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Rock-solid new comedy
The critics have been pretty universal in their praise for this Emmy-winning US sitcom, created by its star Tina Fey. Yet another comedy centred around the goings-on behind a TV show, it hasn't been a huge hit in the States, but with luck may pick up here.

Fey plays Liz Lemon - the head writer on The Girlie Show, a successful TV comedy series. Her world is shattered when new - and very oily - boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) takes over and wants to implement some radical changes. As a thirtysomething, Liz is hardly charmed by one of Donaghy's barbed backhanded compliments: "I like you," he tells Liz. "You have the boldness of a much younger woman."

There's definitely shades of The Mary Tyler Moore Show here. That's hardly surprising as Fey has acknowledged that she was inspired by the 1970s US comedy, which, oddly enough, was about a thirtysomething TV-newswoman who had a frosty relationship with her boss...

Highly recommended.

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SITCOM: 30 Rock, five at 22:45 on Thursday 11th October 2007

Pilot. Series 1, episode 1.
The very first episode of the Emmy-winning sitcom created by Tina Fey, who also stars as Liz Lemon - the head writer on a successful TV comedy series entitled The Girlie Show. Liz's new boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) insists that the cast is augmented by an unpredictable maverick film star.
(New Episode, Subtitles)

Director: Adam Bernstein
Starring: Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander