The TV Zone

These little beauties just came to my attention - first looks at tomorrow night's closers.

"Office," as you know, sees the return of Holly (Amy Ryan) while Liz becomes a famous self-help celebrity. Expect many cameos.

Remember Tina Fey's mini-half-serious rant concerning the Internet last night? She elaborated backstage to The Envelope's Tom O'Neil last night, and his hand held video of the encounter's actually kinda interesting. Fey - in part - blames some of the forum posters on Tom's website for bugging her, and of course she gets the usual round of Palin questions - all deflected with nary a comment. Interpretation: She's going to distance herself as far from Sarah as humanly possible. If that is possible.

This hit the in-box a minute ago - another "Kenneth Web Page" installment.

Doing a dry run of his roast of Tracy Jordan.

Note to self: Never go to roast where Kenneth is presenter. Actually, take that back - always go to roast where Kenneth is presenter...

BTW, Selma Hayek tonight...

Jennifer Aniston was absolutely hysterical last night on "30 Rock" as an uninhibited ditz who knows how to make Jack's clock tick.

"30 Rock" is now 2 for 2 when it comes to guest shots featuring former "Friends" cast members, following last season's riotous performance by David Schwimmer as "Greenzo," a truly warped eco-activist..

So which "Friend" should be next? May we suggest Matthew Perry.

Not as a new character, but reprising his role as comedy writer Matt Albie from "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." After all, the man knows the TV biz. This would be the ultimate wink-wink from "30 Rock" -- "60" was supposed to be NBC's high-end drama about the TV biz, while "30" was supposed to be some dopey, low-rent comedy about the TV biz.

Well, we all know how that turned out.

Whatdya think? In the meantime, just in case you've forgotten, please go to the jump and take a look at the finale from "Studio 60."

Continue reading "'30 Rock's' Next 'Friend'" »

Yes, I'm as much in the habit of self-promotion as the next needy, desperate, neurotic TV writer. I have to remind myself now and then that I actually did get it right - once or twice, anyway. .

Almost exactly two years ago, I pegged "30 Rock" as one of the best comedies you'd see that season, and by golly - as Kenneth might say - I was right.

Everyone else was waxing endlessly about the genius of Aaron Sorkin, and how rich and melodic and splendid "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" was.

But I hated it.

"30 Rock?" A joy. And still is.

"The Office/30 Rock" remains the best one/two punch on the boob tube.

Now dear reader, go to the jump for my old 2006 review, and thanks for tolerating my sad, dare I say, pathetic neediness. Then, watch tonight...

Continue reading ""30 Rock:" Another Review. My Old One" »

Unless, of course, you really DO want to pay for it, in which case make your checks out to "TV Zone, C/O Verne Gay" (and please, no foreign denominations.)

As expected, NBC posted the third season premiere - the whole shebang - on Hulu this morning. (But because it's so hard to type in Hulu in your subject field, you may as well just click on the vid below...)

Why the week's jump start? Simple! NBC got a teensy bit of heat from fans - and maybe some internally too - that it had waited waaaay too long to air the best comedy on TV, looooong after everything else had premiered. But it was stuck - after all, it's trying to get "Kath & Kim" going, and "SNL" is locked in at 9:30 through tonight, so...

Post it on Hulu!

(I'm also thinking if I'm TV Guide right about now, I'm feeling, ummm, kind of like an idiot. The mag is giving the show free to subscribers via iTunes; but now the entire world can see it right here on TV Zone. )

Oh, thanks for asking: My quickie review?

I loved it...BUT the second episode of the season, the one with Oprah, is (as I write in this Sunday's paper) "a masterpiece..."

And I'm not blowin' smoke either; it's really first-rate. So onward...click away...

And no, he's NOT leaving "30 Rock" either!

You see, Alec can walk and chew gum at the same time, and so he's gonna do a once a week hosting gig on TCM, for a series entitled "The Essentials." He'll do it with Robert Osbourne, the fabulous host of everything else on TCM.

