What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:
*Note: My reviews usually contain spoilers. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.*
TV
30 Rock (2006) – Season 1
After a relatively slow week, what with Olympics preemptions in dramaland, I decided to turn to an old favourite of mine recently. It had been so long since I’d watched this show, and wasn’t sure if it would have aged well. Aside from a few outdated pop culture references, the show is still brilliantly written, and is just as fun to watch as when I first saw it.
The first season in particular takes a little while to find its feet. I didn’t realize how quickly the show descends into madness, from Tracy’s (Tracy Morgan) hallucinations to Jenna’s (Jane Krakowski) paranoia and all the antics in between. However, the strongest part of the show has always been the relationship between Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). 30 Rock found pure magic by pairing those two up together, since the clash between their mentor-mentee dynamics and their polar opposite worldview is rife territory for conflicts, and therefore 30 Rock-style humour.
The show also had an incredible line-up of guest stars in this first season, from NBC regulars like Conan O’Brien and Jason Sudekis to veteran actors like Isabella Rossellini and Rip Torn. Back in the day, this was definitely one of the main factors pulling people in to watch the show, but looking back, it was also where a lot of people who weren’t famous then got their start. Donald Glover and Aubrey Plaza both had minor roles as extras in the show, and both went on to star in major NBC sit-coms.
However, my favorite things about the show, by far, is the setting. I love TV shows and movies that are set in the world of film and TV production. 30 Rock’s setting is the fictional world of a sketch comedy show, but also in the very real 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NBC’s New York studios. The clash between upper management and the creative team, the filming of the show within the show, and the slew of meta jokes are what drew me to the show when I watched it almost 15 years ago, and it’s what still excites me about it today.
Though not perfect, the first season helps set the tone and groundwork for what becomes a more whimsical and hilarious show. Fey really struck gold with this show, and it remains one of my favourites of all time.
Colourful Granny 