Episode 12 - Verna
8 February 2010
Review
Synopsis: Jenna’s mother Verna comes to visit and Jack is convinced that she is just like Colleen. Verna wins back Jenna’s affection but then pitches a reality show to Jack. Meanwhile Frank stays at Liz’ place after a fire in his apartment. She suggests he gives up smoking while she stops eating junk food. Pete says they all need a release and warns Liz of the dangers of cutting hers off with predictably gross results.
The Good: This is the latest in a string of plots which make Jenna seem a bit more human and real. Though to some extent the story is more focussed on Jack and his suspicion that Verna is just like his mother (See Comic Highlight). Anyone who has watched much 30 Rock knows that Jack is always right about other people and this is no different. He plays the ultra good guy in bribing Verna to treat Jenna well, something he wouldn’t have done unless he now thought of Jenna as part of his life.
There were a couple of nice jokes too. Jack explains that he once thought Colleen had changed but it was just a tumour pushing on her brains pleasure centre. “A tumour those quack doctors removed!” he adds. Jenna carrying her own microphone around in her bag was a fun gag and her duet with Verna was suitably inappropriate.
I still think Pete as the voice of reason is one of those characters who could be great but is continually wasted. Like Jack he sees the likely results of Liz’ decision to quit junk food. I particularly liked him telling her “You tried to take away your release Liz but nature finds a way. Did you learn nothing from Jurassic Park?”
The Bad: The gross end to the Liz and Frank story (with her sleep eating and him crying for his mom) was as unsatisfying as it sounds. I still don’t understand the humour in humiliating characters who are pretty down on themselves in the first place. Liz also crows before they show the video that no one believed in her. But no one said that at all. I guess the story of their addictions didn’t have enough time to be told properly.
I still think it would be nice to see TGS being a stressful show to work on. Pete’s stress levels are a constant joke but we never see rehearsals or script writing anymore so it rings a bit hollow. Pete joining a fight club is the exact same joke as when Liz’ rich divorcee friends wanted a release (318).
Comic Highlight: Jenna goes to Jack to talk about Verna because he understands all about troublesome mothers. “Mothers!” he says, “You can’t kill them”, he adds. He pauses for so long that you realise it’s a question and Jenna wisely moves on.
The Bottom Line: The Jack and Jenna story was simple stuff, allowing her to be normal and him to be the good guy. The rest was typically unsatisfying.
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