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« 30 Rock
Episode Recap: "Cooter"
Long time, no recap, my fellow 30 Rockers! Been on vacay and then in L.A. for our Sexiest Stars party. I reconnected there with Jack McBreyer, one of my very first 30 Rock interviews (and vice versa). Such a nice guy. His answer to the evening's "round-up" question, What do you find sexy? "Kobe beef sliders."
Now on with the show! And what a show it was. The Rock has been a bit hit-and-miss since the strike, but this was a helluva season-ender, I thought. And why? All together now: It had heart. Beneath all the outrageousness, absurdity and guest-casting, it had heart, as Liz was first freaked by — and then enchanted by — the prospect of motherhood. Who else felt a tiny pang when Liz's messages to Jack played, the last one suggesting her pregnancy was not to be? Amazingly, 30 Rock softened that blow by blaming it all on the Sabor De Soledad chips and the evaporated bull semen that gives them that "tangy flavor."
Bullet Batch No. 1:
• Jack talking about partaking in "the war on the poor."
• "It's a time for my freedom search."
• Liz touting Sabor De Soledad: "I found a prize the other day - I think."
• Tracy's MMRPG: "Goregasm: The Legend of Dongslayer."
• "You having your woman times?"
• Frantic Liz checking into said woman times: "Why don't I cross off days like people in the movies?!"
• Pete reflecting on his failed bid to be an Olympic archer, if not for Jimmy Carter and his silly boycott. "Saboteur!"
Then there was Jack's odyssey into the heart (or at least spleen) of the Bush administration. As I said in my vodcast, Matthew Broderick belongs among the ranks of 30 Rock's best guests, fashioning Cooter as the most insecure, pandering and in-denial government types we can imagine (and/or hope do not really exist). "The ceiling is not leaking. I can show you a study." And then, the tragedy of the pen caps delivery. Blerg!
Bullet Batch No. 2:
• Cooter welcoming Jack: "The media is so obsessed with the pending election they totally forgot we're here. Exciting times!"
• "No, it's not [leaking]. We've looked into it and it's not."
• I love how Geiss' daughter never says a word. (What was in her mouth?!)
• Jenna, soft porn videogame vixen: "Touch my feet with your knees!" And Frank giving a "thumbs up" to Jenna's climactic sounds.
• Jack's "We need pens" speech.
• The only Chinese Jenna knows: "I was told there would be no nudity."
• Jenna's immediate reaction to the office pregnancy news: "Oh no - someone's going to get more attention than me."
• "The head of GE serves this country.... He brings good things to light." Cue: Candle under lampshade.
• "People always underestimated my intelligence because of my looks."
• Dennis' knowing look to the camera when Liz asks for "light bulb" help.
• The revelation that Jenna once had a three-way with Roseanne and Tom Arnold, but it's OK because "That was two years ago!" Umm....
Speaking of Jack's odyssey, Kenneth's own journey for these fab 22 minutes was to get in his bid to be an Olympics page, despite the hurdles (no, literally) thrown in his way by arch-rival Donnie. Jenna's song, another 30 Rock classic. "So brave, so ready, to be all that you can do...." Be all you can do ?
Bullet Batch No. 3:
• The story behind Cooter's first and last nicknames — and it wasn't even a hamburger.
• Dennis playing back Liz's OBGYN message: "Every one of my sister's got that message back in high school."
• Dennis' wont to name the kid Morpheus (a la The Matrix) or Julie, to honor a girl he once banged.
• Jenna's song coda, illustrating her philosophy of the backdoor compliment: "So beautiful... in every way.... I see myself in you." i
• Jack deeming the Gay Bomb "a guaranteed disaster - like eating a burrito before sex."
• Frank's "Additional Filth By" credit.
• Jack putting the pressure on C.C.: "I did certain things in bed for you that you were going to reciprocate, but then we broke up before my birthday. So you owe me."
• "No crying in my bath tonight!"
• Liz jazzed to convert her "laundry and newspaper pile" into a nursery.
• Mexican women eating Sabor De Soledad chips "to stop their periods before Cinco de Mayo."
• "I can't go to a sperm bank. The Duffy men use those like ATMs."
All of which leads us to not one, not two, but like two-and-a-half cliffhangers!
Will Liz adopt?
Is Jack now gay bones for Cooter?
Will Kenneth be assassinated by a Beijing terrorist?
Didn't see that last one coming!
See y'all back here in the fall, gang!
Read Cheers & Jeers' own take on the 30 Rock finale.
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May 9, 2008 6:16 AM
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• I love how Geiss' daughter-in-law never says a word. (What was in her mouth?!)
I think that was a toy car (SUV? Van?) Just for the absurdity of it, I suppose. Regardless, I (heart) this show!
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May 9, 2008 8:03 AM
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Yes, it was a little toy car.
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May 9, 2008 8:46 AM
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I believe it's Geiss' daughter.
And yes that part was hysterical!
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May 9, 2008 8:58 AM
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I believe it's Geiss' daughter.
Fixed! - MWM
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May 9, 2008 9:02 AM
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Another great show! If Alec Baldwin doesn't win Best Actor for Comedy at the Emmy's, something is seriously wrong! Loved seeing some of our favs show back up (CC, Dennis, Kenneth's page rival). I am very intrigued by Kenneth's foray into China and the Olympics. Loved Pete's "Peanut Farmer" muttering about Carter and I could go on and on. Needless to say, I can't wait for S2 to come out on DVD.
And yes, that was a Hot Wheel coming out of her mouth. Blerg!
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May 9, 2008 9:59 AM
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The look on Matthew Broderick's face when he opened the box and it was just pen caps! We need more Matthew Broderick, he was hysterical.
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May 9, 2008 10:11 AM
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Loved this ep. Cooters renaming and the fact that the Duffy men use sperm banks like ATMs had me giggling for hours afterword. Also loved that Liz was stilleating the Mexican corn chips after learning about their secret ingredient. And don't forget Tracy's line about not wanting another Judi Dench situation during the recording session.
I wish Tina would also spend some time skewering the Dems - why make fun of one set of idiots and allow the other set of idiots to go unscathed? So much potential!
Okay, I'm gigging again about Bush's decision to redub the man "Cooter Burger". Frighteningly believable. Gonna miss these guys over the summer.
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May 9, 2008 10:27 AM
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Don't forget Frank playing Tracy's game for "a few hours", 3 months later.
Personally, I've been guilty of getting caught up in a good game for far longer than I thought, but I usually notice having to eat or go to a bathroom before it becomes necessary to change the page on the calender...
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May 9, 2008 10:37 AM
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Will Kenneth be assassinated by a Beijing terrorist?
The Chinese girl said:"I'm falling love with your two healthy kidneys"
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May 9, 2008 11:15 AM
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I think Jack is in love with Liz a little. I know it's so wrong. And yet.
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May 9, 2008 11:25 AM
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Yes, Alec deserves an emmy, he is sooo funny. And he looked like he was happy, then disappointed for Liz with her voicemails - thus the offer to help her adopt.
Kenneth threw himself infront of the girl at the end. He was so heroic!
I have liked the use of Jenna since the strike (when they brought her back). She seems much funnier to me, or maybe I am finally really getting her character. It took me a bit to come around to like Tracy Morgan's too.
And Dennis's sisters got that same phone call when they were juniors in high school. LOL
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May 9, 2008 12:21 PM
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Chinese girl: "Kenneth, I like you... for your two strong, healthy kidneys."
Kenneth: "What?"
(Man busts through the door)
Kenneth: "How unexpected."
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May 9, 2008 6:00 PM
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