30 Rock Recap: Cleveland - Give Me My Remote : Give Me My Remote

30 Rock Recap: Cleveland

April 20, 2007 by  

Title: “Cleveland”
Original airdate: April 19, 2007
GMMR Recapper: Brian

We open with Liz and Floyd checking out a posh uptown apartment with a killer view. We also get introduced to a killer exclamation when Liz sees the rent: By the hammer of Thor! If Floyd gets his big promotion he’ll be making “get away with murdering my first wife” kind of dough.

These two are getting serious. Floyd envisions her moving her humidifiers into the place. Of course that goes out the window when an Arab gentleman takes the apartment so his son has a place to keep his motorcycles.

In Jack’s office, Phoebe reintroduces herself to Liz for the umpteenth time. It’s endearingly annoying. Or vice versa. She and Jack just returned from Paris. While she’s off to Christie’s to sort through Chinese erotica up for auction, Jack tells Liz he’d like her to get to know his new fiancé.

Liz: Have you guys set a date?
Jack: May 18. That’s Bianca’s (his ex-wife’s) wedding date. It was my idea.
Liz: That’s fast.
Jack: There are no rules in love, Lemon. My Princeton roommate did it the right way and dated his college girlfriend for 13 years, and the marriage didn’t last eight months. And now he’s a post-op trans-gender.

Jack gives Liz his gold card (made of real gold) to take Phoebe and Jenna for lunch and shopping.
Meanwhile, Tracey’s loan application to finance his Jefferson biopic was rejected by the bank. They didn’t want to pay for all the Claymation sex scenes, apparently. It’s alright, though. The movie is only a small part of “The Tracy Jordan Comeback,” he says, which includes a comedy tour and Michael McDonald cover album. Liz is skeptical, but Tracy assures her he’s on his grind (whatever that means). He’s going to be so rich his grandkids will play lacrosse (again, whatever that means).

Jack stops by to put in a good word for Floyd on his promotion interview. The other candidate’s name is Alan Garkle, and you’ll never lose a  job to a guy named Garkle, Jack says. Just then, Garkle rolls past in a wheelchair. No, Jack tells Floyd, you’re not going to beat that.

At lunch, Liz is breaking down Caddyshack for a stone-faced Phoebe when her phone rings. The Wagnerian theme is also Elmer Fuddian, a reference also lost on Phoebe. Liz’s prodding prompts Phoebe to concede that her motives with Jack might appear suspect. (Jenna, by the way would not only marry Jack but would be intimate with two Jacks, whatever that means.)

Phoebe: Let’s face it, at our age we can’t afford to waste any time.
Jenna: Mmmhmm.
Liz: Floyd and I have been dating for a month. Do you think that I should be mad that I don’t have a ring?
Jenna & Phoebe nod.
Jenna: Wow, how Sex and the City are we right now? I’m Samantha, (to Phoebe) you’re Charlotte, and (to Liz) and you’re the lady at home who watches it.

On set, Frank brings Tracy a magazine clip in which Bill Cosby rips Tracy as an embarrassment to African Americans Tracy can’t believe it. (Cut to scenes of Tracy inexplicably stealing a television following a Jets loss.) Enter Kenneth with news that Temple University canceled Tracy’s stand-up act and Michael McDonald is withholding the rights to his music. Kenneth’s Michael McDonald impression? Awesome. Tracy sees a pattern. Cosby is sending a message: The Black Crusaders are out to destroy him.

Shopping is a hit with Phoebe, but Liz’s pop-culture quips still aren’t.

Phoebe: Your Floyd would love this one.
Liz: Yikes. If I was going to spend $600 to have my boobs pinched I would have gone to that fundraiser at the Clinton’s house. Come on, that was solid.

Phoebe begins revealing her concerns about her and Jack’s sexual compatibility, and this naturally freaks Liz out. It seems Jack fell asleep during a critical intimate moment. But Phoebe just wants to make him happy, so she runs up the gold card with new clothes.

Floyd lost the job to Garkle, and now he’s tired of New York. In fact, the whole rat race has got him down. It’s worth noting he’s referring to the actual rat races his landlord stages in the hallway outside his apartment. He’s thinking of going back home to Cleveland.

While cops with assault rifles search Liz’s bag, Floyd waxes nostalgic about his hometown. Liz doesn’t want to end up like the hardened old woman crossing the street nearby but rather like the vibrant lady across the way singing New York’s praises – until she gets cross-checked into a pile of trash. Liz starts singing herself, until a bum spits in her mouth, to which I say, “eeewwwwww!”

In his dressing room, Tracy explains The Black Crusaders to Liz. They’re a secret group of powerful black Americans – Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson, Colon Powell and Gordon from Sesame Street – who meet quarterly in the skull of the Statue of Liberty.

Liz: Ah, well it must be true if it’s on the interweb.
Tracy: Make fun of me all you want, Liz Lemon. Do you know they ruin anybody who they think are making black people look bad? They tanked 50 Cent’s movie, they blew out Terrell Owens’s ankle, and they canceled Eddie Murphy’s Oscar because he ran out on Scary Spice. And now they’re after Tracy Jordan.

