Tag Archives: 30 rock

Theme Song Thursday: Werewolf Bar Mitzvahs and Muffin Tops

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NBC’s “30 Rock” has one of those catchy theme songs that highlight the show’s quirkiness. Its music is composed by one of the show’s producers, Jeff Richmond, who’s also married to “30 Rock” creator, writer and star Tina Fey.

The show’s loosely based on Fey’s experiences as head writer of “Saturday Night Live.” It’s hilarious, it stars Alec Baldwin and if you haven’t watched it, you should.

In 2008, “30 Rock” broke the record for most Emmy nominations in a single year with 17. The next year, they outdid themselves with 22. Among them was a nod for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.

30 ROCK CAST

The show features seven original songs, some performed by Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey and Jason Sudeikis. It’s not free of cover songs, but composer Richmond always adds his touch to contribute comedically. He arranged a version of The Gray Kid’s  “Oh My,” for the Source Awards episode. They do a spin on “We Are the World” with cameos from Cyndi Lauper, Nora Jones, Clay Aiken, Mary J. Blige and many more for the “Kidney Now!” episode. There’s also a remix of “Midnight Train to Georgia” with the cast alternating parts by the Pips and Gladys.

“30 Rock’s” pilot aired in 2006, and season 5 finished its run this spring. It’s a show where every element helps conjure a laugh, and the music is no exception.

“30 Rock” theme

Muffin Top

Werewolf Bar Mitvah

As a bonus, for “30 Rock’s” season 4 finale, composer Jeff Richmond turned his Emmy-nominated instrumental theme into a gospel choir arrangement. It’s pretty wonderful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txi68L9NwVQ&feature=related

Click here to read about Tina Fey expecting baby No. 2, and here’s a link to samples from the “3o Rock” soundtrack, which was released in 2010. (Think I’m gonna spring for it.)

Theme Song Thursday is a weekly look back at memorable, not-so-influential, nostalgia-inducing theme songs by the Herald’s Melinda Lavine and Ryan Johnson. Click here to read other Theme Song Thursday posts and feel free to share!

Tina Fey’s expecting baby No. 2

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TINA FEY

30 ROCK’s Tina Fey announced on OPRAH that she’s expecting her second child with composer hubby, Jeff Richmond. (They have a 5-year-old daughter, Alice.) She’s five months along (and for selfish reasons) I hope this doesn’t mean there’ll be a delay in the show because it’s so good.

I’m kind of behind, but I just read in InStyle magazine (like I ever read that, I was in the pharmacy) about her new memoir “Bossypants,” which I’m probably going to order on my Kindle tonight. I suspect it’s gonna be hilarious. As far as I’m concerned, anything Tina Fey touches is comedy gold. In doing some research for her memoir, I came across this mini-clip and some praise for Tina Fey (I’m guessing this is on the back cover):

  • “You’d be really pretty if you lost weight.” (College Boyfriend, 1990 )
  • “Tina Fey is an ugly, pear-shaped, overrated troll.” (The Internet )
  • “Mommy, where are my pretzels?” (Tracy Morgan )

Advance praise for “Bossypants”:

  • “I hope that’s not really the cover. That’s really going to hurt sales.” (Don Fey, Father of Tina Fey )
  • “Absolutely delicious!” (A Guy Who Eats Books )
  • “Totally worth it.” (Trees )
  • “Do not print this glowing recommendation of Tina Fey’s book until I’ve been dead a hundred years.” (Mark Twain )
  • “Hilarious and insightful. Laugh-out-loud funny — oh no, a full moon. No! Arrgh! Get away from me! Save yourself!” (A Guy Turning into a Werewolf)

In case you haven’t seen 30 ROCK, here’s a clip, and click here to read the news story.

Congratulations, Tina Fey, I love your work!

Monday mix: Don Draper on 30 Rock

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For those of us who suffer from a case of the Mondays, I’m starting a series of Monday posts that feature a clip that might brighten your day. Here’s a clip from 30 ROCK , season 4. If any of you are familiar with Jon Hamm from AMC’s MAD MEN, you’ll really appreciate this because he gets to be goofy, which is very non-Don Draper-esque. So often during MAD MEN flashbacks, I feel like Don Draper smiling is almost creepy because it seems so unnatural for his character. It’s a delight to see Jon Hamm make guest appearances on 30 ROCK because you can tell he’s having fun.

In this clip, Mad man Don Draper, does one heck of a Jamaican accent. And Jason Sudeikis, as always, is comedy gold.