30 Rock: Cougars
By fred | November 30, 2007
(S02E07) So… there wasn’t much on this time, with the holidays coming and the strike going networks are trying to keep as many fresh content in the can as possible, which means a lot of shows switch to rerun mode. Thankfully tough, this wasn’t the case on NBC, and the comedy night was still fully on ! (Well, except for The Office of course, who’s sadly already out of new episodes.)
But we had a new episode of 30 Rock, and that was some great news because this show is the funniest sitcom on the air, I love it. I’ve read quite a few people mentioning how it was the “new” Arrested Development, in a way, and I have no take on that one because I honestly didn’t really watch that show.
Actually, I once watched a couple of episodes, but didn’t find it that good, or funny. Shocking to many, I’m sure, especially given how I love what seems to be, in fans’ hearts, its successor.
Anyways, as for 30 Rock I thought this episode was not on the same level of awesomeness of the past few ones we had lately, but it should be fair first to remind how fantastic those were, and then to add how this episode was still both pretty great and funny.
At first I was a little worried that Tracy would have its own story again, because they did back when the season started and I didn’t like it so much. But I’ve quickly been pleased to see this wasn’t the case, and this time Jack decided to took over and go as far as to fire Tracy from its own story ! Awesome. That baseball plot, which obviously related to the war in Iraq, was really great.
I loved to see Jack getting involved in something in had no real knowledge of, and deciding that it didn’t matter because he knew what those people wanted, how could they want something else then what he thought they wanted ? Just spend a lot of money, sponsored by the Sheinhardt Wig Company (it’s a real one people, and it just happens to own NBC) of course, and it will work.
It was all great fun : the statue brought down, Jack dressed up as General McArthur, the “Fun Times Accomplished” banner, and how it soon transformed into chaos coming back at them. Fun times were indeed accomplished, for sure.
Meanwhile, Liz - who, believe it or not, is not really 29 - had a new boyfriend, who wasn’t really 25, and Frank suddenly decided he was gay for him. Now you’d think people would make fun of him, but somehow it didn’t really work. Just how great that that scene ? “He’s totally gay for… Why isn’t this any fun ?”
After a few episodes focusing a but more on work related stuff, it was nice to see stories for both Jack and Liz revolving around completely different things, namely their private life. By the way, I liked the little “reference” to Jack’s new girlfriend, quick and subtle but simple enough to make continuity addicts and fans happy.
A few great lines I remember :
- Another one for continuity addicts fans: “Liz, I’m getting drinks with recently divorced camera guy, are you in ? Legally separated sound guy is gonna be there !” ”
“
- Hey Liz Lemon ! I’m going to a animals only strip club, interested ?
- Does that mean the animals strip? Or the animals are the customers ?
- Animal customer!? That’s ridiculous !
”
- It’s not really a quote, but I loved the way Tina Fey got pissed at Jack when he ruined his TV night : “You monster! Why are you like this ?!” You gotta see & hear it from her, though.
- “He is cute. He looks like Zac Efron. That’s a thing, right?”
- Ever heard of motivational speeches ? “Around me, around me ! Alright listen, that’s enough! There’s a weird dude standing over here and I don’t wanna get shot today so, great rehearsal, great practice, ok the weird dude is gone, go home !”
- “You can’t be gay for just one person. Unless you’re a lady, and you meet Ellen.”
- “Tracy I’m gonna talk to you. It’s hard for me to admit when I made a mistake, so I won’t ! - Mister Jordan, I have made a terrible mistake…”
- “I’m 37, please don’t make me go to Brooklyn !”
Thank God there are still a couple more episodes to come ! Going without a new 30 Rock won’t be easy, especially when we’re already missing The Office…
