Got to hand it to Tina Fey and the team at 30 Rock: They don’t do anything halfway. In preparation for the launch of that other meta-SNL show (the one that’s an actual comedy), they’ve mocked up some movie posters featuring fictitious bigscreen comic Tracy Jordan (played by the very real Tracy Morgan): Who Dat Ninga? [sic] and Black Cop, White Cop. (”One does the duty. The other gets the booty.”) On the show, these flicks are harbingers of horrors to come; Jordan, avolatile industry joke, is being foisted on showrunner Liz (Fey) as the newfrontman for her long-running late-night sketch show. Both faux-films are chillingly plausible, and, knowing Hollywood, they’ll probably be picked for distribution on the strength of these images alone.
(Click on the jump to see the ”Who Dat Ninga?” poster.)
I’ve got a soft spot for funny-bad promo syntax (”Tracy Jordan is… Who Dat Ninga?”) and funny-bad whiteface (Black Cop, White Copmakes Dave Chappelle’s trademark powder-job look RickBaker-impeccable); but I’m especially intrigued by these fake credits.Producer ”Kevin Landon Raper” has an Internet Movie Databasedoppelganger, one ”Kevin L. Raper,” from the art department of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. (Oh, to be a ”Raper” on SVU — how wonderfully awkward.) Writer ”Claire Hewitt” is actually a casting director, and costumer ”Edward Briggs” is a L&Oset decorator. Are these NBC inside jokes? Is that why I feel left out?Have I been staring too long at a poster for a fake movie called Who Dat Ninga?
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I miss Astronaut Jones. NBC would be wise to allow their old SNL clips on YouTube.
Tracy Morgan is renowned for his sexual advances on college women when he does the college tour comedy route. The University of Virginia got so tired of his antics, they have forbidden him for ever being invited here again.
The point of my post was Tracy Morgan has the reputation for the character he is playing on this show, which is probably why Fey selected him.
Those posters are pure brilliance. Yet another reason why Tina Fey is my hero. I can’t wait to see this show!
BTW, Tyler, there are two Astronaut Jones skits on Tracy Morgan’s SNL “Best Of” DVD, if you’re desperate. But I agree, NBC should be less stingy with the YouTube clips!
Oh man! Anyone remember “True Identity”? It’s a movie about a Black Actor who has to play a white guy to convince folks he’s not who they seek. Tracy’s white persona totally looks like the “white guy” in True Identity.
I like Tracy Morgan a lot and find his brand of offbeat humor to be really funny. Oh, and all these plays on words remind that Mac (from Sunny in Philly) wears this bad azzed t shirt that reads “Strictly for my Ninjas”. Could it be the 30 Rock writers are Sunny in Philly fans too?
Can I buy these posters? They’re hysterical! I like Tina Fey a lot and hope her show does well!
Unfortunately, due to the business I am in, I have direct contact with Tracy Morgan. There is nothing even remotely nice or funny about him. I would not waste my time watching anything he was appearing in.
I saw Tracy Morgan get sexually suggestive with somebody’s white granny at a comedy show in Baltimore. My first thought was, “Ewww! What is he doing?” My next thought was, “What is this old, white granny doing at a Tracy Morgan comedy show???”
I always liked Morgan in the role of “Brian Fellows”, the funny parody of Steve Irwin. Instead of a smart guy who knows lots about animals, Morgan plays the role as a complete nitwit who is out to look better than his guests.
Is Tracy really a jerk in real life? In recent years it seems to matter a lot more if a celeb’s a jerk or not. Back in the day it seems to me like there was more tolerance for celeb’s acting a fool (remember how Sean Penn got a rep for punching photographers in the face and still got decent acting jobs afterwards?) than there is now. Anyway, until I’ve heard something REALLY bad about Mr. Morgan (if he pushes an old lady in front of a bus or starts having slumber parties with 13 year old boys or something), I’ll have to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. That is of course, on the basis that he can still make me laugh. Otherwise, forget him!
“If that turtle comes out his shell, I’m onna kill it.”
