“Have I not told you about my grandmother fetish?” – Jack Donaghy
It’s decision time for Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin): will he choose high powered Avery (Elizabeth Banks) to be his sole romantic interest, or salt-of-the-Boston/Irish earth Nancy Donovan (Julianne Moore)? He’s in his “bunker” in order to make his final decision, meaning his office has been cleared out of such distractions as his bar and collection of 18th Century French erotica.
I was looking forward to a resolution, or at least to some movement, on the Jack-Avery-Nancy relationship triangle, but unfortunately we didn’t get that. Instead, the main storyline segued into a late-night wars (the Conan-Leno one, for non-TV super geek militants) parody featuring two “late night shift” janitors, Subbas and Khonani. The parody was… a bit weak, which caused the best moments from this episode to come from mini-gags and one-liners.
The subplot involving Liz’ (Tina Fey) lame and ill fate attempt to throw a party to fit in with her staff proved to be reasonably funny. It seems the gang has been going out together for years (to something they call Thursday Night Thunder) without telling Liz. Once Ms. Lemon finds out, she throws a party for Cerie (Katrina Bowden) replete with karaoke machine and a demand for compulsory attendance.
It all goes to hell in a handbasket, of course, but there’s a nice character moment when Frank (Judah Friedlander) and company relate that it’s okay that Liz isn’t the life of the party because she’s the one that solves problems for everyone. After a vicious dog attack (from another weak-ish storyline involving Tracey, played by Tracey Morgan), there’s perhaps the best line of the episode when John (J.D. Lutz) says, “Mommy makes the monsters go away.”
30 Rock has been more uneven than solid for a decent-ish stretch now, and I fear it’s heading into a long, slow fade. Same goes for The Office. I’m still watching both shows, but Thursday comedy – and TV comedy – is getting rocked by Parks and Recreation and Community these days.
More thoughts on “Khonami”:
- This is at least the second time there’s been a Baba Booey / Gary Dell’Abate / Howard Stern Show name drop on 30 Rock, this time with Tracey referencing saying “Ba Ba Booie” at Walter Kronkite’s funeral. You can’t drop too many Stern references in my book.
- “Liz Lemon is throwing a party! And there ain’t no party like a Liz Lemon party because a Liz Lemon party is… mandatory.” – Liz Lemon
- “Does this mean you’re coming to my cabaret?” – Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy)
- “Book is book.” – Subas
- I love when “dog attack!” is used on television. In real life when there’s a “dog attack,” people don’t say it, they just scramble, scream, or both.
- “Run, my losers!” – Liz Lemon
From Around the Web: 30 Rock, “Khonani”
- UGO: 30 Rock’s second new episode of April “Khonani” falls into that category more than anything else. The more I listened to Liz’ interactions with her co-workers; the extreme Republican Jack, the ditzy Jenna and the comfortably crazy Tracy Jordan, the more the show’s Emmy-winning formula stood out. Speak very fast, make offhand references to shockingly crazy or topical events, show Tina fey furrowing brow.
- TV Fanatic: Weak, amazingly, is the first word that springs to mind when describing 30 Rock’s riff on the recent NBC late night debacle. You knew it was coming. Unfortunately, “Khonani” came about a month too late and simply wasn’t that funny.
Some stats and info about 30 Rock, “Khonani”
TV SHOW – 30 Rock
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 4, Episode 18
AIRED ON – April 22nd, 2010
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – NBC/Peacock
GENRE – Comedy, Office Culture
CREATED BY – Tina Fey
CAST – Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jack McBrayer, Jane Krakowski, Scott Adsit, Chris Parnell
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.