'30 Rock' vs. 'Studio 60': The Sketch-Off

eddieo Fri, Mar 2, 2007 at 11:57 AM EST

"ihateukfans:This show sucks. I'm not the only one who thinks so. It lost to Dancing with the stars, and Baseball (Ha!!??) in the ratings.....Seinfeld it is not. Not even close." I take it you weren't a Seinfeld fan during it's first few years, when it was on Wednesdays and routinely lost to Home Improvement. In fact, Seinfeld, in those early years was beaten by Matlock, Jake and The Fatman, Eye To Eye With Connie Chung, and Sibs(?). You must be a studio executive: no indication of domination within 5 episodes? CANCEL!!!

hambone Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 12:03 PM EST

I agree with sion. Aside from their themes, Studio 60 and 30 Rock are apples and oranges. Studio 60 is a drama with comedy, 30 rock is (supposedly) a comedy. I am in the minority here, but I wasn't impressed. I love Tina Fey (she is all that made SNL watchable for years). I figured if it was a sitcom written by her it HAD to be funny. Maybe I need to watch it again, but I just didn't find it all that funny. I didn't laugh out loud once while watching it (well, except when Alec told her that the Bush outfit is what she should wear to work every day). It almost seemed like they were trying TOO hard. And I am bummed about Dratch too.

Oh, and by the way, I like Studio 60. Amanda Peet, not so much, but the rest of the show... Does this make me mentally deficient in some way?

Paul Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 11:27 AM EST

Studio 60 is just a pale imitation of Sports Night. That's my only problem with it. Sports Night was the same thing, but done so much better. 30 Rock was hysterical, and I'm just waiting for NBC to bring Scrubs back so we can have a 30 Rock/Scrubs hour.

sion Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 10:34 AM EST

I like both 30 Rock and Studio 60. Other than the obvious - both are tv shows, both have actors, both have writers - why even bother to compare them? From the getgo we know the temperament and talent of Fey and Sorokin differs. That both are talented, ambitious and insightful/inciteful is what makes their shows worth watching. Don't agree? Change the channel. Read a book. (gasp) I hope they both last the season, at least.

Bobby Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 01:35 AM EST

Props to everyone who finds 30 Rock great (or at least promising.) And MAJOR props to all those miffed over Rachel Dratch being reduced to a small role - she was what I was most excited about!

Either way it's better than Studio 60, which thinks its a lot smarter than it is. (Attacking the Christian Right is not "edgy.") Hopefully 30 Rock will catch on, and its odd-funny bit will get NBC to pick up The Comeback from HBO!

Oh, and in regards to Studio 60 - they did steal that "ADD, ADHD" bit from someone: Ellen Degeneres. Seriously, go rent "Here and Now." But instead of "...stupid," it ended with "...crazy." Seriously, go rent it if you don't believe me - she did the EXACT same joke years ago. Sleazak, expose this for us!!

Jess B. Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 12:21 AM EST

I thought the pilot was hilarious! And I really only think it'll get better once we see more of the supporting cast -- especially the NBC page. I mean, The Office was always funny, but it got even funnier when they started making good use of the entire cast. Tina may not be the most exciting lead, but she's lovable and she's obviously a great writer. Something tells me that Liz's role will be more of the "straight (wo)man" to the insanity of Tracy Jordan and the rest of them!

NBC, please find a way to move 30 Rock so that it can be on Thursdays with My Name is Earl and The Office! If this show gets canceled before it can find its groove, I'll be very disappointed in you.

Barry Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:14 PM EST

Karla - will you marry me? My IQ is only 110, but it's long.

snarky Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 06:51 PM EST

Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, and Ratchel Dratch were terrific! It's hard to buy Tina Fey as the protaginist.

Craig Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 05:50 PM EST

Anyone who thought 30 Rock was funny must not have watched the preview trailer. Every joke was shown in the trailer. Hopefully the next episode will be funnier since I wouldn't have heard the jokes.

