Why Everyone Should Watch 30 Rock

There is to much to be loved about 30 Rock. There's the sharp writing that seems (so far!) to not rely on sitcom conventions and is not afraid of being goofy. There's the absence of a laugh-track. (Can we all agree that as audience members we don't need cajoled into laughing?) But for me the key to the show is its talented cast:

Tina Fey
I always loved Tina Fey on SNL'sWeekend Update. Her and Jimmy Fallon are, to me, the best incarnation of that format (although I will always have a soft spot for Norm MacDonald's version). I know I will get some flack for that since Jimmy Fallon seems to invoke very vicious criticism from male SNL fans for some reason. They always say, "he laughs during every skit!" To which I reply, "Adam Sandler did too," and everyone loves him...but I digress. What I loved about Weekend Update was Tina Fey's ability to be dry and commanding but, all the while, maintaining a healthy sense of humility. 30 Rock is no different. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon which is, essentially, herself and a reprisal of her position at SNL. As head writer, she plays the straight person (relatively) managing a team of goofy writers and eccentric performers while trying to please network bosses. While her acting is not the best, she delivers the important lines (the funny ones!) with impeccable wit.

Memorable Quote:
Pete: [Tending to one of three cast members who have been rendered unfilmable for that week's episode] Liz Taylor really messed him up! He might have brain damage.
Liz Lemon: God. Maybe the musical guest can do some extra songs this week. Who is it?
Pete: James Blunt.
Liz Lemon: Ugghh.

Tracy Morgan
He plays Tracy Jordan a thinly veiled version of himself, or perhaps Tina Fey's cartoon version of Tracy Morgan, mixed with 80's era mega-star Eddie Murphy. He starred in a box-office hit called, Fat Bitch, in which he played a man transformed into a female dog. He is followed around by an entourage of guys that laugh at his jokes that he tends to run into the ground, such as "I love you so much I'm going to take you behind the middle school and get you pregnant." He is the star of their SNL-like show and is completely unreliable and just outright bizarre. He frequently is late or misses shows due his erratic behavior.

Memorable Quote:
Tracy Jordan: [Running through traffic in nothing but tighty whities, screaming] I am a Jedi! I am a Jedi!

Jack McBrayer
He plays NBC page, Kenneth, a slightly dim-witted, innocent country boy who came to the big city to work in the "television industry." He has a unabashed reverence for all things associated with TV and idolizes Tracy Jordan and, increasing frequent, those two hang-out. Tracy's ego-driven absurdities and Kenneth's home-spun logic make for some interesting dialog and situations. When Tracy is deciding between doing a sequel to Fat Bitch, which would guarantee him a huge salary, and making his proposed Thomas Jefferson biography, Kenneth tells him to follow his heart, which results in a hilarious disaster.

Memorable Quote:
Kenneth: "Good morning Mister Donaghy!"
Donaghy: "Go to hell!"
Kenneth: "Well, no thank you I don't think I will!"

Alec Baldwin
It seems to me that the real reason this show works is Alec Baldwin. He's really the only big name on the show and he shows a gift for comedy that has apparently been squandered all these years, although his role in the Departed gave me several light-hearted chuckles in an otherwise intense film. He plays Jack Donaghy, VP of development at NBC who mangages to be both an ambitious, domineering boss and, as the show develops, a surrogate "gal-pal" to Liz Lemon. He is republican, briefly dated Condoleeza Rice and frequently makes subtle disparaging remarks to Liz, such as, "I like you. You have the boldness of a much younger woman."

Memorable Quote:
Tracy Jordan: I'm gonna make you a mix tape. You like Phil Collins?
Jack: I've got two ears and a heart, don't I?

The rating haven't been the greatest, but the critics have widely accepted 30 Rock as one of the best comedy shows on television and, for once, they're right. NBC seems to have faith in it, too, signing it to another season and turning down Alec Baldwin's request to leave the show. He's their bread and butter and once people start tuning in, they will realize that next to the Office, it's the best comedy on TV.