30 Rock - OAD 10/11/2006 *spoilers* [Text View]

terpfan1980

10-11-2006, 08:33 PM

I'm not sure what to say about this one. It was better than SNL for the last few weeks, but that isn't necessarily praising the show.

I like Jane K., and I see some of her character from Ally McBeal showing through here, but I don't know if this show will give her opportunity to keep showing it.

Alec Baldwin is someone I can take in small doses, and I give credit for not over-doing it tonite.

Tracy Morgan as the guy brought in to stir things up could be interesting, but at the same time IT IS NETWORK, not HBO... how much stirring up will really happen here?

firerose818

10-11-2006, 08:40 PM

I really, really wanted to like this show. But it just didn't click with me. I didn't think it was funny, and some of the scenes were really awkward.

-Rose

mwhip

10-11-2006, 08:44 PM

Tina Fey = Tina Fey
Tracy Morgan = Martin Lawrence
Pete = Louis CK or Robert Smigel
Jane Krakowski = amy Poehler
Josh = Jimmy Fallon

Does that sound about right?

TIVO_GUY_HERE

10-11-2006, 08:49 PM

I also had high hopes for this show, It wasn't terrible, but I think I will move it way down in my Season Pass list, if nothing else is on, (other networks showing test patterns... J/K ;) ) I will watch.

Lori

10-11-2006, 09:11 PM

Not loving it. Not at all.

The SP might not last the night.

mwhip

10-11-2006, 09:16 PM

Not loving it. Not at all.

The SP might not last the night.

You always got a give a show a second chance after the pilot. Some shows re-tool a lot after the pilot and you may like it next week.

ElJay

10-11-2006, 09:18 PM

Unfortunately I had already laughed at all of the good jokes in the promos... I do like the cast, so I'll keep watching it for now. Alec Baldwin cracks me up.

Neenahboy

10-11-2006, 09:22 PM

I was looking forward to this one. I really was. But I nuked the SP as soon as it was over. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin just did not gel at all, and Tracy Morgan just made a bad situation worse, kinda like Will Ferrell in "Wedding Crashers".

By the way, NBC: the plug for the GE oven was really well-placed :rolleyes:

tem

10-11-2006, 09:27 PM

I thought it was HI-LAR-I-OUS

that is all.

Martha

10-11-2006, 09:28 PM

I watched about 7-8 minutes, then deleted it. Too much good stuff to watch to waste time on this.

USAFSSO

10-11-2006, 09:35 PM

Horrible. Give it next week, for the post Pilot episode introduce everyone BS. If no better wont make it to the end of Oct.

atrac

10-11-2006, 11:26 PM

I thought the 8-minute preview from NBC.com a month or so ago was hilarious. Then I was told on here that it had been "re-tooled." I'm not sure what they did (aside from adding Jane K. and throwing Rachel Dratch into a smaller part), but something definitely got lost.

The scenes from the 8-min preview were mostly intact (except for diarrhea medicine turning into hemorrhoid medication), but the stuff in-between wasn't as good.

I'll give it a few more episodes because I do like Tina Fey and yes, Alec Baldwin. I wasn't a big fan of Tracy Morgan before this show, but I do think he's quite funny.

I think the biggest miss with this show is the music score. It's terrible and kept pulling me out of the story. Listen carefully NBC -- CHANGE THE MUSIC.

BTW, the page sounds like Clay Aiken.

modnar

10-11-2006, 11:47 PM

Not bad. I thought it got funner later in the show, so if you only gave it a few minutes, you might want to try to watch the whole episode before giving up.

I'll keep the Season Pass for now.

SparkleMotion

10-11-2006, 11:52 PM

With the people involved, I'm willing to be indulgent for a few more shows.

LoadStar

10-12-2006, 12:18 AM

Horrible. Absolutely horrible.

I know, the comparisons between this and "Studio 60" are going to get very old, very fast, so I'll provide mine while I still can. :)

This is the "Studio 60" for people who thought "Studio 60" was too complicated. While Studio 60's humor is presented in a fancy box with lots of tissue paper and with a nice gift wrapping and a bow, and they let you unwrap it and discover it... 30 Rock's humor is delivered with an anvil upside the head. It's everything bad about what SNL's humor has become. It's like a giant neon flashing light reading THIS IS FUNNY. YOU WILL LAUGH AT THIS. And rarely is something actually funny to me when I have a bright flashing neon light telling me that it is.

Above all, I hate people mugging for the camera in a desperate ploy for laughs, and that's what Tracy Morgan does most of the time. I can't stand over the top caricatures of people, and that's what Alec Baldwin was doing (it wasn't even comic over the top, it was "ok, we get it, you're a pretentious suit, can we move on now" over the top).

The only glimmer of hope in this: Tina Fey actually showed me, for the first time, a hint that she could be funny without being silly, that she could put on an actual restrained humorous performance. However, the only thing I really saw of her in tonight's episode was her running around with Tracy's character looking flustered, which isn't funny.