Maggie Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 05:50 PM EST

The Rachel Dratch version was funnier.

brandonk Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 05:42 PM EST

I liked both 30 Rock and 20 Good Years, although the latter's laugh track was a little jarring after the lack of one in Fey's comedy. Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, Tina Fey...they're great. Tracey Morgan...meh. The guy who plays Kenneth the page? Brilliant!

Josh Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 05:06 PM EST

"If you're liking 30 Rock, just like it. If you don't, go watch Ugly Betty"

Sigh, I like both. ;)

Karla Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 04:46 PM EST

omg - I forgot. I loved the page. His timing was priceless. And the post-it note assistant. And the opening, where people lob free hotdogs at Tina.

This argumentative thread just goes to show that people are different. Yeesh - Two and a Half Men is the top rated comedy, and I'd rather have a root canal than get within a hundred channels of that crap. People are going nuts over Heroes, which isn't even as good as Mystery Men in its ability to create an alternate universe. Oh the writing on Heroes - I'd like to get in there and just smack those writers.

If you're liking 30 Rock, just like it. If you don't, go watch Ugly Betty or something. And from now on, everyone who likes this show has to post their IQ scores along with their name so Sven can do some statistical analysis and make his deathless prose even more compelling.

I'll start - it's 185, but it's thick.

Nose Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 04:13 PM EST

I'm sorry...Tracy Morgan running down the road in his skivvies shouting "I'm a Jedi!" is just hilarious. Or, Tracy yelling "I'm the third kind of heat!" Or Jane Krakowski defending her weird eye because her sister peed it in once...this stuff was just hilarious. I hope this show sticks around.

Tyler D Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 04:07 PM EST

I love it when people get all high-brow about their own TV watching habits. It's like eating a hot dog with white gloves on or maybe devouring a Snickers with a knife & fork. Do these people not realize that if they really want to maintain their intellectual cred, they should probably spend more time talking about literature, or maybe just drop some Sorkin-style references to make sure we understand the depths of their genius?

I'm not a huge fan of Desperate Housewive or Grey's Anatomy, mostly because I think they have become kind of stale, but I really enjoy "quality" TV such as Earl, The Office (do I get snob points if I like the UK version better than the US adaptation?), House, Veronica Mars, and occasionally CSI: LV when it concept grabs my attention. But, if it was ever issued to me, I guess I should return my "high-brow" membership card because I enjoyed 30 Rock much more than episode of Studio 60. As far as I'm concerned the one thing I've learned from Studio 60 is that Sorkin is insanely insecure about his standing as an intellectual scribe.

ihateukfans Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 03:48 PM EST

This show sucks. I'm not the only one who thinks so. It lost to Dancing with the stars, and Baseball (Ha!!??) in the ratings.
If Fey was half as funny as she thought she was then this would be Seinfeld. Unfortunatly Seinfeld it is not. Not even close. Too bad I had high hopes for this show.

John Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 03:47 PM EST

Personally, 30 Rock was actually way funnier than I expected. With the last second casting changes and addition of Jane K. (loved her on Alley McBeal), I was sure the show would be a train wreck. But when Tracy Morgan yells at the end of the show, "I'm the third heat!", 30 Rock went to the top of my 'must see' list.

Kevin Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 03:36 PM EST

I thought 30 Rock meandered a bit but I still found it extremely funny ("You have the boldness of a much younger woman"? Hee-larious!). I agree with the review; this is a more realistic view of a late night show. Either way it's still a bit like comparing apples and oranges. And people make it seem like we have to pick only one (if that's the case, why the hell are there three Law and Orders and three CSI's?). I'm going to continue to watch both and appreciate their differences.

DanH Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 03:33 PM EST

I was a West Wing fan to the end. Huge fan of House, Deadwood, Rescue Me -- "high quality, literate" shows. So I should be the dead-on target audience for Studio 60, but so far... YAWN. 30 Rock, on the other hand, I thought was pretty hilarious. And Alec Baldwin should start thinking about where he'll put the Emmy, that's a done deal.

Spence Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 03:08 PM EST

Love 30 ROCK!!!! So hilarious...I hope NBC doesn't get rid of it.

Methinks Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 02:35 PM EST

I'm so TIRED of people, (like SVEN here) who think that a viewer who doesn't like Studio 60 is not "smart" and thus, must not watch "smart" tv.

