30 Rock (season 1)

Infobox tvseason
season_name = 30 Rock Season 1
headercolour = ced343


caption = "30 Rock" season one DVD cover
dvd_release_date = September 4, 2007 (Region 1)cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/30-Rock-Season-Tina-Fey/dp/B000RBA6CO |title=30 Rock - Season 1 (2006) |accessdate=2008-03-22 |publisher="Amazon.com"]
March 17, 2008 (Region 2)cite web |url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3305133/30-Rock-Season-1/Product.html |title=30 Rock: Season 1 (3 Discs) |accessdate=2008-02-21 |publisher="Play.com"]
dvd_format =
country = USA
network = NBC
first_aired = October 11, 2006
last_aired = April 26, 2007
num_episodes = 21
next_season = 2

The first season of the television comedy series "30 Rock" originally aired between October 11, 2006 and April 26, 2007 on NBC in the United States. The season consisted of 21 total episodes: 19 episodes which were approximately 22 minutes long and two episodes which were approximately 26 minutes long due to NBC "supersizing" those episodes. These run times do not account for commercials.

The first season moved time slots three times during its run. The first four episodes aired on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm,cite press release |title=NBC swaps Wednesday-night time periods for new fall comedies "30 Rock" and "Twenty Good Years" |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2006-08-31 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20060831000000-nbcswapswednesday.html |accessdate=2008-03-23] the next thirteen episodes aired on Thursdays at 9:30 pm under NBC's promotional banner "Comedy Night Done Right,"cite press release |title=NBC re-makes two-hour comedy block on Thursdays with return of "Scrubs" and move of "30 Rock" to join "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" beginning November 30 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2006-10-25 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20061025000000-nbcre45makestwo.html |accessdate=2008-03-23] and the final four episodes aired on Thursdays at 9:00 pm.cite news |first=Marc |last=Berman |title=NBC Flips 30 Rock With Scrubs |url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003557351 |publisher="Mediaweek" |date=2007-03-13 |accessdate=2008-03-29]

The "30 Rock" first season DVD box set was released on September 4, 2007 in Region 1 format and was released on March 17, 2008 in Region 2 format.cite web |url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3305133/30-Rock-Season-1/Product.html |title=30 Rock: Season 1 (3 Discs) |accessdate=2008-02-21 |publisher="Play.com"]

Crew

The season was produced by Broadway Video, Little Stranger and NBC Universal and was aired on NBC in the U.S. The executive producers were creator Tina Fey, Lorne Michaels, Joann Alfano, Marci Klein and David Miner with Brett Baer, Dave Finkel, Jack Burditt and John Riggi acting as co-executive producers.cite web |url=http://www.memorabletv.com/tvusa/tvpreview/july06/nbcprimetimeschedule.htm |title=NBC Primetime Schedule |accessdate=2008-03-23 |date=2006-07-08 |publisher="Memorable TV"] Robert Carlock acted as co-executive producer from the episode "Pilot" until the episode "Black Tie." Carlock was then credited as an executive producer, starting with the episode "Up All Night" onwards, except for the episode "The C Word" which was aired out of production order. Producers for the season were music composer Jeff Richmond and Jerry Kupfer with Irene Burns, Matt Hubbard and Diana Schmidt acting as co-producers. There were eight different directors throughout the season. The staff writers were Tina Fey, John Riggi, Robert Carlock, Jack Burditt, Dave Finkel, Brett Baer, co-producer Matthew Hubbard and Kay Cannon who all wrote, or co-wrote at least two episodes. Daisy Gardner, who co-wrote the episode "The Source Awards" with Robert Carlock, was a guest writer. Those who directed more than one episode were supervising producer Adam Bernstein, Gail Mancuso, Don Scardino, Michael Engler and Beth McCarthy. There were three directors who only directed one episode each throughout the season, they were Juan J. Campanella, Scott Ellis and Dennie Gordon. Fey and Carlock acted as the show runners for the season.cite web |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2529 |title=Pencils Down Means Pencils Down |accessdate=2008-03-23 |publisher="Writers Guild of America, West"]