Unfortunately, I have this depressing feeling that this will be a huge hit and will outlast Studio 60 - because I think that the networks might be right. I think that the TV viewing public actually needs that bright neon flashing light, that anvil style comedy, for them to get that something is funny. I actually think that subtle comedy on TV in America is a lost art. And even if that's not true, that seems to be what the the networks believe, and what they're going to give us, like it or not. :(

LoadStar

10-12-2006, 12:45 AM

You always got a give a show a second chance after the pilot. Some shows re-tool a lot after the pilot and you may like it next week.

This WAS the result of retooling. The original featured Rachael Dratch in the Jane K. role, for instance. It would be highly surprising if they retooled again so soon.

David Platt

10-12-2006, 12:56 AM

It's rare that I won't give a new show a second chance, but I won't be giving this one any more of my time. I was really, really looking forward to it, but I don't think I laughed once during the entire 30 minutes. It's gone from my SP list.

sonnik

10-12-2006, 12:59 AM

cmgal

10-12-2006, 01:54 AM

I watched about 7-8 minutes, then deleted it. Too much good stuff to watch to waste time on this.
I did the same.

YCantAngieRead

10-12-2006, 02:11 AM

Yeah, I hated The Office when it first aired.

But then again, I still don't care for it. :D

I didn't mind this as much as I thought I would reading through the thread earlier. I liked it about as much as I did the pilot of Studio 60.

vman41

10-12-2006, 03:13 AM

By the way, NBC: the plug for the GE oven was really well-placed :rolleyes:

I thought the trivection oven was something they made up, guess not. The tie-in between the oven and the Baldwin character's goals for the show (broaden the appeal to 3 demographics) worked for me.

I tuned in to this show with no expections. It's only a half-hour show, so I'll probably give it another shot to two.

quango

10-12-2006, 03:29 AM

I liked it, actually more than "Studio 60" the past few weeks (not that Studio 60 is a bad show). Not every pilot can be "NewsRadio" quality.

Heck, even NewsRadio's pilot wasn't that good... and I say that as someone who thinks Hartman-era NR is probably the funniest sitcom ever.

I found 30 Rock mostly amusing. Not the greatest thing ever, but amusing enough to keep the season pass, at least until I get over my Tina Fey lust.

rrrobinsonjr

10-12-2006, 07:40 AM

Overhyped and underfunny.

"Are there other black nerds, or is just you and Urkel?"
UGH! That's such a standard sitcom joke....are you kidding me?????

I took it off my Season Pass. Studio 60 is a much better show.

mask2343

10-12-2006, 07:47 AM

HILARIOUS! I thought it was GREAT. Love Tina Fey. Don't know where the Rachael Dratch character can go from here though.

I am MORE excited that there is a negative vibe around here about it! Usually the shows that this board LOVES get cancelled.

IndyJones1023

10-12-2006, 07:51 AM

Wow, this is what they came up with? It was pretty craptacular. I don't think I laughed once.

Donbadabon

10-12-2006, 08:01 AM

I found it amusing. I will stick with it.

madscientist

10-12-2006, 08:03 AM

I thought it had a few good lines but overall not great. However, as others have said, you can't judge a show by the pilot so I'll give it another chance or two. I really like Tina Fey so I hope it improves.

Fish Man

10-12-2006, 08:59 AM

I found it amusing and having potential.

My SP will last another episode or two, at least.

My wife hated it, so when I check out the second episode, I guess we won't be watching it together.

DavidTigerFan

10-12-2006, 09:02 AM

I was mildly amused. I think it took 15 minutes forme to laugh.

hpb

10-12-2006, 09:12 AM

Boring, boring, boring ...

It reminded me of a skit on SNL that just went on too long. The whole show could have been 5 minutes and no content lost.

One more week and its outa here!

mrpantstm

10-12-2006, 09:31 AM

I caught it about 10 minutes into it. I laughed a few times and enjoyed it. It's not spectacular but still not bad. Not sure another behind the scenes SNL type show is going to make it but I liked this one.

mitchb2

10-12-2006, 09:42 AM

Awful writing. Along with "Twenty Good Years (22 bad minutes)," a double header of total crap.

marksman

10-12-2006, 10:11 AM

I liked it, actually more than "Studio 60" the past few weeks (not that Studio 60 is a bad show). Not every pilot can be "NewsRadio" quality.

In fact, just for humor's sake I went back and dug up no less than three threads with a surprisingly high amount of negative criticism for NBC's "The Office"

http://archive2.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=231882

http://archive2.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=231809

http://archive2.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=221953

Sure, a few of those people probably still hate "The Office" - but it's probably one of the best sitcoms on television today. I'd imagine quite a few people have changed their mind on that show. In fact, I liked THAT pilot also (perhaps because I had not seen the BBC version at the time).

I can't think of many sitcom pilots that were spectacular; the pilots for "Seinfeld" "Friends" and "Cheers" weren't all that great.

Few comments from me...

First of all I would put it nowhere near Studio 60 in terms of being entertaining.

