'30 Rock': On the wings of love

Here's a question for you TV experts: Has any network comedy ever made it to a fifth season without a wedding or surprise pregnancy? We had both on the "30 Rock" season finale, and it's a testament to the show's writing that the episode didn't feel weighed down by the sitcom cliches. Sure, "Friends" also had a surprise pregnancy and a wedding, but did it have a man dressed half as Cher, half as Jenna Maroney? It surely didn't.

It's been a tumultuous season for "30 Rock" fans. Many have been complaining that the show isn't quite what it used to be; others have stood by it faithfully. As for me, I think the show is at its best when it embraces the absurd rather than getting self-referential and swallowing its own tail, and as much as I love a little Hollywood stardust, the show's emphasis on high-wattage guest stars can be a distraction from the characters we already know and love. Who needs a dull cameo by Padma Lakshmi or a guest spot by (it still pains me to write this) Jeff Dunham when you already have Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin?

More than anything, though, I've felt both frustrated and hopeful about the attention paid to Liz Lemon's love life this season. Liz eats too much; Liz doesn't work out; Liz dresses like a frump; Liz can't find a man. We get it! It seems like the writers -- including Tina Fey -- are tired of the jokes too, as the last few months have been devoted to Liz's painful uphill climb out of the single life. 

Last night, that journey culminated with Liz breaking off her unceremonious engagement to Wesley and maybe, just maybe, getting a nice boyfriend named Carol instead. Matt Damon was perfectly Damon-esque as Carol, the pilot (a.k.a. "doorman to the sky") who loves TGS and dislikes NBA tattoos.  He was witty, smart, a goofy dancer, and -- most important of all -- demonstratively normal. No plushie sex, no balloon boy ambitions, no anime fixations. Liz is smitten, and Carol doesn't even mind the embarrassing confessional she makes about him at Cerie's wedding. Liz tells Wesley she doesn't have to settle -- and neither does he, and she lets the love wash over her "like a spray tan." It all seems too good to be true, which makes me worry a little bit that this could actually be the case. Let's ponder the reality here for a second: Matt Damon has an action movie franchise -- will he stick around to work on a sitcom? I supposed if Alec Baldwin did it, then anyone can. Or at least that's what I hope. 

Liz wasn't the only one changing her mind. In a rather hasty moment, Jack tells Nancy he loves her, that he wants to "find long red hairs in my overcooked pot roast." Nancy understands his modest past -- one that includes wearing his sister's hand-me-down orange corduroys with hearts for pockets -- better than anyone. I've been rooting for Avery, but I have to acknowledge that there's something undeniably sweet about Jack and Nancy.

Nevertheless, I was happy to see Avery ultimately triumph, even if it was because of her pregnancy. A stunt? You betcha. But if it means we get more of Jack and Avery (shall we call them "Javery"?), then a little rugrat is fine with me. Jack is already the heart and soul of "30 Rock," the softie in the power suit, so I can't wait to see how that'll play out when he becomes a father. Prediction: Lots of pee and vomit jokes.

In the spirit of Liz's own transformation, I'll end this blog post on a positive note. Rather than dwell on this season's more wobbly aspects -- like a certain someone's Boston accent -- I'll accentuate the positive.  The highlights of this season, in no particular order:

-- Liz's three-way with James Franco and his beloved anime pillow, Komiko

-- Liz in HD

-- Liz's hallucinatory makeout session with a potted plant that bears a striking resemblance to Jon Bon Jovi

-- Michael Sheen's guest stint as the other Wesley Snipes

-- The flirtatious and exhaustingly funny exchange between Jack and Avery on "Hot Box"

-- Jenna's relationship with Paul, a Jenna Maroney impersonator

-- Drew's hook hands, Tracy's traumatic flashbacks and basically everything else about last Thursday's episode

And as always, from this episode:

Best joke: Tie! "What if I could somehow combine them into one perfect woman, like a s'more you could take a shower with," Jack says, and Avery's Maryland accent on "Overshoppe.com."  

Extent of Liz Lemon's humiliations: Virtually nonexistent, unless you count the "I'm alone in a dashiki" or the whole weird foot problem, or when Wesley called her a "luscious plum."   

