One of the best things about NBC sitcom, 30 Rock, is also what might hurt it in the end. Like The Simpsons and Seinfeld before it, 30 Rock relies heavily on pop culture references to garner viewer laughs, however unlike the other two, 30 Rock’s references are often so current and specific that one must have an almost obsessive knowledge of American popular culture in order to appreciate them.
What Could Hurt 30 Rock
There’s no question that 30 Rock is a cleverly written and well-acted show. The great ensemble cast, led by the incomparable Tina Fey, is one of the best on television, and Robert Abele of LA Weekly called it “a hilarious symbol of our times”, but this is a double-edged sword. Is it so current that it will not stand up to the test of time?
Quick and clever blink-and-you’ll-miss-it one-liners abound in every episode, but with each week that passes the hilarious quips become less relevant. Amusing references to Youtube sensations such as “Chocolate Rain” and the “Woman Crushing Grapes” garner fewer laughs in repeat episodes than they did when the episodes first aired and the clips were at the height of their popularity. And even then, did the majority of viewers notice them? Will Liz Lemon’s views on family relations as per her "Sims" family still be funny 5 years from now? And again, do large numbers of viewers even appreciate what that means?
Broader popular references such as Liz’s excitement over the possibility of living through a real-life Mamma Mia will probably stay funny for years to come as the film and play were huge hits and will likely stay in the popular conscience for a while (as has Elaine’s hatred of The English Patient in a well-received episode of Seinfeld), but the more specific references will likely get lost with the passing of time.
What Could Save 30 Rock
While the pop culture references are plentiful, 30 Rock is still accessible to a wide audience. It takes place behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show, but it is really more about working within the corporate structure, something millions of people can relate to.
Tina Fey’s self-deprecating portrayal of Liz Lemon is totally relatable in that she has to deal with what so many of us do in the workplace. Her boss (Alec Baldwin at his comedic best) is a power-tripper more concerned with making money than maintaining the integrity of the show, her two stars (Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski as idiocy’s power couple) are self-centered loose cannons, and she is surrounded by a cast of lethargic and seemingly incompetent co-workers. Liz feels that she is the only one who can keep it all together, a sentiment that is shared by countless TV viewers.
30 Rock has been a critical hit since its very first episode, but it’s taken longer for audiences to catch up. Fortunately the show has enjoyed a slow and steady climb in viewership over the first few seasons, thanks in part to word of mouth and the numerous awards it has won.
30 Rock is truly a comedic pop culture time capsule, no doubt destined to eventually become a trivial pursuit category. Whether or not it will survive in syndication however, remains to be seen. Only time will tell.
