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In case you are wondering, “30 Rock” is funny. It follows the behind-the-scenes action of a variety show. I know, it sounds a lot like “Studio 60 on Sunset Strip,” but the shows are very different in tone and style. The latter is a drama, and “30 Rock” is 100 percent comedy.
Fey, who is the creator and executive producer of the series, plays Liz Lemon. The character is the head writer of the variety show, and she must deal with constant interference from her new boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). It’s Jack who makes Liz hire the crazy Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), who she fears is going to ruin her show.
“It’s more of a workplace comedy than anything,” Fey says. “Alec’s character comes in and represents the corporate side of things. I think the way it will play out in this show is it will be used to show my character’s sort of immaturity and ignorance of the real world and how things work. And he’s going to be educating her about the harsh realities of the real business world.”
Makes one wonder if Fey’s basing Baldwin’s character on NBC prez Kevin Reilly. The show was actually Reilly’s idea. “I went to him with another comedy a few years ago about a cable news network, and he told me to go back and work on something that was a little closer to home.” For Fey, who was the head writer for “Saturday Night Live,” for the last 10 years or so, the workplace at a variety show seemed a natural way to go.
As for the controversy of her going up against the big guys? “The shows couldn’t be more different and you know, you do your best and you hope for the best.”
One thing Reilly has done right is pick up “Heroes” for 22 episodes. The show has done so well for NBC, that they’ve given it a complete order, which never happens this early in the season.
On Wednesday Mr. T has a new show, “I Pity the Fool” on TVLand. It’s surprisingly entertaining. Mr. T is kind of an in-your-face life coach for individuals and business. He’s all about respecting one another and he has a good message.
I had a chance to talk to him about the show. “I’m just trying to help people in whatever way I can,” says Mr. T. “I’m not a doctor or anything like that, but I’ve learned a lot through the years and I think I can lift people up and help them out.”
On Tuesday comedian Jerry Lewis is a guest star on “Law and Order: SVU.” He plays a homeless man who may have a clue the brutal rape and murder of a mother and daughter.
Oh, and “Kidnapped” has moved to Saturdays on NBC. I really like the show, but no one ever saw it because it was against ABC’s powerhouse Wednesdays. Maybe it will do okay, and then again, it could be on its way out. Saturday is considered the Dead Zone in television.
There have been several of shifts already this season on the networks and I’ll talk more about those next week.
“One has to wonder just how much NBC hates Tina Fey.” Great first line. Good column.
I really like Kidnapped. It’s a shame NBC isn’t ordering anything past the first 13 episodes.
I can’t wait to see 30 Rock. It looks damn funny.
Smith is going to get canned. Not really a surprise.
30 Rock isn’t going up against Lost. It’s going up against Jericho and Dancing with the Stars. 30 Rock is on at 8/7 Central and Lost is at 9/8 Central.
Hey Marc,
You are right, but I meant more that ABC has already stolen the night because of Lost and their lineup. Between ABC and CBS, NBC’s ratings have cratered on Wednesdays. ABC had a 10.1 rating last Wednesday, while NBC had a 3.9. Dancing with the stars had an 11.6, which was actually higher than “Lost.” But thank you, I should have worded it differently. :-) We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
Oh ok, I get it. Despite the fact that I hate it, Dancing with the Stars is no ratings slouch either.
And speaking of ratings, Battlestar’s premiere ratings were way down and now I’m sad…
Well this is good news.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=49441&Nid=24151&p=359628
“Heroes” has become the best-rated new show for 18-49 viewers--with an average 5.8 rating for three shows. For the week of October 2, it is the ninth-best-rated 18-49 show overall, just one-tenth of a rating point behind “Survivor: Cook Islands.”
With limited programming assets on the network, “Heroes” is already being pressed into action, helping out the surprisingly struggling “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” For the first time since its debut three weeks ago, “Studio 60” has seen its ratings climb--now up 9 percent to a 3.7, from a 3.4 for its previous outing.