30 Rock (Season 4)

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⭐ 8.5/10

(Originally written by Tim)

It's hard to review a comedy with a bunch of seasons, but I feel like I have to because this show keeps getting better. The laughs increase every season, and the characters have been polished until they all shine. I have never liked Tracy Morgan, but they have found ways to use his character that are actually funny. Same with Jane Krakowski, who also felt like a one-note performance until they leaned harder into the deranged energy.

The jokes are still hit and miss a bit, mainly the ones delivered by Tina Fey, which is odd, but she really thinks the girl boss who is a slob and loves food is a compelling character. She has amazing moments, but for whatever reason she writes all her best lines for other characters.

Shoutout to the celebrity pulls, which this show has always had, but having Matt Damon for the last few episodes blows everyone out of the water. Those last couple episodes had me dying, and I look forward to every chance I get to watch this now.

The closest thing I can compare this to is Arrested Development, which I love but can be a pretty tough watch. It has some niche humour, but it takes time to find its stride, and when viewed with some distance all the hilarious moments add up to be amazing. But it also makes me respect The Office or even Modern Family so much for their consistency and broadness. When quick quips or inside jokes land they can be spectacular, but the target is so small only one person in the room is laughing. 30 Rock has found a target in me, but it is a tough one to recommend.

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