30 Rock: Season 2

Watching 30 ROCK during its second season was a completely exhilarating experience. It had in its rookie year quickly established itself as the funniest show on TV, but during its sophomore campaign the writing and acting got sharper and sharper with each episode. Next to ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, I honestly believe that this is the funniest American comedy series ever.Most comedy shows, when the writers get a funny joke or idea, they massage it and call attention to it, perhaps even taking a pause to allow everyone to notice and appreciate it. Not 30 ROCK. The jokes just tumbled out and sometimes they were only there if you looked hard for them. The humor came in waves, in layers. For instance, in one episode Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) is watching Celeste Cunningham (Edie Falco), with whom he has just had a passionate romantic encounter, get interviewed on a news network. The main point in the scene is that the right-wing Republican Jack is horrified to learn that his flame is a left-wing Democrat, but if you look very carefully at the ticker tape along the bottom of the TV screen, you will see the words "Anne Heche leaves husband for pony" scroll across. And shot after shot during the season features in-jokes concerning the Shinehardt Wig Company ("NOT Polluting Rivers since 1997"), which somehow manages to be the parent company for GE. This is not to say that the main jokes aren't great as well (I mean, just how funny is the idea of the fake reality series MILF ISLAND?). The key point is that it isn't just that they jokes are plentiful and unrelenting; they are GOOD. It is humor with an edge, but it is never less than brilliant.This year Alec Baldwin will almost certainly win what should have been his second Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy series. Last year news broke about an abusive message he left on his daughter's phone mail service. It unquestionably cost him the Emmy he deserved. But there is simply no question that he is the most outstanding lead actor on a comedy series today. And Tina Fey not only matches him scene for scene in her self-effacing portrayal of GIRLIE SHOW head writer Liz Lemon, but gets additional major kudos for serving as head writer on the show itself. The two of them are backed by a deep and talented cast, from Tracy Morgan in his inspired role as the literally insane Tracy Jordan to Jack McBrayer in his scene stealing role as Kenneth the page (I would love to see him get an Emmy nomination). And in addition to the regular cast there was an endless string of wonderful guest appearances, including return visits from Dean Winters as Liz's horrid (but very, very funny) ex-boyfriend Dennis and Will Arnett as Jack's company rival Devon Banks. But there were some great one-time guest appearances as well, perhaps none as delightful as Tim Conway's portrayal of a TV veteran who shatters all of Kenneth's illusions about the Golden Age of TV. Oddly enough, the one guest appearance that misfired was that by Jerry Seinfeld. It was as if the show ceased doing what makes it so brilliant to accommodate Jerry's guest spot.The lone mystery about 30 ROCK is why it doesn't attract a larger audience. I won't name names, but there are hosts of truly lousy series that get far larger audiences than 30 ROCK. This show gets the critical acclaim and wins the awards, but it simply doesn't pull in the large ratings. This distresses me. It makes me wonder if America is clueless about great comedy. I don't get it. Never have and perhaps never will. But trust me: this is as brilliant, as funny as TV can get.

Despite the momentum-threatening writers strike that gave us a 3-month break between the 10th and 15th episodes, "30 Rock" suffered no sophomore slump. Many of the S2 episodes were instant classics, including "Rosemary's Baby" with Carrie Fisher as Liz Lemon's one-time comedy idol -- a once-edgy but now just whacked-out writer; the "Somebody to Love", "Secrets and Lies," "Coffee and TV" trilogy featuring Jack's doomed but oh-so-hot romance with congresswoman C.C. Cunningham (Edie Falco); and a finale that hilariously nails the attitudes of Bush-era D.C. ("Cooter"). Marvelous turns by guest-stars abound, including a reprise of Jack's mother by the astonishing Elaine Stritch; the return of Will Arnett as Jack's G.E. nemesis, Devin Banks, and of Dean Winters and Jason Sudeikis as Liz's former boyfriends, Dennis "the Beeper King" Duffy and Floyd, former G.E. attorney now relocated to "the Cleve"; Fred Armisen as a suspicious neighbor in Liz's apartment building; and Buck Henry, Anita Gillette, and Andy Richter as Liz's parents and brother.To make up for the shorted season, the producers are augmenting the strike-shortened season with many more extras than the S1 DVD set had. Check out the listings here: [...]TEN of the fifteen episodes will have commentary tracks (compared to only six of S1's 22 episodes). Then there's a table-read, Tina hosting SNL, an ATAS evening, and the item I'm really dying to see: "30 Rock Live" at the UCB theater (an on-stage sneak-preview performance of Ep. 8, "Secrets and Lies" that occurred during the strike). Can't wait for this set's release on Oct. 7!

This is an almost perfect comedy series. ALMOST.The writing is excellent, the ideas are good and Tina Fey is really excellent in the role of LIz Lemon, head comedy writer at NBC. However, and this was the case in the first season, the secondary characters are somewhat unrdeal and often unnerving and tend to distract from what could have been perfect. Teke the page Kenneth, he tends to be very often way too geeky for the good of the series. Also Alec Bladwin's character is way over the top and somewhat unrealistic (OK, it is a comedy series) but he has improved over Season 1. The problem is that Tina Fey plays the whole thing in a reaslistic comedy kind of way and the secondary characters are way too charicatural and unrealistic IMHO for it to gel completely. However overall it has improved over Season 1 and has a lot of promise fro the future.

