Live '30 Rock' Episode Goes Off Without a Hitch

By Zach Dionne Posted Oct 15th 2010 12:50AM

So much for worrying about Tracy Morgan -- the '30 Rock' live episodes (one for each coast) went off without a hitch Thursday night, showing just how well-oiled the Emmy-winning machine is. While live primetime programs have over the years seemed clunky or odd, '30 Rock' was spot-on thanks to the cast's stellar live TV and theater pedigree. The roster of former improv champs and ultimate 'Saturday Night Live' host Alec Baldwin led the laughter charge for an episode that felt exactly like '30 Rock,' with the addition of some studio audience laughter and a wink to all things meta -- it was, after all, a live show ('30 Rock') about a live show ('TGS') inspired by a live show ('SNL').

Guest stars Matt Damon, Jon Hamm, Rachel Dratch, Bill Hader and Julia Louis-Dreyfus kept things lively for the half-hour installment. Louis-Dreyfus, the erstwhile Elaine of NBC's seminal comedy 'Seinfeld,' performed a pitch-perfect Liz Lemon impersonation, playing Tina Fey's character in a whip-fast flashback. "Why are you better looking in your memory?" Baldwin quipped to Fey.

The topic of bloopers -- a constant concern with live TV, particularly with a cast this raucous -- was cleverly addressed in the actual script. Jane Krakowkski's Jenna threatened to "slip a nip," but her theatrical chops kept her going without a problem. Tracy Morgan's onscreen alter ego mimicked live TV screw-ups that could potentially go wrong, all but winking at the camera in light of how smoothly everything was really running.

The jokes remained topical as always, even infusing Brett Favre's recent sext message fiasco and the rescue of the Chilean miners. The episode centered on Baldwin's Jack Donaghy trying sobriety for the first time in 10 years, and Liz flailing for a fitting 40th birthday celebration. Pete informed Liz while copyright expenses made 'Happy Birthday' too expensive to use, "We can use, 'It's Your B-Day B***h,' by Snooki's mom."

Jon Hamm, who plays a hook-handed stud on '30 Rock,' guest-starred in a faux advertisement, gravely saying: "Thanks to an idea that started as a pitch for a horror movie and grew into a charitable organization, Hands for Executed Criminals are now making life better for people all over the world," Hamm said. "People like ... me."

The evening ended in a very 'Saturday Night Live' fashion, with the cast taking the stage and thanking everyone as the credits rolled. Tina Fey, the first female head writer at 'Saturday Night Live,' directly thanked "the 'SNL' crew."

Those handy-dandy geniuses at Vulture stayed up all night compiling a list of the 17 differences between the East and West Coast performances. Most changes were deliberate dialogue or gag switch-ups, although Tracy Morgan broke character a bit and Jane Krakowski semi-flubbed a line on the West Coast feed. And Jon Hamm's bit included the verb "frankensteining" the second time around. See the complete West Coast episode:

In a recent interview with PopEater, Jane Krakowski teased the Tracy Morgan-ness of the live '30 Rock.' See the clip:

What Did You Think of '30 Rock' LIVE? Tell Us on Facebook

Tags: 30 Rock, Tina Fey

Comments

(30)

Friday 15 October

By Apostate

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Excellent work,guys!

By florida1

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Tracy Morgan is a very over-rated a-hole. He is an unfunny jerk and I have never understood why everyone laughs at this guys nasty behavior.

By lisa pelletier

I watched it "Live" on the east coast and it was AWESOME!!!! Easily the FUNNIEST episode of 30 Rock yet and they did an OUTSTANDING job!!!

By Mrs Sonya Parker

My husband and I watched this together and we could hardly hear the tv at times because we were laughing so hard.

By donbro2

wow.i did the same thing.it was real funny.but then i switched over to msnbc and it made me feel very sad that during the mining rescue they kept switching over to other very bios stories.rachel maddow was on her usual gay agenda and chris matthews was busy spouting hate at sarah palin..what the heck does he have a crush on her or something.anyway i switched over to fox new where they covered the rescue all the way..great news cast....impeach obama...p.s. obama is taking money from china to fund his socialist/marxist agenda...peace.

By kbrown2225

Wow another idiot speaks, uh the conversation was about 30 Rock's live broadcast not your paranoid delusional fantasies and homophobic tendencies.

By Mitchell

30 Rock is my favorite TV show...one of my top favorites of all time. Unfortunately, the live episode reduced my level of appreciation. The actors seemed strident (??) as they attempted to get it right first take. The camera work was choppy and seemed to be distracting to the actors, as it was to me. Turned the TV off 10 minutes into the show. Sorry.

By rhamil1066

I was really looking forward to it. But it just wasn't funny. Period.

By abc

Years ago many television shows were broadcast live, including soap operas. Those shows went off without a hitch.

i am really tired of people going off topic...what in the world does that statement have to do with how obama is really screwing this country up...keep on the topic PLEASE!!!!!!impeach obama..

By Debra S.

Like Mitchell, my response to the live show was not as glowing as the review. The camera work was choppy, the actors for the most part were bad-, over- or hyper-acting, and it had the feel of a high school play. It needed the extra guest "stars" to provide interest and distraction from the bad production values. Nothing wrong with a little bit of experimentation, but this experiment failed. Go back to the regular format.

By DAN

I WATCHED ON THE EAST COAST. CONSIDERING HOW FAST PACED THE DIALOG IS WHEN THE SHOW IS RECORDED, I THINK EVERYONE DID A GREAT JOB LIVE. BRAVO! AND TINA, YOU CAN GO TOE TO TOE WITH LOUIS-DREYFUS IN THE LOOKS DEPARTMENT ANY TIME. O, AND HAPPY B-DAY, BY THE WAY.

By ml

boring as usual

By Tomohawk

I have to agree. The "live" episode was off, the humor--equally so. It was like watching a real bad Saturday Night Live sketch. The overly bright video quality typical of 80s television was also noticeable. Don't know what show everyone else is referring to; it was HARDLY hilarious. I thought the writing, overall, was lame!

By Red

ER did a live show once and that was an hour drama show without a hitch. Live tv was all the time when I was growing up. It's no big deal and who cares about 30 Rock, stupid unfunny show anyway. Making a big deal about absolutely nothing which is what this show is nothing!

By HFSTERN

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EAST COAST LESS MISTAKES THAN WEST COAST SHOWS, AS USUAL.

By Dennis Myers

Use to watch the Honeymooners, not only live but mostly without a script.
Nothing new here!!

By tennwilliams

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fan-freaking-tastic show. loved every minute of it

intelligent shows are hard to follow without the capacity

By jgserge

Very funny episode. I thought I could count on the 30 Rock writers to do some clever things with the idea of a live show, and they came through.

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