It is was lukewarm okay for me. Parts of it were funny. It was very sitcom-y, and fairly standard fair. I will watch it, but if I missed an episode, I certainly wouldn't care.

As for The Office, the first season, I tried to get into it initially and it did not catch me at all. Then by the start of season 2, I got into it, and went back and watched all the first season episodes and found it hysterical. So you are right, things can change, and people can not get a show. I don't see it with this show. I didn't feel like i was not getting it. I think I got it okay, but it was okay.

atrac

10-12-2006, 10:19 AM

TiVo'Brien

10-12-2006, 10:37 AM

Given the people involved, I'll give it several more episodes before coming to any firm conclusions. As somebody else said, Alec Baldwin overplayed the corporate suit role. Dial it back, Alec. I like Tracy Morgan, so he can pretty much stand there with his silly "I'm-confused-and-don't-know-what-the-heck-is-going-on" look and I'm entertained. (I'M BRIAN FELLOWS!) :p

Talon

10-12-2006, 10:46 AM

Not sure how I feel about yet. Just one laugh for me:

"Did you say Carl Robe?"

jking

10-12-2006, 10:52 AM

Here's the problem I had with the show... Tina Fey can't act. She was constantly pulling me out of the show by sounding like she was just reading lines. Maybe the problem was bad lines, but then again, that would be her fault too. Alec Baldwin might have been over the top, but at least he can string a few sentences together and sound like he believes what he's saying. I actually thought he was the only bright spot in the show.

midas

10-12-2006, 11:03 AM

I like Tracy Morgan, so he can pretty much stand there with his silly "I'm-confused-and-don't-know-what-the-heck-is-going-on" look and I'm entertained. (I'M BRIAN FELLOWS!) :p

I like Morgan too, but I just don't buy him in this role. But maybe he can make a believer out of me as time goes on. Only time will tell.

jradford

10-12-2006, 11:22 AM

I liked the guy who lead the tours and is a basic fool.

"Yeah, Bill got fired. That's SO WIERD that you don't know that."

DeDondeEs

10-12-2006, 11:48 AM

I will give any comedy that gives the viewing audience the respect of no laugh track a second chance. I thought it was OK. You can't compare this show to Studio 60. They are two different shows.

One nerd thing I noticed was when they showed the Tracy Morgan character running down "the 405" and all of the cars had New Jersey licence plates.

DevdogAZ

10-12-2006, 12:04 PM

Wasn't great, but it's worthy of getting another episode or two. I laughed at a couple of lines, but mostly thought the situations were lame. I especially found it unbelievable that the Tina Fey character, who is in charge of a live TV show, would stay out all day with Tracy Morgan and his entourage.

I did like that there was no laugh track, and found it especially jarring when Twenty Good Years started and the canned laughter kicked in.

Shakhari

10-12-2006, 12:40 PM

Now I understand why Tina Fey never did anything on SNL except the news ... she's a writer, not a performer. Although the writing here pretty much stunk ...

I set a season pass for this, but stopped watching and cancelled it about halfway through.

kcarl75

10-12-2006, 12:49 PM

I really liked it. My wife and I laughed pretty much through the whole thing. I have always liked tracy morgan, so that helps.

rkester

10-12-2006, 12:53 PM

I really, really wanted to like this show. But it just didn't click with me. I didn't think it was funny, and some of the scenes were really awkward.

I totally agree with you. I watched it and I think I laughed once and that was at a joke that I had seen in the teasers for it. If the next episode doesnt get any better I will stop watching.

However I do think that Mr Oven was the best part of the show. His goofy lines were the only saving grace.

Robin

10-12-2006, 12:55 PM

I did like that there was no laugh track, and found it especially jarring when Twenty Good Years started and the canned laughter kicked in.

Agreed. That's why this SP is still around (for now) and TGY was deleted immediately.

Really pales in comparison to Studio 60, but with a smidgen of potential.

rkester

10-12-2006, 12:56 PM

busyba

10-12-2006, 12:58 PM

It should have been better. I'm a little disappointed.

There also should have been more shots of Tina dancing on the stripper stage.

"No... Charisma's over there" :eek: :)

Fish Man

10-12-2006, 01:16 PM

Is it me or did the "cat trainer" gal start out in the goofy eyed chick's spot in the show originally? I swear she was the one in the bodice who needed the hemeroid creme in the promos I saw on TV/online/xbox360. And the scene with the guy delivering the creme was not the same. I remember him saying something about it being extra strength.

Yes.

Rachel Dratch was originally cast as Jenna (the "goofy eyed chick"). They made a last minute change. Now, Rachel Dratch will be playing different bit characters in each episode.

Fish Man

10-12-2006, 01:18 PM

I will give any comedy that gives the viewing audience the respect of no laugh track a second chance.

:up: :up: :up:

One new show I kind of like this season is "Help Me, Help You", but it would rank two or three notches higher in my estimation without the damn laugh track!

DreadPirateRob

10-12-2006, 02:39 PM

Eh. I chuckled a few times, but overall it was pretty bad. I liked Alec Baldwin, and I'll give this show another couple of chances, but it doesn't look promising.

