30 Rock Season 4 Review

• 15th Feb 2011

I first came across 30 Rock on one of those lazy Saturday afternoons where you have no plans, can’t be bothered to make any and just crave a TV boxset to numb your mind in front of for a good few hours. So off I trundled, with the specific instruction to myself that I couldn’t spend more than £15 on this unknown boxset I was to buy. I feel at this point I should probably resist from admitting I did stand there, Supernatural in one hand, 30 Rock in the other, contemplating cute men crap versus what I’d heard to be a very good comedy. There are few times I make the right choice but this was one of them.

It’s four seasons later and I still thoroughly enjoy watching 30 Rock. If you’ve seen all the other seasons then I wouldn’t say you are in for any big surprises. This is 30 Rock after all, but if you’re coming in new, here is the overall gist the show.

30 Rock is about the crew and production team who make a show called “TGS”, whose stars are the possibly clinically insane Jenna Maroney and child in a man’s body Tracey Jordon. Liz Lemon is the head writer for the show and Jack Donaghy is her boss. The whole thing is set in 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the address of NBC Studios in New York.

It has a great formula that works and it sticks with it but that’s part of the reason why you have to love it. It just has that cosy warm jumper feel to it. So in season 4 what worked before continues to work and here’s a handy run down of those things;

1) Jack and Lemon’s chemistry is just plain comedy brilliance. As they banter off each other, it further warps our ingrained belief that a man and woman in any show have to have some romantic interest (don’t they?).
2) Kenneth. You may love or hate him but me, I just adore him. There are some hilarious dropped in comments about him this year that can easily slip you by, but add to the mysterious question of just who Kenneth Parcell really is. One of the treats of the season has to be Jack’s mother and Kenneth (or is that Kevin?).
3) Tracey/Jenna. My least favourite part of 30 Rock. 90% irritating but that other 10% can make you wet yourself laughing.
4) The rest of the team, from Lutz to Devon Banks, you could not ask for a better supporting cast of characters.
5) A story line is set up each week, some kind of mayhem ensues, Lemon gets stressed out and acts like the neurotic anti Bridget Jones icon so many women are now identifying with. Jack continues to drop in witty statements, pouts and drinks whisky while gazing, pondering out of the window.

Something that I didn’t notice so much in previous seasons is, this time there seems to be an awful lot of guest appearances. You could take this as the show has reached such popularity in America that everyone is lining up to feature, but it’s risky. We all remember how bad some of those guest appearances got in Friends (yes Brad I am referring to you) and getting famous faces in your show does bring in the suspicion that you need to bump the ratings. However, I have to concede that when I reflect on the people who cropped up in 30 Rock Season 4 there are some really hilarious performances. I’ll go with the list thing again so here’s my top 3….

1) James Franco. An episode that will leave you with jaw agape asking did that really happen.
2) Michael Sheen playing Wesley Snipes. I’ll leave it at that.
3) Will Ferrell. If only there did exist a show called Bitch Hunter.

Sadly, Whoopi Goldberg and, surprisingly, Julianne Moore could have been left out. A complete lack of comedic value in both performances. Elizabeth Banks as Avery is an unexpected addition this season and has some very good moments.

My conclusion of Season 4? Worth the boxset. You will watch it more than once. While like any 22 episode comedy season it does get tired in the middle but 30 Rock isn’t about avidly watching every second, afraid you might miss a plot line or joke. It’s easy comfort viewing that will make you laugh, you don’t need to concentrate too hard and you can easily watch again.

My last comment has to go to the introduction of Jenna’s new boyfriend in this season. Utter genius.

Lauren Cracknell