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« 30 Rock
March 8, 2007: "Things Are Lining Up for Ol' Liz Lemon"
As our friends over at Idol and 30 Rock apparently knows who they are would say: "Listen up, dawg. It wasn't my favorite performance, but..." Yeah, something about this week's episode, in which Liz claimed power, Jack found family and Tracy sought religion (a subplot deserving of far greater screen time), just wasn't clicking for me. Was it because the "Dad isn't dead" twist was seen coming up Broadway? I dunno. That said, Nathan Lane was an excellent guest star and, as my wife and I agreed, actually kinda sorta looks like Alec Baldwin! (In a squint-your-eyes, Barbara-Walters-soft-focus way.)
The Dona-hee/Donag-hee/Dona-fee siblings' reunion was a fun visual, if only to see such a mishmash of SNL vets peppered throughout. (When did Molly Shannon stop eating?)
Liz's power trip... I wasn't quite feeling it I know, I'm being such a Debby Downer though we all can probably identify with having that rare opportunity to squash a rival by questionable means, and her "I am the decider!" refrain was amusing, if not bullet-worthy. Bullets? Did someone say bullets?!
Liz's workout-class deal breakers: "As long as it doesn't have the words 'strip,' 'salsa' or 'beatz with a Z' in the name."
Pete fearing his wife's "big farm-people hands crushing my windpipe." Someone remind me, why'd he lie about getting a V?
Liz suggesting Tracy try the star-studded religion of "Practicology" and Tracy's flashback to his previous stab at the cult faith: "There are 31 letters in the white alphabet!"
Frank's extra-flashy "Liz Rocks" hat. (Here is where I remind you about my Q&A with Judah.)
Jack: "I haven't seen Eddie since I bailed him out of Disney jail," where he apparently was locked up for punching Goofy.
Perhaps the night's best line, Kenneth schooling Tracy in his "We haven't been Presbyterian in months" religion, which holds services on Wednesdays: "We lose half the congregation every time American Idol starts up."
Eddie's hobby: "I talk homeless people into joining the army."
Eddie and Jack reflecting on "great times": "I once convinced you you had lupus!"
Liz catching an embarrassed Flowers Guy macking on his Liz in the 'vator: "It's only inappropriate when it's ugly people."
Later, an otherwise rational Liz targeting her rival for termination: "I can tell she's [deserving] by her stupid face."
The crazy astronaut stalker chick reference!
Jenna on kabbalah: "It mixes the fun part of Judaism with magic."
Tracy declaring, "I'm Irish-Catholic!"
Jack introducing his sisters "Catherine, Catherine" and Margaret, the one "we just found out about."
Jack to Liz: "You've gone chicken-killer on me over a guy, and you want the next president to be a woman?"
Eddie putting up his Donaghy dukes: "Say hello to Bono and Sandra Day O'Connor!"
Pete interrupting Liz and FG with talk of A) needing her apartment key, B) their secret and C) the vasectomy. Bad moment, worse timing!
Reminder: Andy Barker, P.I. takes over NBC's Thursdays-at-9:30 slot for a few weeks. (I'll blog that show, too... just because.) See y'all back here on April 13!
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Mar 9, 2007 8:12 AM
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Spot on! A good episode, but something was just "off" a little. It had an odd feeling about it. But still good! Hopefully Andy Barker can fill this void for 6 weeks. That show has got big shoes to fill.
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Mar 9, 2007 8:37 AM
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These episodes are better when Liz Lemon is a background player. The Tracy finding religion story was pushed out way too soon.
I didn't watch the credits but it looked like elevator guy's Liz was being played by "My Girl's" Anna Chlumsky. Maybe I was hallucinating. Nice to see she is still working if it was her.
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Mar 9, 2007 9:05 AM
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I thought that was Anna Chlumsky too, I was just about to go look it up on imdb.com! =)
Funny epi =)
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Mar 9, 2007 9:09 AM
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Tracy had some funny moments: "I believe the moon doesn't exist. I believe vampires are the world's greatest golfers but their curse is they'll never be able to prove it..." Just the fact that he was finding religion preemptively cracked me up.
