What I’m Watching: 30 Rock (Series Finale)

30 Rock: Season 7, Episodes 12 and 13 “Hogcock!” and “Last Lunch”

This show was always going to go out in style. I can’t say that I loved every part of the two-episode finale – the focus on Lutz being the one to choose where the last free lunch came from was a bit much for me – but, overall, it was a fitting sendoff for the show. I liked how Liz and Jack’s relationship played out, with Jack making Liz think that he was going to commit suicide only to hop onto his boat for a several-second journey, brought to an end by his brilliant idea to market clear dishwashers. Liz going to meet her cyber-enemy at the park only to discover that it was Cris was great, and I’m glad Liz realized that she needs to be the one in the relationship working. The fact that Tracy had it in his contract that he gets $30 million if TGS filmed less than 150 episodes was fantastic, and Liz’s pep talk for him was perfect. I will miss Tracy spelling out his name by letter and explaining all the ridiculous things he references. The multiple breakings of the fourth wall were superb, including Tracy trying to roll the credits halfway through the episode and Jenna announcing to the camera that she has to confess that she’s never met Mickey Rourke. Jenna heading to Hollywood, starring in a Broadway adaptation of the eternally awesome “The Rural Juror,” and coming to life as a corpse on SVU was entertaining, but the best finale for Jenna and Tracy was the goodbye moment they shared while both dressed as Hitler. Pete faking his own death was a hilarious subplot, the likes of which the writer hasn’t seen in years. Kenneth telling Jack that he would be comfortable if they switched places, even though it was his office, was fitting, and the final moment of the show was admittedly silly but fun. This was the most fitting finale that a show like this should have, and helped to cap a final season that was, for the most part, pretty good. This show was never quite as excellent as people seemed to think, but it definitely had its moments, and made its mark in TV history.

Series finale: B+
Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
Series grade: B+
Series MVP: Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
Best Season: Season 1 and 2
Best Episode: “Hardball” / “Seinfeld Vision”