Puh-leeze!!! Yes Studio 60 is smarty-smart. So what?!! The "smartness" is not the problem!! The prob is the characters...they are ALL BLAH AND BORING, which elicits a "who cares?!!" from me (and by the sounds of it, many others).

Bill Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 02:22 PM EST

Haven't watched 30 Rock, but I do like Studio 60. I enjoy the character interaction very much, but the faux sketches less-so. Juliette's Meet The Press was hysterical, but the supposedly plagiarized news segment was junk - bad anti-PC jibberish that was already dated years ago. Until the end, I thought Matthew Perry's character had intentionally put something badly unfunny on the air in order to create a reason to fire Heckle and Jeckle. It was hard to suspend my disbelief that anyone thought that was really funny. That said, I like the show and plan to stick with it.

Josh Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 02:18 PM EST

Sven, I love Earl/Office, Veronica Mars, and Grey's Anatomy. I'm a fan of but not quite in love with Desperate Housewives, CSI, House and so far both 30 Rock and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (Sports Night was much better than the latter). So, what does that make me?

GOB Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 02:15 PM EST

In the words of Molly Shannon's SNL joyologist Helen Madden... "I Love It, I Love It, I Love It!"

Alec Baldwin is great (and stole the show in The Departed as well). The bit players (especially the NBC tour guide) made great use of their limited air time. I am with all the others here who are hoping for a new Arrested Development/Office type sitcom. I am done with Studio 60. Sorry. I tried to like it. It's just not that interesting.

junior Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:45 PM EST

Sven, what about people who like "Desperate Housewives" and "The Office," are we sucked into the vortex of our own contradiction or can we just all watch the TV without criticizing each other's choices...

p.s. Alec is doing some of the best acting I've ever seen him do, with or without a child custody lawsuit.

Sven Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:40 PM EST

The same kind of people who like the weakmindedness of Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy will like 30 Rock. Those who prefer the quality shows of Earl, the Office, CSI (original), House, and Veronica Mars will prefer Studio 60. I just feel for Alec Baldwin, as he is reduced to having to work on 30 Rock at this stage in his career, thanks to the vindictiveness of his ex, the lovely and talented (but harpish) Kim Basinger.

junior Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:38 PM EST

Don't make me ring the alarm. We already discussed the "'Studio 60' isn't a comedy, it's a drama but it should still have funny sketches because it takes place in a comedy show" problem so let's not go there.

As for "30 Rock," I was skeptical at first but when I heard Alec Baldwin say "5 inches but it's thick," I burst into laughter and kept laughing through Tina Fey's 'Barbara Bush' suit (Alec: "That's how you should dress at work everyday") and Jane Krakowski's "But then we moved and our new place has hardwood floors so we had to put the cats down."

Even Tracy Morgan, who I thought would burn out after 5 mins, made me laugh with the AIDS in the chicken nuggets joke (wha?). The fake sketches were funny enough to be believed and I loved how the show worked in context (clearly NBC isn't going to have another SNL-like sketch show but "The Girlie Show" is just different enough to be on the same net's schedule.) Even the offices looked more realistic than the fakeitude of "Studio 60." This one's a keeper!

aramis Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:37 PM EST

This show was freakin' hilarious!

"Affirmative action was made so that minorities could compete with each other...to distract them while the White Man injects AIDS into our Chicken Nuggets!"

I fell out of the chair, literally, with that line. It was hysterical!

And the cat scene was funny as well. I love Tina Fey, she's definitely a gifted writer. I wish her well with the show, I know I'll be watching. I'm still a bit peeved they premiered it all the way in October. Finally, something a NON-Lost watcher has to watch on Wednesdays.

Dana Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:22 PM EST

Excellent, much funnier than Studio 60, although Studio 60 is NOT A COMEDY. But i like 30's characters better and Alec Baldwin is priceless... Yes, Studio 60 is out, 30 Rock is in. (my tv schedule I mean.)