I also was not feeling the Liz Lemon loses it storyline. Recently they had a story about her being a bitchy boss which we had never seen as an audience; now she goes crazy over a guy?
Jack's family was an interesting lot. "Come here you magnificent d-bag (edited)!" I wonder if they named the Molly Shannon's Irish Catholic character Catherine Catherine as a small nod to her Mary-Katherine Gallagher. Probably not, but ya never know.
I must say, I thought it was cool that Jack came through for Liz in the end.
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Mar 9, 2007 9:48 AM
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I looked it up at imdb (not updated) and then checked last night's tvguide listing - sure enough "Anna Chlumsky makes guest appearance" I totally didn't even catch that - good job bhm1304! I loved her in My Girl 1 and 2!
I loved the Tracy storyline, esp about Irish Catholics "You can do anything, anything, and as long as you go to confession you're ok"
Jack: "Tracy, you can't be Irish Catholic. We have enough problems"
I'll miss you while you're gone, 30 Rock.
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Mar 9, 2007 9:56 AM
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I thought it was her, too! Wow, she's all grown up. She was a cute little girl, I thought she'd do more after the "My Girl" movies.
I'm going to miss this show over the next 6 weeks, although the Andy Richter show previews looked pretty funny.
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Mar 9, 2007 10:01 AM
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Wasn't Eddie's recruiting homeless people for the army his job and not his hobby?
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Mar 9, 2007 11:02 AM
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Man, I'm going to miss my weekly dose of pure comic genius while this show's on hiatus. I have so gotten in the habit of looking forward to it on Thurs. And of reading the blog on Fridays, of course, to re-appreciate the best lines.
Loved Nathan Lane, and it was great seeing Molly Shannon, although I agreed she looked a little gaunt.
I don't understand why this show isn't a huge hit with viewers. If they can get into The Office why not 30 Rock?
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Mar 9, 2007 11:12 AM
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I thought it was a good episode, but not one of the best. Good catch on the chick from My Girl! I thought she looked familiar!
My boyfriend thought the Jack story line would have been funnier if they had Alec Baldwin's real-life brothers on as his family! Couldn't you just see that?! Although maybe some of them wouldn't have been able to do it *cough*jailtime*cough*
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Mar 9, 2007 11:20 AM
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I have to disagree with a few of you - I think the show is better when Tracey has the background story b/c his act gets stale rather quickly. Last night, there was only so much the writers could have done with his experimentation with religious. It was short but very funny. I'll take quality over quantity any day.
I enjoyed the episode, but I'm not sure I would have cast Nathan Lane (as funny as he is/was) as Jack's brother. The rest of the family (we don't hold grudges, we're Irish) was terrific - I love Molly Shannon (why isn't she a full time cast member on a show somewhere?), the stereotypical Irish men, the fiery, red headed woman who used to be on SNL in the early 90s, and the conniving father.
Liz' interactions with Jason Sudakis were awkwardly funny and her power trips are always entertaining.
I don't why NBC would ruin any momentum by placing this show on hiatus. Every person I know who watches this show says it's getting better and better. Now people are going to think it's cancelled or that it will be not be renewed (a la Studio 60). Couldn't NBC wait until after May sweeps to show Andy Ritcher's new show? Or perhaps they could use that show instead of reruns of Earl.
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Mar 9, 2007 11:38 AM
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I freaked out when I realized that "Other Liz" was Anna Chlumsky! I'm glad others recognized her too.
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Mar 9, 2007 11:40 AM
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I said it before and I'll say it again:
I cannot wait for this show to make it to DVD.
I love this show so much... well, you know the rest.
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Mar 9, 2007 1:02 PM
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"I'm going to go talk to some food about this"
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Mar 9, 2007 1:20 PM
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I am a late convert to 30 Rock. I am laughing out loud more as I'm reading last night's best lines than I did watching the show. I love Jenna; loved when she put on her superfly hat and knew all the moves in the advanced hip-hop class.
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Mar 9, 2007 9:54 PM
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