30 Rock: It Really Does Rock
The series is based around the life of Liz Lemon (pictured), played by Tina Fey.
Since its premiere in October 2006, 30 Rock has been one of the most critically acclaimed American situation comedies on television. The series has so far, in just two seasons, earned itself 60 award nominations including 28 Emmy nominations and a Peabody Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the media industry.
Created by Tina Fey, the series revolves around the life of, Liz Lemon (played by Fey) the head writer of TGS with Tracy Jordan (formally called The Girlie Show and commonly known as just TGS), a fictitious sketch comedy show and the TGS cast and crew. The series begins with the introduction of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), the Head of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming, who initally wreaks havoc behind-the-scenes of TGS when he decides he has to re-tool the show. This leads him to forcing Liz into hiring Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), a loose-cannon movie star. The introduction of Jordan to TGS causes much stress to Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), one of the main cast members of TGS.
The fictional writing staff of TGS consists of Josh Girard (Lonny Ross), James "Toofer" Spurlock (Keith Powell) and Frank Rossitano (Judah Freidlander), who regularly argue and disagree leading to hilarious situations and confrontations. Normally found with the writers in Liz's lazy assistant Cerie (Katrina Bowden), who tends to be much of a distraction to many of the male staff members. The definite breakout character of the series is Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer), the clueless NBC Page who is always at the cast and crews beck and call.
The cast is supported by a cast of recurring character, most notable Grizz (Grizz Chapman) and Dot Com (Kevin Brown) who are the two members of Tracy's "entourage," Dr. Leo Spaceman (Chris Parnell) is the doctor in the series, Devon Banks (Will Arnett) who acts as Jack's rival and Colleen Donaghy (Elaine Stritch) is Jack's overbearing mother. In addition, Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy) is Jack's lovestruck assistant and J.D Lutz (John Lutz) is another TGS writer.
30 Rock is among one of the most recognised comedies in recent years having earned the Emmy for "Outstanding Comedy Series" for its first season. Despite the series' accolades, it tends to receive very few viewers, only having an average of 5.8 million viewers and 6.4 million viewers for its first and second seasons, respectively.
The series' recognition is very well deserved as it truly is, in my own opinion, the funniest comedy on television. One of the great things about the series is that it is smartly written and it doesn't talk down to its viewers, like many other situation comedies. 30 Rock is one of those rare series' where episodes can be watched many, many times and yet still feel fresh. The show also tends to have many famous guest stars, some of which have included: David Schwimmer (Ross Geller in Friends), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in Star Wars), Sean Hayes (Jack McFarland in Will & Grace) and Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos).
Whether or not you are a fan of the series, you really should checkout the third season premiere (Thursday October 30 2008 at 8:30PM EST/9:30PM Central on NBC).
