Monday, December 3, 2012

What I’m Watching: 30 Rock


30 Rock: Season 7, Episode 7 “Mazel Tov, Dummies!” (B-)

In theory, this episode should have been much funnier than it was. Liz and Criss’ wedding was never going to be a spectacular event, but inviting the always hilarious Dennis and Tony Bennett didn’t make it all that memorable. Jack arguing in favor of the institution of marriage didn’t quite track with his beliefs on the matter either, and his points were far less effective as a result. I’m not sure what lies ahead for Liz and Criss, since adopting a baby is their endgame but it doesn’t feel like something that would actually come to fruition on this wacky show, which is hurtling towards its series finale in just a handful of episodes. Jenna has clearly gone downhill, being valued by Jack at only $2,000, though I’m not sure Terry’s initial estimate of $800,000 is all that much more reassuring. I would have hoped for a better usage of John Hodgman than as the lifelong collector of points so that he could enslave Jenna, and given how her plotlines usually go, it seemed strange that it turned to money so fast without any depravity and submissiveness on Jenna’s part first. I feel like Tracy realizes that he should live life seriously every other episode, and there’s always something that brings him back to his old irresponsible lifestyle. Passing his physical was hardly a compelling impetus for his latest bout of responsible thinking, and deciding to make a period piece about Harriet Tubman likely won’t lead to much in the way of funny storylines in the near future.

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