'30 Rock' Season 5, Episode 19 Recap

['30 Rock' - 'I Heart Connecticut']

Well, it took all episode to finally get there, but it looks like things might be returning to normal in time for next week's 100th episode extravaganza. It's an event so big it's going to take both the 100th and 101st episodes to tell it.

But first, there's the issue of Tracy Jordan. Things have gotten really serialized the past few weeks, but the ongoing storyline of Tracy's sabbatical to Africa New York finally reached a head this week as Kenneth and Liz started tracking him down.

The C-Story this week was a bizarre arm-wrestling plot where Pete discovers a strength he didn't know he had, and finds it within him to care and be willing to lose. At least that's what it appeared to be on the surface.

As it turns out, old Pete is just as sad and pathetic as always and the entire storyline where he was finally poised to take down Rob Riggle's character for picking on him was a delusion in his own mind. The entire plot took place in the moments before Frank beat him in arm wrestling.

It worked because while it erased a poignant moment from reality, it reaffirmed what we know about Pete's character. He may be the sad sack everyone pushes around, but he has a real heart. Even in his own fantasy he allows himself to be pushed around to make others look better.

Actually, that's kind of pathetic. This is a fantasy! I'll admit I was totally hoping he'd go ahead and crush Riggle in the arm-wrestling match -- in front of his son no less -- and just say, "Suck it!"

The episode had a slow boil as far as the humor went. Things were a little light on laughs in the first half, but by the time we got into the last ten minutes, it was almost non-stop. Jenna's movie project evolution from torture porn to Connecticut propaganda machine to Wal-Mart family friendly fare complete with puppet to a Phil Rosenthal vanity project with a random call-in voting option was pure unadulterated genius.



After all, isn't that how creative projects are made in Hollywood. Hell, even before Jenna got her hands on it, Jack revealed the various permutations of the project. All he cared about was that it made money. The final product means nothing at all. Just look at all the sequal schlock that's churned out year after year and it's pretty obvious this is what matters.

Liz Lemon's need was far more immediate, though profitability had a lot to do with it as well. With Jack's novel new idea of only doing shows on NBC that work, TGS needs Tracy Morgan to avoid cancellation. I don't know about you guys, but I saw a lot of potential in 'Who Nose?' and 'Dad 2.0.' Just change the first one to 'Law & Order: Who Nose?' and it'd probably make the schedule.

As much as I've still been able to enjoy the show without Tracy Jordan's completely random dialogue, I found myself delighted when he finally showed up at the end. It was sheer genius that he's been in Liz's apartment for two weeks, showing just how obsessed and neurotic she's been about the show.

I couldn't have been more excited when she told him he was off the leash and he took his shirt off. Tracy running down the street with no shirt on is when we first fell in love with him. Tracy trying to do things that matter and be a role model isn't the Tracy Jordan we know and love -- and are a little bit frightened of.

The show can work without him, but the funny factor is increased tenfold with him in the mix. Hopefully as he gets back onto the set, he'll be back to his old self and we'll have no idea what he's going to say or do next.

QUOTABLES:

"We have ways of making people talk. By giving them fresh apple slices!"--Kenneth

"The worst part is being able to see the candy!--Grizz

"This morning I figured out how to fix NBC. We will only do shows that work."--Jack
"That's nonsense."--Liz

"It's kind of an artsy character study about a young woman who has a lot of holes drilled into her head by a deranged veterinarian named Slaughterface."--Jenna

"The producers of this movie rented 'Saw' and watched it."--Jenna

"Large cheese pizza with one slice taken out so I can pretend I'm eating Pac-Man like my hero Blinky the Ghost."--Tracy's pizza order

"We just need to hire some of those ugly people who have the paper and change the shapes on it."--Jenna
"Writers?"--Jack

"Sean Penn wanted me to go to Haiti with him and I'm not strong enough for the pain and the human misery of a three-hour plane ride with Sean Penn."--Tracy

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

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