photo: nbc
Live Show
Original Air Date: Oct 14, 2010
Laura Kelley – Associate Staff Writer
laurakelley@thetwocentscorp.com
This week’s live episode of 30 Rock was probably the best of the season, and it proved that the cast really shines under the pressure of doing a live episode.
The episode was funny from the start, with Liz and Jack wondering why “everything in here looks like a Mexican soap opera” and Jack revealing he’s stopped drinking because Avery is pregnant. Liz flashes back to when she gave up refined sugar and attacked everyone, while being played by Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, who made an awesome Flashback Liz.
It turns out it’s Liz’s 40th birthday, and no one remembers. She squirts Jonathan with water and then storms out. Jenna sings a terrible novelty birthday song and berates the Chilean miners for getting stuck in a mine in the first place, and Kenneth keeps giggling over Lutz’s “I’m With Stupid” shirt. Tracy finally watched the non-porn version of the Carol Burnett show and so he decides that laughing during sketches is hilarious. When he breaks during a sketch, Jenna is enraged and threatens to do a nip slip on purpose. And by the way, Jane Krakowski looked fantastic in that blue dress! Jack knits a poncho out of boredom and learns magic, and then there was a fake ad by “Dr.” Spaceman for his “Love Storm” CD of “doing it songs” intended to cure erectile dysfunction. I would totally buy that CD.
Liz gets even madder when it turns out that everyone remembered the cleaning lady’s birthday, and even Carol (Matt Damon) forgot hers. She finds Jack huffing paint fumes, since he can’t drink, and she tells him it’s her birthday and he forgot, to which he exclaims “damn these she-beasts!” and gives her a thousand dollars. Tracy breaks during another sketch, one in which Danny (Cheyenne Jackson) is playing Dr. Oz and Tracy is playing Oprah. After sniffing Jenna’s mouth for traces of booze, Jack decides everyone needs to do something for Liz, and Liz is pleased that he hijacks the cleaning lady’s birthday for her.
I loved the live episode! Everyone gave a great performance and was spot-on, and Jack McBrayer’s giggling was perfect. I was sad we didn’t get to hear any of Tracy’s lizard’s album, but then again it doesn’t come out until December, so I guess we’ll have to wait. What did you all think? Leave your two cents in the comments!
TheTwoCents 
I thought it was awesome too. I wonder if the west coast performance was any different? The stuff with Jack smelling Jenna’s mouth and the Kenny giggling were the best parts. But the whole thing was hilarious!! 🙂 Great review!!
right on..great episode!
I am not a 30 Rock fan. Have only watched one episode before this. However, I’m a huge SNL fan. Why does that matter? Because with going live in the SNL studio & the guest stars I couldn’t tell the two apart. Although yay for anytime I get to see Matt Damon. I think back on other live show episodes (Will & Grace comes to mind) and this failed. As an SNL episode it was great. LOL