OK, I'll Say It: I Think "30 Rock" is a Wee Bit Overrated

I turned on the Golden Globes Sunday night for the same reason most people turned it on: to ooh and ahh (and, fine, also ridicule) at the dresses and hair styles. (Drew Barrymore? Just ... no.)  But I do like television shows and movies, so there was bound to be an award category or two that held my interest. Unfortunately, all of my favorite TV sitcoms were either left off the ticket altogether or they were totally kicked in the ass by "30 Rock."

Now, before you start to hyperventilate and peck out an angry comment telling me how certifiable I am, let me say I find "30 Rock" perfectly funny. I laugh, I quote, I want to make-out with Tina Fey and then force her to be my best friend for the rest of our lives, amen. But ... see ... I just don't think it's award-winning, side-splitting, cult-inducing funny. I'm kind of over it winning practically everything it's up for, especially "lead actor" when poor (INSANELY HILARIOUS) Steve Carrel is so much more deserving (yes, yes, in my opinion) for his portrayal of the lovable yet intolerable Michael Scott than Alec Baldwin.

Also, there's "Weeds." It seems as long as "30 Rock" is cleaning up at awards shows, Mary Louise Parker and the quirky, off-the-wall, fantastic Showtime sitcom don't really stand a chance. And if you aren't watching "Weeds" then you are missing out on one of the best written and acted shows I've ever seen. Seriously.

I even feel badly for "Entourage." Even though this past season wasn't the best the HBO gem has offered, there is nothing like settling in and watching Ari Gold insult Lloyd -- his personal assistant -- 85 different ways and then do something so charming, you instantly forgive him.

I like "30 Rock." I enjoy it. Hell, it's even recorded on my DVR any given Thursday but is it funnier than "The Office" or "Weeds" or "Entourage"? I just don't think it is. And as far as I can tell, Jim Halpert is only on one sitcom and it ain't "30 Rock."

Comments

[~Monkeyinlove]

I think I agree...sorta. I think on the whole that The Office probably makes me wanna laugh so hard that I pee my pants more, but I also think that 30 Rock has taken bigger chances and become more creative this year, wheras The Office, while still very funny, has a lost a bit of it's edge. It has started to venture into the neighbourhood of Saccharine. That's only one step away from haivng a 'lesson'.

[Holly]

I agree with MonkeyInLove. I love The Office, and Entourage too, but I do think 30Rock has been on a roll this year. More risks and creativity happening there than on those other two shows. (I can't speak for Weeds. We don't get Showtime. And, yes, I know! I need to do some renting.) 30Rock is definitely my favorite sitcom that's on right now.

Although, who knows how I'll feel when Flight of the Conchords comes back this weekend...

[Robyn G]

I may be in the minority, but I kinda loved Drew's look.

Oh, what? 30 Rock? Eh, whatever.

[Jill]

I kinda liked Drew's look, too....

I never was really able to get into 30 rock. I had it on my DVR for a while, but, eh. It just wasn't all that funny to me. I love Tina Fey, too.

[steff]

FOTC all the way! I don't get HBO so I have no clue how I will survive without a weekly dose of Bret & Jemaine once Season 2 ramps up. Until it comes out on DVD, I suppose I'll have my needs satiated by my favorite NBC sitcoms. 30 Rock being my current favorite at this given time. Actually, since it first debuted I think it took over the #1 Thursday night slot in my heart. That takes a helluva a lot, I'll have you know since a few short years ago my man and I dressed as Pam & Jim for Halloween. Now, I fully believe the Office is incredible but I think it had its moment in the sun, at least for now. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but perhaps 30 Rock is just a bit more subversive, topical and reachable, especially for new audiences not willing to jump into the fairly established and long going story line found on the Office. Weeds is excellent as well, one of my abso favorite shows but I think that exists in a different category completely.

[She Likes Purple]

Steff, I completely agree, "Weeds" SHOULD be in its own fantastic category but it's not! So it goes up against "30 Rock" and continually loses and I just ... I hate that.

[Snarky Amber]

I think the problem is that there are too many really good comedies on television right now. Frankly, that's a really an awesome problem to have.