Honestly, this is a great move for Alec - who's been increasingly Hamlet-like, talking about whether to be or not to be an actor, and whether he should fight the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune of being on a low-rated TV series for an evil network, or take arms against a sea of trouble - notably his psyche, and ex-wife - and by opposing (or working as a TV host or radio host for a classic music station) end them.

Of course, it could be really boring and he'd fall asleep, perchance to dream.

Ay, there's the rub...

I'm sorry, but I've been watching "Mad Men," drinking single malt, and you really shouldn't do that at 11 o'clock in the morning. (Hick...)

Here's the much more rational presser:

"Fresh off his Emmy® for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) has signed to co-host Turner Classic Movies’ (TCM) signature movie showcase, THE ESSENTIALS. Beginning in March 2009, Baldwin, who possesses a deep love and understanding of classic films, will join TCM host Robert Osborne in introducing “must see” movies each week, with an eye toward helping viewers better understand why these films are important and the impact they had on audiences and the culture at large. Baldwin has previously appeared on TCM as part of the network’s Guest Programmer series. Earlier this year, he hosted the TCM special Role Model: Gene Wilder, in which he sat down with the comic actor for an intimate conversation about Wilder’s life and career. TCM’s THE ESSENTIALS showcase airs each Saturday at 8 p.m."

We need more stars like Alec Baldwin around - stars that talk about their preference for Mahler (but don't understand Mozart), stars who ruminate obsessively on the meaning of their life, and what they should do next, etc.

But especially stars with Kateheiglitis - a brazen form of outspokenness in which the afflicted castigates the most unlikely of targets, namely those he or she works with on TV shows. Baldwin, of course, has a variation of this - he butt-kicked "30 Rock" lead-in "My Name is Earl" and NBC in that New Yorker profile, as opposed to his own show's writers. It's hard to cure this ailment, and even when you do sort of make amends for what you said earlier, a little bit of it still comes back to haunt you in the apology...

Take for example his apology in today's Huffpo, where he concludes with this "oh and by the way" aside:

"PS: My apologies to the cast and crews of My Name Is Earl and Scrubs. In my frustration with NBC's reprehensible promotion of 30 Rock, I took an unfortunate swipe at both of those shows and that was not cool.

But, for Earl's creator, Greg Garcia, who referred to me as a 'psychotic,' I have only one question. Why are you Scientologists always rendering these medical opinions you aren't qualified to give?"

Now Alec, you wouldn't be talking about one world-famous actor who's appeared in movies with the initials "M:I" and who is married to someone who used to be in a show with the initials "D.C." and who likes to jump on couches and tell Matt Lauer that he's a smug jerk who doesn't know anything about psychoanalysis?

Because if you ARE referring to this person, then you've picked a whole brand new fight and may need to issue another apology!

That's the problem with kateheiglitis. You never know how it's gonna break out...(But it IS a fun spectator sport...)

Meanwhile, Garcia - who actually seems like a pretty good guy, and down to earth, at least by California standards (he worked the cash register in a Burger King during the writers' strike) - is laughing the whole thing off. He says he isn't even a Scientologist. Oops.

(Photo: Nicole Rivelli/NBC)

I'm just catching up to this fascinating, strange, amusing, odd, nutty profile/story of the great Alec Baldwin in The Envelope, and it's one of those pieces that "have people talking" because they're not exactly sure what HE'S talking about. He muses about Chopin, and Rachmaninoff, and how Charles Dutoit of the Montreal Symphony doesn't rate (whaaa!!!??? In fact, Dutoit's pretty much a conductor of the first rank, at least when it comes to Debussy...)

It goes on: He doesn't want to do TV anymore, something he's publicly mused about before, and then starts to riff on what he could do instead. ("Yeah, I do have to find another career," he said. "I don't want to do this. . . . I don't.") The piece ends when he stands up and explains that he has to go do something - he simply heads out to lunch.

I love it: A deeply deranged and hugely talented actor. (But don't Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper already have a lock on this category?)

Or: Maybe he's just pulling the writer's leg.

Judge for yourself. It's here and worth a read.

Thank heavens, "30 Rock" is back and just as good as ever. Here's what cracked me up last night:

1. Kenneth telling a freaked-out Liz: "Your eyes look like my uncle's after he'd drink from the air conditioner."

2. Nice plug for SoyJoy.

3. "Stay tuned for “Dog Swap!”