Stephanie Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:17 PM EST

Chris I agree, the wisecracking, unexpected happenings, and silly things that Monty Python perfected and The Kids in the Hall added is missing from todays sitcom. That's why shows like Night Court and WKRP were funny.

mike Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:14 PM EST

I hope the kid who couldn't do a good Leno becomes really popular and they let him do the fake news. But, he insists on Liz to co-anchor. The best thing on SNL over the last 10 years were Tina and Jimmy Fallon doing Update. Watch the reruns on E. They has a good chemestry and much better material.

Brian Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 01:03 PM EST

This show was much better than the BORING BORING mess that is "Studio 60". (You know how you lose viewers every half hour that your program airs, start with a promising premise and then bore the bejeezus out of your fans with unbelievable concepts like Amanda Peet, who couldn't act her way out of a paper bag, as a studio exec. And then get suckier and more boring each script and add more bad, boring actors like Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry. Is there a lead anywhere in that cast?) The reason, plain and simple, is Alec Baldwin. Been a fan of his since he played Lisa Hartman's psychotic boyfriend on "Knot's Landing" -- thats a long time....

NBC - pull the plug on "Studio 60" - everything about that show sucks. This "30 Rock" could be a find. If Tracy Morgan is given good material - he will be the real find. Much more promise than that Sorkin junk.

Kristin Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 12:59 PM EST

Um, nobody does bad sketch comedy better than SNL.

Karla Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 12:54 PM EST

Dudes - loved it, very funny, and I love that the show within a show is actually bad. Too fun! I see Arrested Development mentioned here a few times - so the excitement starts. Good on you Tina - it's fun and snarky and hits the right notes.

About our depressive nihilist pal Strindberg - I can't believe you web acrobats don't know about his mood makeover. Because until you've seen Strindberg and Helium, you just ain't lived proper.
http://www.strindbergandhelium.com/

Chris Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 12:35 PM EST

I turned off 30 Rock after the first 15 minutes, but apparently my friend and I were the only ones.

Could it be that we are the only ones who thought the show was trying so hard to be funny that most of the humor ends up shooting itself in the foot? Are my friend and I the only ones who recognize that the skits are only a small part of a "behind-the-skits" show (True, it's natural to think the skit should be the payoff, but I think Studio 60 has it right that, in the world of television, the payoff is the success and celebration of getting through the live show without any hiccups.)

And who's to say what is and isn't funny? For example, the Juliette Lewis bit on this week's Studio 60: as a person who recognizes Lewis as the original Paris Hilton with a dose of Scientology and enough luck (not talent) to score an Academy Award nomination, I found it hysterical (especially since Paulson did a pitch-perfect impression). "What does she have to do with Meet the Press?" you may ask. Honestly, nothing, but what does Frank Sinatra have to do with The McLoughlin Group? Nothing as well, but "The Sinatra Group" with the late Phil Hartman is still one of the best skits ever from SNL.

All I'm saying is that the skits don't have to be dumb & dumber, and when they are, they're usually worthless (or as Judd Hirsch put it on the 60 pilot, "lobotomizing"). The best skits are smart and dumb. This isn't to say Studio 60's skits exactly hits this nail on the head, but they're coming closer.

Both shows need to study Monty Python.

mark in nyc Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 12:26 PM EST

Alec Baldwin was hilarious. Hands down funny. If this show does not work out I would love to watch him on The Office as Jan's executive boss.

As far as Jane K. over Rachel Dracht, personally I don't think Reachel can act at all. even her cat lady trainer role seemed like bad acting. She might have had a few moments on SNL, but in a tv show you need an actor. (I.E. seinfeld worked cause besides the funny comic the rest were actors)

PS although he did not have a big role last night, watchout for Judah Friedlander, I gurantee you he will steal this show if htye give his character a chance.

Tawdry Audrey Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 12:15 PM EST

I have yet to watch this show, however the show within a show, "The Girlie Show," reminds me of "She TV." Does anyone besides myself remember "She TV?" Can I get a what-what? It had some funny skits, such as Jennifer Coolidge as a horsey foreign model named Bagita. Also featured Nick Bakay, the voice of Salen on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch!"

