If you asked my closest friends to take a poll listing all the things I have professed to love, that list would most likely include 30 rock…though I’m not entirely sure what else they would say. Probably crafts and the ukulele. But I digress…
The plot follows the story of Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), the head writer on a show called TGS, a skit comedy show modeling the format of SNL. The overall arching plot shows Liz, attempting to keep peace between kooky writers, attention seeking actors and the demands from the head of NBC, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), all while attempting to get her messy life into order. The plot of this show has actually been compared to that of the Muppet show, which may be all the more reason I love it.
So why do I love this show, to the point where I try and modify my schedule just so I can watch it every thursday?
I’d say it’s three-fold.
- I love identifying with Tina Fey. Her character is not only stylish, but a reminder that women can be and are funny. Also, I love rooting for her in her misadventures.
- The humor. The goofy, over the top characters interact with each other in ways that only happen in this show. Every week, I end up cracking up and then quoting it for years to come. (“Who’s got two thumbs, speaks limited french and hasn’t cried once today? This moi!”) Fun fact- some of the jokes in 30 rock were based off of things Tina Fey’s daughter has said, such as the infamous “I want to go to there” line. And also “Touch my knee’s butt” (Thanks Alison Peebles!)
- Jack Donaghy’s character. “Nuts to you, McGullicuty”. Okay story time. After many conversations of humor, I convinced my old boss, Mark, to watch 30 rock. After which, we talked about what he liked and what he didn’t. He argued that he couldn’t stand Tina Fey (heartbreak!) but that he loved Jack because he was, more or less, the only progressive character on the show, making him the hero. The more I watch, the more I agree
The main reason I wanted to talk about 30 rock today is because I have always been impressed with GE and NBC for blatantly making fun of themselves. Jack’s character is an over the top caricature of executives in the system who live extravagant business class lifestyles, demand unrealistic product placement (“‘His head is a microwave!’-'Yes, but it’s such a wonderful GE microwave’”). All too often, they make jokes or slide remarks on NBC, with plot lines like being owned by a wig company that pollutes rivers and died the skin of some kids orange. They are clearly making fun of the companies that put their show on television and the greatest part about it is that NBC and GE are okay with this enough to let it air on television. They are able to laugh at themselves.
Which makes me think about laughing at yourself. Which makes me wonder if over the years, we as people have become too calloused, too serious and too competitive. We have become a group of people so unrelenting that we must express our opinion and not see the other side of things. We are not willing to see the other side of the spectrum and to see how they see us, even if it is to see how they find us funny. Take a lesson from General Electric- be willing to see the other side of things and to laugh at ourselves.
For those of you who haven’t watched, I urge you to see this thing for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Please feel free to comment and leave your favorite 30 rock quote- “beep beep ribby ribby”
pmcmillan
