Starring: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 7 hours, 32 minutes of joy!
Extras: 1 hour, 26 minutes that includes Commentaries, Deleted Scenes, Alternative version of ‘Live from Studio 6H’ episode.
A few years ago, I’d only heard of Tina Fey as some awesomely amusing American lady but now, in 2013, she’s a best mate* and I can confirm that she’s also a remarkably talented all-round individual. Her creation of the cult-favourite 30 Rock gets even better and there’s only one final season to go.
Set in the Rockefeller Centre in New York, the incomparable quick-witted comedy follows Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), who’s head writer of comedy sketch show ‘TGS With Tracy Jordan’ and we’re dragged into the world behind the show itself. From the very beginning, she not only has to deal with her dominating, but brilliant, boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) but also the quirks and craziness of the stars of the show…without losing her sanity.
Season 6 sees us join after summer break and on the back of Avery’s (Elizabeth Banks) kidnapping by Kim Jong-Il and so Jack is solely looking after his young daughter Liddy and struggling to understand what to do. Kenneth (the excellent Jack McBrayer) thinks the Rapture is due, and is doing all the things he loves on his final day in existence and then there’s the talent show ‘America’s Kids Got Singing’, on which Jenna (Jane Krakowski) is a Simon Cowell-type judge and basically tells lots of young kids that they’re rubbish…whatever they sound like. It’s quite entertaining. There must also be a mention for the irreplaceable Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) playing up as always, trying to find some reason in his vastly entertaining fantasy world, which occasionally even finds unexpected logic.
Whilst the majority is a satiric play on modern television, the comedy value is similarly high and there are always lessons to be learned. 30 Rock also loves its cameos but plays them (kind of) subtly and intelligently. This season, we see the likes of Susan Sarandon, Jim Carrey, Paul McCartney and Kristen Schaal turning up, plus James Marsden is Liz’s new boyfriend why might just be the perfect fit, surely after all this time?!
You’ll also witness possibly the best Bond parody ever, played by Kelsey Grammer as… himself. He’s super suave and effortlessly cool plus gets to throw in a Cheers line that echoes the essence of Ricky Gervais’ Extras and that perfect exaggerated self- imitation. I’d also recommend a very superior episode called ‘The Tuxedo Begins’ and if you’re not the type to notice the title of episodes, then something will click half way through when you realise it’s a mini-epic tribute to Batman.
Season 6 is all tied together with another live show that stars the reoccurring cameo-star Jon Hamm, an underrated comedy actor, who – let’s say – looks a little different for this specific role. It verges on comedy heroics and yes, it could be said that after 5 seasons that I’m probably biased. It’s actually a shame that the UK never really took 30 Rock into its collective heart and maybe with bigger exposure, it would have found that cult audience.
30 Rock (S6) is once again smart and snappy. This season has all the classic Jack Donaghy (“It’s a Jack Off!”) you could hope for and I can’t wait to see how they round it all off when it comes to the very end with Season 7.
30 Rock is out now on DVD and can be bought here: 30 Rock – Season 6 [DVD] [2011]
*Disclaimer: Our friendship is purely through the method of electronic space and time, and deluded fantasy.
Best Friends Gang!
