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May 24, 2013

30 Rock: Generalissimo

by Bob Sassone, posted Feb 6th 2009 1:30AM
30 Rock: Generalissimo(S03E10) "He gets a golf magazine, so you know he's not gay or poor." - Jenna, about Drew

When I saw the promos for this episode, I audibly groaned. A subplot with an actor on a Telemundo soap opera who just happens to be a dead ringer for Jack? Alec Baldwin wearing a uniform and doing an accent? Ugh, I didn't think it would work at all, and with all of the over-the-top surreal subplots that have been on the show this season, I thought this would be the worst one of all.

But you know what? The subplot worked.

I think the reasons it worked are because a) it had some moments that were laugh-out-loud funny (the whole meeting between Jack and Hector the actor had a lot of in-jokes about TV shows with twins), and b) it tied in nicely with Jack's romance of the nurse and had a throwback to Liz eating those knock-off nacho chips. I love it when a show like this trusts the audience to get a quick joke like that. And the whole montage of scenes from the soap that appealed to grandmothers, from loving their cooking and family photos to the scratching of lottery tickets? Very great.

But this episode was really all about Don Draper coming into Liz's life. OK, he 's not Don, but Drew, the sensitive doctor who loves to cook and isn't gay who lives in her building. Seeing Jon Hamm on the floor all confused about the open mail and the fake dog being missing and the roofies and Liz saying "I'm the Generalissimo" was hysterical. "I don't even know what that means!" Hamm is only going to be on the show for a few episodes, so we still have to see how the relationship is going to get screwed up, but Fey and Hamm together are quite good. I like how this plot tied in with Jack's because of what Hector did on the show mirroring what Liz was doing. Sometimes Jack's office TV is one of the most important characters on this show.

I also didn't mind the third plot this week, Tracy and the Wall Street interns going out drinking. It didn't get too goofy or over-the-top, and it easily could have. It was nicely underplayed. And I loved Tracy telling the intern that he shouldn't end sentences with a proposition. When and why did we first start saying that awful phrase "come with?"

Josh sighting: negative. But none of the writing staff made an appearance in this episode. I really hope they get back to them (I find myself saying that a lot this season). Matt Lauer sightings: two. He seems to be everywhere these days, including a Land of the Lost preview during this episode.

Some quotes:

"You haven't seen Dr. Baird. He looks like a cartoon pilot!" - Liz

"They're all former investment bankers who were laid off in that economic crisis Nancy Pelosi started." - Jack, about the interns

"It's like I said in my hit comedy Cruise Boat ... I'm too old for this ship." - Tracy

"Do you really want me to play Arthur Ashe?" - Tracy

"A yard like a lawn? Yes, I have." - Tracy, after one of the interns asked if he's ever drank a yard of beer

"Here's today's scripts. I edited it and took out all of the Star Wars references." - Elisa, to Liz

"Oh Lemon, don't start it unless you've got something." - Jack, about Liz's joke

"Having been on both sides of that, I can tell you it's not a good idea." - Jenna, about drugging Drew

"I'm gonna say it: women should not deliver the mail." - Liz

"He's a pediatrician so you know he likes kids. Or feet. No, kids. - Jenna, about Drew

"I don't think you should come to my cousin's police academy graduation or my other cousin's parole party. I hope those two don't eventually have a showdown that pits family against justice." - Elisa, to Jack

"I am super-gay, and I would totally switch for her." - Hector, about Elisa

"Only the special tours get to see Conan without his wig." - 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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Kendall

I loved this episode, but I miss the writers and crew too. Especially pete! My favorite bit with Pete was when he got stuck in the soy-joy vending machine (during the milf-island episode), then he throws objects at the phone to dial someone and he calls himself and screams into his own voicemail.

February 09 2009 at 1:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pete

Is anything sexier than Tin Fey with a half-eaten Pop Tart hanging out of her mouth? I think not.

February 07 2009 at 2:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim

Best-written episode of the year, by far! The intern storyline was A+, and I loved the return of "I want to go to there."

FWIW: After telling the intern he shouldn't end a sentence with a proposition, Tracy said, "I'm IN."

February 07 2009 at 8:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zachary

I guess I was the only one who liked the line about Brazilian guys with German heritage.

February 06 2009 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

What is this obsession with the "writing staff?" I feel like the show has become so much better without their presence dragging everything down.

They were definitely funny, but they epitomized why a show like 30 Rock is not as good as The Office - you just don't care about all the off-beat, unattractive, generally unlikable characters. Bringing the show to the three central characters, and then two supporting stars in Krakowski (who has been growing on me this year) and MacBryer, has made it much more endearing. Plus, it's not like humor's gone downhill.

February 06 2009 at 1:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Brian's comment
Diego M

i agree with you on that, the writing staff is good when they are integrated to the plot. why go out of the way and add them to it and take away from great set ups away from the office.

Liz's face when she told Drew about the puppy was priceless.

wouldn't it be creepy if the news really eneded that way. Cute pictures of hispanic children to the music of Tito Puente.

and Sassone shame on you for doubting that 30 rock would not be able to work an outragous plot, this the same people that had nightcourt reunited!!!

February 06 2009 at 2:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joe

Is it me or does this show never fail to come through? Gotta love 30Rock!!!

http://www.joeonthetube.com

February 06 2009 at 1:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Johnzo

I saw JOSH in this episode! He was in a poster of TGS behind the characters in one scene? Does that count? Would he get paid for that kind of appearance?

February 06 2009 at 11:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wader

i want to go to there

February 06 2009 at 11:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

Add in a deleted scene with Pete and the writers and this would be the best 30 Rock ever (I think.)

February 06 2009 at 11:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SpaceVenus

Hilarious!
Does anyone else find Salma's accent distracting? It's much too thick for someone who's been speaking English for as long as she has. I find myself struggling to understand her and probably missing a lot of funny stuff.

February 06 2009 at 11:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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