"30 Rock Season 1" A Solid First Season That Gets Me Excited


    I have finally done it. I've found another sitcom to sink my teeth in, and this time I think it might just be good enough for me to really sink my teeth in. Truth be told, the only reason I did not start this show sooner is because the first time I was watching this show, I actually cut off a small chunk of my fingertip, and so I was so mad with myself for the month or so every time I thought about picking up the show again I'd be reminded of my finger slowly growing back. Then, that list of the top 100 shows was released, and people started comparing this TV show to my beloved Community, which in my heart remains one of the greatest peaks television has ever reached, and I just had to see if it was any good. Let's talk about it.
    
    Off the bat, I will say, this TV show definitely feels like one in its first season. It really does not know/struggles to balance between who are the main characters/who is going to be showcased. You start off the show and you think this show will feature Tracy Jordan heavily, I mean he's literally playing himself and he's been inserted to help keep TGS fresh. You think the first season would focus on attempting to integrate him into this new show. Except it doesn't do this at all, and it still kind of works?

    As soon as you reach like episode three or so, you realize that this show features much less Jenna and Tracey than you think, and the real stars of the show are Liz and Jack. Liz I understand, since it is based off of Tina Fey's own experience, but I was pleasantly surprised by Alec Baldwin playing Jack Donaghy. Like at first he just seemed like a meddling executive, but I quickly fell in love with him. Maybe it's because you know he's not exactly the kindest person, but he's a little eccentric, and something about his performance endeared me to him.

    I found myself even enjoying the side characters too. Whether it be Tracy's entourage in Dot Com and Grizz, or even Kenneth. I do have to admit my favourite side character is Pete though. I think it's the fact that he's balding, something so disarming about it that makes me enjoy him whenever he's on my screen. I'll be honest I could do without Jenna. I mean I understand she's not supposed to be the most loveable character, but I was kind of lukewarm on her. Same with most of the writers, though a part of me did enjoy Josh and Toofer. Tracy I was mostly neutral on, and Cerie well she barely has any parts for me to care about yet.

    I will say I do not think the show is without fault though. For a first season it focuses far too much on relationships, especially regarding Liz and Jack. I know Tracy's technically married somehow, so you can't do much on that front but I swear Liz and Jack cycled through 2-3 lovers each in the first season. It's too much. They need to take the HIMYM approach and do like one new love interest per character per season. I much would have rather them spent more time doing storylines surrounding the show itself. In Community for better or for worse it mostly takes place in the school. I feel like by the end the show spent a lot of time outside of the TV set.

Final Score: 75/100

    Even still, it was some solid TV that has me pretty intrigued to see how the rest of it goes. I do have to say, please tell me the endgame is not some Liz and Jack romance. I am begging the show not to go in that direction. Anytime it even slightly breathes a hint of that being some perfect endgame between those two I throw up a little on the inside. Just gross. Please keep them platonic and do not touch those two, I am begging showrunners please. Also I kind of enjoyed Rachel Dratch playing literally every single extra character in this show. It's a real shame they didn't continue it for the rest of the show but I thought it was funny and should have been kept in.

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