I think that Tracy Morgan is about as funny as a dose of the clap. But those posters are hilarious!
Black Mama, White Mama homages are always cool with me.
Everyone knows Tracy Morgan’s best character on SNL was Woodrow, the singing, sensitive, homeless guy who romanced Britney Spears and Kate Hudson.
“Catch a doodoo pie” Nuff said.
hehe Ep Sato, I actually went to school with Mac (Rob to his friends)here in Philly, totally nice guy and I wish more people would be into ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA.
As far as Tracy Morgan goes, I’ve heard mixed stories bout him being a real-life jerk. I’d love to hear more from our very own Big Momma. Nothing telling, just, ya know…one example…
He did the best Star Jones that I have ever seen. “‘Cause I’m a Loi-ya!” lol.
>> My next thought was, “What is this old, white granny doing at a Tracy Morgan comedy show???”
A better question would be, “What is Tracy Morgan doing at a comedy show?!”
I love this line in the article – “Jordan, a volatile industry joke, is being foisted on showrunner Liz…” Is this a Freudian slip on Tina Fey’s part? Casting Tracy Morgan in this role is like casting Mel Gibson as a drunk anti-semitic movie star. I’m not even slightly interested in 30 Rock, but I’d love to see Rachel Dratch run up on him and scream, “You’re crap! You’re not funny! Learn your lines!” If they promo that, I’m in.
Have to agree with Big Momma, but more from a personal point of view. I’ve had direct contact with the guy on a number of occasions, and can’t say anything positive about him as a person.
30 Rock’s Tina Fey Kills – the writing was dead on. Her self-depricating humor is a riot, and her facial expressions are perfect. She’s a common-man’s Juliet Loius Drefuss. Not as wicked-sexy as Amanda Peet, who also has fantastic timing, but with the writing chops, still a triple-threat.
30 Rock sucks! Tina Fey may be a decent writer but is definitely not an actress. This show is an embarassment for all involved. If they can’t make SNL funny again, why do they think they can do a another Series that has any chance of being funny. This thing deserves an early death. I sat through both 30 Rock and 20 good years and only lauhged once in that wasted hour. NBC desperately needs to buy a clue. These show are NOT funny, they are pathetic.
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Its painful to watch a talented comic like Fey self destruct like this 30rock garbage. At least I thought she had some talent. When the funniest thing she can do is script stuff and food getting thrown at her, how far away is she from a pie in the face gag?
Pathetic. What Moron green lighted this career suicide note?
I tried to think of analogies to how bad this show sucks, but even a vacume cleaner in the rectum has some astetic value.
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I met Tracy Morgan in a comedy club and he’s an unfunny, womanizing, disgusting pig. Don’t call me racist people, it’s simply a fact. Even blacks as they were leaving were saying”Tracy Morgan is the worst comedian I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Elsa and I went to high school together and she is a huge racist. She once organized a boycott of Popeye’s and BET.
30 rock is probably one of the funniest shows out there. These people probably hated Seinfeld too.
Where’s the “Honky Gramma” poster?
It’s a killer show, the comedy is perfect, which begs the question why is Tracy Morgan in there? I really hope they’re not doing the token demographic thing, but even if they were – is there a shortage of talented black comedians? what does this guy have on Lorne Michaels? I’ve been more amused watching grass grow.
Sam Kinison (who actually WAS funny) once said about Whoopi Goldberg: “The only reason she’s in show biz is because one day a lot of people got together and decided not to hurt someone’s feelings”
I guess the same concept applies to the ultra non-talent Tracy Morgan. What a hack!!! Who are these charlatan fans of his who laugh @ people who are “supposed to be” funny as opposed to people who ARE funny? Hey folks: funny people= Chris Rock, Rodney Dangerfield, Bob Schimmel, Dave Chappelle. Unfunny people= Tracy Morgan & Madeline Albright.
I watched the first three episodes of 30 Rock…and they all sucked. I kept waiting for it to get funny, but eventually gave up watching. Now, 30 Rock has won all kinds of awards. Did I miss something?