Cast

This season had a cast of seven actors who received star billing. Tina Fey portrayed Liz Lemon, the head writer of a fictitious live sketch comedy television series named "TGS with Tracy Jordan" (commonly known as just "TGS").cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15206996/ |title=Tina Fey channels SNL on ‘30 Rock’ |accessdate=2008-03-23 |date=2006-10-11 |publisher="MSNBC"] The "TGS" cast consists of three actors, two of whom are part of the main cast of the first season of "30 Rock". They are the loose cannon movie star Tracy Jordan, portrayed by Tracy Morgan and the dense, limelight-craving Jenna Maroney, portrayed by Jane Krakowski.cite press release |title=Jane Krakowski joins the cast of new NBC comedy "30 Rock" |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-08-17 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20060817000000-janekrakowskijoins.html |accessdate=2008-03-02] Jack McBrayer played the naïve Southern-born NBC page, Kenneth Parcell.cite news |first=Rick |last=Porter |title='30 Rock' talk with Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2007/10/30-rock-talk-wi.html |publisher="Zap2it" |date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2008-03-24] Scott Adsit acted as the witty and wise "TGS" producer, Pete Hornberger.cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/110233/Scott%20Adsit.html?dataSet=1 |title=Scott Adsit: Actor, Writer, Improviser |accessdate=2008-03-24 |work=Filmography |publisher="Variety"] Judah Friedlander portrayed the wise-cracking, trucker hat wearing, repulsive staff writer Frank Rossitano.cite news |first=Lindsay |last=Robertson |title=Judah Friedlander's Hats on '30 Rock' |url=http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/cc_insider/2007/04/judah_friedland.html |publisher="Comedy Central" |date=2007-04-13 |accessdate=2008-03-24] Alec Baldwin played the high flying NBC network executive Jack Donaghy who, at the beginning of the season, is employed to retool "TGS".cite news |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |title=Baldwin eyes Fey's NBC pilot |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002034584 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2006-02-17 |accessdate=2008-03-24] Donaghy's full title at the start of the series is "Head of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming."cite episode |title=Pilot |episodelink=Pilot (30 Rock) |series=30 Rock |serieslink=30 Rock |credits=Writer(s): Tina Fey; Director: Adam Bernstein |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2006-10-11 |season=1 |number=1]

The season also includes a number of secondary characters including Keith Powell as James "Toofer" Spurlock, a writer for "TGS", and Lonny Ross as Josh Girard who is a staff writer of "TGS" as well as a "TGS" cast member. Katrina Bowden was "TGS"'s general assistant, Cerie Xerox. These actors were promoted to main cast members in season two. [cite web |url=http://www.nbcumv.com/entertainment/program_detail.nbc/30rock.html |title=30 Rock; Thursdays on NBC (8:30-9 p.m. ET); Season Premiere: Thursday, October 4 |accessdate=2007-10-14 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village"] Other recurring roles include Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan, Grizz Chapman as "Grizz" Griswold, Kevin Brown as "Dot Com" Slattery and John Lutz as J.D. Lutz.

