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Episode Recap: "Succession"
Hey guys! Matt's on a very well-deserved vacation with his family, so I'm (Erin Fox) filling in this week. I'm a huge 30 Rock fan and hope I fulfill all your recap expectations.
The episode, I think, was funnier upon second viewing this morning. I had written down a ton of one-liners before the 11-minute mark.
Basically, the episode had two main stories: 1) Don Geiss chose Jack to be his successor (finally!) over Devon Banks (Will Arnett) who is marrying his fiftysomething, mute, asexual daughter. 2) Tracy's son is too embarassed to ask him to "Take Your Dad to School Day," so he decides to leave him a proper legacy: A video game about porn.
Arnett is hilarious as Jack's nemesis once again. And Liz, sporting a Flock of Seagulls "corporate" hairdo to match her new gig (courtesy of Jack), abandons her staff to support Jack as the new CEO. However, before he can be officially named, Geiss falls into a diabetic coma, and Banks gets Geiss' daughter named as CEO instead. Well played, Banks. Well played.
Bullet time!
• "I'd have my assistant sit on his naughty stool if he didn't enjoy it so much."
• Geiss has diabetes and can't believe his baby girl is getting married. Cut to the florist shop where Banks (Will Arnet) stares down a hot guy and says, "Fire Island, really? I'd love to come out... fight the surf together, light a fire, check each other for ticks." Kathy Geiss is in the background and eats one of the flowers. Ha!
• Jack: "The head of the stress ball division hanged himself."
• Jack bursts into tears, "Oh happy day!" Don: "You get one cry in life, you've chosen well!"
• Jack: "When will this be made public sir? I want my mother to find out before she dies so she can go to her grave a defeated woman."
• Liz: (to Frank) "Idiot, with your stupid face! You look like Gene Simmons had sex with a basset hound!"
• Frank: "First of all, the subject of the email was 'Check this out' ...you expect me not to click on that?"
• Tracy: "Tracy Jr. left his music stick at home." Grizz: ("That's) His flute."
• Kenneth: "Everyone knows the only thing we should be ashamed of is our bodies."
• Tracy: "I have to do something important so that my children will respect me... like become a senator or a wizard." Grizz: "Or, you can open a school in Africa like Oprah did." Tracy: "Everybody calm down!!!"
• Liz (eating Cheetos and reading about Gorillas in the jungle... her dream job): "Oh Jack, I was just reading about Gorilla researchers for a sketch we're doing making fun of them... for devoting their lives to the jungle and its noble inhabitants."
• Jack: "Hugging... so ethnic."
• Jack: "Geiss has stacked the board of directors with the most reliable collection of sychophantic yes-men this side of an Al Franken book signing: His golf cronies, his army buddies, a collection of unemployable family members and his hunting dogs (two chocolate labs)."
• Jack: "Why do I smell self tanning cream and teeth whitener? (Enter Arnett) Banks!"
• Jack: "Devon... once they cast Clay Aiken in Spamalot, I knew it was only a matter of time before you showed up here."
• (Re: Creating porn video game)Frank: "The world's greatest perverts have tried: Walt Disney, Larry Flynt, the Japanese... it can't be done."
• Banks: "That was so easy. Like taking candy from one of those guys who hands out candy at a gay night club."
• Liz attacks Banks with her tongue to capture it on the security camera... so it looks like he's cheating on Kathy.
• The animation chart
• Tracy: "I was born to design a video game with characters getting with each other for points. My genius will not be denied. I'm like Mozart. you're that guy that was always jealous of Mozart!"
• Cue the classical music; a spoof of Amadeus.
• Liz: "To get through it (licking Banks), I pretended he was a sandwich."
• Jack: "Business drunk... it's like rich drunk, either way it's legal to drive."
• Tracy: "My genius has come alive! I see erotica in everything... the cup, this table... even you, Kenneth!" Kenneth: "Well, I am wearing a cuffed trouser today."
• Liz: "(Banks is) like me yesterday, I hate him. Jack: I kind of feel sorry for him... Liz: Got your period?" (She hands Jack a tampon and he puts it in his jacket pocket).
• Liz: "Blurg!"
• Banks: "Go ahead, rub it in my face." Jack: "Normally I'd say, 'I bet you'd like that', but today I won't."
• Dr. (Chris parnell) comes in slow motion wearing a cape to music.
• Banks convinces the board to hire Kathy Geiss as CEO
What was your favorite line/moment?
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Apr 25, 2008 1:18 PM
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Spaceman! How could you forget a name like Dr. Leo Spaceman? So glad he popped in for a visit only to declare that he couldn't find Geiss' heart because no one knows where the human heart is (it's different for every person).
I think you're right, Erin, this episode does get better upon repeat viewing. I thought it was funny but not that funny but now after reading your bullet points, I'm cracking up at all the great lines.
Loved the scene of Tracy talking about how important his kids are to him while pulling the tiny picture of them from behind the giant picture of himself. Props to the Uncanny Valley shout-out.
