30 Rock: Gavin Volure
By fred | November 21, 2008
(S03E04) As as become the rule with 30 Rock this season, every week is a new episode, and every episode guest stars some famous celebrity. I have always said that 30 Rock was probably (one of) the best shows when it came down to using guests and making the most of it, using them as integral part of the show, not something that felt forced or out of place.
Still, I’ve had my worries about this constant use of guests this season, and quite frankly during last week’s episode with Jennifer Aniston’s appearance, I could see why. This week was Steve Martin’s turn, and I am happy to say he was probably one of the best guests we got to see this season so far. A terrific performance and lots of great lines to throw at us all the time, great stuff.
And yet, I have to say how I wish this would stop now. Yes, Martin was great and I liked this episode, but it was also constructed much like last week’s episode was, that is to say the guest of the week is set in a story of its own, usually grabbing away either Jack, Liz or both. Doesn’t mean it’s bad, but except for Megan Mullally all plots that involved guests (or the main ones that is) have been taking our favorite character away from the show, the show within the show that is.
Last season I loved Greenzo, I thought it was an absolutely hilarious episode and a great guest appearance by David Schwimmer. But you know why it was so good ? Because his character was involved in the usual daily business of Liz and Jack and The Girlie Show, he wasn’t coming in with a plot of its own that was unrelated to what the heart of the show - 30 Rock this time - usually is.
What I mean is, I loved that we got to see a little bit of the writers this week, but it wasn’t much. And when was it exactly the last time that Liz was involved with them ?? A while, because she’s been going on dates with eccentric agoraphobic rich friends of Jack, or her old BFF who’s quite crazy on the site, or meeting with “Oprah” on a plane… Maybe it’s me, but I want Liz to stop going out and work on her show for a change, I want the main plot to include her, and Jack, and not be out and about whoever is guesting this week, but their show at NBC.
But that doesn’t mean this episode wasn’t good, I thought it was. I laughed quite a few times, and I had a great time with all plots : Liz going on her perfect date, when they can’t touch or go out, just sit and watch TV all day, and not have sex; Jack trying to help Kenneth only to be grabbed back by the reality of the economy; or Tracy thinking that his kids were trying to kill him, of course.
Many great lines, as usual :
* “Is it pot-pourri or chips ? Cause I’m gonna try to eat it…”
* Loved to see McEnroe at the dinner table, here to symbolize “art collecting and yelling“.
* “And as always I keep one chair empty to represent our unfulfilled hopes and dreams. I’m just kidding, Eliot Spitzer’s hooker couldn’t make it.”
* “Those two have never paid me any attention. And rightly so, I’m a strange man who can’t be taken seriously.”
* Pete has a big head, and Liz has doggy-ears. And stole a napkin.
* “Okay, I’ll send a helicopter… to take you to the train station.”
* “You’re gonna work this thing like a Chinese gymnast: wear something tight, force a smile, and lie about your age.”
* Loved to see Kenneth make some “street performing”, but I’m not sure he really made money in the end… Also, was he allowed to use his NBC uniform that way ??
* “Kenneth I’m very proud of you. Next stop home ownership. I’m just kidding, the middle class is dying you’ll be renting forever.”
* “It’s not a real company. You watch our commercials we never actually said what we did… (Cue to the commercial:) Innovation. Tomorrow. America. SunStream.” You know, I think there are a lot of companies like that, that don’t really ever do anything…
* Loved to see Pete extracting a per diem for gas out of Jack, trying to give some money to poor Kenneth.
* “Toronto is like New York but without stuff.”
* “Stay back! I swear I will paint you! I am not going to real prison. I lost everything. I’m financially ruined. I’ve lost Liz. That paint is drying weird. And now prison!? Not prison! Not for Gavin Volure!”
Jack: Gavin I’m not gonna lie to you, you’ll probably be killed in the first six months of prison. But that’s not the important thing, the important thing is that you’re alive now, which means there’s hope.
Gavin: You know, you’re making a lot of sense.
Jack: Yes you have to pay for the things you’ve done…
Gavin: You’re not making sense anymore!!
* Also loved when Tracy mentioned to Liz that everything worked out with Jenna’s dad visiting, something she never even heard of.
* And of course, the Japanese Tracy Jordan sex doll saved the day…
Did you like this episode ? Are you getting worried about all the guests, or still enjoying it fully ? What is your favorite quote from the episode ?
30 Rock: Gavin Volure