If you were to ask me which television comedy series is the best, I would probably tell you that “I don’t understand the question and I won’t respond to it” since there are too many criteria and preferences to consider. For example, timeless pieces would include Frasier and Seinfeld; those that effortlessly blend social commentary and humor would have to include Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Orange is the New Black; and those that leave you entertained and joyful would have Friends and Parks and Recreation near the top of the list. Nevertheless, if I had to respond with my personal favorite, 30 Rock would be the one that would immediately come to mind.
I could (and probably will) write numerous articles on what makes 30 Rock so damn enjoyable (and extremely underrated), but this article will focus on one particular subtlety: how it manages to portray the idea that, deep down, people are good.
The five main characters, along with the show itself, are almost caricatures; with fast pacing, perfect lines, and exaggerated features, the universe of 30 Rock seems more like an augmented reality rather than a documentary of NBC. Even compared to other comedies such as Parks and Recreation or Seinfeld, it is extremely clear that 30 Rock is not trying to reflect how the world really is.
In fact, if we take an even closer look at what each main character represents, we see that we find a caricature of what some segments of America are perceived to be. In Tracy and Jenna, we have the materialistic, Hollywood celebrities that are able to buy shoes of gold and follow ridiculous trends of losing blood weight via leeches. In Liz, we have the feminist, politically correct, occasionally hypocritical left-winged Democrat who does no exercise and has a love affair with cheese. Kenneth, the “thumb with a wig”, is an ultra-religious, conservative, slightly misogynistic “simpleton” who is wowed by the big city. And finally, we have Jack, the tuxedo-ed, successful, charismatic, rags-to-riches Republican that would make any capitalist beam with pride.
Had this show been created by someone without the genius of Tina Fey and her entourage, this show could have easily been dismissed as stereotypical and people would have had a hard time believing that these characters are friends. It is precisely the genius of this show that it manages to create dynamic, three-dimensional, relatable friends out of these antagonistic people. Kenneth is one of Tracy’s closest friends, Jenna and Liz care fiercely about each other despite their constant clashes, and Liz and Jack are the best example of what a friendship should be. Throughout the show, these characters grow and succeed because of their clashing friendships because they always had each other’s best interests at heart.
That is one of the many lessons that we can take from 30 Rock. If people as vastly different as Liz and Jack can be as supportive and caring as they are to each other, then we can make friends with people from all over any spectrum, be it political, socioeconomic, or cultural. It is not necessary to agree one everything, but we do have to agree on one thing: to look out for each other’s growth and happiness.
[For anyone still on the fence, I highly recommend watching this show. In the upcoming posts I will most definitely keep insisting that you watch it. “I’ll always be glad I met you Rural Juror.”]
Parked Car Conversations 