Saturday, October 07, 2006

NBC Sitcom Pilot Review: 30 Rock - Premieres October 11th; Mini-DVD Review: Starsky & Hutch: The Complete Fourth Season (Oct. 17)

30 Rock

30 Rock - Wednesdays at 8:00PM ET/PT on NBC
Premieres October 11th at 8:00PM ET/PT

Emmy Award winner Tina Fey (NBC’s "Saturday Night Live," "Mean Girls") writes, executive-produces and stars as Liz Lemon in NBC’s "30 Rock," a workplace comedy where the workplace exists behind-the-scenes of a live variety show. The show is told through the comedic voice of Fey and features Alec Baldwin ("The Aviator,” “The Cooler” ) as Jack Donaghy, the brash new network executive who has turned the show upside down with his meddling ways.

The single Lemon is living every comedy writer's dream - head writer on a demanding, live TV program in New York City. Her life is jolted when Donaghy interferes with her show, and bullies Lemon into convincing Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan, "Saturday Night Live," "The Longest Yard") -- a wild and unpredictable movie star -- to join the cast. Now Lemon must manage the unmanageable so that the show -- and her dream -- can go on.

Also rounding out the cast in the half hour comedy are: Jane Krakowski ("Ally McBeal" as Jenna Maroney), Scott Adsit (“Kicking and Screaming” as Pete Hornberger,) the variety show’s producer, Jack McBrayer (“Arrested Development” as Kenneth the Page,) the over-eager NBC Page -- a highly sought-after entry level position with the network, and Rachel Dratch (“Saturday Night Live” in multiple roles).

"30 Rock" is executive produced by Lorne Michaels.

Cast: Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan, Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney, Scott Adsit as Pete Hornberger, Jack McBrayer as Kenneth the Page, Rachel Dratch (various roles)

Read our review of the pilot episode here.

Discuss the show after you watch it on Wednesday on our message board.

Related Links:

  • NBC.com Official Site
  • TV.com
  • epguides.com
  • Internet Movie Database
  • Wikipedia
  • 30 Rock Photo Gallery


    Look for our review of the other new NBC sitcom, Twenty Good Years, on Monday.

    And welcome to another edition of Saturday mini-DVD reviews! Today we take a look at Sony Picture Home Entertainment's Starsky & Hutch: The Complete Fourth Season. The classic '70s series comes to an end on DVD in this final season. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Starsky & Hutch: The Complete Fourth Season.

    Starsky & Hutch: The Complete Fourth Season (Sony, $49.95) contains all 22 episodes of the final season of the classic detective action-drama on a five disc set. Starsky and Hutch were the two coolest detectives of the 1970s cruising around their fictional city (Was it Los Angeles? We'll never know!) in their ever-so-famous Ford Gran Torino getting the scum off of the street, one episode at a time. The fourth season includes the duo getting involved in cases of rape, moonshiners, contract killers, counterfeiting (by Starsky's own brother???), and possibly even the duo going into voluntary retirement. And for the loyal fans of Starsky & Hutch, the season also includes what may be the most infamous episode of the show: "Dandruff," where Starsky and Hutch go undercover as hairdressers to catch a diamond thief. Clearly the writers were running out of stories! Sadly, Sony has skimped on the special features once again for this season, but it should come as a relief to consumers that the episodes in the set all appear to be unedited and that the video and audio quality is superb, perhaps even better than the quality from previous releases. The set is packaged in a very thick five-panel digipak with five episodes on each disc, except for Disc 5 which contains only two episodes. Even though this was obviously not the best season of Starsky & Hutch, this is still a great DVD set with some good episodes!
    -- Reviewed by skees53
    (4/5 stars)

    To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
    Amazon.com

    Related links:
    SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
    Starsky & Hutch TV.com Page

  • Sitcoms Airing Tonight

    Wednesday, June 7

    Night Court - "Just Tuesday" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    After Abby makes a mistake in the courtroom, she decides to adopt an all-business approach to get things back on track, but her new style catches everyone off guard.

    Night Court - "Dan v. Dating" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    With Abby's encouragement, Dan attempts to venture back into the dating world, but reigniting his love life proves more complicated than anticipated; Gurgs and Olivia search for a new office and find something they weren't expecting.

    It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Inflates" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
    Dennis and Mac get into inflatable furniture to deal with the economy's inflation; Dee tries to find a place to crash after being evicted by her greedy landlord; Charlie wants to pitch Frank his investment idea.

    It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - " Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang" (FXX, 10:33PM ET/PT)
    After Frank shoots Dennis and Dee, they resolve to take Frank's gun away; Mac and Charlie go on a road trip with their moms to get their inheritances.

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 5)

    Wednesday, June 7

    • Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Chris on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
    • Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/George/It's a Living) - Sheryl Lee is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
    • Laura Benanti (Younger/The Detour/Go On/Starved) - Laura appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
    • Ike Barinholtz (History of the World, Part II/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
    • Ben Schwwartz (The Afterparty/Space Force/Parks and Recreation) - Ben appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Betty Gilpin (GLOW/Nurse Jackie) - Betty is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken will be on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. He will also be on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
    • Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Charlie appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
    • Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Chris is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
    • Brittany Snow (Ben and Kate) - Brittany and entrepreneur Jaspre Guest talk about their online platform September Letters on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
    • Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) - Maitreyi appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:45am.


    New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

    Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI) Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series

    01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
    01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
    02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
    02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
    03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
    04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
    04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
    05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
    05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
    05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
    05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
    05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
    06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
    06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
    More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


    Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

    06/07 - Hallmark's Christmas in July Programming; The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2 Launches July 6
    06/06 - New Superman Animated Series Coming to Adult Swim; TV Stars Come Together in Netflix Film
    06/05 - Shout! TV's ALF Reunion; Hulu's This Fool Season Two Premieres July 28
    06/04 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of June 5, 2023)
    06/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Declares Rating Victories for 22-23 Season; Australian Version of The Office in the Works
    06/02 - HBO Renews Somebody Somewhere for a Third Season; Remembering Marlene Clark of Sanford and Son and Other Sitcom Stars We Recently Lost
    06/01 - MeTV's Marry Me Block on June 4; TBS Sets Miracle Workers: End Times Premiere Date for July 10
    05/31 - Amazon Freevee's Jury Duty Gets Special Release; Stars on Mars Fan Experience
    05/30 - 75th Emmy Awards Nominations on July 12; Final Season of HBO's How to with John Wilson
    05/29 - Memorial Day 2023 TV Sitcom Marathons
    05/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 29, 2023)
    05/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: CBS Wins 2022-2023 Ratings Game; Netflix Ends Sharing of Passwords
    05/26 - Prime Video Renews Priyanka Chopra Series; Sex and the City 25th Anniversary Event in NYC
    05/25 - Brady Bunch House on the Market; The Family Stallone Gets 2nd Season
    05/24 - Antenna TV's Father Knows Best Father's Day Fest Marathon; Netflix Gets Glamorous This June
    05/23 - CBS Summer 2023 Reality Schedule; Apple TV+ Announces Peanuts Programming
    05/22 - More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8
    05/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 22, 2023)
    05/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Showtime Looking to Bring Back Two Old Favorites; Disney+ Removing Content
    05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
    05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
    05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
    05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
    05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
    05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
    05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
    05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
    05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
    05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
    05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
    05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
    05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)