By Valerie Hooker
The television comedy series 30 Rock has had much critical
success, earning numerous major awards, including Emmy Awards for
Outstanding Comedy Series in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The first episode
of season four of the show, which aired in October, touches on the
question of what it means to be “American” when in the midst of an
economic recession. We like to think of the American way as fair and
liberating, but while the values of democracy, opportunity, and
freedom are commendable, autonomy and perfectibility tear apart the
connections that people have to each other. The humane aspect is
lost. The 30 Rock episode approaches this topic in a comedic fashion,
but the truth underlying it is still clear.
The episode begins with Jack Donaghy, a network executive
at NBC, trying to encourage the two main co-stars of the fictional
sketch comedy, TGS, to work harder to appeal to “real America.” As a
part of the elite, they seem to have lost touch with their audience.
Liz Lemon, the head writer of TGS, points out the absurdity of the
phrase “real America” because all America is real America. Liz’s
comment wants us to ignore Jack’s blunt statement that there is a
division of classes in this country. She tries to quickly sugar-coat
the situation, but Jack’s rude honesty wins out when we see Tracy, the
star of TGS, burning money for his own amusement.
Later, we find out that Jack has taken the NBC pages’
overtime away from them because he claims that there is simply no
extra money. Many jobs have been taken away, including cuts in the
mailroom which has been reduced to one person. Much like big law
firms that have laid people off because of the economic times, Jack
made the necessary moves to keep the company stable. But is it really
stability that has leads to the need for layoffs and causes people to
suffer the artificial shame of unemployment? Of course not – it is
all a result of greed and the desire for those at the top to continue
to enjoy the same luxuries that they have always enjoyed, regardless
of what that may mean for others.
Kenneth Parcell is an optimistic young NBC page who is
upset by his overtime being taken away, not because he needs the
money, but because he always works overtime and does not want to be
made a liar when he signs his timecard without reporting the extra
time. Jack explains that sacrifices had to be made and everyone had
to forgo some loss in order to get through the difficult times. When
Kenneth accidentally receives Jack’s paycheck, he realizes that “all
of those zeros” are not representative of a man making sacrifices.
Kenneth confronts Jack, who hopes that seeing his paycheck
was inspirational. Kenneth feels extremely hurt that Jack lied to him
when he claimed there was no extra money. He tells Jack that it is
just “un-American” to receive that much money when others are being
let go. Jack responds, “That’s where you’re wrong. It’s extremely
American. My talents are more valuable than yours, so I get paid
accordingly. I’m entitled to my bonus.” Jack has no problem taking a
ridiculous bonus while others are having their overtime being taken
away and others are being fired. He has no problem with it because it
is extremely American. America is about autonomy and the narcissistic
Jack embodies this. As long as he is not suffering, he sees no
problem in making morally deficient decisions because it a part of his
job.
The NBC page, on the other hand, embodies the moral
character. In order to move past this, all he wants is for Jack to
sign his name to a piece of paper that says “I’m a big ole’ liar.” He
feels that this would be morally fair because Jack made him lie by
signing the timecard. When Jack refuses, Kenneth begins a strike that
soon becomes huge as people jump into it without even knowing what it
is all about.
Jack admits that Kenneth has the moral high ground, but
still tries to take him down. When all else fails, however, he gives
in to Kenneth’s demand and signs the paper. Kenneth immediately calls
off the strike. One of the strikers asks what they got in return and
Kenneth responds, “A piece of paper I can’t really tell you about!”
The striker asks if it was just a personal matter between Kenneth and
Jack. Our moral Kenneth is then placed in dilemma, but the very
American Jack gives him a way out by telling him to “massage” the
truth. Kenneth hesitates but surely screams out, “No!” and the
episode ends in cheers from the strikers. Even Kenneth could not help
honesty to for once beat out autonomy.
