30 Rock Fodder

30 Rock: "Jackie Jormp-Jomp"

Oh, that's what Jackie Jormp-Jomp is. And guess what? It's still hilarious, no matter how many times I say it. And I've said it a lot. In fact, it might be the name of my first kid.

But if I don't go with that gem, there are plenty of other names to choose from in "Jackie Jormp-Jomp." How about Weinerslav (pronounced "weener-slave" of course), the name of TGS's Human Resources person, played by Todd Buonopane. (Is it just me, or is this guy totally lovable? Sure, he's sickeningly sweet, but I absolutely loved his character and the way he played it. Message to the powers that be: More Weinerslav!)

Then there's Jimmy Hendrickson, legendary saxaphone player, with whom Jenna Maroney (as Jackie Jormp-Jomp) sings a duet at Woodstocks in her upcoming movie, Sing Them White Blues, Girl: The Jackie Jormp-Jomp Story. Sure, the movie was originally supposed to be a Janis Joplin biopic. And, sure, they don't have the rights to use Joplins real name or any of her actual songs. But none of that should matter, right? It's the story that counts. Well, it apparently does matter to some people. Namely, the public. After initial screenings indicate that no one at all likes the movie, Sheinhardt-Universal doesn't want to release it anymore. So Jack sends Jenna to the Kids Choice Awards to drum up some positive publicity. (And we get another possible name: Raven Simone. Seems she and Jenna had some kind of run in in the past. So typically Raven. Such a bad girl.)

---Incidentally, this has to have been one of the funnier cold opens in a while. Punchy, full of one great line after another, and not too lenghty. ---

Right out of the gate, we have a boy's name: Isaiah Thomas. Apparently he and Tracy had a wild time, and it was the inspiration for the company's sexual harassment policy.

Or how about, for a girl, the name Viera? Sounds Italian, maybe. Like a beautiful young woman who spends her days sunning on the beaches of Monaco, and her evenings sipping cappuccino from a tiny cup and writing sparse poetry about past lovers who broke her heart and had great hair. It also sounds like an oversexed host from a certain morning talk show that shares a building with TGS, and who evidentally has a thing for young mister Kenneth the Page and unripe bananas.

Speaking of cougars, how about the names Elizabeth Marvel, Kerry Butler, and Mary Catherine Garrison. These aren't the names they went by in the show, but rather the real names of the actresses who played some of the women Liz got to know during her suspension from work ("s-e-x probation," as Kenneth put it). Experienced broadway actresses, these women certainly brought a sense of weight to the scenes they were in--Marvel especially, who played the sultry and mysterious Emily. I swear, when she was on screen I could've sworn I was watching a young Angelica Houston. Give this woman more airtime somewhere. I'd watch.

--Oh, and I have to pause a minute to give extra props to Tina Fey, whose nearly-minute-long stylized montage of shopping, sushi, and spa day was simply inspired. And hilarious.--

How about Map? Kind of an unusual name, sure, unless you're a celebrity baby. Or, you reside in Dora the Explorer's backpack. But nevermind. I love the fact that all the reporters are kids at the Kids Choice Awards. I mean, I don't know that much about the KCA's, but that's a joke, right? Kind of Helen Mirren being a presenter, or having her get slimed with goop when she comes on stage, or having her present a memorial for all the people lots in the kids entertainment industry over the last year? Pretty sure all of those were jokes, too. Hilarious jokes, at that. Oh, and I forgot to mention yet another name dropped: The Cyrus family, who apparently enjoy "rocking a bunch of funky hats" to awards shows, thus spoiling the view for the people seated immediately behind them.

Then there's the classic urban name, Tupac. Did you know it could also be used as a verb to describe using someone's (supposed, in some cases) death to increase their celebrity? See, 30 Rock is educational, too. And speaking of musicians, does the Indigo Girls count as a name? It's the name of a band, so I think it counts. Then there's also that famous cellist...the one who appears during the Jenna Maroney memorial special...who plays music while the TGS replacement dancers dance? Okay, fine, I don't actually know what his name is. Tracy says it, but it's so foreign I can't make it out at all. Wish I could. I'm sure he must be somebody famous. If anyone out there knows, please inform me. My name list will be incomplete without it.

30 Rock has never been above name-dropping, but "Jackie Jormp-Jomp" may hold the record for most name mentions in a single episode. Is there a correlation between this and the fact that it was one of the funniest episodes in a while? I'll let you be the judge.

Things You May Have Missed:

• Jack to Jenna: Did Jackie Jormp-Jomp give up when those vampires attacked Woodstocks?
• Jack on the phone (re: Jenna): The Coast Guard won't declare her legally dead yet, but what those pirates did to that ship...
• Jenna to Jack at her memorial: Look, those gay guys are crying!
• Same: Now almost a million people will know that I'm forty! (I'm pretty sure a normal televised special would draw more than a million viewers. This is like the Season 2 opener, when Jack laughed at Jerry for saying he would buy NBC: "Yeah, like you've got four million dollars.")

---

Posted by Bobby Bierley on April 18, 2009 1:18 AM
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