A Fond Farewell and a Joyous Return: NBC Sitcoms

By: Emily

Graphic by Emily

Please bare with me while I go on this emotional journey through television.

Today is a sad day because it is the end of one of my favorite television shows, 30 Rock. This NBC comedy is the brainchild of funny woman Tina Fey and has resonated with fans over its seven-season run. The show follows head writer for the fictional sketch comedy show TGS with Tracy Jordan Liz Lemon, played by Fey, and her boss, Jack Donaghy, played by Alec Baldwin.

30 Rock is great for many reasons, mainly its infamous one-liners ("Live every week like it's shark week") and the crazy antics exhibited by the show's main man child, Tracy Jordan, and Company. But aside from it's hilarity, the show also has a number of truly touching moments among its characters. Fey is 30 Rock's creator and head writer, and she certainly knows just what to say to not only get a good laugh from the audience but also a good cry.

Over the years, 30 Rock has gained a loyal fan base filled with live specials, dance numbers, and plenty of night cheese. When the show comes to its heart-breaking finale tonight, this is one fan that will be sure to shed a few tears. Here's to you, Liz Lemon.

While today might be a sad day for me, next Thursday will certainly be a happy one indeed! (It's an emotional journey, I told you) With the farewell of 30 Rock comes the return of another hilarious NBC show, Community. After many rough debates with the network about whether or not to keep this show on the air, and even after that when to air it (Click here to learn more), it's finally returned with its fourth season to a television screen near you!

Community, the dark horse of NBC's Comedy Thursday lineup, is a show centered around a study group just trying to get through class at Greendale Community College. This show, like 30 Rock, does a miraculous job of pairing tender moments with some of the funniest stuff on TV. Community, while another NBC comedy, is very different from 30 Rock. Community is filled to the brim with movie and television references, and includes a lot of quick jokes that aren't always picked up during the first watch. I'm currently re-watching the series and finding myself laughing at both jokes of old and new (AKA anything that Troy and Abed do).

While I mourn the loss of my right-hand woman Liz Lemon and 30 Rock, I embrace the chance to once again jump into espanol class avec Senor Chang and the rest of the Greendale gang from Community.

*Catch the Season Finale of 30 Rock TONIGHT (1/31/13) at 8/7c on NBC and the Season Premiere of Community Next Thursday (2/7/13) at 8/7c on NBC!*

Farewell to a Dear Friend, Liz Lemon.

By: Alex

Art by Alex 

This morning I woke up crying because I knew this would be the last night I would have the opportunity to watch a new episode of 30 Rock. Not only does the end of this series bring an end to the crazy and lovable subculture of the fictional TV show, TGS, but it also means that I have no television to tune into at 8pm on Thursday nights. I know I can (and will) watch reruns of 30 Rock on my collector’s edition DVDs, but there is something magical about finding a television and tuning into NBC at 8pm to watch a show that I love.

I love 30 Rock for the obvious reasons: Liz Lemon (and everything that encompasses this frumpy-yet-godly being), the fact that this show is so quotable (throughout this article I will demonstrate), Jack Donaghy’s piercing blue eyes of an ice dragon (see what I did there), Kenneth the page’s pure love for the greatness of television (which I can TOTALLY feel for), the camaraderie of the writers room (a room I one day hope to be a part of), the fact that this is a television show about television (what could be better!)…okay I’ll force myself to be done (but I’m not really done).

Though I love this show for reasons that many others do, I feel that I love the show more than anyone else. And no, I can’t tell you every episode’s name or which season Matt Damon cameo-ed as Liz Lemon’s boyfriend, but I can tell you that when I watch this show, I have a true feeling of belonging and inspiration. This show has drawn me in every Thursday night for years, no mater where I was, I would fight to find a television. I simply had to see what adventures Tina would write about Liz and her absurd coworkers and failing love life; I simply had to feel that connection to television.

