TV-Reviewed

Perfection, thy name is Tina Fey/Liz Lemon. The best show on TV right now came out of the gate strong last week, but with its second episode of the third season, proved why we should all be watching. A great sitcom should be performing several tasks: Most episodes should serve as fairly stand alone to ensure a new audience can jump in and have fun. Every storyline should be set to best serve the unique neuroses of each character. Jokes should come from the character’s behavior and natural story and not some cheap gimmick for canned laughter to be plugged into.

This episode does just that. The primary story follows Liz Lemon to Chicago where she is attempting to get out of jury duty, by pretending to be crazy of course. On her return flight, whilst under the influence of heavy medication, Liz Lemon meets Oprah who she cannot help but open up to. Back in New York City, Tracy and Jenna have become enemies due to a financial disagreement and decide to go Freaky Friday on one another. Jack, as acting head of GE once more, must regain Kenneth’s respect after it is revealed that Jack rigged the Summer Olympics to help boost American morale.

I’m sitting next to Oprah. How cool am I?

Oprah’s appearance originally had me skeptical, believing that 30 Rock was about to go the way of Will & Grace in a quest for show saving ratings. I eat my words as I realize that Tina and her writing staff are so cleverly aware of the nature of the business and of mass criticism, that they ensure guest stars are serving the story and not just hamming it up to the camera for their own career’s sake. For once, Liz Lemon plays insane to Oprah’s perfectly timed straight woman with such one liners as her perplexed “One time I kissed a girl at summer camp as a dare, but then she drown.” Liz/Tina and Oprah/Oprah cannot help but play to Liz’s own nerdlinger tendencies while also poking fun at the concept of Oprah as an all knowing support system for any woman in need.

30 Rock still has a few kinks in its system to work out. Kenneth continues to be overplayed while the truth is he is best used as the occasional one liner, offering conservative criticisms of the liberal and corrupt lives of The Girlie Show’s actors and writing staff. Meanwhile, Jane Krakowski and the fictional show’s writing staff continues to be under utilized. With a group of very talented comedic actors sitting around, many of them are lucky to score more than two lines per episode.

Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan are undoubtedly the shining stars. Jokes involving black face, white face, raptor claws, M. Night Shymalan, Urban Latinas socio-economic positions and President Bush all are knocked out of the park by the trio. The show astoundingly nails its earnest attempts at compelling story as well as meta satire and per episode, it only seems to bite harder with repeat viewings. I have watched this episode three times already and I cannot wait to go back to my DVR to see Liz Lemon’s confessional scene to Oprah one more time.

“Immah call ya back. I’m snitting next to BorPoh.”

Rating: 10