Reception

Ratings

The pilot episode garnered 8.13 million viewers, finishing third in its timeslot of 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time.cite news |first=Rick |last=Kissell |title=NBC's 'Rock' solid in premiere |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117951807.html?categoryid=1275&cs=1&query=30+rock+3%2E2 |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-10-12 |accessdate=2008-02-27] After three further low rated airings on the following three Wednesdays, including a series low of 4.61 million viewers,cite news |first=Rick |last=Kissell |title=Peacock's not laffing |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952286.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&query=30+rock+wednesday |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-10-19 |accessdate=2008-03-24] cite news |first=Rick |last=Kissell |title='Lost' up, 'Nine' down for ABC |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952697.html?categoryid=1275&cs=1&query=30+rock+wednesday |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-10-26 |accessdate=2008-03-24] cite news |first=Rick |last=Kissell |title=Football drives NBC win |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117953495.html?categoryid=1275&cs=1&query=30+rock+wednesday+4%2E6 |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-11-07 |accessdate=2008-03-24] NBC decided to move "30 Rock" to Thursdays at 9:30pm. Its first airing on a Thursday night was on November 16, 2006. Along with this change, the even lower rated comedy "Twenty Good Years" was put on hiatus and later cancelled.cite news |first=Colin |last=Mahan |title=NBC tweaks Thursday, "30 Rock" |url=http://www.tv.com/story/6905.html?q= |publisher="TV.com" |date=2006-11-06 |accessdate=2008-03-24] cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Armstrong |title=Mo' Better Tube |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20038789,00.html |publisher="Entertainment Weekly" |date=2007-05-14 |accessdate=2008-03-29] "30 Rock"'s first Thursday airing was viewed by 5.19 million viewers.cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking report 01 thru 99 (out of 99 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2006-11-21 |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=112106_06 |accessdate=2008-03-24] The series then received ratings of a consistent amount of around 5.5 million viewers till the episode "Hard Ball" when a series low, set by the episode "Jack the Writer," was met with just 4.61 million viewers watching the episode.cite news |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117960045.html?categoryid=1043&cs=1&query=30+rock+2%2E4+4%2E6 |title=Season high for 'Grey's' |accessdate=2008-03-11 |last=Kissell |first=Rick |date=2007-02-23 |publisher="Variety"] After a further three episodes, which were higher rated than "Hard Ball," NBC moved "30 Rock" to 9:00pm on Thursdays serving as a lead-in to "Scrubs". Upon its first airing at 9:00pm, the episode "Fireworks," a "supersized" episode attracted the attention of 5.37 million viewers.cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking report 01 thru 102 (out of 102 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2007-04-10 |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=041007_06 |accessdate=2008-03-24] "30 Rock" aired at 9:00pm for four episodes. The season finale, "Hiatus," was watched by 4.72 million people.cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking report 01 thru 99 (out of 99 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2007-05-01 |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=050107_08 |accessdate=2008-03-24]

The first season averaged 5.8 million viewers for all 21 episodes. Out of all regular primetime programming that aired during the 2006-2007 American television season, "30 Rock" ranked #102 out of #142 according to the Nielsen Ratings system.cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f?pn=2 |title=2006-07 primetime wrap |accessdate=2008-03-25 |date=2007-05-25 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter"]

Critical reception

The pilot episode, the first episode of the season as well as the series, received generally positive reviews.cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/30rock?q=30%20rock |title=30 Rock; SERIES: NBC, Wednesday 8:00p (30 minutes) |accessdate=2008-02-27 |publisher="Metacritic"] cite web |first=Marc |last=D. Allan |date=2007-08-26 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/22/AR2007082201741.html |title=Polished 'Rock' Rolls On |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work= ] "Metacritic" gave the pilot a Metascore—a weighted average based on the impression of a thirty-one critical reviews—of 67%. Despite positive reviews for the pilot, Marc D. Allan of "The Washington Post" said that "viewers who tuned in for the first month or more saw shows that weren't consistently funny" but after a few episodes "the writers discovered the core of the series -- the push-pull between Fey's character, Liz Lemon, the harried head writer of "The Girlie Show", and Alec Baldwin's domineering network executive, Jack Donaghy -- that "30 Rock" found its rhythm." Henry Goldblatt of "Entertainment Weekly", whilst reviewing the DVD release of the season, called "30 Rock" " [the 2006endash2007 television season's] finest sitcom." Goldblatt said that the episodes "Hard Ball" and "The Break Up" were "some of the strongest episodes." He awarded the first season of "30 Rock" a grade "A."cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20054076,00.html |title=30 Rock: Season 1 (2007) |accessdate=2008-03-25 |last=Goldblatt |first=Henry |date=2007-08-31 |publisher="Entertainment Weekly"] Christopher Monfette of "IGN" thought that season one was "well-written and hilariously-performed" and that it was "refreshing to travel through the season and watch these characters grow and evolve." Monfette gave the season a score of 8 out of 10.cite web |url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/816/816818p1.html |title=30 Rock DVD Review |accessdate=2008-03-25 |last=Monfette |first=Christopher |date=2007-08-29 |publisher="IGN"] "UGO"'s Kyle Braun said that the season "didn't start out as the funniest new show of 2006" but he praised the seasons progression, proclaiming "Now that the show has found its audience, it's hard to argue with the laughs thrown down from high atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza."cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17785 |title=30 Rock Season One DVD Review |accessdate=2008-03-25 |last=Braun |first=Kyle |publisher="UGO"] Anna Johns of "AOL"'s "TV Squad" said the final 14 episodes were when "Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan got into their groove and the supporting characters started getting better story lines."cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/07/25/30-rock-comes-to-dvd-on-sept-4/ |title=30 Rock comes to DVD on Sept. 4 |accessdate=2008-03-25 |last=Johns |first=Anna |date=2007-07-25 |publisher="AOL"'s "TV Squad"] After six episodes, NBC picked "30 Rock" up for a 21 episode season on December 1, 2006.cite news |first=Josef |last=Adalian |title=NBC orders full season of '30 Rock' |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117954876.html?cs=1&s=h&p=0 |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-12-01 |accessdate=2008-03-25] cite news |first=Neil |last=Wilkes |title=Full season for Tina Fey's '30 Rock' |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a40279/full-season-for-tina-feys-30-rock.html |publisher="Digital Spy" |date=2006-12-03 |accessdate=2008-03-25] cite news |title=Nine More for '30 Rock' |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-nbcpicksup30rockforfullseason,0,1068703.story |publisher="Zap2it" |date=2006-12-01 |accessdate=2008-03-25]

