th of my shows I've reviewed and I don't know if we'll hit 2900.  (Three thousand is very unlikely.)

The Big Bang Theory: The Bat Jar Conjecture

Note the Red Shirts on Sheldon's team

The Big Bang Theory: The Bat Jar Conjecture
CBS
April 21, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B-

While not everything works in this story by Engel & Glickman, teleplay by Cohen & Prady, it is at times more of a character study than we usually get in the first season of this series.  When Sheldon proves unwilling to be a team player for the Physics Bowl, Leonard reluctantly recruits Leslie Winkle.  Gilbert still has great comic delivery, as when she gets a T-shirt for the team named Perpetual Motion System and says, "PMS?  Well, it's a few days early, but OK."  The final scene is probably the weakest, since I'm not buying that Penny would, one, be so up on '70s and '80s pop culture, and two, see such knowledge as a sign of "going outside and talking to people."

Mark Harelik returns as Dr. Eric Gablehauser and continues to make little impression on me.  Note the irony of the discussion of "TV's Blossom," when Mayim Bialik would become a regular on this show in 2010.

30 Rock: Subway Hero

30 Rock: Subway Hero
NBC
April 17, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Burditt & Carlock story has three good threads:

• Jack recruits has-been Bucky Bright (Tim Conway doing self-parody, a decade after his appearance on Ellen) to be a celebrity Republican but decides that Tracy would be better, which Tracy agrees to after having a dream where Jack is Nixon and Toofer is Sammy Davis, Jr.;
• Meanwhile Kenneth gradually gets disillusioned with Bucky;
• And we see the return of Dennis Duffy (Dean Winters) and understand more about why he and Liz got together, from a flashback to their snarking at the Hours (which I heartily agree with) to a Liz & Jenna talk where (ironically as it would turn out a few episodes later) Dennis is compared to the off-brand Mexican Cheetos that Liz likes.

The Big Bang Theory: The Jerusalem Duality

The Big Bang Theory: The Jerusalem Duality
CBS
April 14, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Engel & Glickman wrote the story, Goetsch & Molaro the teleplay, and it's about Sheldon's insecurities when a 15-year-old genius arrives, as well as Sheldon's friends' attempts to distract the genius with a girl.  Mark Harelik returns as Dr. Gablehauser.  It's nice to see Joel Brooks, as Professor Goldfarb, still has his comic timing three decades after his Three's Company cameos, and I wish they'd given him more to do.