30 Rock: Review of the "Blind Date" Episode

"30 Rock" starring Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Alex Baldwin and Jack McBrayer, is about a writing team behind a comedy sketch television show, whose premise resembles "Studio 60" but it is much funnier. The show is fast paced, witty, and has a group of actors whose comedy timing is so dead on that even Rodney Dangerfield would envy. "30 Rock" can be seen, Thursday nights on NBC. I was slow to start watching "30 Rock" but ever since seeing "The Blind Date" episode, I have since become a fan.

In "The Blind Date" episode Liz Lemon, played by Tina Fey, is set up on a date by her boss Jack, played by Alex Baldwin. What precedes the blind date is this conversation between Jack and Liz, or Lemon, as Jack prefers to call her.

Jack: "Human contact is important Lemon; I can tell from your stress level that you have not been touched in any way for quite some time. Not caressed, not massaged, and not even groped on the subway. Do you agree that you need someone in your life?"

Liz: No, I have bigger things to worry about then my personal life?

Jack: I would think that the biggest thing a single woman has to worry about is would be choking to death alone in her apartment

Coincidentally Liz almost choke while eating dinner later that night at home. On her blind date, Liz realizes that the Thomas she has been set up with is actually a woman. While out on her blind date, Jack worms his way into the writer's weekly poker game. He turns out to be a very skilled poker player, beating them all until Kenneth, the shows page, joins the game. Kenneth, played by Jack McBayer, comes across wholesome and disgustingly innocent. He accent is either used to convey his southern heritage or just to convey a lack of intelligence.

"Jack can't read his thoughts because Kenneth does not have any." As one character explains to another.

After losing to Kenneth, Jack can't rest until he knows the real Kenneth. In the mean time, Liz is amazed at how much she liked her date with Thomas. She asks, "Why did he think she is gay?"

Jack responds: Your shoes.
Liz: Well, I am straight.
Jack: Well your shoes are definitely bi-curious.