4. The “MILF Island” host’s elimination catchphrase: “Get off MILF Island,” followed by the banished mom throwing her bikini on the fire (breasts digitally covered, of course).

5. Jerry Seinfeld getting co-executive producer credit for “MILF Island.”

"30 Rock" fans have to wait until April 10 -- that's 44 more days, darn it -- until we get to see a fresh episode.

However, fans of Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), the page who's all the rage, can get a chance now to see him strut his stuff -- in a snippet of "Touch My Body," the new video from Harborfields' own Mariah Carey.

Thanks to the amy's robot blog for tipping us off.

Last night on “30 Rock”:

Liz tried to make a major commitment. Jack and CC made a major decision about their relationship and Kenneth got hooked on a major drug.

Sorry for making the plot sound like something out of “All My Children.” Guess I’m feeling melodramatic since this was the final original episode we’re likely to see for some time.

Anyway, here are five things we loved

-- All the major characters singing and dancing to “Midnight Train to Georgia.”

-- Gladys Knight’s episode-ending cameo.

-- The strange things Kenneth did after he became hooked on caffeine. “I went to a PG-13 movie... I tried one of those Jewish donuts!”

-- Tracy imploring Kenneth not to leave Manhattan: “This is New York...The Big Easy!”

-- Liz’ version of “The Lost Weekend,” slugging down bottle after bottle of wine as she phoned her prospective co-op board.

Jeez, we’re gonna miss this show. If you really want a "30 Rock" fix, you can always go here.

(Photo: Courtesy NBC)

In case you missed it, the core cast of “30 Rock” did something really terrific Monday night.

They performed an upcoming script live at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Manhattan and donated all the proceeds from the admission and a special raffle to the recently laid-off production assistants for the show.

For an eye-witness report, go here.

And by the way, “30 Rock” won’t be on this week. NBC is airing “The Incredibles” from 8-10:30 p.m. But it will back on 11/29: The log line sounds beyond promising:

As part of his community service, Tracy (Tracy Morgan) takes on the duties of coaching an inner city little league team from Knuckle Beach, the worst neighborhood in New York. Jack (Alec Baldwin) has a special interest in the team and wants to turn these underprivileged kids into winners.

He showers them with gifts of a new scoreboard, backstop, a fresh pitcher’s mound and tuxedo uniforms, only to have the plan backfire with protests and uprising. To make matters worse, Jack fires Tracy as coach and hires Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) as the new team leader

Another great episode: Jack goes to a party, meets a woman there and has a wild tumble in the sack with her. She turns out to be — yikes — a Democratic congresswoman (brilliantly played by Edie Falco) and subject of a Lifetime TV movie. Politics be damned, they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Meanwhile, Liz is suspicious of Raheem, her new neighbor. She reports him to Homeland Security — and as it turns out, all his “suspicious” activity involved his attempt to get on “The Amazing Race.”

Here are the five things I loved:

1. Boy, was it great to see Edie Falco on TV again, playing it for laughs this time. (Her character will stick around for the next two episodes.)

2. Liz’ relentless touting of Verizon Wireless phones, followed by her maniacally grinning into the camera, demanding, “Can we have our money now?” (On the other hand, product placement is product placement, no matter how ingeniously concealed. Oh, by the way, did I mention how much I love my Verizon Wireless phone?)

3. Jack tells Liz that he’s going to be at a party attended by John McCain and Jack Bauer. “He’s not real,” Liz informs Jack about one of those guests. Responds Jack: “I can assure you John McCain is very real.”

4. More fun facts about Kenneth’s family: “We Parcells are neither wealthy nor circumcised...”

5. When Liz calls the super-secret Homeland Security hotline to report her neighbor, a voice answers immediately: “Who is he and where can we find him?”

Of course “30 Rock” had to sign on with the NBC/Universal’s mandate to do “green”-themed programming this week. Of course, “30 Rock” proceeded to take a big bite out of the hand that feeds it. (Along with a great B-story about Kenneth’s sad-sack party evolving, thanks to word of mouth, into the A-list event of the century.)

