['30 Rock' - 'Queen of Jordan']

We waited three weeks for this?

'30 Rock' rarely makes a big misstep. Even when a particular episode isn't as funny or incisive or clever as the show usually is, it's still above average, better than most comedies on the air, even if it gets there on joke quantity and not quality.

This episode was one of the worst in the show's 4 1/2 season run.

You would think that a wall-to-wall spoof of a reality show would be right up '30 Rock's' alley. Then why did this episode fall so, so flat?

I was actually looking forward to seeing more of Angie's reality show 'Queen of Jordan,' but now I hope the show is canceled and we don't see Angie again until it's time for another Tracy/Angie marital problem plot. Maybe it's because reality shows -- real ones -- are inherently ridiculous themselves, or maybe it's because other shows have already made fun of reality shows way before this, but wasn't this episode rather unfunny? I mean, remarkably unfunny? Especially for '30 Rock?'

The entire episode, you couldn't shake the feeling that these are all comics and they were just pretending that they were on a reality show.

The parts that really focused on the reality show weren't reality show-ish enough (maybe it was the way the episode was filmed), and the parts that really had nothing to do with the reality show -- Jack being mistaken for gay by the cast and crew of 'Queen of Jordan' and Frank's reunion with the teacher he lost his virginity to -- seemed shoe-horned into the plot. Having Pete say things to the camera and having the camera swing around to see what odd line Kenneth or Dotcom was going to say only succeeded in reminding us how strong the show's usual joke-plot point-quick wacky flashback-joke structure is.

Imagine that this was the episode you chose to finally get your friend who never watches the show hooked on it, to convince them that they have to start watching this show along with 'Community' and 'Parks and Recreation.' Not only would they never watch it again they would probably forever and forever question your judgment about TV shows and life in general.

Jenna had a plot too, but I swear that I sit here a few minutes after the episode ended and I can't even remember what it was. Something to do with throwing wine?

I also can't remember an episode of '30 Rock' that I just wanted TO END ALREADY. But that's how I felt tonight. With it's handheld camera work and people talking to the camera, it was like a really bad episode of 'The Office' directed by Bravo's Andy Cohen. Can't wait to get back to "normal" next week.

More thoughts:

• This episode was so lame that I didn't even realize that was Susan Sarandon until halfway through the episode.

• I did like how Jenna pronounces "cam-er-a" though. And Angie's "Haaam!"

Quotes:

"For your information, I am a Christian illiterate, so that's not even an option." - Randi, about writing a scene for the show

"Jenna-side ... Jenna-side ... I'm not hearing it Liz." - Jenna, about how Jenna-Side.com sounds

"It happened to Hitler. No one ever talks about his paintings." - Jack, about how the media tears down people

"I like bands, like ... Amy Grant." - Liz

"I'm not just a gay hairdresser, I'm also a homosexual party planner." - D'Fwan

"Yes, otherwise who would wake me for work?" - Frank, about living with his mom

"The boy I fell in love with was the most amazing 8th grader that I've ever met." - Frank's former teacher

"I thought this was about your spin-off where you play matchmaker for wealthy dogs?" - Jack, to D'Fwan

"I'm not clumsy or gay, so your little show has nothing to embarrass me with. That was the chair." - Jack, getting out of his chair

"I am contractually obligated to pull out a bitch's weave eight more times this season." - Angie, to Liz

"Well, if you didn't get better at the shuttle run you were going to be hospitalized." - Frank's teacher, about helping him cheat in the Presidential Fitness Test in school

"Jack, I also suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome." - Angie
"It was the chair." - Jack

'30 Rock' airs Thursdays at 10PM ET on NBC.

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Watch the full episode here: