TV.com spends a little quality time with Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski to discuss the new season.
Promotional Trailer
Interview
Interview
Promotional Trailer
Interview
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Returning Series
October 11, 2006
Office
Liz encounters the man of her dreams while dealing with the weddings of Cerie, Floyd, and Grizz. Jack is forced to choose between Avery and Nancy. Another woman comes between Jenna and her boyfriend. Kenneth fears receiving a promotion that would move him to Los Angeles.
Dealing with life in a studio at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza (the title is a shortening of that), the show centers around Liz Lemon, played by Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey, who's the head writer of The Girlie Show. When her old boss dies and a new boss comes in (Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy),… More demanding the addition of a volatile former movie star (and re-branding the show TGS with Tracy Jordan in the process), Liz must figure out how to keep things running smoothly without losing her mind. Jane Krakowski plays Liz's friend Jenna Maroney, the former headlining star who's all too aware her time to rely on her look is running out. Tracy Morgan plays Tracy Jordan, and out-of-control comedy star whose movie career vanished. Scott Adsit plays producer (and Liz's confidant) Pete Hornberger. Judah Freidlander is writer Frank Rossitano, a slovenly man who's into porn and comic books. Jack McBrayer plays NBC page Kenneth Parcell, a naive Georgia man who seems to always let NYC get the best of him.
I'm sorry to say Ionly got into this show a couple of weeks ago when a friend bought methe season 1 boxset. I finished it and received the season 2 boxset in the mail this morning. Is it me or do the people sound slightly different in the second season from the first season? Liz seems to sound a… More little like CJ from The West Wing and all the others sound a little deeper. I looked on youtube for clips from season 2 and 3 and they seem to continue sounding in this new manner. Did/has anyone else notice/d a slight change in voice frequency, because myfriend noticed the change as well, so we're trying to work out if it was an intentional change on their part, or if there is something wrong with the DVD. It's nothing huge, but each character, even Kenneth, sounds different from the first season. Thanks.
Why are all these people saying that 30 rock is getting worse? I think it's still as funny as when it started, maybe even better. Each episode seems to have it's own style of comedy, it's always been like that.
30 Rock: The Movie Thoughts on this, and the others.
Certainly not a lemon hide show
As the title makes 31% clear; this series is based in NBC nerve center 30 Rockefeller Plaza and it details the dismal struggles of writer Liz Lemon to manage her comedy show (not Saturday Night Live, for those fearing a shameless plug) TGS with Tracey Jordan while maintaining her sanity and personal life. Liz's wacky cohorts make for a further need for aspirin consumption with her controlling boss Jack Donaghy, delusional friend Jenna, recklessly unstable star Tracy and her team of childish writers who almost makes The Simpsons' depiction of television writers seem flattering. Almost. 30 Rock certainly has a comedic complexity that has never been seen and will likely never be equalled on television again; the situations which characters find themselves in are as bizarre as they are partly surreal, a majority of the jokes are so cynical and offbeat they seem like they had been written by the classroom "emo" and it is almost impossible to describe each character with just one word which is an all too easy task for a majority of other comedy shows. Despite the firm absence of a laugh track and any other sitcom staples, 30 Rock is conventional in that the audiences can always tell when a joke is coming from the sober crescendo to it but the eccentricity and innovation that pervades every punchline makes predictability non-existent. While performances are always hilarious and strong by the leads, one cannot help but feel slightly unnerved by the palpable smugness that lies beneath every silly voice and exaggerated facial expression, like they know that they will continue to have acting nominations thrown at them if they chew the scenery to pieces. Tina Fey allows for her unique acting and writing style to be translated to the silver screen with no hint of selling out or dumbing down and the result is excellent, the only other cream in the show's hammy acting crop is Alec Baldwin who is certainly in career best form (acting-wise, not health-wise as his considerable paunchiness indicates) as the big shot Jack and growls every line with superb comic timing. If only one Simpsons reference was not enough, let me say that 30 Rock certainly matches it with the amount of A-list cameos offered in each instalment and not only is the novelty and buzz entertaining enough but a credible performance is offered by almost every guest star to the point where just appearing in front of the camera will get the Emmy board writing your name down (check out last year's nominees if you don't believe me, my God!!)
