For everything 30 Rock does so very right (Liz Lemon’s endlessly re-quotable quips) there is something they haven’t quite nailed down in their six magnificently off-the-wall seasons on the air: Season finales. Much like the disappointing “Kidney Now!” Season 3 finale, last night’s Season 6 ender “What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?” wasn’t everything the show is capable of (especially after having such a stellar season) but that’s not to say it’s not a total relief they’ll back for 13 more episodes for a final Season 7.
Especially now that it seems like Liz’s perfect match Criss (sorry, Wesley Snipes) is in it for the long haul. Not only did James Marsden’s dreamy character, what with his beautiful lady face and his James Van Der Beek appreciation that doesn’t include Dawson’s Creek, sell his hot dog van to have extra money for their plant –– er, baby –– but he finally got Liz to stop worrying and not bail on something great. Criss calls Liz out on her s**t, supports her endlessly, and laughs at her stupid jokes. Isn’t that what we all want from someone at the end of the day?
Of course, not all seemingly perfect couples have happy endings. Avery’s return from North Korea was supposed to be a joyous thing for Jack, but their rampant jealousy and mistrust (Jack kissed her mother, Avery had a secret code affair with co-host-age Scott Scottsman) turned their planned vow renewal into a surprise divorce ceremony. While Kim Jung Il, I mean, uh, just a regular waiter who is definitely not Kim Jung Il, pleaded for 30 Rock writers to pull a Friends or Moonlighting and get Jack and Liz together, I hope this show never breaks with its unconventional convention. Besides, Criss is the right guy for Liz and Julianne Moore’s Bahston babe Nancy is meant to balance out Jack.
If the idea of Jack and Liz making a go of it makes you shudder, too, than I can imagine you had an equally averse reaction to watching Kenneth and a homeless Hazel (Kristen Schaal) shack up as roommates and engage in the most uncomfortable televised kiss since this. Thankfully, that wasn’t the only side plot during last night’s hit-or-miss finale, there was also the gloriously funny story line about Tracy being named Man of the Year by the Aryan Patriot Party thanks to his behavior. Despite the best efforts of Grizz, Dot Com, and Dr. Cornel West (as himself, but mistaken for Questlove by Tracy) to give Tracy a positive black role model, after an epiphany (okay, seeing his reflection in Rosa Parks’ dress at a museum) he opts to go the Tyler Perry route instead. I don’t wanna wait for 30 Rock’s life to be over. I’m in denial that it ever will.
Here are the other best lines and moments from last night’s 30 Rock Season 6 finale:
– Pat Kiernan cameo!
– “Brother” Jason Segel
– Liz’s refusal to say the phrase “man cave”
– Liz’s montage with her plant baby (Planty!) set to a Randy Newman-like tune about plants
– “Skinny arm havers!”- Liz, to Avery and her mother, followed by a stop, drop, and roll to get out of an awkward encounter
– “Hey, I don’t bail! I’m still watching Smash!”- Liz, to Criss
– “Have fun always carrying a light sweater!” – Jenna, to Hazel after she warns her she’ll have to move to the Bay Area
– ” I get your Yankees tickets on A-Rod bobble head day. And I’m going to throw that thing in front of a train. Go Phillies!”- Liz, showing her hometown pride to Jack
– “Check out Kim Jung Un’s pants! Where’s the flood?” – Avery, to Scott
– “You know what kind of women in their 40s have never been married, Liz? Uggos, crazies, and bailers. You’re not an uggo. And you’re Haha Crazy, not Oh Boy crazy, which means you bail!” – Criss, to Liz
– “Maggie Smith is a treasure!” – Avery
– “Darth Vader. Ninjas. Some black licorice I tried to make into the shape of my dad.”- Tracy, on his black role models
– “For instance, in Pixar’s upcoming movie about trash, I’m doing the voice of a lazy bottle of grape-flavored soda named Funky Bobo.” – Tracy
– “There will never be a president Ashton, or a Dr. Katniss, or a non-sexually confused Lorne.” – Jack
So where does that leave us for the shortened upcoming Season 7? Hopefully with Criss and Liz having a baby, Jack finally getting to run Kabletown, Hazel moving out of New York City for good, Jenna marrying Paul, Tracy dethroning Tyler Perry, and Lutz … never mind, Lutz is the worst. What are you hoping to see for next season? Did you find the Season 6 finale surprisingly lackluster, too? Sound off in the comments section below.
[Photo credit: NBC]
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