30 Rock is the funniest show I didn't see on TV!

I love Tina Fey, but for some reason never really got a chance to watch her new sitcom on NBC 30 Rock. Thanks to whole seasons of shows on DVD, you don't need to catch any show on television, just wait for it to be released on DVD and watch the whole season at once!

What is 30 Rock?

30 Rock is a hilarious sitcom about the writers who work on The Girlie Show renamed TGS with Tracy Jordan on NBC a subdivision of GE. The star of the Girlie Show used to be Jenny Maroney (Jane Krakowsky), but on the very first episode of 30 Rock, new boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) comes along to shake things up. He brings in crazy but popular movie star Tracey Jordan (Tracey Morgan) to the show to boost the male 18-34 demographic and changes the name of the show to TGS with Tracy Joran Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is the star of the show, Tina Fey also writes and produces this very funny look at a television studio. As Liz Lemon, she is the head script writer for the show, and she has to balance the needs of her writing staff, her talent and her boss every episode.

The Characters

Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) Liz is a 30 something single woman who doesn't really get into fashion or hip places and finds herself either single or dating losers through most of season one. Her work is her life. If you enjoy Tina Fey, you will love her character, she shows all the wit and charm that she did in her SNL days, and the writing is excellent on the show.

Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowsky) is the star of networks show TGS with Tracey Jordan (f.k.a. the Girlie Show). She is upset that the skit comedy she used to star in now features Tracey Jordan. She is concerned that she is getting older which isn't helped by the new boss Jack. She is friends and a former roommmate of Liz Lemon.

Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) Jack is the alpha male of the show. It's all business with Jack and he scmhmoozes and uses his charm only when it benefits his career and the bottom line. I never thought the Baldwins could act, but I take it back. Alec's portrayal of Jack Donaghy is one of this shows highlights. He is hilarious and really makes a believable powerhouse executive.

Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) Former SNL star, Morgan is hilarious as over the top crazy egotistical former movie star turned TV comedy star Tracy Jordan. He hangs with his posse, gets into strange situations and makes outrageous demands each episode. Morgan makes his character one of the funniest on the show.

This show is not just about the main characters though, which is one reason I found the show to be very funny throughout. The "minor" characters of the show are also given plenty to do and great lines.

Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) Kenny is the constantly enthusatic Page at NBC. Despite the crazy demands of the boss Jack, and the star Tracy Jordan, Kenny keeps his optimism at an impossible high because he is living his dream working in Television.

Cerie (Katrina Bowden) is an assistant on the show who is young and beautiful. Her outfits usually serve to distract the writing staff.

DotCom and Grizz (Kevin Brown and Grizz Chapman) portray Tracy Jordan's posse. They hang around the star, laugh at his jokes, let him win at Halo and basketball and generally provide positive reinforcement for the crazy star.

Dr. Spaceman (Chris Parnell) Although only on a few episodes the doctor provides meds to keep star actor Tracy Jordan in line. He pronounces his name Dr. Spechamin, but everyone else, especially Jordan pronounces it as it is spelled.

The Writing Staff

Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) is one of the comedy team. His marital strife occasionally gets in the way of his work.

Frank Rositanno (Judah Friedlander) This guy cracks me up. He has crazy long curly hair, huge glasses and wears a truckers cap with some ridiculous saying on it each week. He is crude and rather insenitive, but he is funny.

Toofer (Keith Powell) Toofer is a black comedy writer who also graduated from Harvard, leading his boss Jack to give him the insensitive nickname "Twofer". Toofer is very prim and proper and can't stand dealing with the inane antics of the shows new star Tracy Jordan, whom he considers to be an embarrassment to his heritage.

Josh Girard (Lonny Ross) is one of the actors / writers who has the ability to do uncanny impersonations of a variety of celebrities.

Miscellaneous characters (Rachael Dratch) Most weeks, Dratch does a cameo as a minor character on the show.

Guest stars have included Isabella Rossini as Jack's ex-wife, Rip Torn as Ted Geiss an NBC executive, Emily Mortimer as one of Jack's girlfriends, Conan O'Brien as himself and Ghostface Killa as himself.


What is Included

Season One includes all 21 episode on 3 DVDs. The first two discs have 8 episodes each, and the final DVD has 5 episodes plus extra features. The extras included deleted scenes and bloopers, a wrap party and a "making of" feature.

Is it Funny?

Rather than give you an episode by episode guide, I would rather just tell you that 19 episodes out of 21 are very funny, with the remaining two being funny. The show doesn't really revolve around the show they are writing for, but the behind the scenes stuff, the personalities and how they all deal with one another. Every episode everyone must be kept in some sort of balance which proves more difficult than writing the comedy skits. Jack trys to set Lemon up on a date, Lemon trys to keep Jenna's fragile ego in line. Kenneth tries to please everyone. Lemon, Dotcom and Grizz try to keep Jordan happy and sane with the help of Dr. Spaceman. Lemon tries to keep her staff of writers happy. Every episode provides plenty of laughs. I am looking forward to Season Two coming out on DVD.

Summary Tina Fey, Alec Balwin and Tracy Morgan make this sitcom about a television studio funny. Chris Parnell, Amy Phoeler, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer and everyone else make the show very funny indeed.