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« 30 Rock
Episode Recap: "Secrets and Lies"
Pretty good episode, if a bit uneven. I realize that Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey are the bread-and-butter here, but I actually think that the occasional B story could deserve greater play. Take Jenna and her entourage. That offered so much promise and opportunity for parodying Tracy, Grizz and Dotcom, but instead it felt shoehorned into two scenes. Even Tracy accepting his Pacific Rim Emmy, you may have felt like the faux satellite broadcast would be the big payoff for the story, but instead it pretty much just served as a reason to "shark" Jenna. (Did you catch how she was briefly proud to hear the janitor said her boobs looked good?)
As for Jack and C.C., I think I may enjoy this arc more going forward now that they are "out." Edie Falco's C.C. was always so uptight and nervous that, from where I sat, it undermined the comedy of the situations. Maybe now she will "let loose" some more, a la "Take off your pantsuit"/"Right back at ya."
Frank and Twofer's feud was, visually, almost disturbing — and I loved it! Was Twofer padded or something? He didn't seem as wispy as when he's in his Harvard tweed and argyle.
But perhaps the moist unexpected treat this week was guest star James Carville, who's presence as confidant to Jack not only made sense, but Carville also had a lot of fun lampooning himself "Cajun style" and all. And look at how well his advice for Frank and Twofer worked! "Doc-tor Hair-cut!"
The bullets:
• Jack passing off C.C. as "Lakisha Gutierrez Arafat."
• "I call the movie Risky Business "Risky It" because "it" means "business."
• Liz's rape-whistle necklace — minus the whistle.
• The 30 Rock/Amex commercial with Pete looking forward to a "gentleman's lunch" (complete with Mulholland Drive lesbian scene), only to have Kenneth bring his kids for a visit.
• "I got a squeezer from an Indian girl on a bunk bed, so I think I got the full Harvard experience."
• "That word [lovers] bums me out unless it's between 'meat' and 'pizza.'"
• "This company has a very strict bros before hos policy."
• Jack inviting Liz to dinner with him and C.C.: "Try not to dress like a small-town lesbian."
• Jenna's "award" for Best Actress in a Movie Based on a Musical Based on a Movie. (Anyone else suspect right away that her award was faked by Liz, too?) • Tracy's animated alter ego to Shaq's: "Would you call what we did last night 'sex'?"
• Tracy's "World's #4 Dad" coffee mug • "Samurai I-amurai"
• "I have to arrange for a snake nanny."
• Kenneth's dinner conversation with Liz: "What's your favorite pizza topping? Mine's plain, but I like others."
• Tracy giving props to Shelly Long • Jenna and her dressing-room squirrel: "It's not afraid of people!"
• C.C. disguised as Mr. Sputinelli, the plumber.
• Jack on the $5 million-per-orange kid settlement: "That's NBA sexual assault money."
• C.C. lamenting, "We were going to go on Oprah !"
• "I like seeing a woman have ambition. It's like seeing a dog wear clothes." Ouch!
• Jenna's swishy and swishier entourage, and Patrice's repeated "Pick your face off the floor" burns.
• Jack calling Carville, to Carville's face, "a pinko nut job."
• Jenna: "Wake me up if Andy Dick calls." (Words probably never actually uttered by anyone ever in real life.) • The executive dining room diners following Jack's lead and one by one making their own "liberal" confessions, including, "I'm black."
One last word about those 30 Rock/Amex spots: Say what you will about selling out and product placement, but I have few qualms about getting closer to 30 solid minutes of 30 Rock goodness!
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Dec 7, 2007 9:16 AM
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I felt it was a bit uneven as well, but still pretty great. I loved "Lemon out" and Liz's face when she left Jack's office after walking in on him and CC. Also her reason for being there early: "I gave up caffeine so I've been going to bed at 5:30" (or something along those lines). I also loved how when CC said she shouldn't have taken advice from a woman who tapes her bra, Jack automatically knew it was Liz.
I definitely suspected from the get-go that Liz made up Jenna's award, and her admission of all the things she does for Jenna was fantastic. She really does go out of her way to make all of them happy.
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Dec 7, 2007 9:44 AM
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The "dog wearing clothes" line was awfully close to a comment made about competent women on "Mad Men": "It's like watching a dog play the piano." But given that Jack's mindset is on par with guys from the 60s, I'm going to give the writers the benefit of the doubt and assume that it was an homage. After all, that IS how Liz Lemon rolls.
Favorite moment: Edie Falco's over-the-top Italian accent as Mr. Sputanelli.
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Dec 7, 2007 9:49 AM
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Yesterday in my office, a co-worker told me that she hates the word "lover" and put her hands over her ears each time she hears the word. And of course I tormented her with the word all day. So imagine my surprise to hear that Lemon also hates the word! I was crying/laughing everytime I hear it on the show last night. Tina, are you following me?
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Dec 7, 2007 10:08 AM
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I love how even an uneven episode has a ton of great gags and quotes. A couple of others I liked:
The fact that Tracy wanted to change his name to Wise Greasy Bastard.
Jack trying to cover up for a personal chat with Liz about his relationship by yelling "and good luck with that alopecia problem."
Frank wore his Signet society pin on his fly.
Liz getting a coatcheck ticket for a 4-person dinner party (two of which were the hosts.)
"Gentleman...token Ladies."
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Dec 7, 2007 10:25 AM
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I actually thought this episode was one of the funnier ones of the season. Lots of laugh-out-louds for me. But I get what you're saying about giving the B stories more of a chance. I, too, was hoping for more Jenna and her entourage.
Great recap Matt. I especially liked your comment "But perhaps the moist unexpected treat this week..." Strangely, I didn't get a moist unexpected treat. 
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Dec 7, 2007 10:28 AM
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This is an uneven episode but still enjoyable. I loved how Jenna's entourage thought Liz was a "Melissa." Still the most pleasant surprise was how funny James Carville's appearace was - especially with his scene with Twofer and Frank in the hallway. LOL.
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Dec 7, 2007 10:51 AM
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Theres no such thing as an uneven 30 Rock to me They're all amazing.
My favorite line: "I can't let down my Japanese public, especially Godzilla! Hahaha - just kidding! I know he don't care about what humans do."
I love it I love it I love it! Best show ever!!!
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Dec 7, 2007 11:24 AM
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Liz eating the cookie trophy was freaking me out - all I could think was "oh, no, Lemon - you're going to get lead poisoning"!
That Carville dude creeps me out! Cajun style!
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Dec 7, 2007 12:13 PM
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Jenna's entourage "burning" Liz was so freakin funny! And James Carville was hilarious! Cajun-Style!
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Dec 7, 2007 12:43 PM
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"I murdered my wife!"
Jenna: "I got out of bed, went home, and got dressed for these fake awards". Jenna is so delightfully trampy.
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Dec 7, 2007 4:10 PM
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Thanks for remembering that one, Matuse. I loved that one too! Took me a minute, but it was worth it :D
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Dec 7, 2007 4:44 PM
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The "I'm black" confession followed by the one about murdering the wife just floored me.
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Dec 9, 2007 1:16 AM
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I can't remember what preceded it, but Tracy yelling out "Banter!" just floored me.
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Dec 9, 2007 2:13 AM
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I thought this was an amazing episode!! I especially thought the rape whistle necklace was hystrical!!!!
30 Rock is truly the funniest show on tv!
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Dec 9, 2007 1:40 PM
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