Urban Arson

After the writers strike of 2008 cut so many shows short , one show in particular stood out in my mind as not getting a fair shake (well two, I’m lookin’ at you Jericho). Scrubs was on the brink of cancellation on NBC when ABC, whose parent company Disney produces the show, stepped up to take its head off the proverbial chopping block.

Scrubs is a comedy about life in a hospital and has been going strong for 7 seasons. I’ve seen every episode and loved them all but even an über-fan like me can admit that some of the storylines began to get a bit stale. It might have been the fact that the writers knew that they only had a few episodes to tie off all the loose ends before they were cancelled and forced to leave fans in the dark. But the last 2 or 3 seasons haven’t had the spark that made Scrubs special.

I was skeptical about this 8th season and the show airing on ABC but after the 2 episodes from last night, I’m a believer. It was as funny and clever as ever. Glynn Turman’s guest appearance, as a patient with only hours to live, in the second episode “My Last Words”, was one of the most heart wrenching things I’ve seen on network TV. Watching JD and Turk talk a man through his last night on Earth was Emmy worthy.

Introduction of new cast members with strong personalities and comical yet powerful story lines have gotten this season off to a great start. It was wonderful to see the gang together again. Hopefully they ride out this wonderful start to an incredible finish to one of my favorite shows..

Original Air Date: December 4th, 2008

After much coercion Jack Donaghey convinces Liz Lemon to go to her 20th High School Reunion. In a flashback Liz remembers High School as a time when everyone made fun of her for not being popular. Once they arrive Jack takes the name tag of a popular classmate and Liz decides to stand up to the jerks who bullied her. Everything goes horribly wrong, as Jack and Liz are forced to flee the reunion.

This episode was awesome. You get to see more “young Liz Lemon” which is always an awkward treat, and Jack finally gets the high school experience that long ago passed him by. The build up was nice and it climaxed and concluded in one swift blow. 

The 3rd season has been great thus far and this episode didn’t disappoint.

Tina Fey was the head writer at Saturday Night Live when she pitched an idea for a show that would become 30 Rock. It’s a comedy about the goings-on behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, a late 30’s unmarried “den mother” to an almost slapstick cast of actors, writers, pages, and executives. She’s so great, I don’t know why she didn’t get into acting sooner. 

This show also made me fall in love with Alec Baldwin all over again. He plays Jack Donaghy, Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming at GE. He’s a suave and debonair man who’s self esteem tends to fall as quickly as it rises. He’s so incredible, there is one episode in the second season where he imitates Tracy Jordan’s entire family in a psycho therapy session. He did Red Fox, Aunt Jemima and Tracy’s white step-father switching between each of them in a conversation. To say the man is talented would be an understatement. He deserves his Emmy, an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Tony for this show. He’s incredible.

Tracy Morgan is an SNL alum as well. He plays Tracy Jordan (what an imaginative name) a nutty ego maniac and star of the fake “show within a show”. He’s supposed to be a cross between Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker, and every other ridiculous actor who’s run down a crowded street butt naked while they were drunk and high. He’s so crazy! 

The rest of the cast is so well put together! Ugh. I can’t explain them any better. Just watch it already!

Tina Fey created one of my favorite shows ever. It’s so well written it sometimes makes me scoff, my mouth just sits agape at the genius of some of the jokes. 

I know this review is all over the place but a show like this is just so hard to nail down and put into words. The critics have given it rave reviews. It has won 9 Emmys and 2 Golden Globes. What more do you need to hear about this show to start tuning in? I’d suggest that you get Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD or watch them online at a site like hulu.com so that you can get current. Once you’re in you’ll be craving this show with just as much anticipation as an episode of Grey’s Anatomy or The Office (US).

30 Rock is incredible and will go down in history as one of the greatest shows of all time.