Jenna's diva behavior: "Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but when a girl dates a straight guy who impersonates her onstage for mostly gay audiences, she has certain expectations, Paul. Fidelity. It's not just the name of a bank that sued me."

Quintessential (and drunk) Kenneth: "You people, you're my best friends, and I hope you get everything you want in life. Have a wonderful summer!"

Something I'd like to know more about: Jenna's bag of hair

Guest stars: Matt Damon, Michael Sheen, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Will Forte

So, Show Trackers, what did you think? Was this a season to remember or to forget? Will Carol return next season or will he fly off into the sunset? Will Kenneth get his job back or will he be forced to become a (gulp) CBS page? Will Wesley ever find anyone to settle for?

-- Meredith Blake

twitter.com/MeredithBlake

RELATED:

Complete coverage of '30 Rock' on Show Tracker'

'30 Rock': Did Liz Lemon just get engaged?

'30 Rock': Liz finds out there's no such thing as astronaut Mike Dexter

'30 Rock': Jack Donaghy brings an end to the late-night (janitor) wars

30 Rock': The return of Floyd

'30 Rock': Liz Lemon refuses to settle

'30 Rock': It's Anna Howard Shaw Day!

Photo: Paul (Will Forte) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) agree to compromise on his love for Cher. Credit: Ali Goldstein / NBC

---

Clicking on Green Links will take you to a third-party e-commerce site. These sites are not operated by the Los Angeles Times. The Times Editorial staff is not involved in any way with Green Links or with these third-party sites.

---

Comments

[Dan]

Meredith,

We agreed on the best joke. ("What if I could somehow combine them into one perfect woman, like a s'more you could take a shower with") had me laughing out loud.

Dan

[ryan]

Nice Bachelor reference. I wonder if Matt Damon watched Jake Pavelka as he prepared for this role. He was AWESOME. I know you loved last week's episode, but this one I could watch 10 times. The Maryland accent - I almost died laughing.

[Taryn]

Also..."Unhand my fiance!" *Pulls out knife* Hilarious!

[Nate]

Personally, I was a fan of the Somali warlord and Kenneth's, "Let's go smoke a drug cigarette." I liked last night's episode - it was no last week's home run, but you'll always take a nice line drive single.

I don't read the gossip rags (seriously - promise!), but I seem to recall Damon lives in New York. Since he's playing a pilot, it makes sense he could make occasional appearances and it fit into the storylines ... but let's be honest, I doubt a movie star of his caliber is going to do more than an episode or two a season. All hail Alec Baldwin, but he had just done an extended run on Will & Grace and was a few pounds away from his Hunt for Red October days when 30 Rock came calling.

Is Avery now the go-to guest actress for giving the male lead a baby on sitcoms? She basically played a beautiful, cool girl who had JD's love child on Scrubs a couple of years ago. Not that I mind, because I have been a fan of hers since her role as Beth in The 40 Year Old Virgin. I sure wouldn't mind seeing Elizabeth Banks getting a starring gig on a show - maybe alongside Judy Greer, who has become the go-to guest actress who dates a male lead before being revealed as crazy on sitcoms.

[Yvette]

Nate, I 'do' read the gossip rags. :) Here's the 411:

Matt Damon moved his family to New York City in September of 2009 while he filmed "The Adjustment Bureau" with Emily Blunt. His family liked NYC so much, he decided they would stay through the winter to see how the kids (use to Miami winters) would deal weather, and how they would adjust to their new schools. The Damons are now permanent residents of NYC. The deal maker was the family's ability to walk to the park where the kids play for an hour or two--and go to other places in the city as well--without any one bothering them.

Since Matt Damon now lives in NYC and "30 Rock" is filmed in NYC, there is a better than average possibility of Carol and Liz having a date or two next season. One can only hope.

[lucy]

Great episode, but I'm going to miss Wesley. "why is your face like that?" i loved how michael sheen said that!

[Matt]

How was Will Ferrell's "Bitchhunter" not one of the highlights of the season?

[Kate]

Loved the finale, and thought it followed a strong run of episodes in the second half of this season. 30 Rock is still the sharpest, funniest show around and Alec Baldwin is still THE MAN.

I love "Javery" and am glad that Jack ended up with her, although Nancy was actually starting to grow on me. I'm just not sure where they're going to go with the pregnancy story line next season... but I trust the writers!