30 Rock’s second season was a great follow up to their inaugural season. The writers and cast seemed to have worked out a creative rhythm. The DVD features all fifteen episodes as well as some unique extras and commentary.
Loosely based on Tina Fey’s experiences working at SNL, 30 Rock is a funny behind the scenes look at the production of a tv show. Featuring Tina Fey as TV writer Liz Lemon, Alec Baldwin as corporate executive Jack Donaghy, Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski as Lemon’s erratic stars, Tracy Jordan and Jenna Maroney, and Jack McBrayer as the hillbilly NBC page Kenneth Parcell.
One thing we noticed around here is that 30 Rock is by far one of the nerdiest shows on TV, and not stereotypically nerdy, like that show on the eyeball channel. There are comic book references, Dungeons and Dragon flashbacks, tons of Star Wars jokes (with a cameo from Carrie Fisher) and the occasional faux space expletive from BSG, ‘Frak’.
One other aspect of the show is their strong sense of satire. Episodes like the Iraq war satire, Cougars, the look at reality TV, Milf Island and the Homeland Security themed episode, Cooter are all offbeat looks at current events.
The dvd features some deleted and extended sceneswhich are cool. The cast commentaries vary from episode to episode but most of them are either funny (Judah Friedlander on Cougars) or interesting looks behind the scenes (Tina Fey on Sandwich Day). The extras include a table reading of the Cooter episode, a cool behind-the-scenes look at Tina Fey as she prepares to host SNL, an episode of 30 Rock performed liveatthe Upright Citizens Brigade and a Q&A with the cast at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
One thing that I think was missing from the DVD was the “Ask Tina” segments from the 30 Rock website, these are really funny and could have rounded out the extras a bit.
If you are a big fan of the show then you probably have the DVD already, so I am talking to the people who have never seen the show. 30 Rock is one of the most consistently funny shows on TV, featuring a great cast (more Tracy Morgan please), great writing and no corny sitcom laugh tracks!
30 Rock season 2 DVD is in stores now and retails for $39.99.
