30 Rock – Jack is a Grandmentor

“Grandmentor,” the first episode in the double-header, surrounded Liz taking on Hazel as a mentee. As the episode progressed, Hazel increased her adoration of Liz while solidifying her relationship with Tracy by letting him ingest candy shakes, buy a new motorcycle ramp to match his new motorcycle, and stay “Up all night.” Of course, Kenneth, unable to release his Tracy fetish, or compete with Hazel’s manipulation, quits his censor job for a walk-on TGS role to declare his Tracy love.

I enjoyed this episode. But, outside the insanely awesome Batman parody, I don’t enjoy season six as much. It’s cute and fun, but it doesn’t compare with the frantic energy of earlier seasons, especially last season which seemed on fire. Remember “Mrs. Donaghy”? So do I. Liz taking on a mentor while Jack became the proud “Grandmentor” reminded me of what I missed: Liz and Jack’s friendship. Their natural chemistry proved the show’s core and I want that to return. However, I love the Hazel character, her SWF obsession, and her surprising clarity in her craziness.

Surprisingly, her frustration with Kenneth stemmed from reality. In keeping with the mentor theme, Kenneth exemplified the bad adviser by offering unasked advice and doing the work behind his mentee’s back, rather than letting her learn. By contrast, Liz’s accidental, reluctant, not fully planned out mentorship with Hazel, which Hazel twisted further, still helped Hazel supersede Kenneth and cement her position. In fact, sanity through insanity seemed the subplot with Tracy proving more lucid when sleep deprived.

So, is this the episode about finding sense through lunacy? Or is this the episode about women doing anything to keep their job with men where Hazel pampers Tracy and Jenna attempts to pump Jack. Or is this just the episode of fetishes with Kenneth obsessing over Tracy, Hazel obsessing over Liz, and Jenna obsessing over Avery? Or is this just a normal 30 Rock episode where anything goes?

A couple other things I liked:
– Matt Lauer’s band, “Rhythm and News.”
– Prepare popcorn BEFORE you have sex.
– Do not mess with Hazel who will sit on you until you die.
– A quiet nod to Gabe, the new Jonathan aka the new “red shirt” receptionist as a “featured extra with no lines.”
– The system is “sexist” for not having more women on “death row.”
– Jenna can only play a “Korean party whore.”
– Kenneth “sounds a lot like Reese Witherspoon.”
– Um. Jenna. Female Condom. Ew. Enough said.
– I loved the Krang reference. Especially since we’re fighting over the potential TMNT re-boot behind CliqueClack doors!

Quotes:
As I wrote these during the show, apologies for any misquotes.

“What do you call women who are tough and ambitious?” –Liz
“Leslie or Courtney?” –Hazel

“Are you busy or are you missing your life choices?” – Kenneth (to Liz)

“We’re in a show within a show. My real name is Tracy Morgan!” — Tracy (going crazy)

“Did you see page six today? Those are my toes he’s sucking on. And he did not want to.” — Hazel

“Jenna, there are multiple types of intelligence: practical, emotional … And there’s actual intelligence …” – Jack

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Mar 23, 2012 @ 09:35 EST5EDT