This show needs to come out on DVD, fo reelz.

Stephanie Travitsky Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:59 AM EST

I saw part of the show baecause I was watching Dancing with the Stars.

However, what I did see was what Fred Armesen tried to do with Brothers and Sisters- a show that nowadays would normally do better on HBO. I am not saying that this show is not funny, it is. I tip my hat off to Fey. She has a good concept here. However it was changed a bit from SNL to Tracy Ullman, and Rachel was switched with Jane because of the photogenic factor (Rachel does not have a neck) which I thought was a bit selfish because Dratch is a funny person, and would have made the concept stronger. Studio 60 is Sports Night. I am sorry, I still stand by that.

Andrea Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:49 AM EST

I thought 30 Rock was great -- it made me laugh, and it poked fun at a lot of things that needed to be the butt of the joke for a while. Big execs making decisions about which they know nothing, Karl Robe (or perhaps the average American's knowledge of politics?), rude people who think they're more important than everyone else? This is the best work Tracy Morgan has ever done. I just wish it didn't have Jane K, and Rachel Dratch were still a lead. I like Studio 60, but not enough to stay up and watch it. I am hoping 30 Rock lasts longer than my beloved Arrested Development, because there's not much on network TV that I find funny anymore! Great job, Tina!

Kim Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:44 AM EST

I expected to love Studio 60 and not 30 Rock and it has turned out to be the opposite. Maybe I wasn't smart enough for Studio 60.

Nick Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:38 AM EST

Oh, Tina Fey is too much awesomeness! That show was so funny. Nice job Tina!

claudenorth Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:28 AM EST

Both 30 ROCK and STUDIO 60 were heavily hyped going into this season, but I feel that neither one lived up to the hype. Both shows are, at best, average, although 30 ROCK did have a few truly funny and clever moments ("I'm buying all the hot dogs;" "It's not HBO; it's TV."). My theory is that network television has become so unimaginative and boring that an average show is now regarded as brilliant.

Kevin Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:15 AM EST

Tracey Morgan is fearless! That scene where he said, "Did that man just say pumpkin to me?" made me almost pee on a foster home. The show needs to find a little ground, but I thought it was an overall success. I do believe "Studio 360 Rock" would be the perfect combination, but that's about as possible as finding Mr. or Mrs. Right these days. Did I mention Tracey Morgan is fearless?

RayT Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 11:14 AM EST

I didn't think 30 Rock was that great last night, but I really do see a lot of potential and will definitely keep watching. I hope people will give this show a chance to develop because, with single-camera comedies, most of the humor lies in the character development. Remember how The Office and The Comeback weren't that great in their first few episodes and then turned out to be brilliant?!

mike Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:49 AM EST

I'm a fan of good satirical sketch comedy. There isn't any, anywhere. I'm disappointed that Studio 60 isn't funnier. But, it's smart enough to keep me going.
30 Rock could be smarter. Hopefully, it will. It was funny in parts. Did anyone notice the GE oven commercial they tucked into the show? Then the commercial with the same spiel?
Both shows are still funnier and smarter than SNL. They need decent writers, immediately.

travis J Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:43 AM EST

i don't know why we have to compare the two. I find the Studio 60 pretty riveting and (as far as i can tell) a seemingly realistic, behind-the-scenes depiction of the industry. And the first episode of 30 Rock made me laugh my arse off.

colour me happy with both these shows!
(yes, i'm canadian)

Dan Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:31 AM EST

Sadly, I'm worried for both shows.

Studio 60 for all the reasons people have mentioned about not feeling genuine... although Mathew Perry and Sarah Paulson do keep me semi-interested (kudos to whoever pointed out the woodeness of Amanda Peet).

I totally loved 30 Rock, but unfortunately it reminds me of too many other shows I love like Arrested Development, Action and Freaks & Geeks which all had trouble attracting a wider audience. Ironically the comment about this not being HBO is very pertinent because that's probably the only place where shows like this can survive. Maybe I should be more optimistic because of the Office but it has had serious help from iTunes and YouTube and I'm not sure that 30 Rock will garner the same type of following.

