#tracy does conan

[thetrinityquotes]

Camille: Why are you wearing a tux? 

Lucien: It's after six.  What am I, a farmer?

[mostlysitcoms]

Liz: Why are you wearing a tux?

Jack: It's after 6. What am I, a farmer?

30 Rock. "Tracy does Conan".

[suddenfootloss]

But frankly, LaDonica, you have not been real helpful.

[donheisenberg]

Number 15 30 Rock:

One of the all time greatest comedy’s ever from one of America’s greatest comedians. Tina Fey delivered 7 seasons of differing quality, but also of consistent laughs and two of the top 5 greatest comedy characters ever. I’d take Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy over Ron Swanson or any other great comedy character of the last fifteen years any day of the week. 

As the show progressed the relationship between these two provides an emotional core for the series but ultimately they are great characters in and of themselves. Liz Lemon with her I want it all feminist ideals, has rightly come to represent something greater in popular culture and Jack with his big business head provided an entry point for all of the brilliant corporate America satire the show partook in over the years.

The performances of both actors are great, although they are in large part playing themselves. But Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of Jack is particularly impressive, for years I had avoided watching 30 Rock because of him (my disliking of Alec Baldwin was based on various things in which he was probably mis-casted anyway) but within the opening few episodes he completely changed my mind and became one of my favorite things in any modern sitcom.

The opening few episodes are a bit off tonally, but I think that they are too often wrongly maligned. The first season of 30 Rock for a long time was my favorite season of TV comedy ever, it is still right up when it comes to live action seasons.

Season 2 is pretty much at the same level and is often cited as the show’s strongest season. 3 isn’t quite up there but is still very strong, 4 is the first major drop off, 5 recaptures some of the magic but 6 is certainly the weakest season. Thankfully it recovers just in time to deliver one of its finest seasons, the final run of episodes are right up there with the best this show ever gave us.

As earlier alluded to though, even through these dips the show is incredibly funny. In fact I would go as far as to say that there are only a couple other show’s in the history of the sitcom that are as funny as 30 Rock. At its best it is probably a bit better than a laugh a minute and at its worst a fair number of the gags are still sticking.

All in all 30 Rock piece-de-resistance for one of America greatest ever comedians, as it is simultaneously delivered some of the most well written, intelligent and layered gags on television, while also being just laugh out loud funny. Its a balance that few shows ever could strike and for that reason 30 Rock sees itself a place in my top 15.

Opening Credits: 8.5/10, strong if a little dull, but then it is quite rare for a sitcom to go for a particularly ambitious opening.

Best Episodes: Tracy Does Conan, this early first season classic introduces us to Dr Spaceman (actually he is the greatest or at least the funniest comedy character ever) and really represents the show at its absurdest best. A lot of people would argue that it was here that 30 Rock clicked into gear, although as earlier said I really like the first 5 or so episodes nonetheless it did represent a high mark for the show at the stage.

Black Tie, another season 1 classic as Jack and Liz attend a black tie gala event in honor of the Prince of Austria. Like most episodes of 30 Rock I could quote it all day, but even by this show’s standards there are just so many incredible lines and gags.

Hogcock/Last Lunch: As already mentioned the final season of 30 Rock is really strong and I could have gone for any number of episodes but I’ll go for the finale which gives us a pretty simple, funny and perfect send-off for all of these characters. Complete with callbacks, the 30 Rock finale makes endings look so much easier than they are.

[marisalikesbirds]

I'm buggin' out! I'm buggin' OUUUTT!

[maestrodesouza]

[explodingcolor]

omg aubrey plaza spotted in season 1 of 30 rock.

[orochimarushowerscene]

Conan is the best 30 Rock character.