Tina Fey is an intelligent (read: thinking) Lucille Ball. In her zany skits and amongst her madcap crew there can be a redeeming moral found - life lessons if you would. For instance how to handle homosexuals who all seem to believe that if you don't allow their advances that makes you a hater not so. I don't care what sort of perversion that you practice behind closed doors as long as your not practicing them on my children or putting in my face. Jane Krakowski plays a self-involved actress that epitomizes America today and of course Alec Baldwin represents everything wrong with capitalissssm.edit: For instance, how to handle unwanted advances from homosexuals. How to recognize situations where your child's innocence could be compromised by pack leaders, teachers and other people in authority.

Every episode of this series is a comedic gem, I've decided to revisit the series and have now watched Season 1 and now Season 2, and can tell you there is not a weak episode to be seen. Tina Fey is BRILLIANT, she's created the perfect laugh machine series, the writing is perfect, the casting impossible to improve on, and Alec Baldwin, an already brilliant actor, has been gifted the best role of his life. Am I gushing too much? I'm just thankful for the laughs.

Season 2 of '30 Rock' sees Tina Fey return as the likeable, witty, and acerbic Liz Lemon, which pretty much guarantees another helping of sarcastic witticisms, and comedic complaints. From telling Frank that he looks like "Gene Simmons had sex with a basset hound", getting into a fight with Tracy Jordan's sassy wife, and producing a hilarious rant at ex-Boyfriend Floyd, there are enough great Liz moments to pretty much make the show alone. Alec Baldwin remains on fine form as Jack Donaghy, staunch capitalist and producer of some of the show's most amusing moments; and his dynamic with both Liz, Tracy Jordan, and with his adoring, arguably homosexual assistant Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy), is as good, if not better than in the first season. Kenneth the Page gets more screentime, with his naivety proving hilarious, as do Tracy's level-headed entourage Grizz and Dot.Com; but despite the laugh quota being very high in places, this season may come as a minor disappointment to those following on from Season 1.A few episodes don't really work. The season's opener, 'Seinfeld Vision', seems more of a cameo vehicle for Jerry Seinfeld, than a fitting season-opener, and episodes like 'Ludachristmas' and 'Milf Island' stretch certain, less developed characters to their limit, meaning these episodes seem a bit forced. There's little in the way of character development, too; which is a little disappointing, and means that whilst the episodes are entertaining, '30 Rock' seems a bit like it's drifting along, more than it's developing; with Jack's relationship with C.C. Cunningham, a democratic candidate, being a happy exception to this rule. For those who enjoyed the first season of '30 Rock', Season 2 is a worthwhile purchase, but do expect one or two misfires during the series. For those new to the show, I'd suggest beginning with 'Season 1', which both grounds the show, and provides some of its very best episodes.

I enjoyed season 1, but this was fantastic. All the characters were stronger and the episodes packed in some good ideas.Best:Rosemary's Baby where Alec just goes off the edgeSubway hero; fine guest spot from Tim Conway, the Bleeper king returns to reek havoc and Alec as Richard Nixonepisode 210-Just hilarious-go and watch it now!MILF Island: some have critised it, but it was a tight funny episodeCougers: Liz and Jenna hilariously become Cougers, Frank thinks he's gay and Alec does a poor man's bad news bears-probably my favourate episode so far.Worst: SeinfeldVision-just a plug for the crap BEA movie, even though I'm a massive fan of him and his show.Sandwich day: Floyd returns...and not enough happens-just didn't work for meOverall, even these weakest episodes are hilarious and I'll watch them hundreds of timesExtras: the 3rd disc includes an hilarious stage version and table read. There is a q and a bit, but, despite all the cast being there, half of them say nothing. Also, there are no subtitles anywhere, again.But what makes this is the commentarys. Saddly Alec is absent, and Will Arnets one is irritating, as is Fred Armisen's but deffinatly watch the one with Tina and her husband, Tina herself and the absolutly hilarious one with Jane and Jack-worth buying the set for alone-they have a really Jack and Karren from will and Grace chemistry.Excellent entertainme

I caught glimpses of this show on flights and wondered what the fuss was all about. Stuck on a plane from Australia in October, I watched an episode all they way through, then thought I would give the first seasons a try. I'm really glad I did. I'd heard a lot about Tina Fey and how she spoofed Palin, so that increased my curiosity.It's a satire on corporate ownership of the media, really well embodied by Alec Baldwin. But it's also light comedy, well written and observed with endearing characters, Liz, Kenneth, Tracy, et al, which can also be off the wall. I think the one thing US comedy has over British comedy is the duration of the programme. Twenty minutes is enough! Half an hour can seem like over-egging it. Without adverts you can watch an episode or two without being too inconvenienced. Bring on season 3!

i cant fault this show, every episode is littered with zany brilliance, its still annoying to me that I only started watching this show a wee ago and have already ordered season 3 on dvd but of course the show is now no more after 7 series.Every moment is a gem, this has some great cameos but they don't deserve to stand beside our regular cast almost as they are just brilliantly crafter, created and realised, Baldwin for me is one of the coolest characters I have ever seen if I am honest.This is a shorter series, 15 episodes I believe and I wanted more but that's always a great idea, cant wait to keep watching this show.

Anyone who hasn't watched this show is missing out! It amazes me that a show such as friends - which was nice enough, but really not particularly funny! - was a huge hit, and this is shoved away in rubbish time slots where nobody in the UK sees it!I've bought the 1st and 2nd series on dvd and I'm eagerly awaiting the third series - I'm already watching S4, which has just started in the U.S.; so come on Amazon - I want my S3 dvd!!!Alex Baldwin is absolutely the star of the show - he is brilliant, and completely hilarious - a lot of the funniest moments on the show are down to his delivery! And all credit to Tina Fey for creating and writing this show - it truly is great entertainment!