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!*