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« 30 Rock
Episode Recap: "Episode 209"
Is that really the episode title? "Episode 209"? No cutesy trite Christmassy pun? Love it!
Christmas episodes are so hard to do. So much territory has been covered countless, countless times, on dramas, comedies, contemporary TV and classic. It's hard to make a "true meaning of Christmas" story seem fresh. That's why this week's Kenneth/No LudaChristmas bit was a bit lame, in my opinion. The slight saving grace was the art-imitates-life fact that Tracy had on an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet. But even they seemed unsure of just what to do with that.
The A story fared a bit better, juxtaposing Jack's mean, coarse mother (Elaine Stritch) with Liz's folksy, affectionate (and, in the case of Mitch, temporally displaced) clan. Mama D chipped and pecked away at the Lemons, determined that she could expose them for the dysfunctional brood that every family is. To think that all it took was a slipped Goonies reference!
Sigh. I think we have just one fresh episode left before the strike strikes 30 Rock from our screens. Nooooo! At least we can take solace in today's Golden Globes noms for Tina, Alec and the gang. This is, on average, the outright funniest show on television, so every kudos is thoroughly deserved!
And now, the bullets:
• The photo scanner/paper shredder and its two "PS" modes.
• Cerie fondly recalling Frank's Horny Santa "act."
• Liz: "We're going to that restaurant where they pretend it's Mars." I've been there, with visiting out-of-town relatives, and it... is... awful!!
• "I invite her out of my paralyzing Irish guilt."
• Jack's mom to Liz: "My thanks to the peanut gallery."
• Jenna: "It should be mentioned that sexually, Mitch is very much an adult" — and Liz admonishing, "No, it shouldn't!"
• "Fancy suits. How was court?"
• "Is this the best employee you ever had?" Jack: "No."
• Jack waving Mom's pastries under the sickly stripper.
• Proud writer Liz in front of the "Who Farted?" TGS set.
• Kenneth being "pretty addicted to Coke" during his " Wall Street days."
• Jenna testing the room for acoustics by singing, "Open-pit barbecue sauce...."
• "People don't watch Letterman for Paul Shaffer." No truer words.
• I'm not big on bangs, but dayum if Cerie's aren't h-o-t.
• Jack: "In his mind Reagan is still president?" To Mitch: "You lucky bastard."
• "The Disney cruise in March — are you in or out?"
• "Mother, there are terrorist cells more nurturing than you are."
• Liz at Saturdaze: "I am going to have the fried-onion tower for two — for one."
• The Sheinhardt wig sign atop the Rock Center tree.
• The Guatemalan kids beating on their PSPSes — ha!
• Enlightened Mitch sipping at a cocktail: "I could have been drinking these for years!"
PS. Check out this Hollywood Reporter article about the 30 Rock/AMEX ads.
Check out 30 Rock clips using our Online Video Guide.
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Dec 13, 2007 10:31 PM
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I was smirking more than laughing during Episode 209 (which is funnier than the actual episode). Maybe because I was wrapping presents during it. Maybe because it followed the Benihana Christmas episode. Maybe because of the things that Matt pointed out in paragraph 2.
No matter. This is still the best comedy around today, and any and all nominations/awards are well-deserved.
My favorite revelation tonight: The Lemons are from "White Haven." Brilliant.
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Dec 13, 2007 11:28 PM
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There was one comment that actually made me cringe: "It's not a Lemon Party without Dick!" If you know what the Lemon Party is (Do NOT Google it!), you'll realize the tasteless, yet incredibly deliberate innuendo involved. (I am not saying it out of counterpsychology; if you do not know what the "Lemon Party" is, do not inquire. It scars minds. Seriously.)
Cerie looked better with bangs than Kiersten Bell on Heroes. That scared me more than the aforementioned comment.
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Dec 13, 2007 11:48 PM
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My favorite part was seeing Buck Henry as Liz Lemon's dad. Buck Henry--wow! It was equal to Carrie Fisher's "Help me Liz Lemon" comment.
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Dec 14, 2007 12:23 AM
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Probably not the funniest episode of the season but funny enough. Loved seeing Buck Henry playing Liz' dad. And Elaine Stritch is such a hoot as Jack's mom! Congrats to Tina and Alec and the show for the Golden Globe noms. Only one more ep before the strike. Blurg!
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Dec 14, 2007 2:16 AM
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This is a great show! I love every episode. I hope the writer's strike makes people check this show out. I hear the ratings aren't great, which doesn't surprise me seeing that no one would ever watch Arrested Development either!
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Dec 14, 2007 5:57 AM
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I loved the big computer screen displaying all the other people wearing ankle bracelets, including several Lohans around the country and one M. Rodriguez in Hawaii.
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Dec 14, 2007 7:26 AM
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I didn't catch the Lohans reference! Good one, FrenchCelt.
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Dec 14, 2007 7:41 AM
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Hurricane Zapata! I laughed so hard I had to stop the Tivo.
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Dec 14, 2007 8:23 AM
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Frenchcelt- there was also a "C Bacca" wearing an ankle bracelet in Texas- All the Lohans on there were cracking me up!
What a great show. Congrats on the Golden Globe Noms!
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Dec 14, 2007 8:42 AM
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...Matt, my favorite line was when, in answering to Papa or Mama Lemmon's(don't remember who said it)"we don't discuss politics; life is too short", Jack says "really?(and turning to his mother)says "because your life seems endless"...man, I laughed so hard at that one, the line, the delivery...I love this show, and I think Alec Baldwin is a genius...
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Dec 14, 2007 9:57 AM
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"Jack....this coat isn't going to take off itself."
"I have a girlfriend. Her name is CC."
"Is she Spanish?"
"Are you one of my mom's friends?"
The sickeningly sweet Christmas party, complete with SKIPPING!
And how Jenna whipped open her coat to reveal her revealing dress. LOL
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Dec 14, 2007 10:46 AM
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See, that's what I get for trying to wrap presents during 30 Rock. I completely missed the whole ankle bracelet thing. C Bacca. Holy crap.
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Dec 14, 2007 11:18 AM
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What about when Cerie invited Liz's brother over to her house "next week" when her parents would be out of town-- in the hot tub. It's a throw back to all those teen movies from the eighties. Also, the Flashdance reference.
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Dec 14, 2007 11:31 AM
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Overall I thought this show was pretty good as 30 Rock eps go. Loved it when Liz said "No, that's a joke Newspaper" to he forgetful brother. Tina Fey has created a well written and well produced show. Being an 18-49 year old male with disposable income, I feel slighted, as should the shows creators, that I have never been in the presence of one of those Nielson boxes. But the sad reality is that with a consistant 4 rating and the prospect of cheaper to produce reality programming coming into play due to the writers strike, NBC may see fit to pull the plug on this show. I wonder if the writers and the companies that make this show realize that once the strike is over they may have no jobs to go back to or episodes to produce. I hope both side read this and maybe decide to get back to business. The Soprano's went away for two years and they came back with a diminished audience. 30 Rock can not afford to lose auidence!
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Dec 14, 2007 11:40 AM
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