Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 10/07/2008 Rating: Nr
"I really feel like this is going to be my year," an uncharacteristically optimistic Liz Lemmon proclaims in
30 Rock's season two opener. Reality quickly intrudes on the hapless Liz, but for Tina Fey and
30 Rock, the year couldn't be better. Nominated for 17 Emmys, the series repeated for Outstanding Comedy Series and earned Outstanding Actress and Actor honors for Fey and co-star Alec Baldwin as GM CEO-in-waiting Jack Donaghy. TV icon Tim Conway was also honored as Outstanding Guest Actor as Bucky Bright in "Subway Hero"--just one of the strike-shortened season's benchmark episodes--as a faded TV star from the 1940s and '50s who shatters the illusions of television-loving NBC page Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) with appalling (and unprintable) stories about "the good old days." If you're going to make a television show, Bucky tells him, "things are going to get weird." And from one of Kenneth's lame parties that turns dark and twisted to the "Page Off" between Kenneth and his nemesis (
Human Giant's Paul Scheer) things get really weird behind the scenes of TGS, the
SNL-ish sketch show where Liz oversees a motley crew of writers and her tempermental, demanding stars, insecure diva Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) and all kinds of crazy Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan). 30 Rock is rarefied television, each episode brimming with quotable dialogue ("Never go with a hippie to a second location"), brilliantly absurd bits (Tracy Jordan's novelty hit, "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah," the TV series "MILF Island," Liz's
Cathy moment), and edge of the frame silliness that rewards close attention ("Anne Heche Leaves Husband for Pony," reads a network news scroll in the episode, "Somebody to Love"). Stellar guest stars rise to the occasion. Edie Falco was an Emmy nominee for her recurring role as "C.C.", the liberal Democratic Congresswoman who becomes conservative Republican Jack's "hippie dippy mama," as was Carrie Fisher as former
Laugh-In writer Rosemary in the instant classic episode, "Rosemary's Baby." It's this episode which features Tracy's therapy session during which Jack channels Fred Sanford and J.J. from
Good Times. Making welcome returns this season are Will Arnett as Jack's corporate rival, Devon Banks, Chris Parnell as unethical Dr. Spaceman, Elaine Stritch as Jack's castrating mother, and Dean Winters as Dennis Duffy, Liz's sleazy former boyfriend and New York's unlikeliest hero. But the real muffin top on this two disc set are the awesome bonus features, including a revelatory table read of the season finale, "Cooter," the benefit live performance of the episode "Secrets and Lies" (complete with an improvised commercial), a
30 Rock panel discussion with cast and creators moderated by Brian Williams, and a backstage look at Fey's
Saturday Night Live homecoming last season. Most sitcoms are as bad for you as the offbrand Mexican Cheetos that Liz gorges herself on, and as Jenna tells Liz at one point, employing "a weak metaphor," you deserve a good meal.
30 Rock is a feast. --
Donald Liebenson Stills from Season Two of 30 Rock (click for larger image)
| Funniest Show on TV...By Far! | 2008-11-19 | 5 / 5 |
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| 30 Rock is without a doubt the funniest show on TV right now...and most definitely ranks among the "all-time funniest." I didn't think any live-action show could come close to the rapid-fire, razor-sharp wit of the animated Simpsons (the early years), but this manages to accomplish it. Kudos to Tina Fey & Co. Season 2 is worth buying just for Kenneth's birthday party montage. Wish there were more episodes! |
| Hilarious! | 2008-11-16 | 5 / 5 |
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I'm from the U.K. so cant see it on tv yet and have to buy the series.
I bought the first season of "30 Rock" and thought that it was brilliantly written, with so many laugh out loud moments in each episode let alone the whole series!
with season 2 i was suprised to see that it has surpassed its previous, with an absolulty hillarious series! it just gets better and better, and the extras on this dvd are worth buying for, particularly the live performance! |
| Brilliant comedy | 2008-11-16 | 5 / 5 |
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| 30 Rock is great fun. Although season 2 is a lot shorter than season 1 - due to the writers strike in 2007 - the gap is filled with extra material. |
| I Love This Show | 2008-11-10 | 5 / 5 |
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Granted, this is a full price DVD for what amounts to two-thirds of a season, but I think a rating should reflect the quality of the product. This is a terrific and highly rewatchable show; like "The Simpsons," there are too many jokes to catch on one viewing.
I wish there had been a blooper reel, but there are a lot of good extras: ten commentaries (I like the one with Tina and her husband, show composer Jeff Richmond), a table read, and a live performance of the show with the whole cast participating.
I would recommend this to any fans of the show, and especially to new fans who want to get caught up. |
| I am so glad there are only 2 seasons (so far) | 2008-11-08 | 5 / 5 |
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I can't get anything done. I have stopped writing. I have stopped editing my new books (both of them). I have sworn off designing Tarot decks, designing magical calendars, and forgot what supermodels I want to date when I am famous. Every night I come home after work and watch this damned TV show! My only hope for future productivity is that I will eventually run out of episodes.
But let me sum up: I don't watch TV. Yeah, yeah, TV paid my bills for several years when I was working with the wonder trio that created Friends, whatever... But I have sworn off of the box for several years now, with only the occasional relapse. But, this show is like crack! Well, having never actually done crack I suppose I am not specifically qualified to give any kind of formal declaration that this show is as euphoric and addictive as that powdery wunderkind of illicit intoxicants. Nonetheless! This show is like crack as I imagine crack would be if you dressed it up in a [...] suit and whored it off to [some random giant multi-national electronics conglomerate] executives in Times Square.
You just can't watch one episode. (Maybe this show is like a potato chip...) Tina Fey is some kind of super-sexy TV genius of our generation and her choice of casting is so spot-on that you literally feel as if you are relaxing in your favorite chair, just off-camera, watching the surreality of network television invade your day. Tina's (I call her that*) particular je ne sais quoi stems from a blend of intelligence, sexual frustration, floppy stance, and Sandra Bullock-esque cuteness that infects the very celluloid (digital just can't capture this level of warmth) the show's magic is captured on with all of the comfort of the sister you wish you had.
The rest of the cast is spectacular as well. My pathetic prattlings will not do justice to the level of humor and camaraderie everyone brings to the set for each episode. This is high alchemy the likes of Seinfeld or I Love Lucy. Without Alec Baldwin or Jack McBrayer (or any of the other hilarious cast members) the show wouldn't flow as seamlessly. The collective on-screen chemistry at play here comes across as both real and (as mentioned before) surreal, like "one of those days" we all face occasionally--but these are the norm here.
It is safe to say that this (and season one) makes an excellent gift for any occasion, and could be enjoyed by anyone with a sense of humor. The subtle innuendo of political views is backlit by the farce of Alec Baldwin's brilliant portrayal of a (platinum, presumably) card carrying member of the upper echelon of uber-right-wing elite media, which should not be confused with the so-called "liberal" media elite, who to the best of my knowledge do not make an appearance in this season.
If you only watch one TV show this year, watch something boring! THIS show will enslave you to the wonders of the 22-minute episodic visual comedy (er... "sit-com"). This show will make you believe in TV again. It will make you laugh so hard you will pee (and get lettuce in your hair, which is embarrassing if that happens in public). You cannot go wrong with this show. One day it will probably be proven to cure cancer. It's just THAT funny.
Thanks for reading.
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