MikeMar

10-12-2006, 02:43 PM

Alec Baldwin was great, love him in this, only reason I'm watching the show

DavidTigerFan

10-12-2006, 02:57 PM

IndyJones1023

10-12-2006, 03:06 PM

I did hate the obvious product placement that had no place there. We're supposed to believe that GE promoted a guy responsible for designing an Oven to be the VP of whatever for a television show?

And whats with the lame name "The Girlie show"?
I don't think that was a product placement. I think it was a jab by the writers that someone with absolutely no TV knowledge is in charge merely based on the fact that their network is owned by a huge congolmorate. And they're sticking with real world companies. Thus, NBC, GE, etc.

Fish Man

10-12-2006, 03:24 PM

tem

10-12-2006, 03:28 PM

I don't think that was a product placement. I think it was a jab by the writers that someone with absolutely no TV knowledge is in charge merely based on the fact that their network is owned by a huge congolmorate. And they're sticking with real world companies. Thus, NBC, GE, etc.

Agreed. I read that Fey put that in there just because she was looking at the GE website and took the text directly off of it. It wasn't a product placement to be sure.

Oh .. and Studio 60 ? S.U.C.K.S You know there's a problem when the supposed masterminds of a comedy show are completely unfunny. Pretentious, overbearing Sorkin crap. He, JJ Abrams and David E. Kelley are the biggest one-notes in the history of television.

IndyJones1023

10-12-2006, 03:32 PM

He [Sorkin], JJ Abrams and David E. Kelley are the biggest one-notes in the history of television.
LOL! All three men have had multiple hits and lengthy careers. Kinda the opposite of a "one-noter."

busyba

10-12-2006, 03:33 PM

LOL! All three men have had multiple hits and lengthy careers. Kinda the opposite of a "one-noter."
To be fair, while they have been successful, all their stuff is pretty much the same stuff over and over.

And I say that as a fan.

(Well, not of JJ Abrhams. After wasting five years of my life on Alias, if I ever see him, I'm going to kick him in the nuts.)

tem

10-12-2006, 05:19 PM

To be fair, while they have been successful, all their stuff is pretty much the same stuff over and over.

And I say that as a fan.

(Well, not of JJ Abrhams. After wasting five years of my life on Alias, if I ever see him, I'm going to kick him in the nuts.)

Exactly.

Kelley -- shows that start off good and degenerate into ridculousness as he gets bored. cf LA Law, Picket Fences, Alley McBeal (debatable on being good), The Practice, Boston Legal (though that's turned into basically a comedy to anyhow so it may be moot). Chicago Hope was probably the same but I didn't watch it. He's the biggest offender of them all.

Abrams -- shows that go nowhere and drive viewers nuts cf Alias, Lost. Felicity is an exception, I guess.

Sorkin -- shows based around smart, witty, insider, snappy comebacks, zingers and smarter-than-you characters cf West Wing, Studio 60, Sportsnight. I liked WW a lot, but that doesn't negate that it's he uses the same formula over and over and over.

rrrobinsonjr

10-12-2006, 05:20 PM

tem

10-12-2006, 05:22 PM

LOL! All three men have had multiple hits and lengthy careers. Kinda the opposite of a "one-noter."

perhaps you think I meant "one hit wonder"

DavidTigerFan

10-12-2006, 05:30 PM

It just so happens that GE makes the oven, and GE owns NBC?

I'm sure they wouldn't have done a Sears oven.

DevdogAZ

10-12-2006, 05:37 PM

I disagree with others who think a pilot is not a good standard by which to judge a show. It really is the ONLY standard.

Writers and producers have months, sometimes years to develop the first episode. Once it's a success, thier creative time is reduced significantly. Usually hit shows have fantastic pilots and THEN they go down hill (i.e. Alias, Desperate Housewives). It is more rare for a show to go the other way.
Not true. While you are correct that the pilot usually has much more attention from the writers as far as developing the concept and the story, there is an inherent problem with pilots in that they require the writer/director/actors/etc. to spend an inordinate amount of time introducing the characters and their backstories and having them say unnatural expository lines that they won't have to say in later episodes when the characters and situations are established. This is not to say that every future episode is going to be better than the pilot, but there are very few pilots that are anywhere close to as good as some of the better episodes of a show.

SparkleMotion

10-12-2006, 06:00 PM

I have always liked tracy morgan, so that helps.http://kaiser.dreamhost.com/OT_stuff/brian%20fellow.jpg

DreadPirateRob

10-12-2006, 06:05 PM

The Trivection oven is REAL?!?!? Oh my....that changes my opinion of the entire scene. I thought it was a hilarious idea but now to find out it's a real product...that takes away the humor for me and actually makes me cringe at the product placement! :(

Didn't bother me at all - in fact, I laughed at the fact that it was a real product, because basically the show was skewering NBC/all networks for putting suits from other divisions in charge of entertainment divisions and thanking they can cross-over their ideas from one to the other (i.e. the "third heat" or whatever it was called). The fact that Baldwin's invention is real just made the whole concept funnier to me.