After all of this devotion and fangirling, I can only credit my happiness to one person, Tina Fey. Tina is my idol, girl crush, and twin. I want to be her, but I also feel like I am her. I want to be her in the sense that she has done everything I want to accomplish (wrote a book, writes for television, WAS ON SNL, conveys a positive image for girls), and I feel like I am her in the sense that I wear glasses, fail at romances and frequently fit under the stereotype, 'nerd.' Yes, I am Tina Fey, minus everything cool about her.

Because I idolize Tina Fey so much, it gives me much more of a reason to absolutely love watching her show. Watching 30 Rock gives me hope. To see a woman like Liz Lemon commanding an office and fostering a comedy show that was once a dream is so inspiring. Though she sometimes raised it the most dysfunctional of ways, TGS is Liz Lemon’s baby. And as she struggles with finding a man, becoming a real mom, and continuing to follow her dream in the writing world, I see that she can have it all. No, Liz Lemon will never be glamorous. As we saw last week, Liz probably won’t even have children of her own. But that’s okay. All of these problems she runs into makes her that much more of a real person. Tina’s decision to put so much of herself into a character on TV makes this show different from any other.

Tina has created a show that is a hilarious exaggeration of her own life. Most of the jokes on 30 Rock poke fun at something from her past or play on a quirky trait of someone she knows. Tina created characters that no one else can top, the ghetto-toddler Tracy Jordan, the all-important diva Jenna Maroney, everyone’s favorite goon Kenneth the Page, pathetic, balding yet hilarious Pete Hornberger, the hushed whispers of Jack Donaghy, and of course let’s not forget all the camoes! Characters who show that you can make fun of yourself and still have your pride, are oddly inspiring and makes 30 Rock much more than a television show to me. It’s truthfulness and hilarity has gotten me through my darkest days. No matter how I down I felt, I knew that I had something to look forward to. When I turned on my TV at 8pm on Thursday night, every worry I had about my future, every problem weighing me down, disappeared in laughter as I got completely wrapped up in the world of Liz Lemon. I’m so grateful for that.

But sadly, as of January 31st, 2013, my life will be a little bit more empty. I would like to say that 30 Rock is my show because I love it so much, but I know I’m not the only fan out there. In fact, I’m one of many. This show has such a cult following that I know its popularity will never die, and that’s what’s so comforting as the series reaches its close. Though I am truly heartbroken to see my adventures with Liz Lemon come to an end, I will never lose what 30 Rock has brought me over these years. One day, I will just have to hope to create something just as comparable—something just as great.

And so I end this article, I express my gratitude with a poem. 

Ode to 30 Rock

At 30 Rockefeller Center

Is where I go to feel better.

In the glorious world of show biz

Is where we find our hero Liz.

You’ve validated making mistakes

And the safety in eating three helpings of cake.

Though many people mistake you for a man,

You never fail to do what you can.

Liz Lemon you’ve done it all

You made us feel like we’re not so small

But let’s be real, what I’ll really miss

Is that you and Jack never got to kiss. 

'Excelsior': The Power of Optimism

By: Alex 

Art by Alex

Life can hit us pretty hard sometimes. Though we all have our own problems, the way we deal with them can make them more bearable. As a glass-half-full kind of person, I view the bad and crazy elements of life in a more optimistic light. But just because things look a little happier through my eyes doesn’t mean that it’s any easier to deal with the upsets. Sometimes it’s hard to find a silver lining, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

In recently seeing Silver Linings Playbook for the first time, I connected with the story’s search for optimism—to prove that good things are possible in this world if we try hard enough. In the film, Bradley Cooper’s character, Pat, acts as the protagonist, yearning for the answer to this predicament. He strongly desires to prove that it IS possible to find a silver lining, despite living in a strange world that he can’t even explain.

In his search, Pat becomes immersed in classic literature, trying to find an outlet, only to discover that we can’t even escape life in fictional pieces. Even these books are a reflection of life—sometimes there are no happy endings.

In a desperate attempt to prove this idea wrong, Pat’s mantra becomes ‘excelsior’--the ability to turn negativity into a silver lining. I love the idea of this film because we all chase the chance for happiness. No one has a perfect life, and as we discover from the other characters in the film, Pat is not alone in feeling desperate about his past. The only way to set him apart form everyone else who suffers in the world is to give himself hope through his silver lining.