Julia Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:27 AM EST

Fey wins in a laugher. I tried Studio 60 but by the 3rd episode, I realized I didnt like the characters and couldn't care less. 30 Rock was sly enough to make me watch it again in the morning...just so I got all the subtle stuff. Like the scene Fey and Morgan were having outside his foster home. Just when I thought they were about to ruin it with a "moment," Fey's "Are you peeing?" just sent me. So. Smart.

I'll follow Liz, Jack, Tracy, Jenna, Pete and the NBC page and where ever they may go.

David Bruggeman Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:26 AM EST

Slight problem preventing me from enjoying 30 Rock. Most of the actors aren't funny. Baldwin, yes. Fey, yes. Dratch, yes. Everyone else - lame. Perhaps I'm too unsophisticated to get that this stuff is funny because it's painfully unfunny.

Eliza_Doolittle Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:19 AM EST

Anybody else notice that the background from the pictured EW posted has the cat lady as Rachel Dratch? I guess the photo is from the original pilot with Dratch as opposed to the new 'friend' Jane Whatsername. Too bad Dratch didn't test well with audiences or that the execs weren't bold enough to put her on anyway--she's way funnier. Plus now her role(s) are weird and distract from the show--but she shows up her replacement, since's she's actually funny. What's the matter, NBC, can't have two brunettes as leads?

K Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:11 AM EST

It is weird (re: ridiculous and impossible) to try to write a SNL-esque variety show the same way you write about the White House. We have an ideal of what the White House could be, and that's why The West Wing worked, even though we knew none of the awesomeness was actually happening in real life. But no one (except, maybe Sorkin?) has any lofty ideals about network television, let alone SNL. Which is why I see 30 Rock rocking and, sadly, Studio 60 going the road of Joey. Shudder.

Casey Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:10 AM EST

I unintentionally gave up on Studio 60 after two episodes -- I just found that by the time the 3rd Monday rolled around, I just didn't care. After tuning into 30 Rock last night, I actually found a show centered around comedy that was FUNNY! Even better, there's no laugh track to cue the laughter, instead letting jokes fly by á la Arrested Development.

Tracy Morgan: Do you have Applejuice?
Waiter: No.
Tracy Morgan: Then I'll take a vodka tonic.

In the span of 30 minutes, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Jack McBrayer (budding scene stealer, as mentioned above), and crew have given me a reason to flip on the TV. Bravo!

Rich Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:05 AM EST

Sorkin gets all the credit, but I think Fey's stuff was smarter. "This isn't HBO, it's television," was a great stealth line. My favorite line, though, was the very end where Tracy Jordan revealed he had been in on the plot all along: "I AM THE THIRD HEAT!"

Rich Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 10:04 AM EST

Sorkin gets all the credit, but I think Fey's stuff was smarter. "This isn't HBO, it's television," was a great stealth line. My favorite line, though, was the very end where Tracy Jordan revealed he had been in on the plot all along: "I AM THE THIRD HEAT!"

Ron Mwangaguhunga Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 09:55 AM EST

Sorkin has the harder, nobler task: He's dramatizing comedy, while Fey is essentially doing what she knows best. Score 1 for Fey, as the critics loved 30 Rock better than Sorkin's Live. I'm still rooting for Sorkin, though, as I can't help but think 30 Rock is Lorne and Tina's way of keeping control of the franchise. I still root even though the Amanda Peet's acting is as animated as a birch tree.

Nick Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 09:49 AM EST

I totally agree. Sorkin's world is all about advancing his ideals--they may even be noble ideals. But regardless of where you stand in Sorkin's universe, the preaching kills the comedy. On the other hand, Fey appears to be totally comfortable in that humor is unpredictable, nonsensical, and even low art. Her show, even with stupider skits, proves to be smarter television.

Tyler D Thu, Oct 12, 2006 at 09:49 AM EST

Damn straight! Personally, I enjoyed the fact that Fey's form of political humor involved Tracy Jordan mis-pronouncing Karl Rove's name. "Did you just say 'Robe?'" I don't I'll ever get tired of Baldwin's icy-cool TV/Microwave executive. Hilarious.