It was one of the few laughs I got from the episode.

IndyJones1023

10-12-2006, 06:14 PM

It just so happens that GE makes the oven, and GE owns NBC?

I'm sure they wouldn't have done a Sears oven.
Only because they don't have rights to Sears products.

DavidTigerFan

10-12-2006, 06:55 PM

puleaze...you think some other appliance manufacturer wouldn't pony up to have their product plugged on a network show?

Why do you think all the credits at the end of a show say "Consideration paid by:"

:D

Grumpy Pants

10-12-2006, 07:30 PM

I thought it was hilarious

Todd

10-12-2006, 10:11 PM

Alec Baldwin was great, love him in this, only reason I'm watching the show
Alec Baldwin is major jerk. I watched despite him on it. Of course about 5 minutes into it appeared that this show was awful. It was confirmed about 10 minutes later. No SP here!

:rolleyes:

marksman

10-12-2006, 11:31 PM

Not true. While you are correct that the pilot usually has much more attention from the writers as far as developing the concept and the story, there is an inherent problem with pilots in that they require the writer/director/actors/etc. to spend an inordinate amount of time introducing the characters and their backstories and having them say unnatural expository lines that they won't have to say in later episodes when the characters and situations are established. This is not to say that every future episode is going to be better than the pilot, but there are very few pilots that are anywhere close to as good as some of the better episodes of a show.

I agree with Devdogaz. There are a lot of specific circumstances to a pilot that make it a lot different then a regular episode. First of all it is really designed as a sales pitch, and not necessarily the actual show. On top of that it can take the writers a while to find their voice for the characters, and for the actors to figure out how they are going to work it out.

I saw a commercial for next week's show, and it looked funny. Like I said, not stunning for me, but the more I think about it, the more I think this show could improve a lot in the coming weeks.

atrac

10-13-2006, 12:15 AM

Well, after reading that Tina Fey put the oven in as a slight against NBC and not as an act of product placement, I forgive her and am appreciating the humor again. :)

murgatroyd

10-13-2006, 03:33 AM

Two things are clear.

1) I am part of the target audience for Studio 60
2) I am not part of the target audience for 30 Rock

(Edited to add: observe how it is possible to express dislike in a way that does not thread-crap)

Jan (who wishes she could un-watch the I'M BRIAN FELLOWS skits)

markz

10-13-2006, 06:58 AM

My wife and I both commented that "30 Rock" was just ok. Not terrible or terribly funny. We'll give it another episode or two.

I cannot imagine Rachel Dratch in a bigger role. That would make me cancel the SP for sure. I have never cared too much for her. I think it would be funny if she played a different bit character each week. I think I read that's going to be the case.

Tracy Morgan is funny in small doses to me. I love the Brian Fellows character he played on SNL. He annoys me on longer interviews on late night talk shows.

Alec Baldwin can be overbearing, but I don't think they overused him in the pilot.

...And whats with the lame name "The Girlie show"?

Why not, we had "The Man Show"! I wish they'd bring that back with Jimmy Kimmel & Adam Carrola again!

Awful writing. Along with "Twenty Good Years (22 bad minutes)," a double header of total crap.

We actually laughed a lot more at "Twenty Good Years". John Lithgow does a better job at being "over the top" than Alec Baldwin.

Fleegle

10-13-2006, 07:35 AM

My wife and I both commented that "30 Rock" was just ok. Not terrible or terribly funny. We'll give it another episode or two.

I cannot imagine Rachel Dratch in a bigger role. That would make me cancel the SP for sure. I have never cared too much for her. I think it would be funny if she played a different bit character each week. I think I read that's going to be the case.

Tracy Morgan is funny in small doses to me. I love the Brian Fellows character he played on SNL. He annoys me on longer interviews on late night talk shows.

Alec Baldwin can be overbearing, but I don't think they overused him in the pilot.

Why not, we had "The Man Show"! I wish they'd bring that back with Jimmy Kimmel & Adam Carrola again!
.

I as part of a test audience for this show in Phoenix. I'm SO glad thay got Jane Krakowski to replace Rachael Dratch. She really drug teh show down. When she had Jane's role, She just didn't have that TV Star vibe that Jane gives off. I was very surprised that they actually recast her, although I really don't like the idea of having her play s different character each week. That will get annoyign fast.

Sadara

10-13-2006, 08:32 AM

Two things are clear.

1) I am part of the target audience for Studio 60
2) I am not part of the target audience for 30 Rock

+1

osterber

10-13-2006, 09:36 AM

Just watched this last night... very lukewarm. I expected more.

-Rick

Lee L

10-13-2006, 09:36 AM

Didn't bother me at all - in fact, I laughed at the fact that it was a real product, because basically the show was skewering NBC/all networks for putting suits from other divisions in charge of entertainment divisions and thanking they can cross-over their ideas from one to the other (i.e. the "third heat" or whatever it was called). The fact that Baldwin's invention is real just made the whole concept funnier to me.

