Verna (30 Rock)
"Verna" | |
---|---|
30 Rock episode | |
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 12 |
Directed by | Don Scardino |
Written by | Ron Weiner |
Featured music | "Do That to Me One More Time" performed by Jane Krakowski and Jan Hooks as their characters Jenna and Verna Maroney |
Production code | 412 |
Original air date | February 4, 2010 |
Guest appearance | |
| |
"Verna" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 70th overall episode of the series. The episode was written by co-executive producer Ron Weiner and directed by series producer Don Scardino. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 4, 2010. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Jan Hooks guest stars as the title character of this episode.
In the episode,
) temporarily, and they both decide to make a pact to give up their bad habits."Verna" has received generally positive reception from television critics. According to the
Plot
Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) learns that her mother, Verna (Jan Hooks), has come to visit her. Jenna does not want to see Verna, though, as she knows that her visit will lead to her asking Jenna for money, so Jenna turns to her boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), for help. Jack, who also does not get along with his mother Colleen Donaghy (Elaine Stritch), shows Jenna a presentation on how to deal with overbearing mothers. Jenna attempts to follow the presentation, but Verna surprises her by giving her back the money she has borrowed from Jenna and wanting to be in her life again, leading to Jenna ignoring what Jack has told her and reconciling with Verna, making Jack convinced that Verna has an ulterior motive for making amends with Jenna. Later, his suspicions come true when Verna admits that she sneaked her way back into Jenna's life solely to convince her to star in a reality show featuring them both. Jack tries to let Jenna know Verna's true intentions but cannot bring himself to tell Jenna as she is so happy. Instead, Jack pays Verna off to visit Jenna on a regular basis, letting Jenna believe her mother has changed her ways.
At the same time,
A subplot involves Pete not being able to have a moment alone at work because of Kenneth continuously talking to him. However, Pete ultimately finds a release by entering a fight club with homeless people and is able to tolerate Kenneth's jabbering.
Production
"Verna" was written by co-executive producer Ron Weiner and directed by series producer Don Scardino.[1] This episode was Weiner's sixth writing credit, having penned "Secrets and Lies", "Señor Macho Solo", "Goodbye, My Friend", "Mamma Mia", and "The Problem Solvers".[2] This was Scardino's twenty-fifth directed episode.[3] "Verna" originally aired in the United States on February 4, 2010, on NBC, as the twelfth episode of the show's fourth season and the 70th overall episode of the series.[1] This episode of 30 Rock was filmed on December 7, 2009.[4]
Comedian-actress Jan Hooks, best known for appearing on Saturday Night Live and 3rd Rock from the Sun, guest-starred as Verna Maroney, the mother of Jenna Maroney, played by Jane Krakowski. She reprised her role as Verna in the May 6, 2010, episode "The Moms".[5] Hooks is eleven years older than Krakowski.[6] Some television commentators have noted that Hooks's appearance on 30 Rock was her first acting job since appearing in the 2004 comedy movie Jiminy Glick in Lalawood.[7][8]
The episode opens with Liz Lemon having a dream in which she is married to Jack Donaghy and is giving birth to their child. Since its beginning, the series has occasionally hinted at a romantic relationship between Liz and Jack. In one episode, Jack passes Liz off as his live-in girlfriend to his ex-wife to make her jealous.[9] In another episode, Jack's mother tells him that Liz is a perfect match for him, and in the same episode he has Liz listed as his emergency contact.[10] In an April 2010 Esquire interview, series creator Tina Fey said that one of the plots the show will never do is have Liz and Jack get together. "Let me put the Internet at ease: Liz and Jack will never be together."[11] Alec Baldwin was asked if the two characters will ever hook up; he responded "I sincerely doubt it, and I think the show is better off that way. Once they cross that line, all the tension goes out of those relationships. And I think the lesson we learned about both those characters is that they are married to their jobs and they are married to their work."[12]
Cultural references
