1. 30 Rock portrayed
the best mentor relationship between a female writer and a crank male boss
since Mary Tyler Moore and Lou Grant.
Except it was funnier. More
modern. And Tina Fey really never wore
skirts.
2. Corporate
Republican white males seem a lot more loveable when played by handsome
Hollywood liberals who have perfect comedic timing. Food for thought, GOP.
3. The running
joke about Liz Lemon being a lesbian because she dresses frumpy was funny --
not because all lesbians necessarily dress frumpy -- but because that is still
an accurate portrayal of what men think about pretty much all women who dress
in comfortable clothes.
4. The stereotype
of Dennis being an Irish drunk was funny because that is still an accurate
portrayal of how Irish Americans think of themselves. Also see Jack Donaghy.
5. Cerie’s
character was the perfect foil to Liz and Jenna because she demonstrated
exactly why #3 (above) is true.
6. You have to
love a comedy show about a comedy show in which the comedy writers are never
seen – nor do they seem remotely capable of -- writing anything funny.
7. Grizz and Dot
Com should totally do their own show. On HBO. Mark Wahlberg should produce it,
and appear on every single episode, without a shirt.
8. 30 Rock was
about a comedy show. But what it was
really about was the parent-child relationship.
Discuss.
9. Thank you,
Tina Fey, for sympathetically portraying a female character who is obsessed with
sandwiches. Speaking on behalf of obsessed lady sandwich lovers everywhere, we salute you.
10. Oprah will never
be a comedic actress. But Liz Lemon’s
hallucination of her should go in the comedy hall of fame, and I’m not just
saying that because I drug myself to kingdom come on airplanes and I can
imagine that Oprah shit happening.
11. Hypercritical
mothers like Jack’s and Jenna’s are universally hilarious, possibly because
hypercritical mothers are somewhat universal.
I'm just guessing.
12. There has never
been a portrayal of anything --in the history of television -- as accurate as
that conversation between Jack and his baby’s nanny. With the possible exception of the shopping
trip to Ikea.
13. Jenna’s character
would’ve seemed over the top if it weren’t for Lindsay Lohan, the Kardashians,
and Demi Moore. Which is, I guess, the
point. Carry on.
14. If I had to
choose one of the sexy, hot-tempered Latina characters –that were both on shows
that occupied primetime spots on the same network -- I’d probably take Sofia
Vergara. But the evil Jack
Donaghy/skeptical grandmother bit was genius.
15. In the long list
of bad GE/Kabletown products, my favorite was the spine crushing couch. But Homonym! was a CLOSE second.
16. Was Hazel the
female Kenneth, the nobody Jenna, or the crazy Liz? I’m still pondering that today, and I don’t
have an answer. Somehow, it just makes
sense that she ended in a sex harassment lawsuit.
17. Was 30 Rock a
sitcom, or a relatively realistic account of the single New York woman’s ongoing struggle to acquire the right apartment, the right blue jeans, a
husband, and a baby? Just like Sex and the City, without all the lunches.
18. Julianne Moore is
a movie star. That's all I'm qualified to say
about that, and so much less.
19. Ditto James
Franco. But for some reason, Matt Damon
translated perfectly to television, possibly because his character’s name was
“Carol.”
20. Liz’s husband’s
name was “Criss,” and he ran an organic hot dog truck. I’m honestly not sure which is more awesome.
21. The scene in
Unwindulax when Liz storms out of Jack’s Republican Party fundraiser, and drops
her tampons all over the floor, did more for feminism than Gloria Steinem and
Betty Friedan put together.
22. The Jenna Male
Impersonator was the most brilliant representation of celebrity self-obsession
ever. Also, Jenna’s pop-up wedding at a
funeral. See, I laughed just writing that.
23. It was high time
someone made fun of that unlicensed New York Elmo. Thank you for taking that
on, Tina Fey. I've seen him at a kid's birthday party on the Upper West Side
and he's creepy.
24. Two words: Dr.
Spaceman.
25. Bunions are the
perfect metaphor for babies. Both hurt a
lot, disfigure your body, and make you feel grossly old.
26. 30 Rock. Live
shows. Huge Balls. Finish the haiku, Guys Who Doubt Women Are As
Funny As Men.
27. 30 Rock or
Seinfeld? It’s the hot new drinking
question, joining the ranks of Elvis or the Beatles, Star Trek or Star Wars,
and Kenneth or Kramer.
28. One of my
favorite obscure lines: “Have you not read my terrible short story, ‘The Two
Paths of Virginia Apple?’” Leave yours
in the comment section.
29. Bitchy high
school girls are the only people -- other than mean closeted gay guys --
underhanded and melodramatic enough to take on a greedy and powerful corporate
executive. Well played.
30. I’ll miss you,
30 Rock. Please create another show, LL.
I want to go to there.