Inventiveness does not stop with the writing and acting, the show's camera work which expertly uses vantage points to maximise funniness and kinetically zips around the uncanny environment. Sadly, 30 Rock can not be as confidently recommended to everyone as one would hope, for many the inundation of zaniness would be too big a pill to swallow and many of the characters could very well be construed as irritating rather than hilarious or endearing even though the latter is generally perceived by those who have warmed to the show from several viewings. Additionally not every episode can be so steadfastly labelled as brilliant, as the show continues to reign, its comfort has seen the spawning of various sub-par episodes and it is often the case that an episode's ending sees a notable stumble where either a cliché or anti-climax halt what was otherwise a fine episode.
All in all, while the fundamental problems are too notable to be labelled as nit-picks; the show itself can certainly be labelled as the freshest and one of the wittiest of our time which is coupled with acting and technical genius which makes it a joy to watch every week. 30 Rock, rocks.
my one "glitch" with 30 rock or any other show/movie written by witty people like tina fey is that the characters' characters (chew on that for a while) are sometimes compromised. hide show
there is a tendency for lines to sound like they're all coming from the same person (because they are) & the different actors are just voicing them. but that's just the thing: they're not supposed to be that way. it's like that time when tony soprano's kazakh cumare irina answered the phone & asked carm--in her exotic kazakh accent, where carm thinks she is in "the pecking order". & i was like, whattttt cumares never know about pecking ordersss.. kazakh cumares, no less........ in fact there's probably a law forbidding them from finding out what a pecking order is... at least there should be.... because it's just WRONG, all of it!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!11!1! make the voices stop!!!!!!!!1!11 end...scene
30rock is funny, thanks to SNL's tina fey. the main character, liz lemon, is all too relateable...from when i was 19 & vegan & writing articles for a danish zine & almost thought i was a feminist until i was asked to define it. then there's her lack of luck (try saying it fast many times) in love. *sighs* :)
it wouldn't be complete without the gang of stereotypes: twofer (2 for 1--black + ivy leaguer)...the aging blond actress...the bimbo...the greasy, intelligent slacker...the loud black guy... the married bald guy... the regular guy... the simpleton that's actually psycho...... & of course, alec baldwin.
random scenes i remember from the show: liz lemon...on the floor eating while wearing her wedding dress, eating a sundae while walking at like 2mph on the treadmill, dating a guy who turns out to be a relative, dating jon hamm (d_mn), trying to do hip hop aero... it's good. watch it.
Two thumbs up for this great sitcom project! hide show
Two thumbs up for this great sitcom project! No matter how screwed up you are, you'll always find a character who is even worse off than you in at least one respect. Given the times we live in, it's safe to say that's a pretty remarkable achievement. So, if you're looking for a relaxing little show to make you smile and even laugh at times, in which you'll see people handling ordinary matters in extraordinary ways or if you just want to remind/convince yourself that Alec Baldwin can also do good comedy, watch 30Rock. You most certainly won't be disappointed!
A wonderfully funny insiders look into TV production hide show
Brilliant - simply brilliant. The story revolves around a 30 something tv executive and the hilarious goings-on at the NBC Universal studios in New York. Liz Lemon's life is comic genius and Alec Baldwin adds an air to the show that is dynamic and energetic.
When Tracy Jordan joins TGS mandess ensues as this crazy actor brings a little bit of hollywood to nbc.
The support cast are sometimes forgotten and Jenna Moroneys character seems under-utilized but on the whole you are left satisfied and even comically educated by the performances of the two main leads.
Add this one to the list folks.
One of the funniest shows on television hide show
Crazy antics, out of control characters and great one liners, this show has it all. The characters in 30 rock are hilarious and always doing weird stuff. Liz lemon is the one who has to keep everything together but has no personal life. Jack Donagey(sorry im sure i spelled it wrong.) Is very cynical and concided. Jeana Maroney is one of my favorites because shes real dramatic and the b**** loves to cause scenes. Tracey (who was obviously type casted) who funny and adds somethign special to the show. Overall its very funny and it deserves the success its recieveing, go Tina Fey.
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