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Much was made about Salma Hayek’s recurring role as Jack’s love interest on 30 Rock, begun last night when he hired her as his evil mother’s nurse. But despite her beauty and dramatic talent, Hayek didn’t really fit in with the pace of the show. As punchline after punchline fell flat, I couldn’t help but wish she had her own laugh track to let us know when something was supposed to be funny. The real star of this week’s episode was Peter Dinklage as the “United Nations Commissioner Of Water Temperature And Food Taint,” who a baby-crazy Liz Lemon meets on the street after mistaking him for a child. The other real star was, sigh, Sherri Shepherd, returning as Tracy Morgan’s wife to once again confuse us with her comic acting abilities. Oh, and 30 Rock mentioned a blog!
Peter Dinklage stole every scene he was in, but this one contains references to both Swingers and Kofi Annan, so, you know:
And how is it possible that the same woman who brings willful ignorance into American homes every morning on The View and believes the earth is flat can hold her own with Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin and be this hilarious? It’s like the Tom Cruise conundrum:
And the important plot point of Salma finding a lump in Jack’s testicle is overshadowed by a dig at the Huffington Post:
I don’t know what Regular America made of that, but it sure caused a stir in the Twitterverse. If only that’s how they measured the ratings.
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damn it! i was hoping you’d post a clip of kenneth doing the [SPOILER!] teen witch rap [/SPOILER!] to warm up the TGS audience. i love that they reference robin lively’s guest appearance without referencing it.
THIS SHOW IS A SMART SHOW.
You asked for it, you got it (Toyota):
http://videogum.com/archives/sitcoms/kenneth-the-page-does-the-top_044691.html
I, a lady of average-to-tall height, am attracted to Peter Dinklage. I ask the those of you who also feel this way to come out of the woodwork now. Please.
I join you in thinking that Peter is hot. I’ve thought it since The Station Agent.
keep it in the circus, pal!
[can you name the movie that as from?]
I was actually reading this page because I was looking for more info on Peter Dinklage. No need to feel self-conscious–the guy is seriously hot.
I was actually reading this page because I was looking for more info on Peter Dinklage. No need to feel self-conscious–the guy is seriously hot.
As soon as the “Top That!” rap happened last night, I anxiously awaited today’s recap. And no mention of it?! Sadness.
Ashley, I feel the same way. I told some of my friends about my strange attraction to him morning, and they made me feel weird and creepy. Thank you for pioneering the way for us in Videogum comments.
I was judged by my real life friends, too. That’s why I seek solace on the internet.
while spanish accents are cute/sexy in movies like, say, wild wild west, they don’t do well for comedy when you can’t understand what she’s saying. also, i was really hoping liz lemon would start dating that guy.
I don’t know if it’s the accent or that she has bad comedic timing and rushed almost all her lines but she was sucky. That cleavage dress was pretty funny though. But really, Dinklage was great and will not be back and Hayak sucked and is returning. Poopy!
you’re right — it’s not really the accent, it’s the timing. either way, i agree that they chose the wrong recurring character.
I’m a straight man, and I’ve got a crush on Dinklage. TWO TABOOS! The height and the orientation. Also, while I loved the “Top That” reference, I think Lonely Island did the definitive version of “Top That” comedy.
I also find Peter Dinklage attractive. I am totally bummed that Liz won’t be dating him.
I once saw Peter Dinklage slip on a piece of pizza while walking in the East Village. Easily my all-time favorite celebrity sighting.
For the full story on “Top That”:
http://www.channel101.com/shows/view.php?media_id=135
Man, you are sooooo right: Salma was completely out of her league and therefore a complete distraction. Dinklage steals every scene he’s in, whatever he’s in (Elf, The Baxter, even Underdog. Well, that one wasn’t too hard for him). I have no problem with 30 Rock hiring actors for guest slots but enough with the celebutards that can’t act. Besides, the more guests, the less we get of Tracy, Kenneth and Jack.
I am surprised to see such venom for Salma Hayek. She made me smile more than Dinklage, though I liked him also. Her character was a return to the slightly more reasonable world the of the first season. She seemed to have human thoughts. I’m actually getting a little tired of the “New Zany Adventures of Jack and Liz featuring subplots involving Tracy and Jenna.” I’m almost totally finished caring about Liz Lemon’s quest to possess a baby. What happened to everyone else who works in the office? What is happening to 30Rock??
you have a point! I think they’re just desperate to save the show from being cancelled. word on the street is, if they don’t get ratings up this season, it’s the axe.
…woman of equivalent thickness. dear lord. that line is up there with ‘never go with a hippy to a second location.’
I agree that Salma was a little out of place, but I have to say that my favorite line of last night’s episode was “Don’t be a Senor macho solo! Which is also what we call a McRib sandwich!”
I was too dismissive of Peter Dinklage. That guy is great in everything he does. I think someone else mentioned that already, so I’m just repeating whoever. You all should check out “Find Me Guilty” for another great performance by him, and a surprisingly subtle Vin Diesel performance – I usually hate hate hate Vin Diesel. Find Me Guilty is especially charming if you have any interest in law.
Also, how do you turn off the bold? I feel embarrassed for shouting the last half of what I typed.
Blaffair to Rememblack!
^^killed me
I guess I’m the only one who wasn’t a huge fan of Dinklage’s appearance. He played essentially the same character he played in Elf which is someone trying way too hard to be “normal’ to compensate for the fact the he’s a midget, because lol guys look – midgets can be normal people too! Who knew?!
Salma Hayek was sososo much better. I love how they wrote in a fairly average character (the token latina maid), and cast one of the most visible, mainstream Spanish-speaking movie star for the part, complete with the unnecessary accent and perfect over-the-topness. Irony at its absolute finest, and an infinitely smarter character than Dinklage
“Cat sound!” That was my favorite moment of the episode. Question: is it appropriate for me to use that as a tagline, considering I’m a dude? Please advise.
“Dig”? Am I the only one here who knows that Baldwin writes for Huffington Post?
not anymore, fellow informed reader!
This show is just awful, and we would be better as a televsion viewing public if they washed this trash from the airwaves. Tina Fey isnt funny. She has never been funny. It was funny that she was born into a body that looks like Sarah Palin. Thats really it. Die 30 rock… Die….
I hate most of TV and like 30 Rock pretty well. It’s not the greatest thing evar or anything, but it’s pretty funny, especially compared to a lot of shitty TV shows that exist and have existed.
I also knew that Baldwin wrote for the Huffington post, but didn’t even consider it when I watched this episode because I assumed it was supposed to be Jack Donaghy making a dig at the Huffington Post, not Alec Baldwin. Which I’m still pretty sure was the case.