This film is great because it discusses real life--the hard problems that plague us-- without sugar coating them but also without being too dark and depressing. This story is unique, mixing both good and bad elements of life. It has the moments we hate—our greatest despair, our lowest points in life; and it has the feelings we love—holding onto hope, the possibility that there is a silver lining to even the worst of times.  

These problems in life are unavoidable, and the world will knock us down and break our hearts. We can’t escape reality. Just as the reality cannot be avoided in the books Pat reads, he discovers that we can’t change the past or the craziness or the bad stuff. What we have to do is change ourselves and continue to look for that beacon of hope. We’re on our own in the search, but once it’s found, we feel a lot less alone. We don’t have to be pessimistic to keep in touch with reality.

But there’s a difference between being realistic and being pessimistic. We don’t only have to dwell on the upsets of life to live in the real world. We can look for a silver lining and still be 100% in touch with real life. Through a powerful story, Pat shows us that anyone can turn their life around and flip a situation full of indescribable anger and misunderstanding and turn it into an opportunity to make something great out of a life.

*Also, I would just like to add that Bradley Cooper is wearing a trash bag most of this movie, yet his performance is amazing.*

Best Movies of 2012

By: Emily

Graphic by Emily

I know 2012 has been over for a little while, but I still like to think it’s important to spend some time looking back at a year that held some pretty great movies. Here are what I consider to be the best films of 2012. May 2013 be even better!

10. Anna Karenina: This sweeping and breathtakingly beautiful film is a work of art. Anna Karenina tells Leo Tolstoy’s tragic tale of a socialite’s tumultuous affair and inevitable downfall because of it. This was director Joe Wright’s third collaboration with Keira Knightley, having previously worked with her in Pride and Prejudice and Atonement. While this was not Wright’s nor Knightley’s best exhibit of their talents, it was a solid movie full of intense moments filled with passion and loneliness. The sets were designed so that the camera would breeze through the stage, much like a dance in a theater. Seeing Anna Karenina was like seeing a live performance. It was an experience.

9. The Dark Knight Rises: Christopher Nolan’s epic conclusion to the Batman trilogy was a shining gem in a summer filled with the typical, expected, and—dare I say it?—boring superhero blockbusters. Luckily, The Dark Knight Rises proved to be far from boring. In this film, Bruce Wayne leaves his life as a recluse to try and defeat a new villain named Bane and save the city of Gotham with the help of Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). Just to name a few. Not to mention seeing it in IMAX was pretty amazing.

8. Prometheus: I know so many people that hated this movie, and I really don’t know why! Prometheus is the prequel to the widely successful Alien movies. While I’ve only ever seen Ridley Scott’s original and James Cameron’s lackluster sequel, I thought this was a very interesting and intense film. In Scott’s prequel, who directed both this film and it’s originator, a group of explorers are on the search for an answer to humanity’s existence. There were definitely logistics of this film that didn’t quite make sense, but that also did not make it a bad movie by any means. The visuals were shocking and memorable both in scope and content. And that’s without spoiling too much. On top of that, Michael Fassbender gave one of the best performances of his career as an android named David.

7. Cloud Atlas: You can read my full review of Cloud Atlas here but let’s just say this is a movie of the times. It deals with some of the biggest themes of human existence in some of the most unique never-before-seen ways. I would recommend Cloud Atlas solely because of the many different stories and topics it covers. There truly is something for everyone in this movie.

6. The Cabin in the Woods: Okay so I walked into The Cabin in the Woods with zero hope. I thought this movie was just going to be your typical scary movie. Little did I know that the genius behind it was Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog creator, Joss Wheden. The film follows five typical college students that go on a trip to a home in the forest. While it sounds pretty boring, I assure you it is the most entertaining film of the year. Unfortunately, there’s not much I can say about it without giving away the ending and the twist, so my only word of advice is to go see this movie and enjoy it for all the expertly crafted surprises it has to offer.