Up in his office, Jack is showing off Phoebe’s gift of Gerald Ford’s old golf clubs. Liz hints at the “bonkers underwear” she also got him. Since Jack hasn’t been above 72nd Street in 10 years, he’s skipping Phoebe’s speaking engagement at Columbia that night. Besides he’s zonked from all their romps in the hay. When Jack nods off, his assistant Jonathan tips off Liz that Phoebe’s really got plans downtown that night.

So Liz pops into a restaurant and finds Phoebe having dinner with an older gentleman, a sight that elicits another “By the hammer of Thor!” Everyone’s going to be saying that soon, you watch. Phoebe busts Liz busting her.

Before Liz can tell Jack, he sidetracks her with the Tracy situation. He set fire to a cardboard cutout of Al Roker and locked himself in his dressing room, fearing The Black Crusaders want to make him disappear like Coolio. In the midst of this, Floyd shows up to take Liz to Cleveland for the weekend.

I’ve never been to Cleveland, but if it’s half the sweet paradise portrayed in the ensuing musical medley, well I’m still never going there. But it does seem to be a city of friendly cops and lunches with Little Richard. It’s also Tracy’s hiding spot of choice.

Over dinner, Floyd tells Liz he’s been offered a job with the top law firm in town and she wants her to move with him.

At this point, I’ve got a little lump in my throat. I love these crazy kids together, but I also know Sudeikis isn’t a full-time cast member. Geez, first Sam and Diane, then Jim and Pam. What’s to become of Fliz?

Sorry, I lost my dude compass. I’m back.

In New York, Liz is walking on air until she finds out Tracy’s missing. She reveals her possible plans to leave for Cleveland, though Jack warns her the last time he let vacation elation get the better of him he ended up with a timeshare in Port Arthur, Texas. But Liz is a model in Cleveland. As Jack suggests she’s burned out, the characters in Frank’s “Hot Babies” sketch walk by, the result of Liz not being around for a couple of days.

Backstage, Liz runs into Phoebe, who claims she was only letting old flame down easy and didn’t tell Jack because she didn’t want to upset him.

Phoebe: You know how John Lennon was better than the rest of The Beatles until he met Yoko Ono? Well I’m Jack’s Yoko.
Liz: You want to be Yoko?
Phoebe: This is none of your business anyway. I’m marrying Jack. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
Liz: Oh, I bet he is.
Phoebe: You don’t know anything about me so back off.
Liz: What happened to your accent?
Phoebe: (pausing) I don’t know what you’re on about, you daft wanker.

Tracy calls Liz from Cleveland but can’t say that. He’s quitting to start a new life. When Jack finds out it’s because of The Black Crusaders he takes off to deal with the situation. I don’t think that was Toofer (Keith Powell) trailing Tracy at the end of the scene, but it looked like him and would have been funnier if it was.

Liz pops into Floyd’s office and tells him she can’t go to Cleveland.  Her life is in New York, and she’s only known Floyd a month. He agrees it was a crazy idea. You can’t just move to your favorite vacation spot or the whole world would live Hawaii, Italy and Cleveland. Liz is glad to hear it until he makes it clear he’s going without her.

Now why do shows do this? The progression of Fey’s character all season has been amazing, from lonely to hapless to finally happy. Now they’re sending her back to hapless or lonely, probably in a vain search for the laughs that scored back in November. If this keeps up, 30 Rock is in danger of really becoming The Office.

I really started to cringe when Liz next showed up in Jack’s office. These two go together like salmon and caramel. Asked what she thinks of Phoebe, Liz starts out being complimentary and ends up ranting about everything that’s wrong with her. Phoebe was right, Jack tells her. She’s infatuated with him. This prompts Liz to reveal that she knows he fell asleep on top of Phoebe in Paris. (Wouldn’t that kill a sufferer of Avian Bone Syndrome?)

The scene and the episode end awkwardly with Liz brushing past Phoebe on her way out the door.

Blerg indeed, Liz Lemon. Blerg indeed.

Brian is currently a stay-at-home dad and a writer who obsesses on The Office and the New York Mets. Check out http://remote.lohudblogs.com/author/bhoward/ to catch his daily musings on his favorite sit-coms.

Filed under 30 Rock

Comments

21 Responses to “30 Rock Recap: Cleveland”

  1. Jo on April 20th, 2007 1:33 pm

    30 Rock just keeps getting better and better. I’m so stoked for another year. Floyd is too cute.

  2. Billiam on April 20th, 2007 4:00 pm

    What exactly is the significance of Blerg? I don’t get that.

    And yes, it was too soon for Floyd to go. He should have stuck around a while longer. I’m very interested in where the Phoebe/Jack stuff is going, though.

