30 Rock: Senor Macho Solo
By fred | January 9, 2009
(S03E07) Feels like it’s been a while since we got our last dose of 30 Rock, and I was certainly glad to see the show back on the air. Things didn’t change much from last year, and we continued the latest trend of guest stars, as this episode featured appearances by Peter Dinklage and Salma Hayek, the later having signed for a multi-episode arc.
And because it seems to be the only way they introduce guests in the show there days, that also meant we continued with stories taking place outside of NBC, 30 rock and The Girlie Show which, as I’ve said in the past, isn’t really the best because I do miss all those faces I seem to remember every time I see them during the opening credits, but never again then…
Although this episode actually had a story about the show and its behind the scenes, sort of, as Jenna wanted to be in a movie about Janis Joplin and Jack, of course, was all for it and use it to promote both at once. And if that story was actually good, and Jenna’s performance as not-Janis Joplin (because they couldn’t get the rights) by the end of the episode was really fun, the fact that we had this, Liz and her always troubled love life, Jack feeling lonely over a cancer scare and also something about Tracy sleeping with his wife everywhere at NBC (and Kenneth “forced” to stay right next to them, due to his work ethic, because they were doing it on his desk and he needed to be able to answer the phone of course), well we didn’t had much time for either stories, given how there’s only half an hour for the whole episode.
What I’m saying is, maybe there was a little too much different stories in this episode, which in the end did hurt the show as no story could really be well developed, because how much can you do in 3 scenes and 5 minutes total, really? Things weren’t bad though, I loved to see Liz craving for babies and stealing their tiny little shoes and mistaking Stuart LeGrange for a little boy (or one gigantic baby? Really is the whole baby-fever not limited to actual babies, or does it really extend to 10-year-old as well?).
Of course she wouldn’t admit that, not at first, and when she eventually realized Stuart was a nice funny guy and started to go out with him, well her habit of mistaking him for a child would doom their relationship, obviously. It was still a lot of fun though, loved the Sex And The City references (”Did you see the Sex & The City movie ? – Once again Liz, I am an adult man.“) and how Liz was trying to explain what Steve & Miranda were going through to poor Peter (”God! So bored!“)… fun stuff.
We knew the relationship was doomed from the start, and it’s not like Liz ever managed to be in a healthy relationship anyways, but it least if was a lot of fun. I wouldn’t say the same for Jack’s love story of the week. For starter, why did it go there ? I mean, I can see why Jack would go there, just like they couldn’t get Salma Hayek on the show and keep them locked inside that nurse scrub, but why would Jack – of all people – fall in love with her that fast.
Again, with all that was going on they didn’t have much time, but I think he was right when he told Liz that it had been his fear talking. When he thought he was dying, it meant sense, but after that, not so much? Plus a few jokes were quite predictable on that one, but thank God they have Alec Baldwin to make it worthwhile and funny regardless of how many times you’ve seen the same kind of jokes before…
And as always with 30 Rock, we got some great lines, so here are a few ones :
Jenna: Look at your and me and our biological clocks: you’re going baby crazy and I keep getting turned on by car accidents.
Stuart: (To Liz:) I like aggressive women with a nerdy vibe.
Jack: I love this idea, it’s great synergy. By putting a TV actress in a movie world we can promote both! It’s like how we’re including a Heroes DVD with every missile guidance system we sell. I’ll call the studio.
Jenna: (As Janis Joplin:) Yes! I’m so glad that I time-traveled here from 1969… wow, what is that iron bird ?
Jack: They had airplanes in the sixties, Jenna!
Stuart: It’s just so much more interesting than the U.N.
Liz: Oh come on, really!? You got languages and the costumes, and that big meeting room, it must be like working in the Galactic Senate in Star Wars !
Stuart: They are similar. We are also very concerned about the growing influence of the Sith Lords.
Jenna: Take a lesson from Janis [Joplin] and show some self control.
Jack: The lady will be having the tasting menu, but with some substitutions. Instead of.. any of it, she’ll have a cup of hot water with a chicken bone in it, and a bowl of salted ice cubes.
Stuart: Oh and I lied about your show, I have seen it.
Jack: Thank you for telling me what I already know. You should work for the Huffington Post.
Jenna: Do we at least have the music rights ?
Jack: Yes and no, Jenna. Yes, I’m talking; No, we do not have the music.
What did you guys thought of this episode ? Any else wishes we’d see the writers back on the show ? Did I miss your favorite quote?