I respectfully disagree with you on 30 Rock, but we can still be friends. :)

[jodifur]

I've never seen an episode. For some reason it just does not interest me.

[Kathryn]

The Office, and Steve Carell's Michael Scott, have kind of lost their appeal. The things he does have become too unrealistic to be funny. The main appeal of the show was the humor in its hyper-realistic portrayal of office life. I'm sorry, but no one is really as much of an idiot as Michael Scott. He's become a ridiculous caricature, and so has the show.

30 Rock, on the other hand, remains hilarious. While the things that happen are often unrealistic (the Night Court episode, for example), the humor of the show doesn't stem from its realism, so it's not a problem. You have Liz Lemon, the everywoman, thrust into the very pointedly unreal world of television production. It's ludicrous, and much of the humor comes from her reaction to the insanity that surrounds her. And Alec Baldwin? Good lord, how can you overlook his stint as Tracy's father/mother/white guy dating his moms/downstairs neighbor.

[Sweetney]

I BREAK WITH THEE.

[rebecca]

Nope. I gotta say nope. We have been re-watching the earlier episodes of 30 rock, and it has gotten consistently funnier, better written, and more character-involved without going over the top. And, really, the Christmas ep. really, I think, cemented Alec Baldwin's place. He was hilarious and sad and angry all at once.
and I ADORE the office, i really do. I have been watching forever, and Jim and Pam are, like, as crucial to stay together as my own marriage. buuuuut...they have been, um, slipping a little lately.

[She Likes Purple]

Oh, I knew my opinion would be unfavorable. (And I should add that even my own husband disagrees with me and shakes his head every time I go off on a tangent during "30 Rock.")

I also completely agree that "30 Rock" doesn't lend itself to the realistic so it can be as over-the-top and out there as it dreams up and it's not betraying its original premise, but I kind of think "Weeds" pushes the envelope as far as a show can really push it while still offering you characters that you can root for (EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T KNOW WHY OR HOW, CELIA). Although I love Tina Fey and even Liz Lemon, the other characters make me roll my eyes and sort of cringe just as often as they make me laugh.

I know I stand alone ... I know. I just was feeling especially stabby after the Golden Globes and watching "30 Rock" sweep so many categories. Spread the love, is all!

[Alexa]

I love this debate and agree, 30 Rock... Alec Baldwin is just exhausting.

[BaltimoreGal]

Sweetney has come over to our side!!!! MWAHAHAHAHA!

And I once was one of the biggest fans of The Office but it has lost me this year, honestly. It is just not the same (nothing to do with Jim and Pam- the others are killing me).

And some of us are poor and don't get yer fancy-schmancy pay channels so I wouldn't know about HBO or Showtime shows.

[She Likes Purple]

Admittedly, we don't get the fancy channels either. We watch the shows through other means and I will not incriminate myself by saying anything further ;)

[Backpacking Dad]

The first season of 30 Rock was one of the best seasons of television I've ever seen. The second season, like with every other show during the strike, was not nearly as good. This season they've retained all of the over-the-topness of the late half of the second season (which was an attempt to keep the show interesting without being as smart as the first season, and I didn't really like it. Broderick? What?) and tried to also recapture the great writing. I can do without the mania a little bit. Alec Baldwin's character was never more perfect than in the first season. He's being written to the middle, now.

"It's after six. What am I, a farmer?" (In response to Liz's question about why he's wearing a tux.)

[Jennie]

There are some insanely brilliant lines on "30 Rock" -- totally undeniable. (I walked around saying "cat sound!" all of last week.) But I guess I find the brilliance one aspect of a kind of over-the-top (dare I say it?) mess than a real theme of the show like the other shows I mentioned.

But I think what this thread really shows me is that TV sitcoms are good again. That there are this many INSANELY GOOD AND FUNNY shows on the air is really quite the problem to have. (And it really IS quite the problem to have when you share a DVR with your husband.)

[Danielle]

@ Jodifur: Yes exactly! Great summary of the problem with The Office and what makes 30 Rock so awesome!