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 / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

    Thursday, March 20

    none scheduled

    Complete TV Listings


    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 17)

    Thursday, March 20

    • Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
    • Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Selena appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
    • Jon Hamm (Grimsburg/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and Emily Spivey (Bless the Harts) - Jon and Emily are guests on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
    • Carmen Christopher (English Teacher) - Carmen is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
    • Annaleigh Ashford (B Positive) - Annaleigh stops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 11pm on Bravo.
    • Bill Burr (F Is for Family/Townies) - Bill chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
    • Brian Tyree Henry (HouseBroken/Atlanta) - Brian talks about Dope Thief on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on ABC News Live Prime at 7pm.
    • Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom is a guest on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
    • Lauren Ambrose (The Return of Jezebel James) - Lauren talks about Yellowjackets on CBS Mornings Plus sometime between 7-9am.
    • Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
    • Ben Falcone (God's Favorite Idiot/Nobodies/Joey) - Ben talks about What Is Scarier Than Thunder on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
    • Wendi McLendon-Covey (St. Denis Medical/The Goldbergs/Rules of Engagement/Reno 911!) - Wendi is hitting the headlines with Drew and telling her about her hit comedy show St. Denis Medical on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings
    • Jay Ellis (Running Point/Insecure/The Game) - Jay is talking about working with Kate Hudson on the hit show and playing basketball in high school and college on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
    • Cristela Alonzo (Cristela) - Cristela is a guest on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.


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