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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this sitcom from former Saturday Night Live head writer Tina Fey garners some of its laughs with sexual innuendo and racial stereotypes, but it's the strained working relationships among distinctly different personalities that adult viewers will enjoy (and possibly relate to) most. Teens can probably handle most of the language and sexual content, but parents may want to pre-screen -- or, better yet, watch with them to discuss the show's more mature topics.

Families can talk about how the media shapes our views. Who decides what we see on TV? Why are some shows green-lit and others not? What makes TV shows successful? What types of shows are popular today? What does that say about our society? Why do classic TV shows (Happy Days, I Love Lucy) seem so innocent today? Was society more genteel back then, or did the networks just candy-coat what viewers saw?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Emily Ashby

Created by Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey and co-produced by SNL's Lorne Michaels, 30 ROCK takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour of a spoofed version of network TV. Sharp writing backs up strong performances from a talented cast and encourages viewers to ponder the agendas of the network TV executives who call the shots.

The show centers on Liz Lemon (Fey), who's living the good life as head writer of the fictitious variety program The Girlie Show, which stars her best friend, Jenna (Jane Krakowski). But the unexpected death of Liz's boss and the entrance of his condescending replacement, Jack (Alec Baldwin, who's won awards for the role), sends her into a tailspin.

Jack wastes no time in restructuring (and redecorating) his new office. At his insistence -- and against her better judgment -- Liz hires arrogant, unpredictable movie icon Tracy Jordan (SNL's Tracy Morgan) to perk up the cast ... and, hopefully, the ratings. As extreme personalities clash and egos swell, Liz must find a way to maintain her sanity among her motley crew of co-workers.

30 Rock (which gets its title from the nickname of the building that houses NBC's studios in New York City) brings together a great cast -- rounded out by Scott Adsit, Jack McBrayer, and Judah Friedlander, with drop-in performances by SNL's Rachel Dratch -- that expertly delivers the show's off-the-wall humor.

One particularly funny aspect of the show is its satirical take on network TV in particular and conglomerate business in general. As a head honcho at NBC-GE-Universal-Kmart (a business with its hand in every cookie jar?), Jack clearly enjoys making decisions based on whim and expounding on personal mantras, to his subordinates' great confusion. No doubt many adult viewers will enjoy the chance to chuckle knowingly at such a boss.

Sexual humor, questionable language, and casual drinking are constants on 30 Rock; parents may want to join their teens for this one so that they can discuss the adult themes that pop up.

Fans may also want to check out Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Office, and Saturday Night Live.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content Sexual innuendo and suggestive glances are common, and some female characters wear tight, revealing outfits. One scene features strippers doing pole dances and giving lap dances to male customers. One character sings a suggestive song called "Muffin Top."
Violence Infrequent violence is exaggerated for laughs (like a cat taking a bite out of a woman's neck).
Language "Pissed off," "hell," "suck it," and the like are prevalent, as are sexual terms like "vagina" and "undersexed." One episode revolved around the word "c--t," but it was never said out loud.
Message
	Social Behavior The show plays up some racial stereotypes (like a slang-talking African-American who's trailed by a posse of hangers-on) and exaggerated personality quirks for laughs. The well-intentioned protagonist is constantly playing catch-up to her self-serving boss.
	Commercialism While the show satirizes the existence of conglomerate businesses (the onscreen network is called "NBC-GE-Universal-Kmart"), there's also a fair amount of product placement. Much of it is acknowledged with tongue-in-cheek humor, but it's there.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Bar scenes include lots of drinking among the over-21 crowd; the characters sometimes drive immediately after drinking. Some jokes reference Tracy's history with substance abuse.

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