In the beginning of the episode, Liz dreams she is giving birth to Meat Cat, a fictional cartoon mascot for "cheesy blasters", her favorite cheese snacks.[13] This episode made reference to the mascot as it was first introduced in the fourth season's premiere episode "Season 4".[14] Many television reviewers have noted that Jack's presentation on how to deal with overbearing mothers, given the acronym "ASQ" (Always Speak Quietly), was a reference to Baldwin's "ABC" (Always Be Closing) speech seen in the film Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).[7][15][16] The night vision video that Liz shows to her writing staff, in which she is seen sleepwalking, ordering a pizza and eating large amounts of junk food, was a parody of the 2009 horror film Paranormal Activity.[13][17][18]
Reception
According to the
Not all reviews were positive. IGN contributor Robert Canning gave the episode a 7.9 out of 10 rating, and said that Hooks' role as Jenna's mother "helped the half hour, but this Jenna-centric episode still didn't blow me away." He noted that the main plot had funny moments but "there wasn't much else to invest in." Overall, Canning reasoned that this episode was very much a stand-alone one "built for some good jokes, and not exactly focused on storytelling. [...] An episode like 'Verna' can still bring a lot of laughs, but you can't help but feel like it's missing that extra something."[24] Television columnist Alan Sepinwall for The Star-Ledger disliked both stories from "Verna", and wrote that it was a disappointing episode, and that it was "pretty weak overall."[7] Meredith Blake, a contributor from the Los Angeles Times, reported that despite Hooks' hilarious performance, the episode still felt a "little bit like filler", and that there "wasn't too much that was especially funny or memorable about it".[16]
References
- ^ a b "30 Rock — Verna — Cast and Crew". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ "Don Scardino — Filmography by TV series". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- NBC Universal Media Village. December 7, 2009. Archived from the originalon March 11, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2010. Save Picture as → Right click file → Properties → Summary → Advanced → Date Picture Taken
- ^ Sassone, Bob (February 6, 2010). "'30 Rock' - 'The Moms' Recap". TV Squad. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Armstrong, Jennifer (February 2, 2010). "'30 Rock' previews with Jan Hooks: What other 'SNL' alums would you like to see?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ a b c Sepinwall, Alan (February 4, 2010). "30 Rock, 'Verna': Jan Hooks guest-stars". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ Perigard, Mark A. (February 4, 2010). "Television Review - 'SNL' grad Jan Hooks is latest '30 Rock' star". Boston Herald: 36.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt (February 1, 2007). "February 1, 2007: "It Feels Good to Laugh"". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 21, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Canning, Robert (April 27, 2010). "30 Rock: "Hiatus" Review". IGN. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Jacobs, A.J. (April 13, 2010). "The Real Tina Fey". Esquire. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ Baldwin, Alec (November 19, 2008). "Alec Baldwin on Fatherhood, '30 Rock,' Politics and More". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ a b c Mersel, Adam (February 5, 2010). "30 Rock Episode Recap: "Verna"". TV Guide. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Lady Lola. "30 Rock — Season 4". Yahoo! TV. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ TV Squad. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Blake, Meredith (February 5, 2010). "'30 Rock': Don't go to bed with a frown in your pocket (Updated)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Rabin, Nathan (February 4, 2010). "Verna". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Lyons, Margaret (February 5, 2010). "'30 Rock' recap: Oh, mother". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Catucci, Nick (February 5, 2010). "30 Rock Recap: Cornholes!". New York. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Gorman, Bill (February 5, 2010). "TV Ratings: ABC Edges CBS, Fox; Mentalist, Community, Parks, Office, 30 Rock Rise". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- '^ Gorman, Bill (January 22, 2010). "TV Ratings Thursday: Deep End Underwater; Bones High; CSI, Mentalist, Greys Series Lows". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ Gandert, Sean (February 5, 2010). "30 Rock Review: "Verna" (4.12)". Paste. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ Poniewozik, James (February 5, 2010). "NBC Comedies Watch: Snack Pack". Time. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Canning, Robert (February 5, 2010). "30 Rock: "Verna" Review". IGN. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
External links
- "Verna" at IMDb