DVD: Progressive Comedy

At the very first glimpse of the “30 Rock” title sequence, the agenda is clear: to sell stuff. Primarily, NBC and its Rockefeller Center address, but also Snapple and the word “poop”—which are both lovingly inserted into each episode. At a time when it seems as if every show offers a glimpse behind the curtain of entertainment, I was a little skeptical of viewing this first season DVD, but I quickly fell into its smart tone and well-conceived characters. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, the earnest head writer of a corny NBC skit show that she built from the ground up. She lives alone, guzzles down street vendor hot dogs and utilizes an inexhaustible supply of Star Wars references. When her new boss forces her to hire loose cannon Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), situation comedy ensues.

The usually unscriptable Morgan proves himself a vital part of the show’s comedic success, even though the line between actor and character appears to be pretty thin. He’s the most prominent of a handful of black regulars, but it’s the white people who dance to the music of Chamillionaire and collect issues of Black Tail. A relatively progressive attitude can make up for a lack of obvious racial diversity; they eschew the politically correct “African American” for “black” and never miss an opportunity for dark comedy: When a character discovers she was overheard speaking ill of Jordan, she seeks reassurance (“I didn’t use the N-word, did I?”). It also gets two points for offering a depiction of New York as a city of transit strikes, random bag searches and ethnic pride parades rather than focusing on the expensive, stylish wonderland that everyone usually chooses to present.

The season seems to move a little quickly towards the end, utilizing stories that would probably be better served in a follow-up season, and their more daring episodes, like “The C-Word,” in which Lemon is referred to as “the worst word ever,” falls a little flat due to their dancing around the actual word.

The DVD itself offers some nice extras, including a handful of audio commentaries, deleted scenes and some raw but enjoyable behind-the-scenes footage—but sadly, very little of Tina Fey.