Saying that
30 Rock is a really funny show isn't exactly a controversial stance. You've seen it. You've laughed. You've used the words "mind grapes" in conversation. And like a lot of really smart, quality shows with strong writing and great characters, it struggles for ratings against the latest installment of "Insert Activity Here with the Stars" or "Watch Fat People Open Briefcases."
It's sad, but it's probably why season 3 has kicked off with a string of stunt cameos ranging from the "Wow" (Oprah) to the "Who?" (Megan Mullally). While we're content enough to tune in for the regular cast alone, we support the Rock in its fight for survival. So how did the guest stars fare? Well...
EPISODE 1: MEGAN MULLALLY
Apparently she was a pretty big deal because of some show called
Will & Grace. Since the titular "Will" was
not Will Arnett, we never could be bothered to tune in. Anyway, Megan cameos as an adoption center case worker who follows Liz Lemon around in order to determine whether or not she'd be a fit mother. Megan did a'ight, but she didn't stand a chance against the subplot involving Arnett, Don Geiss' "challenged" daughter, and her soap opera obesession.
EPISODE 2: OPRAH WINFREY
OK, this one was great. Not so much because of Oprah herself (she's the straight woman, so she's not asked to really do anything), but because of the tangential stuff around her cameo. Liz having to fly to Chicago for jury duty inspired the best quick gag in the episode (her Princess Leia outfit) and the recurring goofs on Oprah's Christ-like influence on women were welcome (finally, women admitting it!). But the pay-off when "Oprah" arrives at the 30 Rock offices is what sealed it.
EPISODE 3: JENNIFER ANISTON
We applaud Aniston for playing a clingy, psychotic, all-around ball-shrinking tornado of emotional baggage given her...um....personal life, but again, a kinda funny character gets swallowed whole by a
30 Rock regular. Did Aniston really think she could out-funny Alec Baldwin? No chance, sweetie. Baldwin is in a groove like Michael Jordon in the 90s on this show, and he's nailing every joke like it ain't no thing.
EPISODE 4: STEVE MARTIN
OK, this one's coming up tonight, so we'll have to see. Sine Martin was, surprisingly, one of the funniest things about Tina Fey's
Baby Mama, maybe there's reason to hope that she brings something out of him that the
Pink Panther and
Cheaper by the Dozen does not. Even if he's great, though, maybe this will exhaust the cameo well and allow the show to get back to basics. Tune and keep it alive.