It was one of the few laughs I got from the episode.

I felt exactly the same. I loved the way Baldwin was saying that and sounding exactly like an ad, it just seemed like perfect satire to me.

I will have to say that overall, I had pretty low expecations for the show after seeing the previews and commercials (I really only watched it because my wife wanted me to and she is the one that encouraged me to watch Lost so what can I say) and it was better than I thought. I will keep the SP for a while and see how it goes.

Did anyone else think the PQ looked horrible for HD?

Supfreak26

10-13-2006, 10:44 AM

Wow. You guys are harsh. I can understand if you cancel the SP after watching the entire show but a lot of you cancelled it in the first 10 minutes of the show!

I'll never understand that. You set the SP for a reason. There had to be something that attracted you to the show in the first place. Why not give it an honest chance before judging it so harshly?

Ah well. Judging from the horrible reviews in those previous Office threads, maybe this show is destined for greatness!

Personally, I liked the show. I thought it was fun and I laughed many times. The SP stays for me!

Jonathan_S

10-13-2006, 11:43 AM

Wow. You guys are harsh. I can understand if you cancel the SP after watching the entire show but a lot of you cancelled it in the first 10 minutes of the show!

I'll never understand that. You set the SP for a reason. There had to be something that attracted you to the show in the first place. Why not give it an honest chance before judging it so harshly?I didn't have a SP set for this show, but I do have a wishlist to record all new show premieres. So I had no expectation about this show, watched it, didn't like it, and never set an SP.

I know some other people here do pretty much set SPs for all new shows, just to see if they like them. So the existence of an SP doesn't necessarily mean that anything in particular attracted them to the show.

bluesman64

10-13-2006, 12:27 PM

:down: :down: :down:

Was really looking forward to this and extremely disappointed. Don't like Tracy Morgan, didn't like him as Martin Lawrence. Alec Baldwin is grating. Tina looks much better in glasses. Music was annoying. and on and on and on.

I'll give it one more shot, then it's toast.

EchoBravo

10-13-2006, 12:46 PM

Jane Krakowski for Rachel Dratch. I'll make that trade any day of the week. Dratch... Even the name... Ugh!

Then again, every time I see Jane K, I think "face bra."

I think this show was, in part, a victim of its own hype. It was waaaaaay overhyped. The pilot was mediocre, but because of Fey and Morgan, I'll watch again... At least a couple of times.

bruinfan

10-13-2006, 04:24 PM

It just so happens that GE makes the oven, and GE owns NBC?

I'm sure they wouldn't have done a Sears oven.
GE owns NBC???

really??

regardless, for those who don't think this is product placement, and just a plot device... this was totally product placement. this was the most blatant example of product placement in the history of product placement. I don't care if tina fey used it to do whatever to NBC... this was an actual 20 second infomercial, that they wrote into the script. if ge does own nbc, even more so.

it was almost identical to the actual ge oven commercial they played during the show. there have been discussions in other threads regarding product placement, and i'm of the opinion that it is advertisers creative way of getting their products advertised in the TIVO age and there is nothing wrong with it. but make it a little less obvious than reading copy from a commercial, and thinly veiling it with the plot line. weak and annoying.

that being said, what are you going to do? I just hope this is not a sign of things to come.

cmontyburns

10-13-2006, 11:27 PM

I just had a chance to watch the pilot. I'm really surprised at the vitriol in this thread -- I thought the pilot was smart and funny, nicely sardonic with good timing. Yes, it remains to be seen how they will avoid making Tracy Jordan a tiresome one-note character, and yes, Tina Fey can't really act. But Tracy Morgan seems to know what he's doing and Fey seems aware of her limitations, and -- I'm sorry, the rest of you are plain wrong -- this was good comedy, so I am optimistic. Looking forward to next week.

Sidebar: since comparing this show and Studio 60 is all the rage, check out Time Magazine TV critic James Poniewozik's review of both shows (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1535853,00.html), which I think neatly sums up the strengths and weaknesses of each. And if you're not reading his Tuned In (http://time.blogs.com/tuned_in/) TV Blog, you really should be. (Here's his Tuned In synopsis (http://time.blogs.com/tuned_in/2006/10/30_rock_and_twe.html) of 30 Rock and 20 Good Years, also mentioned in this thread.)

audioscience

10-13-2006, 11:56 PM

Personally, I liked the show. I thought it was fun and I laughed many times. The SP stays for me!

Ditto. I thought it was pretty good. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey were both great in my book. Sidenote: Alec Baldwin is also very good in The Departed.

I thought the hot dog bit at the beginning was pretty funny.

"Five inches. But it's thick." :up: :D

I also loved the Charisma line. Nice touch with the rack focus.

There's gonna be some big cameos coming up in the show so I'll definitely keep watching. On the 30 Rock website Tina Fey said that she will have an affair or relationship with Conan O'Brian. I also love that they shoot it in the actual building that it takes place in. Lot's of possibilities for various stars and cameos to appear.

audioscience

10-14-2006, 12:04 AM

GE owns NBC???

really??

