I’ve been thrilled with the early returns of the fourth season of 30 Rock. I think for the most part, this season has been stronger than the beginning of last season. I thought this episode, however, wasn’t quite as strong as the previous episodes this year. Yes, it did have an amazing cameo from Brian Williams and featured Tina Fey doing a Christopher Walken impression, but aside from that there just seemed to be something missing.
One of the things that I think has helped the series this year is that they have been able to work all the characters into each episode so far. Last year it seemed like characters would disappear for whole episodes. I like that everyone has played a role in each episode so far. This installment was no different, but there just seemed to be something off. I’m not sure if it was because Jack and Liz were apart more than they were together. They really are the heart and soul of the show and seem to compliment each other a lot when they share a story line.
It could just be that the whole audition story was a little too “industry” for those of us who are not in Hollywood. Sometimes I think that episodes, or sometimes even entire shows (Studio 6o on the Sunset Strip), focus too much on Hollywood itself. Because everyone involved in the production is in the industry, no one can see that it won’t play well with the average viewer. Tonight’s episode of 30 Rock may have been suffering a bit from that, as the whole audition plot seemed to be one huge in joke.
With all that being said, I still think 30 Rock on an off night is better than most sitcoms.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“You’re setting him up to get it. You don’t think I know that trick. You don’t think I’ve been brought in on a million auditions just to make Kim Catrall seem grounded and human.” – Jenna, on Liz’s plan to get a new cast member hired.
“My mom used to send me articles about how older virgins are considered good luck in Mexico.” – Liz
What did you think of tonight’s episode? Am I way off base, or did this seem like the weakest episode of the season?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Nov 05, 2009 @ 22:57 EST5EDT
I thought this episode was stronger than its predecessors. There was no dead air, and all the storylines worked for me. Maybe I liked it better because it was more conventionally sitcommy?
Jack addressing the rest of the subway car was uncomfortably true to life.