Well, that was a pleasant surprise. “30 Rock,” the highly praised, but lowly rated Tina Fey sitcom that barely survived its first season, is Emmy’s new comedy champ.

My money — and my heart — was with “The Office” (last year’s winner), but this choice doesn’t bother me a bit. “30 Rock” made amazing strides during the season, going from a so-so enterprise to a hysterical, rollicking can’t-miss show.

But a lot of people did miss it. It was sadly funny how Fey, in accepting the hardware, made it a point to thank “our dozens and dozens of fans.” So now the natural question is: Will the Emmy victory help to boost “30 Rock”’s profile?”

Read the rest of this entry »

Regular readers of this blog are well aware of my growing fondness for Tina Fey’s “30 Rock.” And now it’s official: I’m going steady with the show. Check out my love letter to “30 Rock” in today’s TimeOut section.

By the way, Fey and the gang return Thursday night with a “supersized” episode that features Will Arnett from “Arrested Development.” And in an effort to generate more exposure for the show, NBC is moving “30 Rock” into the time slot right after “The Office” for the remainder of the season.

AND THIS JUST IN: NBC only moments ago announced that “30 Rock” has been renewed for next season. That’s incredible news! … Here’s what NBC entertainment chief Kevin Reilly had to say: “From the beginning, ‘30 Rock’ has proven to be the kind of quality comedy that doesn’t come around very often, and we are very pleased to have this show back for a second season. We expect it to continue to build its increasingly loyal audience and become another of NBC’s classic comedy series.”

There seems to be a weekly ritual developing in our house. Every Thursday night, we sit down in the living room and hold a little contest to see which NBC comedy makes us laugh the hardest.

It’s usually a pretty tight competition. We start off with the down-home humor of “My Name Is Earl,” and then move on to “The Office” (still our favorite) and the hysterical “Scrubs.” Finally comes the nightcap: Tina Fey’s “30 Rock,” which seems to be getting funnier every week.

What a delightful surprise this show has become. I remember watching the first couple of episodes and thinking there was potential there, but also being frustrated by its uneven quality. Now, there are still times when some things don’t mesh, but, overall, it’s an absolute riot.

I love what Fey has done with her brainy-yet-sexy Liz Lemon. Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan can practically just open their mouths and I’ll double over in mirth. And even Jane Krakowski, who seemed to be invisible early on, is bringing the funny.

Last night’s episode with Isabella Rossellini as Jack Donaghy’s jealous ex-wife and Paul Reubens as an in-bred German prince, and Lafayette’s own Will Forte as the prince’s trusty aide, was a hilarious fractured fairy tale (a desperate Krakowski put the moves on the prince) — complete with a zany birthday party, a catfight and even signs of (could it be?) romantic sparks between Liz and Jack.

It was a great example of how “30 Rock” skillfully mixes zany, over-the-top hilarity with sly and subtle humor. Just great stuff. This week’s Thursady Night Comedy Fights title goes to “30 Rock” in a TKO.

(photo courtesy of NBC Universal)