’30 Rock’ Turns 10 and We Want To Go To There
This week at the water cooler, we’re blurghing our way into the 10th anniversary of NBC’s classic showbiz sitcom 30 Rock. Developed by Tina Fey and starring Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Jane Krakowski, the series rose above subpar ratings to dominate awards ceremonies over its 7-year run. To celebrate, we’re offering up 10 noteworthy episodes for discussion. These may not necessarily be The 10 Best Episodes, but they’re certainly ones we haven’t forgotten.
Before we leap into 30 Rock, we’ll take a quick look at American Horror Story: Roanoke midway through its run and hypothesize what surprises are in store for its sixth episode. We’ll also follow up last week’s Dynasty conversation with a quick look at some recently announced reboots. (Podcast)
Hugh Laurie’s ‘Chance’ Is Worlds Away From ‘House’
Hugh Laurie just can’t seem to keep away from the medical field, and that’s not a bad thing. This time, Laurie plays Dr. Eldon Chance on Hulu’s Original Streaming show, Chance. Any comparisons to his previous stint in House end there. The story is based on Kem Nunn’s novel of the same name. Based in San Francisco, Dr. Chance is a neuropsychiatrist who is going through a divorce and the father of a teenaged daughter. (Chance)
Let’s Cast ‘American Crime Story’ Season 3!!!
We haven’t even seen anything from the second season of Ryan Murphy’s phenomenon American Crime Story, but it was confirmed on Tuesday that American Crime Story Season 3 will revolve around the murder of fashion mogul Gianni Versace. In 1997, the icon was gunned down outside his Miami Beach home by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, and the entire chronicle became loud tabloid fodder.
Will there be a John Travolta sized star trying to make a comeback in this lurid tale of bloodshed and glitter? Will Murphy be able to succeed with another mid-90’s media sensation story? Who is going to star in this thing? Joey Moser has 3 casting choices that should make his job a little bit easier. (ACS)
‘American Horror Story’ and The Big Reveal
This season of American Horror Story differed significantly from previous seasons. It offered a toned-down, unplugged feeling. It offered a darker season that focused on real scares over scarily great costumes and set design. As a result to non-cynics, it’s felt like a complete breath of fresh air in a potentially stagnating series.
The one nagging question for many viewers was “What’s the point of the reality show structure?” At least one ADTV team member (Megan) felt the structure undercut the scares. If Lily Rabe and Andre Holland shared their story, then clearly they survived the events documented in “My Roanoke Nightmare,” the show within a show. But last night’s episode, “Chapter 6,” made clear the intent of the entire season, and now Roanoke becomes something completely different and potentially even more thrilling. (AHS)
Does Rocky Horror 2016 Hold Up?
Megan McLachlan takes a look at Fox’s Rocky Horror remake. (Review)
Donna Lynne Champlin Finally Gets To Be the Princess
Early in Season 2 of The CW’s critically acclaimed Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, star Donna Lynne Champlin sings soprano as a Disney-esqe princess. Fans of the series have rabidly anticipated this moment since news leaked late last summer. But in reality, you’re much more likely to catch Champlin at Universal Studio Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights than in Arendelle.
“It’s one of my favorite things. I go to a lot of hayrides and haunted houses. It’s kind of my jam,” Champlin laughed. “It’s the fact that they pipe in the smells. I don’t really find that most haunted houses do that. Because they add that fifth sense, it totally freaks me out.”
A love of the macabre. A longing to sing soprano as a Disney-esqe heroine. These are two of the many wonderful things we love about the multi-talented Donna Lynne Champlin. (DLC)
Basking in the ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Return
Premiering last Fall, The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend seemed an insane gambit. A musical comedy about a woman chasing an old summer fling, the show garnered bonus points for originality. Nothing else on television compared, and, like a flaming car wreck, you couldn’t look away. Funny thing, the show was anything but a flaming car wreck, and it eventually won the prestige-starved network two Emmys.
Now, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend returns with a second season set to answer one very important question. Can writer/star Rachel Bloom continue this insane high-wire act? Good news from the Magic 8 ball (and this reviewer). All signs point to yes. (CEG)