  3. Phyllis Vance on April 20th, 2007 4:30 pm

    Good review, Brian! I’m really glad you brought up the Yoko line, because that was another thing that made me go into hysterics. I have to remember I still liked a lot about this episode. It just seems crazy that they would put Liz right back where she started at the beginning of the season. Its very hard (TWSS), because I wanted More Than That. *wipes away a tear*

  4. sabrina on April 20th, 2007 5:21 pm

    NO! They can’t get rid of Floyd!!! I like him. I guess I’ll have to stick to watching SNL in order to see Jason Sudeikis. I love that man.

  5. Elisabet on April 20th, 2007 7:30 pm

    “If this keeps up, 30 Rock is in danger of really becoming The Office.”
    And not even the good The Office. Phyllis’ Wedding The Office.

    I really liked Floyd and Liz together. Blerg! Why can’t anyone be happy? Karen seriously? Why is she still around

    The season finale is next week I think.

    BY THE HAMMER OF THOR! is my new favorite phrase.

  6. Jim on April 20th, 2007 8:31 pm

    It’s time for Baldwin to go from the show.

  7. Brian on April 20th, 2007 8:32 pm

    I don’t know the significance of blerg, Billiam, but Liz said it like three times towards the end.

    Phyllis Vance, you deserve a byline credit because I wrote this after reading your comments at NA, and they reflected how I felt.

    And Elisabeth, Phyllis’ Wedding The Office indeed.

  8. Phyllis Vance on April 20th, 2007 9:09 pm

    Yay, I am making my mark on the interwebs!

  9. Beth on April 21st, 2007 7:20 am

    I was going to catch up on this show during the summer, but after reading all about what an a.s.s. Alec Baldwin is I’m definitely boycotting his show. He’s a disgusting individual – how can you talk to your child like that?? I have two myself and would never use that kind of language. I can see it with her mom, but not hsi daughter. So I don’t care how good the show is, I’ll never watch it.

  10. samanthemofthesun on April 21st, 2007 8:14 am

    A. Is there such a thing as a “bad Office”?

    B. Regarding 30 Rock, I feel this show is so very well written and well acted. I didn’t like it at first, but most new shows go through 6 to 8 eps before they get their groove on, so I held out and gave it a chance. I feel it has developed relatively quickly, and I am interested in the characters. Oddly, Tracey Jordan is my least favorite, but, well, so it goes.

    I loved this ep. The whole “Cleveland is the best place in all the world” thing was hilarious. Poor Liz. But, the show has to keep going, and part of the dynamic is her angst. Perhaps the next several eps will shed light on her future? Maybe they could end the series with her move to Cleveland, because she just can’t forget the Floydster….

    C. Alec Baldwin, for my vote, is one of my faves all time, regardless of whatever rumor/tabloid none-of-my-business personal life bs stuff that is put out for reasons unfathonable to me is going on. He is funny and engaging, and more importantly, a really good actor. I think everyone has bad moments, says the wrong thing from time to time, and it is sad that we hold other people to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. We are all a s s e s from time to time…I know I would not like some of my worse moments sold so that someone else could profit from them….

    Love you lots

  11. Kate on April 21st, 2007 10:03 am

    Anyone else realize Tina may have been quoting a fellow ex-SNL cast member? Will Ferrell says “By the hammer of Thor!” in the Anchorman (in the deleted scenes or outakes I think). Awesome quote if you ask me!

  12. Beth on April 21st, 2007 10:51 am

    In response to samanthemofthesun:

    What Alec Baldwin said was not rumor/tabloid – it’s a fact. You can hear what he said to his 11 year old daughter online in the normal places. I don’t hold him to a higher standard than myself. Normally I might agree with what you said, but I myself would never talk to a child like that. He’s taking his frustrations with his ex-wife out on his child. It was disgusting and will forever taint the way I see this a s s. He shouldn’t have custody of his daughter and I’m glad he doesn’t.

  13. distractedanddistraught on April 21st, 2007 1:28 pm

    I’m not sure how I feel about the whole Alec Baldwin situation–it’s disgusting, yet it fair his personal life is open for the whole world to see (personally, I hope it was his daughter who sent the recording to TMZ–who could blame her?)? Regardless, this does serious damage, IMHO, to 30rocks’ cred. The media is gonna have a field day. He was just gaining momentum, and now it all bad publicity. I know NBC just picked it up, but…. What a stupid move.

  14. CasualViewer on April 21st, 2007 1:29 pm

    Well thirty years ago, a parent would have just smacked a kid for being a brat. So she can consider herself lucky.

    As to this: “Now why do shows do this? The progression of Fey’s character all season has been amazing, from lonely to hapless to finally happy. Now they’re sending her back to hapless or lonely, probably in a vain search for the laughs that scored back in November. If this keeps up, 30 Rock is in danger of really becoming The Office.”

    Lemon is vastly different from Pam. I never felt sorry for Lemon earlier in the season when she was alone. She is an overpaid, underworked lucky person compared to not only Pam but most people in the world. Sure she didn’t have a boyfriend but there are worse things.

  15. CasualViewer on April 21st, 2007 1:33 pm

    And no I’m not advocating what he did of course, he shouldn’t have.

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