Awards

Season one received ten Emmy nominations; six of which were for Primetime Emmy Awards and four were for Creative Arts Emmy Awards.cite web |url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/59thnominations.php |title=The 59th Primetime Emmy® Awards and Creative Arts Emmy® Awards Nominees are... |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher="Academy of Television Arts & Sciences"] Two of these ten nominations were won.cite press release |title=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 59th Primetime Emmy Awards |publisher="Academy of Television Arts & Sciences" |date=2007-09-16 |url=http://www.emmys.org/downloads/2007/pte59emmywinners.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-02-18] They were in the categories of Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, which was awarded to Elaine Stritch for her portrayal of Colleen Donaghy, Jack's mother. Alec Baldwin picked up a Golden Globe Award, in the category of , for his portrayal of Jack Donaghy.cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/year/2006 |title=Nominations and Winners 2007 |accessdate=2008-03-07 |publisher="Hollywood Foreign Press Association"] Baldwin also won a Screen Actors Guild Award in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.cite news |title='Dreamgirls' and 'Sunshine' Dreams Come True |url=http://www.etonline.com/sag2007/2007/01/38574/index.html |publisher="Entertainment Tonight" |date=2007-01-28 |accessdate=2008-02-18] Another of Baldwin's three award wins, for the first season, was for a Television Critics Association Award in the category of Individual Achievement in Comedy.cite press release |title=NBC Triumphs At TCA Awards |publisher="Television Critics Association" |date=2007-07-21 |url=http://tvcritics.org/?q=node/329 |accessdate=2008-03-07] Tina Fey was also nominated in that category.cite web |url=http://tvcritics.org/?q=node/201 |title=Television Critics Association Announces 2007 Award Nominees |accessdate=2008-02-18 |publisher="Television Critics Association"] Despite Fey's two losses in acting categories, she did win a Gracie Allen Award in the category of Outstanding Female Lead in a Comedy Series, for her portrayal of Liz Lemon.cite press release |title=American Women in Radio & Television Announces 32nd Annual Gracie Award® Winners |publisher="AWRT" |date=2007-02-27 |url=http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2007/Press_Release%20_Announce_Gracies_Winners.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-03-07]

Episodes

References

;General
* [http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/storylines.nbc/30rock.html "30 Rock" storylines] at "NBC Universal Media Village"
* [http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=281135&more=ucepisodelist "30 Rock" episodes] at "TV Guide";Specific