Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #447 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-05-25
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 307 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
"I really feel like this is going to be my year," an uncharacteristically optimistic Liz Lemon proclaims in 30 Rock's season two opener. Reality quickly intrudes on the hapless Liz, but for Tina Fey and 30 Rock, the year couldn't be better. Nominated for 17 Emmys, the series repeated for Outstanding Comedy Series and earned Outstanding Actress and Actor honours for Fey and co-star Alec Baldwin as GM CEO-in-waiting Jack Donaghy. TV icon Tim Conway was also honoured as Outstanding Guest Actor as Bucky Bright in "Subway Hero"--just one of the strike-shortened season's benchmark episodes--as a faded TV star from the 1940s and '50s who shatters the illusions of television-loving NBC page Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) with appalling (and unprintable) stories about "the good old days." If you're going to make a television show, Bucky tells him, "things are going to get weird." And from one of Kenneth's lame parties that turns dark and twisted to the "Page Off" between Kenneth and his nemesis (Human Giant's Paul Scheer) things get really weird behind the scenes of TGS, the SNL-ish sketch show where Liz oversees a motley crew of writers and her tempermental, demanding stars, insecure diva Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) and all kinds of crazy Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan). 30 Rock is rarefied television, each episode brimming with quotable dialogue ("Never go with a hippie to a second location"), brilliantly absurd bits (Tracy Jordan's novelty hit, "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah," the TV series "MILF Island," Liz's Cathy moment), and edge of the frame silliness that rewards close attention ("Anne Heche Leaves Husband for Pony," reads a network news scroll in the episode, "Somebody to Love"). Stellar guest stars rise to the occasion. Edie Falco was an Emmy nominee for her recurring role as "C.C.", the liberal Democratic Congresswoman who becomes conservative Republican Jack's "hippie dippy mama," as was Carrie Fisher as former Laugh-In writer Rosemary in the instant classic episode, "Rosemary's Baby." It's this episode which features Tracy's therapy session during which Jack channels Fred Sanford and J.J. from Good Times. Making welcome returns this season are Will Arnett as Jack's corporate rival, Devon Banks, Chris Parnell as unethical Dr. Spaceman, Elaine Stritch as Jack's castrating mother, and Dean Winters as Dennis Duffy, Liz's sleazy former boyfriend and New York's unlikeliest hero. Most sitcoms are as bad for you as the offbrand Mexican Cheetos that Liz gorges herself on, and as Jenna tells Liz at one point, employing "a weak metaphor," you deserve a good meal. 30 Rock is a feast. --Donald Liebenson

Synopsis
After taking home the 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, 30 Rock returned for its sophomore season with an even sharper satirical tool set, skewering everything from reality television (hello, Milf Island) to the suit & tie shenanigans of its own network. Set behind the scenes at The Girlie Show, a fictional sketch comedy series, 30 Rock follows show runner Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) as she contends with her program's flighty stars, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), and runs interference between network exec Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) and her own unruly writing staff. This season starts off as TGS returns from summer hiatus, and gets straight to the hilarious disasters; over the course of 15 episodes, Liz tries (and fails) to buy a condo, Jack has a scandalous love affair with a liberal, and Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), the excitable page, accidentally throws an alcohol-soaked rager. This collection contains every moment from the delightfully absurd and highly quotable 2007-2008 season, featuring guest appearances from Jerry Seinfeld, Edie Falco, and David Schwimmer.

Customer Reviews

Not as good as series 1, but still wonderful
The first series of 30 Rock was one of my favourite things on TV ever, so this second batch of shows had a lot to live up to. It doesn't quite make the high standard set by the first - the jokes are a little bit more downbeat, Tracy is slightly less mental, Liz gets herself into slightly fewer excruciating situations. It's still very funny though, a lovely, innocently funny show set behind the scenes on a comedy TV programme.

Alec Baldwin is the most standout performance, matching his first series turn as likeable yet awful Jack Donneghy. And Josh, who was probably the weakest character, has disappeared for the most part. There are also many more star turns in the guest spots - from David Schwimmer, slightly unamusing as a eco-cartoon character who gets out of control, to Steve Buscemi as a private detective, who is just brilliant.

There are still absolutely vintage moments though: when Liz suspects her neighbour is a terrorist but doesn't want to be mean and report him, it's alternately totally cringey and painfully hilarious. And Kenneth the loyal NBC page will never cease to be hilarious every time he is on screen.

The special features are really good, but they need to be as the series was shortened by the writers' strike so they needed to make up the space. You get commentaries, a videoed table read of one episode, Tina presenting Saturday Night Live, and "An Evening with 30 Rock". Well worth having if you liked the first series, just don't expect quite the same level of perfection and you will enjoy it a lot.

Plaza pleasure
Slightly better (if shorter) than series one, and I loved the first series. Sharp, funny, silly as ever with some entertaining cameos. Keeps all its central characters, its freshness and its heart. Extras are okay and provide some insight into the world behind the show; seeing the actors in other contexts gives you a sense of the impro/live comedy background to 30 Rock which ultimately just endears them to you more and underlines what a fine actor Alec Baldwin is.

Fantastic Bonus Features
When I bought the Season 1 DVD, I was disappointed when it didn't have ANY bonus material; but what's included on this DVD more than makes up for that! A whole disc of deleted scenes, out-takes, and other random stuff is almost better than the show itself!

If you're a fan of audio commentary's, like myself, you'll unfortunately be very disappointed, as they're very poor. I think this is mostly because on a few of them they've only got 1 person doing the whole commentary, and they end up watching the episode whilst you sit listening to silence; great fun! That said, there are a couple of commentary's that are enjoyable, these being with Tina Fey (solo), and Jack McBrayer & Jane Krakowski. The ones with the producers are also alright to watch.

I haven't actually got round to watching all the full episodes yet, as I've not long seen them already! But this is a must-buy if you love 30 Rock and/or Tina Fey!!