The five things we loved most:

1. David Schwimmer — back on NBC Thursday night — as “Greenzo,” the NBC-goes-green mascot who takes his job just a little too seriously. (Like when he hectors Liz: “Do you even compost your own feces?”)

2. Greenzo’s most recent “show-biz” gig was doing a commercial for Rick Lazio, New York’s unsuccessful GOP senatorial candidate in 2000. The commercial attacked "Hillary Clinton's plans for an all-homosexual army." (Needless to say, if you’re not from New York or your memory bank doesn't go back past 2003, you’d have no clue who Rick Lazio is.)

3. A throwaway line, but one that cracked me up: While riding in an elevator, Jenna has a hush-hush cell-phone conversation with her publicist: “Could you kill the story about my mom being homeless?”

4. Two things I never knew: Jack was an intern for Sen. Kennedy and Sonny Crockett is the name of Kenneth’s parrot.

5. Good-sport award to Al Gore, who put in a cameo appearance and then beats a quick retreat, saying in his best Adam West/Principal Skinner voice: “Quiet.. a whale is in trouble.. I’ve got to go...”

Last night on “30 Rock” — clearly the funniest comedy on TV — Liz hires her creative heroine (Carrie Fisher), once a radical “Saturday Night Live”-type comedy writer, now an alcoholic has-been.

Here are five things we loved about Thursday’s episode:

1. The writer lives in a “gentrifying” neighborhood known as Little Chechnya.

2. A reference to the “227” movie — “New Jackee City.”

3. The failed NBC show “Supercomputer” (a great homage to Fred Silverman’s fiasco, “Supertrain”). This show, we know now, was responsible for spinning off “Cosby” “Miami Vice” and “Highway to Heaven.”

4. The creepy guy as the power-mad head page, who forces the dreaded “page-off” with Kenneth.

5. Alec Baldwin’s brilliant therapy role playing as an inner-city deadbeat dad — done in an attempt to get Tracy to overcome his hostility to his absent father

Rock on, “30 Rock.” You’re the best

NBC is definitely doing right by “30 Rock.”

Hooray!

I was bummed that they had placed the best new comedy of 2006-07 on hiatus starting Thursday in order to run Andy Richter’s new sitcom “Andy Barker, P.I.” Not that I have anything against Conan's former sidekick.

But on Monday, NBC announced that “30 Rock” would return with a “super-sized episode” on April 5. That means I’d only go a mere three weeks without Liz Lemon, Jack Donaghy, Tracy Jordan and Kenneth the NBC Page. Three weeks I can deal with.

But it gets better.

The following Thursday, April 12, the show moves into the coveted 9 p.m. slot — yes, the former home of “Seinfeld” and “Cheers.” And it will remain there until April 26, when, alas “30 Rock” ends its run.

But we’re sure it’ll be back next year, anchoring a Thursday night that — with “The Office,” “Scrubs” and “My Name Is Earl,” has quietly has become the strongest sitcom night on TV since the 1990s.

Must-see TV on Thursday night really is back.

Tomorrow’s episode of “30 Rock” (9:30 p.m. on NBC/4) may be the funniest episode of the season — yes! even more laffable than “The Office” Christmas party. This is one show that is hitting its stride before our very eyes, getting better each week and pretty much obliterating the notion that it was an afterthought to the misconceived “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”

There’s so much to love about this one: Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) ends up as Jack’s “date” to a birthday party in honor of Gerhardt Hapsburg, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. And of course Jenna (Jane Krakowski) schemes her way there as well because she wants to have her Grace Kelly moment.

But Gerhardt is no fairy-tale prince: He’s a shrunken, deformed halfwit played to comic perfection by Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman), which reminds us of what a great comic Reubens is (was) before he was sidetracked by publicly being the master of his domain. At the party, Jack runs into his ex-wife (Isabella Rossellini) — and suddenly Liz becomes more than a beard.

Did I mention that Liz — an amalgam of Mary Richards, Rhoda Morgenstern and Carrie Bradshaw — has become my favorite female TV character this season? Sorry, Chloe. Sorry, Pam.

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