Last night’s episode, “Generalissimo,” didn’t even need Jon Hamm to be one of the best of the season. More important, it solved the mystery of Salma Hayek’s continued presence on the show, which so far has kind of sucked all the fun out of Alec Baldwin. But I should have trusted that Tina Fey, in her infinite wisdom, had a plan, and the Jack/Elisa storyline was simply building up to last night’s climax, when Jack’s attempts to win over Elisa’s grandmother lead him to meet his evil twin, an actor who plays “The Generalissimo” on Elisa’s grandmother’s favorite telenovela. Someday when they make a Best Of Alec Baldwin DVD extra, Jack’s confrontation with the Generalissimo will be on it.

Jack confronts his evil twin in a scene featuring a callback to Liz’s favorite snack food (“Now with more bull semen!”) and a reference to The Patty Duke Show theme song (“You can lose your miind.”) Only on 30 Rock:

Liz realizes she’s let The Generalissimo’s skewed world view influence her attempted seduction of Dr. Baird. Watching Don Draper look terrified is a treat:

And I want NBC to start selling the “Pediatric Restless Leg Syndrome” shirts:

(And here’s the whole show, if you missed it.):

Don Draper I miss you.
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Comments (11)
  1. mikey  |   Posted on Feb 6th, 2009

    You shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition at.

  2. “…and a documentary about how pies are made.”
    “HelLO, Dr. Baird.”

    Once again, Liz Lemon is the most relatable character on television.

  3. The ex-Wall Street yuppie interns were great. Took long enough for the 30 Rock writers to reference them.

  4. The look on Liz’s face when Dr. Baird fell for her lost dog trick was the highlight for me. It was the perfect combination of crazy eyes and pure evil.

  5. You forgot the most important development…Tracy Jordan owns Lehman Brothers!

    I just about died when the Genralissimo gave the Grandma character scratch-offs.

  6. so right on about the t-shirts! keith haring art is SO PERFECT for the Jimmy Legs foundation!

  7. “Metrocards are a real thing, Jack! You use them on the subway!”

    Finally, Salma proves her comedic worth.

  8. “After you finish scratching these lottery tickets, let’s go to McDonald’s and order only coffee.”

    My favorite of the season.

  9. sarah  |   Posted on Feb 6th, 2009

    the use of the telenovel as a subplot reminds me of the marta storyline from arrested development…yet another reason why 30 rock is great.

  10. I sometimes used to think I was the only person who occasionally confused pediatrician and pediatrist, but not any more.

  11. The head Wall Street intern looked so familiar. It was the British Lord from earlier this season on Gossip Girl!!!

    I want more of Dr. Baird. He loves Muppets (The Muppets Take Manhattan was supposedly the first movie I saw in a theater – I would have been 2); Caddyshack (which is Liz’s favorite); and pies!!! No man will ever meet those standards.

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