The 30 Rock Book, Mike Roe
The 30 Rock Book, Mike Roe
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
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The 30 Rock Book
Inside the Iconic Show, from Blerg to EGOT

Author: Mike Roe

Narrator: Mike Roe

Unabridged: 12 hr 46 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/30/2021


Synopsis

A fascinating and hilarious deep dive into 30 Rock, Tina Fey's beloved modern classic comedy

In the fall of 2006, NBC somehow unveiled two new shows set in the world of late-night sketch comedy: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and 30 Rock. It was Aaron Sorkin versus Tina Fey, and it was clear which series critics thought was more promising. The Baltimore Sun called it a competition 30 Rock "can't win." By November, the New York Times was noting lackluster ratings for both shows, and adding that 30 Rock was "perilously close to a flop."

But while Studio 60 was canceled after twenty-two episodes, Fey's madcap buddy comedy lasted 138 episodes. It resurrected the career of Alec Baldwin, survived an extended absence by Tracy Morgan, and permeated the culture—its breakneck pacing, oddball characters, and extremely rich joke writing are deeply beloved by millions of fans.

In this combination of narrative and oral history, culture writer and editor Mike Roe brings to life the history of the gloriously goofy show through interviews with the creators, stars, writers, and bit players.

About Mike Roe

Mike Roe has been a journalist for the past twelve years, working in both digital and radio for NPR station KPCC. He's currently the arts & entertainment editor for KPCC's digital site LAist, and recently won an LA Press Club award for a popular oral history of 30 Rock's "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" song. His other oral histories include a look at Parks and Recreation's "Galentine's Day," as well as a more dramatic piece on Blade Runner and its connections to Los Angeles. He has written and performed comedy around Los Angeles as part of several theater sketch comedy teams, including house teams at iO West and the Pack Theater, and has written and produced comedy videos featured on Funny or Die.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Eli - on May 29, 2022

2.5 stars, just blerg. Great book if you just want to read an episode guide.......more

Goodreads review by Kasa on July 14, 2021

While it was on, 30 Rock was must-see tv in our house, and its inventiveness and the charm of its characters played a large part. Although I was looking forward to this well researched oral history, it didn't really break new ground.......more

Goodreads review by Rennie on February 09, 2022

Very unfortunately, this is not a great book. It pains me to say that because there’s little else I love like 30 Rock. Everyone’s already said what’s wrong with this one, but I’m honestly curious how it got published. The writing’s not great, it’s basically just an episode guide - there’s little str......more

Goodreads review by Jordan on November 14, 2023

Sloppily written, underdeveloped in some areas - none of the lead principal actors are interviewed - and overlaid in others - we do not need 20 pull quotes from the guy who played Jeffrey Wienerslav, as lovely a person as he seems to be. To be clear: speaking honestly and critically about Tina Fey an......more