Jane Krakowski Gives '30 Rock' Something to Think About

For those of you who follow the excellent (and multiple Emmy-winning) comedy, 30 Rock, you will know Jane Krakowski as the very strange and ultra-slutty Jenna Maroney. Her principal mission on the show, much like acting colleague Tracy Morgan's, is to do whatever it takes to drive Tina Fey's character bonkers.

When Jenna is not busy upsetting Liz Lemon (Fey), she occupies herself with an on-again, off-again romance involving a cross-dresser named Paul and played by Saturday Night Live's Will Forte. Naturally Paul's favorite feminine persona is Jenna Maroney herself. In fact, that is sort of how the two met, but that is another story.

To give you an idea of how...um...non-standard their romance is, when Paul suggests the two of them take that "next big step," he means Jenna should meet his parents. She thinks it means they should make a sex tape and plant it somewhere to get "stolen" and released to the media. The two of them quarrel and break up over this crossing of the wires. Later, when Paul comes by her place in an effort to bring about some closure, Jenna politely but perfunctorily offers him coffee...or an absinthe enema.

Now, we have recently learned that Jane Krakowski has become pregnant for the first time, by her fiancé, Robert Godley. At 42 (And who better is there to embody the notion that "forty is the new thirty?"), it is probably about time she got started on that particular project.

While I am sure her fans (me among them) wish Ms. Krakowski nothing but happiness with her new child, the writers and executives at 30 Rock are faced with the usual dilemma that visits TV producers when one of their female stars is expecting. Basically, they have three choices, which are (in reverse order of desirability):

1) Kill her off. (NO! NO! Bad idea! Bad producers! Go wash your minds out with soap!

2) Hide her condition. (Not as bad an idea, but still a poor choice, reflecting lack of creativity).

3) Use her pregnancy in the show. (There! That's the one you want).

Will Forte's character would seem to be the logical candidate for the father in the event that 30 Rock decides to take that third option. Remember, not all cross-dressers are gay, and, from what we have seen so far of these two in previous episodes, they do enjoy a robust sex life, with or without absinthe.

Let me close with a final observation, ultimately in the form of a question, about the talented Jane Krakowski (who, let us recall, recently won a Tony Award for her stage work). She is funny, she can sing and dance wonderfully, and she works with a bunch of people who used to be on Saturday Night Live. So, here is my question: when will she get a chance to host?

Sources

popeater.com

nbc.com/30 Rock

Wikipedia