This week’s episode of 30 Rock was very, very odd. I didn’t quite hate it, and I feel like I would be a complete hypocrite if I slammed it, but something was off. It felt like I was watching a different show this week. It just didn’t “feel” like an episode of 30 Rock. So much of the comedy in the show revolves around the relationships between the characters. That’s why I think it was odd that Jack spent most of the episode with Kaylie Hooper (played brilliantly, I might add, by the hot commodity that is Chloe Moretz) and Liz spent the half hour squaring off against the super annoying Abby Flynn.
I know I recently complained that it felt like 30 Rock was getting a little repetitive, hence my self-professed hypocrisy. You would think that an episode as different as this one would have made me happy, but it didn’t. Certainly, there were high points. I like Kaylie and hope we get to see more of her and Jack squaring off. I always love when Lutz gets beat up, so seeing him pee himself at the UPS man was fantastic.
At the same time, though, there was a lot of bad too. Abby Flynn was annoying, and the only thing that was more annoying was the payoff of that story line. Wouldn’t Abby have just confided in Liz when she confronted her in the park? I know I’m thinking about it too hard, but 3o Rock is usually so sharp and smart, and this plot came off as neither.
There is one other thing I have to mention. It has not been a week or two, but I already miss Tracy. Yes, he is over the top and completely insane, but I really like what he adds to the show.
So, what did you all think of the episode? Am I way off base? I will admit that I watched the show after finally admitting that I was sick and measured my temperature at over 100 degrees, just as I enter a week long vacation. That may have put me in the wrong frame of mind.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Feb 25, 2011 @ 18:48 EST5EDT
The episode had the usual mix of great one liners and it did spring some laughter for me. I have to agree that it was off. It was odd to have the leads mostly apart from one another for the majority of the episode.
Is it just me or does Liz Lemon also hate Sarah Silverman? The pigtails, the 70s shorts/thigh socks, the baby voice, the ‘bagel-y’ name . . . I should do a post on this, but I’m way too lazy …
An, I agree the Abby character was influenced by Silverman. Since I feel certain that Silverman means for her own Abby-like character to be completely obnoxious, I couldn’t decide if this was an attack or an homage.
No no… you’re not alone. It was a spot on Sarah Silverman impression and if I were in any way able to be non-confrontational, I would not mention how hard it must be for someone who knows her not to see that in this episode and include that in a review *evil grin* I have to agree that this character must have been some sort of cartharis for Tina Fey because Silverman isn’t on TV at the moment and I don’t really understand what could’ve made them include her in this episode.
What it reminded me of the most though is Olivia Munn on The Daily Show. (without going into further detail).
You probably knew this, but Tracy is out to recover from surgery (something kidney related, I think), so that explains his absence. Personally, I like the emphasis on the other characters (the writers) because of his hiatus.
Ugh, that Abbey is outrageously annoying. And I thought the same thing about the park scene, though the homeless guy made me laugh.
And Chloe Moretz was amazing as Kaylie Hooper- when she and Jack squared off outside her school I was dying!
The actress who played Abby explained in an interview that she based the character’s baby-ish voice on Paris Hilton.
There might have been a few minor aspects of Abbey that were meant to recall Sarah Silverman (the shorts and the boots she wore, the very Jewish-sounding last name), but that doesn’t mean that she was the primary inspiration for the character.
If they were hoping to satirize Silverman specifically, I can’t imagine they’d focus on the “sexy baby” thing, which isn’t very reminiscent of Silverman’s style. They’d have Abbey telling outrageous jokes that were ironically racist and anti-Semitic – that’s what Silverman is known for.