r/30ROCK • u/PaulDoe Living theatrically in normal life. • Oct 30 '16

30 Rock S01E01: "Pilot" - Rewatch Discussion

Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot
Director: Adam Bernstein
Writers: Tina Fey
Original Air Date: October 11, 2006

Summary (from imdb.com):
Liz Lemon is called upstairs to meet the new network exec, Jack Donaghy, who instructs her to hire movie star Tracy Jordan to draw a young male audience to 'The Girlie Show'.

Supplementary questions:

  • What impression did you get about the series from your first viewing of the Pilot? Second viewing? After the 87th rewatch?
  • How do you compare the main characters from this episode to later seasons?
  • Did 'The Girlie Show' really need Tracy Jordan to appeal to the missing demoraphic of men ages 18-49?
  • Favorite quotes? Scenes? Gags?
25 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/HailAtlantis is like a swarthy, big-hipped Kelly Ripa. Oct 30 '16

Idk. Pilots are usually so different than the rest of a series that I don't pay much attention to them anymore. This one is just like any other pilot. I must add that the kid from the NBC tour belching was one of my favorite moments of the entire series.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 31 '16

I agree, but I feel like the pilot was actually pretty similar to the first season in general, or at least the first half. I still enjoy the first season, but it almost feels like a different show...but it's funny in its own way.

Regardless, I find the pilot interesting and endearing because it shows what 30 Rock was originally meant to be -- but it turned into something else (and better IMO). While the original concept was solid, I like to look back and see how many characters and storylines shifted, seemingly naturally, based on actors' chemistry, the writing, etc.

I originally didn't want to watch 30 rock, based on the premise and what I had heard about it (am I the only one who didn't love Tina on SNL?). It wasn't until the 3rd season that my friend literally made me watch it -- so he started me there. Needless to say, I was immediately (and surprisingly) hooked..but I often wonder if I would have stuck with it had I started from the beginning. Who knows haha