5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: As an angsty teenager trying to find my way in this world, there is no other movie this year that understands me quite like Perks does. Directed by the book’s author, Stephen Chobsky, The Perks of Being A Wallflower follows resident high school freshman and extreme introvert, Charlie, as he struggles to figure out who he is and his purpose in life. I’ve grown such a strong connection to not only this movie but also its book for a few years now. Through this movie, we learn the ever-important lesson that none of us are alone. Be sure to read Alex’s post about the book here.

4. Argo: Ben Affleck has been proving more and more that he is an important filmmaker of our time. In Argo, he plays Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who is working to sneak American diplomats out of Iran during the revolts of 1979. This was a film that had humor and heart, but also insane amounts of edge-of-your-seat thrills. Argo was a shining star not only to me but to the critics as well. I have yet to meet someone who did not enjoy Argo and I hope I never do.

3. Life of Pi: Do not, I repeat DO NOT let the chance to see Life of Pi in theaters pass you by. Genius of film, Ang Lee’s tale of a boy onboard a boat with only a few zoo animals as companions can only be done justice in a theater. This movie is so incredibly beautiful because of the vast cinematography and colorful images, and that probably will come through on a TV or computer screen, but not in the same scope that it will on a large movie theater screen. Another great book-based film to come out this year, Life of Pi was stunning, majestic, and touching.

2. Silver Linings Playbook: When the trailer for Silver Linings Playbook came out, I immediately dismissed it. On my walk to the theater a few months later, I still dismissed it. Another romantic comedy? Cool, that’s just what I want to see. Boy, was I wrong. If I had known what an astoundingly moving and realistic movie I was seeing, I would have been much more excited to see it. Silver Linings Playbook follows Pat Solitano, played by Bradley Cooper, as he reestablishes himself in his hometown after being released from a mental health facility. With powerful performances from all four main leads and Chris Tucker (?!), this movie is sure to win something at this year’s Oscars. As it should! It was the loveliest surprise I’ve seen this year, and is well worth the watch.

1. Les Miserables: I usually hate movies with so much hype connected to them because they never seem to live up to my expectations. And while it may not have lived up to my impossibly high standards, Les Miserables was the most powerful movie I’ve seen all year. I cried multiple times and I could hear the sobs and sniffles of others in the theater as well. Les Miserables certainly isn’t a cheerful tale, as it follows the life of Jean Valjean as he tries to redeem his past misdemeanors by adopting a young girl named Cosette. Filled with emotional songs and performances, Les Miserables will stick with you long after its viewing. I know it has for me.

Other movies this year that I really enjoyed but weren’t quite in my top ten includes Ruby Sparks, Ted, Zero Dark Thirty, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and Django Unchained. 

A Pretentious Lament on Falling in Love with a Story

I am relaxed. Anticipation.
Curiosity. Wonder. A little farther in.

Art by Alex

Sense. A nugget of mystery.
Farther still. Intent. Rapture.
Imagination on fire. Ideas spinning.
Excitement. Elegance of prose.
Awake. Enlightened. Understanding.
Complete. Desire for a new beginning.

By: Sarah

----------------------------------------

I am Esther.

I am Atticus.

I am Charlie.

I cannot relax until I know

That we can be redeemed.

The elegance of this nugget of time

Can hardly be created

On earth. 

By: Alex 

Amber Holt: Heroic Failure

By: Alex 

Art by Alex 

As a teenager, failure is a concept that we all know well. Between going to school and getting put down by our classmates AND teachers, and then finally getting out of school and realizing the pressure to succeed doesn’t end, failure is all too familiar to someone growing up.

Television very rarely depicts teens in this light. Today, we find many shows about teens fulfilling their dreams without complications (even more unrealistic, most of their dreams are to be pop stars). The fact that these characters are so unlikely robs kids of an outlet to show them that there is someone out there just like them. Instead, they feel alone, which is totally unfair.

