30 Rock: Retreat to Move Forward

(S03E09) "Did you know that Janis Joplin speed walked everywhere and was scared of toilets?" - Frank, editing Joplin's Wikipedia page

OK, so I learned three things from tonight's episode. One, Jack revealed how he left the Bush administration at the end of last season (that gay bomb really did take effect), I never want to see Jenna and Frank make out again, and I'm never going to try any drink with the word "schlong" in it, even if it was inspired by 30 Rock.

I liked this episode, though it's the second week in a row where one of the plots was way too over the top for me. And I'm not even talking about Frank almost tricking Jenna into eating a live cat.

This was another one of those episodes where Liz is out of her element and has to help Jack with his job episodes. I'm not thrilled with episodes that are set away from NBC. I want to see more episodes like we saw the first two seasons, more about TGS and the industry. I like seeing Liz and Jack interact with all the crazies back at the studio, and there wasn't any of that in this episode. So the subplots with Frank/Jenna and the writing staff and Kenneth/Tracy were pretty big, and when that happens it's hit and miss. And that happened tonight too. But it was worth it to see Liz try to come up with a good lie to save Jack. I also liked seeing Tina Fey in a bra.

The plot I wasn't thrilled with was the whole Ken-trying-to-scare-Tracy-into-eating-carrots plot. Sure, a couple of good lines from Dr. Spaceman, but it was way too silly and loud, and what's with the continued use of Halloween imagery and music on this show?

Josh update: still no sign of him.

Some choice quotes:

"Tracy...I don't know how to say this...dee-a-beet-ees?" - Dr. Spaceman

"I suppose, but then you'd have to register it as a motor vehicle." - Dr. Spaceman, about Tracy's plan to get a wheel foot like Rosie on The Jetsons

"You're yelling at me, you're a mess, you're Joplin' down tequila...it's working for me." - Frank, to Jenna

"I'm lovin' it!" - Jack, trying to psych himself up

"There's no link between diabetes and diet. That's a white myth, Ken, like Larry Bird, or Colorado." - Tracy

"N-O-E. No. E!" - Tracy

"Sorry, I dropped it when I was pretending it was my penis. Ro-bot pe-nis." - Liz, about the Lego train

"I'm the one who had to take the Silkwood shower this morning. You're the one who's cool should be!" - Jenna

"I give you business suggestions and you give me the second half of a Judy Blume novel." - Jack

"Like a waitress!" - Jack, telling Liz how to open the door with dishes in her hand

"Now Dog The Bounty Hunter is the second grossest guy I've been with." - Jenna