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May 22, 2013

30 Rock: Senor Macho Solo

by Kona Gallagher, posted Jan 9th 2009 8:02AM
30 rock
(S03E07)
Love was in the air in this episode of 30 Rock. It seems as though everyone had something going on in their personal life. Jack fell in love with his mother's nurse, Liz found a little person to fill the baby-shaped hole in her heart, Tracy and Angie reignited the spark in their marriage, and Frank, well, Frank got to watch Tracy and Angie do it on Kenneth's desk. So everyone was a winner!

Generally, I think 30 Rock does a great job with guest stars, but this season has been a little disappointing so far. With the exception of the Oprah episode, the constant stunt casting has made it feel a little bit like the last seasons of Will and Grace. However, this week's episode, despite having three guest stars, didn't feel like that at all. Maybe it's because there were three, but they fit into the episode, instead of feeling like the episode was written around them.

As much as I dislike Sherri Shepherd on The View, I love it when she shows up and plays Angie. Tracy Jordan is such a weird character that's it's fun to watch him interact with this semi-normal woman who's in love with him. Her appearances aren't distracting either. When Tracy Jordan is basically humping her on every flat surface on the TGS set, it's easy to forget that she's that lady who hangs out with Barbara Walters.

Salma Hayak also started her multi-episode arc as Jack's love interest. I find the fact that Jack falls in love with a "commoner" pretty fun, but it seems like they moved into it pretty quickly. I love Salma Hayak, and I just hope that they find more to do with this storyline than concentrate on all of the class differences that drive her and Jack apart.

Peter Dinklage was also pretty awesome as Liz's love interest, and I would have loved to see more of them together. I really think they could have done more with this storyline. It could have stretched out over a few episodes and explore Liz's baby obsession a bit more. As it is, it seemed very rushed. "Hi. I like you. Oops! I thought you were a kid! Bye!" He was pretty hot and more of his interactions with Liz would have been hilarious.

The only part of this episode that I wasn't crazy about was the "Jenna playing Janis Joplin" storyline. I loved the song she sang at the end, but since it didn't really involve anyone else in the cast, it just felt like an afterthought -- or an effort to give Jane Krakowski something to do.

Some of my favorite lines from this episode:

"Look at our biological clocks! You're going baby crazy and I keep getting turned on by car accidents." -- Jenna

"When Angie and I got married, my only assets were a toaster oven and two tickets to a Young MC concert. --Tracy

Jenna: "Is this part of your mommy thing?"
Liz: "Only insofar as we met because I touched his head thinking he was a child."

"Without getting into specifics, my exit involves a McFlurry machine and a video tape of risque commercials from overseas." -- Jack

"Thank you for telling me what I already know. You should work for The Huffington Post." -- Jack

30 Rock' Show & Cast Photos

    Actress Tina Fey arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

    Dan MacMedan/WireImage.com

    Actor Alec Baldwin attends HBO

    FilmMagic Inc/FilmMagic.com

    Actors Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski attend HBO

    Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

    Actors Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski attend HBO

    Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

    Actresses Tina Fey(L) and Amy Poehler attend the Governors Ball for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

    Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com

    Writer-actress Tina Fey leaves HBO

    Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com

    Actress Tina Fey and TV Host Stephen Colbert attend the Governors Ball for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

    Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com

    Actor Alec Baldwin attends the Governors Ball for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

    Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com

    Actress Tina Fey arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Governor

    Jason Merritt/FilmMagic.com

    Actresses Tina Fey and Amy Poehler arrives at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Governor

    Jason Merritt/FilmMagic.com

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29 Comments

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Amy

I loved this episode!

Jenna as Janis Joplin and Janet Jopler were hilarious! I'm glad that story is continuing.

Jack: Thank you for telling me what I already know. You should work for the Huffington Post.

And

Tracy: The test was positive. No no no I mean positive like it's good. The results were negative. Oh I see your confusion! That is funny! Ahahahaha!

Quotes thanks to http://pregnantcornbread.com

January 13 2009 at 2:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ec

I wish they would do more with the writing staff - hat guy, ivy league guy and sleeping-on-liz's-sofa guy. I loved the interactions between them season one. I think developing their personalities more will open up more funny plot lines so the (30 rock) writers don't have to depend on guest stars, jack, tracy and kenneth.

plus it would be great to see more about making their show - "the girlie show," right? - that's beginning to seem "tacked on" like jenna's performance at the end.

January 10 2009 at 2:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tracey

I'm more sick of the Will & Grace comparison. I've heard that said a million times.

January 09 2009 at 8:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lee

Can someone explain the reference to car accidents in this exchange between Jenna and Liz:

"Look at our biological clocks! You're going baby crazy and I keep getting turned on by car accidents." -- Jenna

Even after thinking about it for a while, I don't get the joke. What do car accidents have to do with a biological clock?

January 09 2009 at 6:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Lee's comment
MCW

It is my opinion that it wasn't supposed to make sense, like most things that come out of Jenna's mouth. It was supposed to catch you off guard momentarily.

January 09 2009 at 9:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Greg

It's probably a semi-reference to the Cronenberg movie "Crash" from 1996 (I think), but mostly Jenna likes to bring things back to her (like Tyra Banks, actually. seriously, watch her interview someone and NOT make it all about her somehow), and since she's not 'baby crazy' she had to find something. Luckily, it was something random and crazy, and thus, hilarious.

January 10 2009 at 1:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brin

I'm no Tracy Jordan fan, but we've got to give it up for "A Blaffair to Rememblack", and having him dressed as Legolas (of all people!!) for an entire scene without anyone even addressing it.

January 09 2009 at 4:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Brin's comment
MCW

I dislike him too, but he started the episode with a bang - a money shirt AND gold shoes... that made me happy.

January 09 2009 at 5:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
samodernist

I was also surprised Jack did not mention the cleavage during or after the Quincinera. Also I agree that Peter Dinklage was on the show too breifly (I felt the break up at the bridge was a bit too harsh and too quickly judged...could have at least been a two episode arc...he is always great - if you haven't seen it - he is great in "In Bruges"

January 09 2009 at 2:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to samodernist's comment
Grace

That wasn't him in "In Bruges," it was Jordan Prentice...

January 10 2009 at 6:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
samodernist

I also suprisingly agree with you about Sherri Sheppard...and to be honest I only put it together while rewatching season 2 over the Holidays with my wife. I said I never really realized that was the same annoying woman who is on The View, but I think she is TERRIFIC on 30 Rock esp. as both an often normal and frisky wife to Tracy. I really have to admit that it makes me happy to see her appear once in awhile. Good Observation.

January 09 2009 at 2:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Greg

Nothing about "Cat sound!" with the claw hand?

January 09 2009 at 2:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MCW

I personally loved when Lemon pulled the guy back from the fire: "Get back buddy"! That was really funny. I hope he'll be back in future episodes.

- http://UncoveredFilms.blogspot.com

January 09 2009 at 1:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Martin

Salma Hayak at the quiencera made this the best episode ever. I really need to rewatch a few times this weekend, not because I missed it, but because I already miss it!!!

January 09 2009 at 12:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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