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Rating: Country: USA Release Date: September 22, 2009 Distributor: Universal Cast: · Tina Fey · Alec Baldwin · Jane Krakowski · Scott Adsit · Tracey Morgan · Jack McBrayer Related Sites: · IMDb: 30 Rock Grade: A

It’s a good thing the series that brought us Muffin Top, Werewolf Bar-Mitzvah, The Rural Juror, Cooter Burger, pregnant cornbread and references to movies from the mid-90’s like “Cliffhanger” and “The Pelican Brief”, has made it to its third season, despite the occasional ratings hiccup, as it truly is the funniest network comedy currently on television. It’s an abundance of idiosyncrasy mixed with a little heart and innocence, along with unexpected crudity, clever non-sequiturs and unforced references. It works comically by sticking unlikely personality types together and forcing them to do things contrary to their natural trajectory in an awkward but identifiable manner. The result often finds Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in strip clubs and at fancy shindigs, Jack (Alec Baldwin) associating with liberal politicians and Eastern European prostitutes, sweet-natured Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) in inappropriate sexual situations with closeted homosexuals and Meredith Vieira, and Tracy Jordan (Tracey Morgan) accompanied by anyone that isn’t insane.

Season three actually starts slowly, playing the celebrity card by featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Steve Martin and Jennifer Aniston, which takes away from the innate fun of the TGS writer’s room, focusing too much energy on guest stars. Thankfully, things get back on track with Liz Lemon attending her high school reunion and almost getting “Carrie’d”, while Jack decides that the TGS folks should spend their Christmas putting on an NBC special.

As the season progresses, Liz struggles with the corporate demands of her role, fighting for staff health care and giving outside contractors her “top front” in exchange for reduced budgetary cuts to her show. She also mistakes Peter Dinklage for a little boy and winds up dating him to fulfill her mommy issues, before stumbling onto Mad Men’s Jon Hamm, whose good looks have kept him in an ignorant bubble of preferential treatment.

Meanwhile, Jack finds potential love with a busty Puerto Rican (that really doesn’t sound right) nurse named Elisa (Salma Hayek) and considers popping the question, despite the fact that she may have a tendency to kill her husbands. He also markets a portable microwave called “The Fun Cooker”, the same name that Tracy Jordan has given his buttocks, which he proudly exposes on live television as often as possible.

NBC Universal also has plans to make a Janis Joplin biopic starring Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) but unfortunately doesn’t have the rights to the Joplin name, or any of her songs, leading to some interesting lyrical amendments. Of course, since Jenna takes the “method” approach to method acting, Frank (Judah Friedlander), Lutz (John Lutz) and Pete (Scott Adsit) decide to update Janis Joplin’s Wikipedia page with amusing idiosyncrasies, such as cat-eating, a fear of toilets and the need to speed-walk everywhere.

Bonus features on the 3-disc DVD box set of 30 Rock include commentary tracks on 7-episodes with Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski, Jon Hamm, Alan Alda, Jack McBrayer and Jeff Richmond, wherein Fey and Richmond provide informational, and self-deprecating, information, while Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer giggle a lot.

Deleted scenes are mostly extended existing scenes with random cutaways trimmed for time, while the entire “1-900-OKFACE” phone sex advertisement with Liz Lemon is included, for our viewing pleasure. Her high-waist jeans, lipstick on teeth and tendency to look at the wrong camera make for classic 30 Rock hilarity.

Also included is the table read for the season finale, along with “Making of” supplements for the muppet episode and the “He Needs a Kidney” episode, which features Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, The Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Moby, Clay Aiken and others.