For those of you not familiar with NBC's ownership:
http://www.ge.com/en/company/businesses/ge_nbc_universal.htm

When I watched the episode I thought it was strictly a jab at GE ownership. I had no idea it was an actual product. That being said, I thought it was funny and was a nice tie-in to how corporations work. That is management is usually someone who doesn't know much about what they are doing.

Doesn't anyone remember when Letterman was on NBC? He was always taking jabs at the GE ownership and doing bits that included lightbulbs and such.

DevdogAZ

10-14-2006, 02:19 AM

\I also love that they shoot it in the actual building that it takes place in. Lot's of possibilities for various stars and cameos to appear.
I thought I read that it was shot on a soundstage in Queens (or Brooklyn) and not actually at 30 Rockerfeller Plaza.

busyba

10-14-2006, 02:25 AM

I thought I read that it was shot on a soundstage in Queens (or Brooklyn) and not actually at 30 Rockerfeller Plaza.
That's possible, but the exterior scene at the hot dog stand was definitely Rockerfeller Plaza.

If it's a Queens soundstage, it's probably the Silvercup Studios, visible from the ramp to the 59th Street Bridge and made famous in the movie Highlander as the building where the final battle took place.

MisterBubble

10-14-2006, 11:46 AM

Count me in on those who hated "The Office" (US) when I first saw it and am SO glad I gave it another chance. I finally got hooked somewhere around the Christmas Party episode, and have caught up on all the older episodes since. Having grown to understand and love the quirks and inner-workings of all the characters, I even enjoy the pilot now, so much that it's latest rebroadcast over the summer is still on my TiVo. It's now one of my can't miss episodes, and I even make time to watch it live or almost live now - because I can't wait to find out what's coming next.

I really enjoyed "30 Rock", especially the lack of laugh track (as others have pointed out) - but then again I have always been a big fan of SNL (with possible exception of this season - UGH so far). To the person who said Tracey Morgan = Martin Lawrence, that's a definite, and how OBVIOUS could they be about that? If I were Martin and I didn't have a sense of humor about myself, I might even consider legal action. Could that movie clip have been any MORE "Big Momma's House"esque?

And RE: the corporate conglomerate theme - I don't think anyone has mentioned one of my favorite scenes:
"I'm the new VP of development for NBC/GE/Universal/Kmart"
"Oh, we own Kmart now?"
"No, so why are you dressed like we do?"

Hansky

10-14-2006, 12:52 PM

Only because they don't have rights to Sears products.

What "rights" do you think they would need to show a Sear's oven (or an appliance of any other mnfr.), and even mention the brand name on the show?

IndyJones1023

10-14-2006, 02:52 PM

What "rights" do you think they would need to show a Sear's oven (or an appliance of any other mnfr.), and even mention the brand name on the show?
Maybe "rights" isn't the proper terminology. Recently, NBC was sued for showing a certain dispoal chop up someone's hand. So, they were sued for using a product not their own, basically. Which illustrates my point exactly. Why use brand A and risk some type of lawsuit when you can use your own in house brand and be safe?

tldmat

10-14-2006, 03:09 PM

I wasn't overly impressed by 30 Rock and like everyone else I had hoped to love it. I felt the same way about Studio 60 since I am huge Aaron Sorkin fan and maybe that too will get better.

But they both look terrific as compared to the show with John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor, which follows 30 rock. It was terrible. An ackward laugh track, over acting, predictable lines....... 3 thumbs down...... and worst of all it was supposed to appeal to my generation, the over 50 crowd. NBC must think we all are brain dead.

Hansky

10-14-2006, 03:19 PM

Maybe "rights" isn't the proper terminology. Recently, NBC was sued for showing a certain dispoal chop up someone's hand. So, they were sued for using a product not their own, basically.

They were sued because the show allegedly misrepresented how the product works, and created the impression that it was inherently dangerous. I would imagine while doing so the complaint added the kitchen sink in terms of trademark issues, but that is not why the filed the suit.

Which illustrates my point exactly.

Only if NBC was going to use an oven in such a way that implied it was inherently dangerous and could cause injury. Maybe they did - I only watched about 5 minutes.

Why use brand A and risk some type of lawsuit when you can use your own in house brand and be safe?

Obviously, they used a GE product for placement, but there is a reason that networks and producers, and the many, many shows that have product reviews and the like, and the shows that mention brand names, are not sued. Same with magazines, websites, and other forms of media.

Bierboy

10-14-2006, 04:21 PM

HILARIOUS! I thought it was GREAT...
I thought it was hilariousHmmm....someone's been into the whiteout again. I laughed all of once...I may give it one more shot, but, as so many have said in this thread, there's much better stuff out there to waste your time on this dren.

IndyJones1023

10-14-2006, 04:28 PM

They were sued because the show allegedly misrepresented how the product works, and created the impression that it was inherently dangerous. I would imagine while doing so the complaint added the kitchen sink in terms of trademark issues, but that is not why the filed the suit.