One show that really does a good job at depicting teens in all of our glorious failures and gives us someone to relate to and believe in is Parenthood. On this show, Mae Whitman plays a girl named Amber Holt. Amber is on the brink of going to college, and as an intelligent, rebellious, underachiever, is under a lot of pressure to apply to schools.

And after all her hard work, Amber doesn’t get into college, and she’s forced to watch all of her friends around her get accepted to schools of their dreams and leave her behind. Amber, like a true teen, failed. She felt like she wasn’t good enough, and she could compare herself to everyone who got something she didn’t. Amber, of course, felt sad, worthless, and defeated. But, there is one moment of the show where she proves to be the most successful teen I’ve ever seen. At one point, one of her friends asks her where she decided to go to school, and Amber tells her, matter of fact yet with a little attitude, that she doesn’t know where she’s going to school because she didn’t get into school, and then she makes her triumphant exit.

At that moment, Amber did what I have wanted to do in so many situations of my life. Sometimes, we just don’t want to talk about stuff, especially stuff that we feel we’ve failed at. Amber had the courage to prove that her failures weren’t going to keep her down. She wasn’t going to dwell on something she couldn’t change. She would move on. And for me, that is so inspiring--it’s so atypical of any teen on TV or in real life.

EVERYONE fails at something. Bad people fail. Good people fail. But great people fail, move on, and try again. It’s how we measure our failures and our successes that make us who we are. It’s how we deal with what brings us down, and it’s how we turn something that makes us feel small into an opportunity to be big and realize what we really stand for.  

I’ve failed at a lot of things, but I’ve also done a lot of great things. I’ve learned from Amber that I have the power to walk away from what I’ve failed at, and I also have the power to take control and move on into a situation where I can accomplish something I’ll be proud of. Yes, teens fail a lot, but Amber has taught us that we can do much more than fail, we can have the choice to override any failure by leaving a mistake behind and moving onto a better day. 

How to Measure a Year

By: Alex 

Graphic by Alex

At the end of 2012, we have reached a time to reflect. For me, it’s another year gone too quickly. Time passes the same way it does on any random day of the year, but having the date of the new year gives us a milestone—something to measure our time with. But even though we can measure our time, the question then becomes how do we measure our time. Just how do we measure a year?

Yes, I am fondly referring to one of my favorite musicals, RENT. In a story of passing time and living life, we get an intimate look into a year in the life of a friendship of seven struggling New York artists. At the end of the year, the characters ask, just how can they measure that time? With all they’ve gone through together, sometimes it can be unfulfilling to find another year has passed by without realizing a dream. But at the same time, they have such a warm feeling to know that they did so much that year to touch those around them-- so many memories to have just for being alive that year.

As we approach 2013, we are faced with the same decision. How do we measure all of the time that just passed before our eyes? As characters in RENT discovered, there is no real correct answer. There is no mathematical way to quantify all we’ve discovered in the span of a year. Not even time can measure what we’ve gone through; it is our experiences that make us who we are, and it is our experiences that help us see what we’ve accomplished. It is all the trials and joys of the characters in the film that allow them to realize all that’s happened in a year, not a measurement of time.

When faced to reflect on a year, I think about all the goals I haven’t achieved yet or all the dreams I seem so far from. But, what I’ve learned is, though I may not be where I feel I should be, I have a lot to be proud of. Whether I was helping a friend through a breakup, giving a hallmate advice on growing up, or even listening to a stranger’s conversation on a bus, I’ve acquired so many stories just by living my life this year. That’s what I think is most important; appreciating the people who help shape our memories of the year. After all, without people, I would have no memories, and without memories, I would have no stories to tell, and story telling is one of my greatest reasons to be alive.

In RENT, the characters come together at the end of a year and realize how much they’ve changed in that time through what they’ve done. I like that. I like to think of myself in association with other people. I think of just how different my experiences would be if even one person was missing from my adventures that year. My experiences are more powerful than any number. Though I have no final tally or measurement on 2012, looking back on stories and memories and the people that made my 19^th year on earth a special one, I have a great past and a lot of things to look forward to. I don’t need a number to tell me 2012 was worth it. That’s how I measure a year.