30 Rock - Season 1

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We live overseas so ordered this show "blind" due to the high reviews. Neither my husband nor I are impressed with the show. It has rare moments of humor, but I will not be buying the second season.

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I purchased this as a gift for my neice (she loves this program) and all I have to go on is what she tells me - she loves it!!

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I didn't see "30 Rock" when it was on TV and I thought I'd have a look at the DVD since the series had good reviews, was popular, and since I had admired Tina Fey's work on "Saturday Night Live." My attention lasted two episodes, during which I didn't see anything that was mildly comedic. There's comedy and there's silly; "30 Rock" is silly.

In total, it had the feel of a cheap, shallow sit-com, with what was intended to be snappy patter, a silly looking character in the ensemble company, and perceptible pauses and meaningful looks to tell us when to laugh. I didn't. And I didn't feel that I could waste any more time on it.

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Although for the past few years I had seen Tiny Fey, Alec Baldwin, and various others connected with 30 Rock, on stage after winning at the Emmys, I had never actually checked out the program until now. Finding Tina personable on SNL, and with all the accolades, I was expecting 30 Rock to be a hilarious laugh riot, that would totally blow me away. Instead I found the program to be just mildly amusing, and rather unfocused at times. I was left wondering what all the fuss was about. It has appeal, and is certainly not a bad show, but if 30 Rock was the best comedy of 2006, then that probably says more about the competition, than the program itself.

Based on the world she knows so well, Tina Fey created a vehicle for herself. Liz Lemon is an interesting and quirky character, who is placed in a variety of situations. In middle management, she oversees the writing staff of TGS (which produces some pretty strange programming), and is also responsible to her boss, Jack Donaghy (Baldwin). Jack is not the jerk I expected him to be. He is not mean or demanding, and is really not a bad guy. He has some odd ideas (as do most of us), and is rather vain, but despite the façade, doesn't seem particularly competent. In the first half of the season, the stories mostly focus on the production side of TGS, but in the second half, things seem to shift to featuring more about Liz's personal life.

SNL cast members appearing include Tracy Morgan. Rachel Dratch, Chris Parnell, and Molly Shannon. Morgan's character Tracy Jordan, seems to be adapted from roles he did on SNL, a semi-coherent, half in touch with reality type, ready to fly off the handle at any moment. While perhaps funny in mild doses, Jordan is an acquired taste, that can be a bit hard to take for an extended period of time. The versatile Dratch, pops up in a variety of oddball roles, mostly in the early episodes.

Jane Krakowski is quite funny as the self absorbed blonde, Jenna Maroney. Early on, she provides advice to Liz, but unfortunately she disappears in the middle section, only to appear briefly in the later episodes. Interestingly, while Jenna is supposed to be the one using her feminine charms, it is Liz who favors low cut blouses, and push up bras.

Head writer Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) gets the most screentime among the writers. Staff writers Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander), and Toofer (Keith Powell), and gopher Cerie (Katrina Bowden) do get some time in the beginning, but also fade a bit as the season progresses. New to the city is Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer), kind of the Gomer Pyle of pages. He's quite wacky, but again, probably best in limited doses.

30 Rock has an unmistakable east coast, upscale, big city vibe. The writing is snappy, and creative, but there are few laugh out loud moments of comedic brilliance. Liz is a variation of the lovable loser, and the humor is mostly of the low key ironic variety. Liz and Jack's relationship seems to consist largely of verbal sparring, with Jack applying putdowns both direct and indirect. A continuing storyline involving the development of Liz's relationship with Floyd 'the flower guy' (Jason Sudeikis), and Jack with Phoebe (Emily Mortimer), add some interest as the season comes to a close.

Comedy is subjective, but also easy to recognize. If you don't find something funny, that is just an honest response. Critical acclaim notwithstanding, 30 Rock was not the comedic gem I expected. The program definitely has moments, but there are things that just don't work. Liz shooting Wayne Brady's character in the butt is supposed to be funny? She is fortunate she didn't suffer the same fate as Plaxico Burress.

It would be nice if the episodes had chapter stops. The various commentary tracks are not very informative from a technical standpoint, but do to varying degrees, provide some insight into the creative process behind the show. Also included are various miscellaneous and fun extras, that round out the first season set.

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I decided to buy this dvd to check out this show what's all about, and found out that it's a very funny show. All the cast is great, I will buy the season two next on my list.