Only if NBC was going to use an oven in such a way that implied it was inherently dangerous and could cause injury. Maybe they did - I only watched about 5 minutes.

Obviously, they used a GE product for placement, but there is a reason that networks and producers, and the many, many shows that have product reviews and the like, and the shows that mention brand names, are not sued. Same with magazines, websites, and other forms of media.
LOL, do you work for the disposal company? If you feel the disposal was misrepresented, do you care to stick your hand in it while it's moving to show how it's supposed to work? ;)

Hansky

10-14-2006, 04:57 PM

LOL, do you work for the disposal company? If you feel the disposal was misrepresented, do you care to stick your hand in it while it's moving to show how it's supposed to work? ;)

In other words, rather than a meaningful response on the topic, you make up nonsense. The "you must work for (whatever company name)" response is always the sign of a genius response.

IndyJones1023

10-14-2006, 05:31 PM

In other words, rather than a meaningful response on the topic, you make up nonsense. The "you must work for (whatever company name)" response is always the sign of a genius response.
Oh come on. You know it's because you're so much smarter than me is and because you have a much bigger dong that I'm dodging the question!

:rolleyes:

Hansky

10-14-2006, 10:44 PM

Oh come on. You know it's because you're so much smarter than me is and because you have a much bigger dong that I'm dodging the question!

:rolleyes:

Another great message board comeback. Impressive.

IndyJones1023

10-15-2006, 10:04 AM

I doubt you'll take Tina Fey's word for it then:

GE's Reaction to Show

So far, they are fine with it. We haven't said anything bad about their products. I'm still waiting to get a free washer/dryer...but nothing yet. Seriously GE...I need a new dryer.

From here: http://blogs.nbcuni.com/30rock/2006/10/ges_reaction_to_show.php

Royster

10-16-2006, 02:24 PM

They were sued because the show allegedly misrepresented how the product works, and created the impression that it was inherently dangerous.

I was listening to Jon Favreau's commentary on the movie Zarathura where they took a couch, doused it in a brand-name barbeque lighter fluid, set it on fire and pushed it out of the house. He said that he was surprised that they got the rights to use the priduct in the film considering how they used it. All the company'y laywers cared was that the product was used as labeled -- it was used to start a fire.

bruinfan

10-16-2006, 04:36 PM

sonnik

10-16-2006, 04:59 PM

I'm not sure I agree with the Tracy Morgan's character = Martin Lawrence references. To me, Tracy Jordan (character) = Tracy Morgan (actor).

The Tracy Morgan chracter to me seems like a composite of his half-out-of-it characters from SNL, like Astronaut Jones, the bum who lived in the sewers, or Brian Fellow. I can't picture Martin Lawrence playing any of those characters.

He (Tracy) actually had an 'episode' of sorts, similar to what was depicted in the show (and similar to Lawrence). It may have been a DUI, or he was running the streets high on something. I can't find a reference to it right now, but I recall it happening.

sonnik

10-16-2006, 05:18 PM

As I understand it, and as a friend who works in public relations explained it to me... anytime a brand name is used in a movie or TV show, they need to get permission from the company. So even if it's in the background, or incidental, like the garbage disposal, it needs consent from the company. This is why the reality shows blur out alot of clothing logos.

I don't believe that is the case. Historically, the reason for the obfuscating is that execs don't want to alienate brand X if brand Y is depicted in the show, nor do they want to give free air to a corporation they can normally want to charge money for.

For example, if "The Office" features the characters eating at Chili's and Pam makes a remark that she prefers "Chili's" - TGI Friday's may not want to run ads during that half hour (though, in this case it's arranged as "Promotional Consideration" - and TGI Friday's are subject its own advertising decisions). Secondly, NBC may feel that the producers are giving an endorsement to Chili's. If NBC feels there's an opportunity for making money, they'll set up a secondary deal for the product placement. (Generally falls into the "Promotional Consideration" terminology).

Now, as was the case with the fingers in the garbage disposal, that may imply that the product is unnecessarily dangerous. Since we know that "The Office" staffers like Chili's, this would be like the staff going to a TGI Friday's and all getting very sick. TGI Friday's may read this as some sort of slander or libel.

However, as far as I know, there's no legal requirement for a branding to be depicted as long as it's not upsetting anyone. For example, exterior/areal shots of the Vegas strip showing all the Hotel/Casinos branding are okay. Depicting someone getting mugged at Mandaly Bay probably isn't. There are probably a number of arguments that can be made for the latter, however.

vman41

10-16-2006, 05:19 PM

On the flip side, companies hire PR firms to get their products placed in movies and tv shows, and pay money to do so. In GE's case, if they own NBC, i would imagine that they could do whatever they want with advertising the oven in the show... just need to lean on the writers to write it into the script.

But then they would have to know ahead of time that they were going to buy time on that show. I think it is just as likely that the show was done and some pinhead at GE thought it would be great synergy to run the ad.