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....