30 Rock: Do-Over (season premiere) - VIDEO

(S03E01) "It's not at all erotic and fun, like when men do it to women." - Jack, about being sexually harassed by Kathy

Jason asked earlier today if Governor Sarah Palin would help 30 Rock finally get out of the ratings doldrums and become the hit it deserves to be. I don't know if that will happen. It seems more like a weird little show that just so happens to be on a big network on a big night with big stars (I think NBC will stick with the show no matter what the ratings are, at least for a few more seasons), but fans of great comedy should definitely tune in. It's the best comedy on TV right now, not just Emmy-wise but also funny-wise, and tonight's third season opener shows that it's still running on all cylinders.

From the opening scenes where Liz welcomes Jack back from his job in D.C. (he really can't talk about how he got out of the position, and we never find out what happened when the gay bomb took effect) to the closing scenes where Liz tells Jack that she really loves seeing him back sitting behind his old desk, this episode manages to do what the show has always done, mix crazy, almost surreal humor with a genuine (not manufactured) heart.

How do they do that? The show can be cynical and snarky and rapid fire with the one-liners and insults, and then have really nice moments between Liz and Jack that show you how much they care for each other. I don't mean in a romantic way, I just mean deep friendship. They don't go overboard with it at all, they just hit the right notes and then move on. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin are great together.

I'm glad that Liz doesn't end up getting a baby. That might have taken the into that weird sitcom territory, a third or fourth season where they have to add a kid to keep things lively. Though I guess the show could have had some funny riffs on that TV cliche. Liz doesn't get the kid, because of the crazy stuff adoption agency rep Megan Mullally sees at NBC and her subsequent short-term amnesia, but they do keep the door open for it happening later in the series, and that's a good decision.

I also like how the opener gives us an update on how things are going with the other characters. Tracy's video game is a success, Jenna got $300 for starring in a Japanese commercial where she got slapped, what happened after Pete shot the page with the arrow. Though we never do find out how Kenneth got out of his predicament in China.

Devin wants to shut down NBC for two years which sounds crazy, though I wonder if it's any worse than what Ben Silverman is doing.

Some more great quotes from this episode:

- "I heard that theme park fire didn't destroy everything it was supposed to." - Jack, to Devin

- "That's not slang. He has a speech impediment!" - Grizz, to Jenna, after she repeats what Tracy says

- "I even got rid of all of my Colin Firth movies in case they think they could be erotica." - Liz, about her adoption interview at home

- "The man can wear a sweater." - Jack, about Firth

- "I was arrested once, in Germany. for public nudity. I thought it was a topless beach. It was a shipyard." - Liz

- "I mean, I never do anything for Yolanda, and she sends me those headless dolls." - Jenna, about her stalker

- "Hey, Tracy, did you read in the paper today that when Lil' Wayne ... that's a person, right?" - Liz

- "Can I hide this box of penis pasta in your office?" - Liz

- "I'm Rick, the other black guy." - Rick, to Liz