I like that the episode set up a mini-arc for the series and of course means that Will Arnett will be returning. If Alec Baldwin's ego allows it, I'd love to have him become a series regular as Jack's boss.
No Jenna, didn't miss her at all. I love Grizz and Dot.com more and more.
My favorite line of the night is a tie between Jack saying "Hugging...is so ethnic." and Liz explaining the difference between her and CEOs. Too funny!
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Apr 25, 2008 1:29 PM
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Eric, you skipped part of the quote that was the funniest in your bullets. It was my genius has come alive, like toys when your back is turned! LOL How about when Dr. Spaceman calls 411 and says to the operator, "New York. Diabetes repair." Thanks for the recap. Great show!
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Apr 25, 2008 2:12 PM
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I may have skipped over some quotes for time's sake... no one's perfect... and my name is ERIN. LOL.
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Apr 25, 2008 2:15 PM
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I forgot about "Diabetes repair"! Oh, that was so great. And the "oh, what the heck, let's try" shrug that he gave when he said it was classic!
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Apr 25, 2008 2:19 PM
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I think my favorite part was Dr. Spaceman's cape. How beautifully random is that? (Though it's probably Amadeus-related; it's been 20 years since I saw that movie.) Loved the hunting dogs on the board - so silly it made me giggle.
You know what's weird? Somehow I always learn something - okay, not something I really wanted to know - when I watch this show. Lemon parties. Uncanny Valley. My horizons have been officially expanded.
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Apr 25, 2008 2:45 PM
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The Amadeus parody was a thing of beauty, particularly Dr. Spaceman's cape and Frank's paper tossing breakdown. Sheer brilliance.
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Apr 25, 2008 2:53 PM
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It's hard to pick a favourite part because this entire episode was made of hilarity, but I have a soft spot for Liz's face after Pete slaps her. It's pure gold.
And of course Liz attacking Devon ("You loved it!") and the thumbs up to the security camera that followed.
*sigh* I love this show so much.
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Apr 25, 2008 3:39 PM
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You missed part of the best line!
"My genius comes alive, like toys when my back is turned!"
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Apr 25, 2008 4:36 PM
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What other show can pack in so many funny lines in a mere 30 minutes?? None. This episode was brilliant. Love the nutty doctor in his cape and loved how Jack wanted Liz to succeed him, he gave her some really affectionate looks, but NO, do not want them to EVER be more then boss and subordinate, will ruin the show if they have a romance. Don't know how many more new episodes are coming, but now that the show is back in it's groove I will be sad to lose it again.
30 ROCK ROCKS!
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Apr 25, 2008 4:42 PM
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Oh, man, this show is too good! Thanks to, among the countless other things, one thing that always hits me several times an episode: Alec Baldwin is an acting genius! He nails every scene he's in. One moment I'm thinking of--one I really noticed after a second viewing--is the very last shot: the look on Jack's face when he receives the news that Kathy (really Devon) is the new CEO and his office no longer belongs to him. It is so real; he looks devastated, with nowhere to turn. So great!
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Apr 25, 2008 5:32 PM
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Sorry about the typo, yes I know your name is Erin. Yes, the entire episode was overflowing with bullet points!
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Apr 25, 2008 5:37 PM
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omg, I think my favorite line was Devon saying something like, "Yeah, it's like Christian winning Project Runway even though Rami was clearly the better draper" LOL
Will Arnett needs to be a regular on this show!
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Apr 25, 2008 6:56 PM
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The animation chart wasn't just made up, that's a real phenomenon that game designers, animators, and artists of all stripes have had to contend with since we first started scribbling on cave walls.
Distinctly inhuman creatures can be easily accepted, and of course real humans can be accepted. But the closer something is to looking human without being human, the more unsettling it is for us to look at.
Tom Hanks in "Polar Express" was a good example. His character is clearly not an actual person, but is very close, and the disconnect in the visual just freaks out the human mind on a very visceral level.
This site has a good rundown of the Uncanny Valley and how/why it works as it does: http://www.terraforming.com/auti02.htm
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Apr 25, 2008 8:53 PM
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Let's not forget Liz offering to give Kenneth to Devon when she opened her mouth at the wrong moment in the elevator, and him grabbing his arm at the thought only to resist because, "I'm straight now." LOL
This show was wayyy better for me on the second viewing.
Anything outta Alec's mouth is gold. I loved the way he said "the head of the stress ball division hanged himself" we rolled in our house. And his crying "oh happy day! I promised myself I wouldn't do this." And wanting his mom to go to the grave a defeated woman. LOL
I loved that they showed us just why Tracy's son wouldn't want him at Take Your Dad to School Day (his crying and dancing without his shirt saying something about "if I'm not a good day why are we dancing?") I really use to hate how stupid his character is, but I have come to appreciate him.
Dr. Spacemen kept cracking us up when he thought Guiss might be faking his diabetic coma, and when it was obvious, and everyone came into the room, he said, "I'm still not convinced he's faking."
I thought his cape effect was awesome, and I want to do something like that!
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Apr 26, 2008 9:20 AM
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