The lampooning to reality television is nothing new and usually, it’s not all that funny. Don’t get me wrong, though. Reality television deserves all the lampooning it can get, but a great many of the jokes are bland and derivative of jokes that have already been made.You can say that that jokes about reality television are just as unoriginal as the programming itself. I mean, think about it. There are two shows about pawn shops on the air currently, both containing plays on the word “porn” in the title. We’re on our billionth version of Really Obnoxious and Disgusting Housewives of Whatever City. Try not to get any splinters while you’re scraping the bottom of that barrel, television industry.
Some jokes, however, rise above expectations.Tonight’s 30 Rock focused less on reality programming itself and more on viewers’ investment in it. We treat it like fast food: We know it’s bad for us, but we keep coming back anyway. Most viewers know that these shows aren’t entirely honest, but still feel compelled to watch and find some inexplicable reason to relate to and care about the stars.
I do feel silly, though. As I sit here blasting reality shows for being as intellectually stimulating as a Taco Bell billboard, I’m still smiling at the “snarting (sneezing and farting at the same time)” joke that opened the show.
In order to have a leg up on competition, Jack enlists the help of the TGS staff to produce disaster relief programming before any disasters happen. The writers, freaked out by the possibility of a disaster happening begin devising an escape plan and compete for a seat in Lutz’s car. Tracy, shooting for his wife’s reality show, begins behaving more erratically than before and Liz decides that she’s had enough of his antics.
For a show filled with constant Star Wars references (all of which are hilarious), it was a nice surprise to see a clever Lost reference. What’s great is that it was a reference to a minor character, someone who hasn’t seen the show may not be aware of. Tracy mentions to Liz that every crazy A-lister has an island, including Charles Widmore. This, of course, set my Twitter feed abuzz.
Of course, an episode of 30 Rock wouldn’t be complete without some sort of cameo. Robert De Niro appeared as himself appearing in Jack’s disaster relief telethon. It was very strange to hear 30 Rock‘s brand of dialogue come out of De Niro, but absolutely hilarious nonetheless.
Dean Winters returned as Liz’s ex-boyfriend Dennis in a vision of Liz’s alternate reality, teaching improv to seniors. One of whom has a habit of inappropriately touching himself. It’s always a treat to see Dennis, dummy.
Lutz was the breakout star of tonight’s episode, as he is in every episode in which he has a substantial role. As the other writers treat him like royalty to be considered for a spot in his car, Lutz truly turns into a giant baby when he normally just looks like one. Lutz is really on of the best minor characters in any current comedy series.
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