30 Rock: I Do Do

30 Rock: I Do Do
NBC
May 20, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Fey-written episode, Liz leaves the first wedding (Floyd's) for the second (Cerie's) but has to stop by Wesley's former office to pick up his dress shoes.  There she immediately connects with Matt Damon as Carol.  (It's a family name he says, and we later find out he's another of Liz's punningly named boyfriends, since his last name is Burnett.)  Avery and Nancy meet in the bathroom at Cerie's wedding, so Nancy ends up being the one to tell Jack that Avery is pregnant.  Meanwhile, Jenna learns that Paul (Will Forte) is also torn between two loves: her and Cher (at least as females to impersonate).  And when Kenneth tries to avoid a promotion that would mean moving to California, Pete has to reluctantly fire him.  The final wedding is Grizz's, and Kenneth drunkenly confesses his love for everyone.

Kristin McGee understandably makes her last appearance as Kaitlin, Floyd's bride, while John Anderson completes his fourth-season purpose as Astronaut Mike Dexter in various forms.  Paula Pell appears as Paula, but oddly we don't see Sherri Shepherd as Angie.  (Maybe she was still doing bedrest because of the pregnancy.)  Craig Castaldo again plays Moonvest.  Russ Spiegel returns as a TGS Bandmember.  And Frank Anello of course plays a member of the Production Staff, and Sue Galloway is naturally Sue.  I'm omitting Powell and Friedlander from the overcrowded tags.

30 Rock in its fourth season ranges from C to  B, and 13 of those are B-s, so it's not surprising that it averages out to a B-.  This is a slip in quality, but not a severe one.  I just laughed less and was less invested in the characters.  On my first viewing, I actually felt like we were leaving the characters in a good place, and the gross, unfunny, and "wacky" fifth season took me by surprise.  But that's a topic for my next blog.  For now, I'll note that we are not quite done with 30 Rock on this blog.

30 Rock: Emanuelle Goes to Dinosaur Land

30 Rock: Emanuelle Goes to Dinosaur Land
NBC
May 13, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Matt Hubbard wrote this episode which is an unofficial first half of a two-parter.  (Well, it does end "To be continued.")  We see the beginning of the day that Liz has to be part of three wedding parties, starting with Floyd's wedding in a Catholic Church.  Jack and Nancy finally slept together the previous night, so he decides to tell her, during Liz's speech, about Avery.  Meanwhile, Dot Com and Kenneth convince Tracy to do a movie that may get him the Oscar in his EGOT goal.

Kristin McGee returns as Kaitlin and Seth Kirschner is back as Shawn.  John Anderson again plays Astronaut Mike Dexter.  Tuxedo Gala Guest Ali Khan would later be an Airline Passenger.  Frank Anello is consistent as a member of the Production Staff.  I'm omitting Judah Friedlander and Jane Krakowski from the very overcrowded tags.

30 Rock: Don Geiss, America, and Hope

30 Rock: Don Geiss, America, and Hope
NBC
March 18, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Burditt & Wigfield episode, Jack tries to find meaning in his career as Don Geiss is dead and NBC is bought by Kabletown.  Meanwhile, Tracy, who had previously confided in Jack that he's actually 100% faithful to Angie, tries to save his career when his fidelity is revealed by an ex-nanny.  And Wesley, whose last name turns out to be Snipes, tries to convince Liz that they are each other's settling soulmates.

Geiss's Grieving Mistress Stefanie Grassley previously played one of Tracy's Fans, while Scott Bryce, who was Michael Templeton before (and had a role on Who's the Boss?), plays Dave here.  John Anderson again plays Astronaut Mike Dexter.  Marceline Hugot returns as Kathy Geiss, and James Rebhorn is back as Dr. Kaplan.  This is the first of three episodes directed by Stephen Lee Davis.

30 Rock: Future Husband

30 Rock: Future Husband
NBC
March 11, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Despite the gap of a month since the previous episode, this picks up not long after.  Jack is trying to figure out how to manage his relationship with Avery and where the lines between work and romance are, especially since she's a financial reporter and she's heard a rumor that Kabletown is buying NBC.  (A rumor that would prove true.)  Meanwhile, Liz has met her "Future Husband," in the form of an Englishman named Wesley, played by Michael Sheen.  In this and later episodes, they don't connect and yet they're drawn together.  Again, a B was tempting, but I didn't really care about the Tracy & Jenna thread about his attempts to get a Tony Award.

Maechi Aharanwa reprises her role as Keisha, while James Rebhorn would reprise his role as Dr. Kaplan.  Brian Williams is back as Brian Williams.  This time, "30 Rock Regulars" means only Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan.  This is the first of two 30 Rock scripts by Jon Haller, while it's Tracey Wigfield's second of nine.