NBC's '30 Rock' Plot: GOP Runs Celeb Ads Telling Blacks Not to Vote

Photo of Rich Noyes.
By Rich Noyes | April 24, 2008 - 14:57 ET

Will NBC’s prime time entertainment shows function as the equivalent of DNC-TV this election year, snidely bashing Republicans in the guise of wry cultural commentary? Just last month, an episode of NBC’s “Medium” featured an ex-POW state senator from Arizona as a murdering cannibal. And on last Thursday’s episode of “30 Rock,” the sitcom featured a stridently anti-Republican plot in which a fictitious conservative corporate executive (played by Alec Baldwin) launches a celebrity ad campaign to prevent African-Americans from voting because, as a black character argues, “No matter what, [black Americans] are gonna always vote Democrat.”

The 30-minute program was filled with potshots against the GOP and conservatives, including the idea that the tortured ex-POW John McCain is being backed by something called “The Committee to Re-Invade Vietnam.” The corporate executive portrayed by Baldwin, “Jack Donaghy,” is a ridiculous parody of a conservative businessman, blurting out comments such as “My cologne is distilled from the bilge water of Rupert Murdoch’s yacht,” and “Not thinking is what makes America great.”

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Baldwin has not been exactly shy about his partisanship. Some might remember that in 1998 he ranted about stoning Republican Congressman Henry Hyde and his family to death. In 2000, Baldwin threatened that if George W. Bush was elected President “it would be a good time to leave the United States,” and a few months after the 9/11 attacks he railed that the Florida recount “has done as much damage to our country as any terrorist attack could do.” In 2005, he frothed that “the leadership class of the Republican Party is a conservative Christian loony bin....a bunch of sociopathic maniacs who have their lips super-glued to the ass of the conservative right.”

MRC intern Lyndsi Thomas took down the key parts of Thursday’s "30 Rock," which began with Donaghy attempting to round up celebrity talent for a McCain fundraiser, only to discover that the best his aide could come up with was “Bucky Bright” (played by Tim Conway), a child star from the ’40s and ’50s.

“Good God,” Baldwin’s character exclaims, “When did the party become so boring? The Democrats have all the good celebrities.”

So Donaghy recruits “Tracy Jordan,” the African-American star of the fictional NBC show that Donaghy oversees, to make a Republican commercial designed to help the party attract minorities. Jordan, played by Tracy Morgan, is at first resistant:

JACK DONAGHY: Tracy, my friend. Have you ever considered becoming the celebrity face of the Republican party?

TRACY JORDAN: What? Hell, no. Black people supporting Republicans? Does hot support cold? Does rain support the earth?

DONAGHY: Now that misperception is precisely why the GOP needs better celebrities, and a black celebrity such as yourself would really make us look good.

After Donaghy pitches the GOP as the party of lower taxes, gun ownership, states’ rights and Abraham Lincoln, Jordan wavers: “The Republican party sounds pretty attuned to my unique way of life. But I’d be turning my back on my people to support it. You've put me in a quandary, Jack Donaghy.”

After a dream in which he meets the ghost of Richard Nixon (also played by Baldwin) and learning that Sammy Davis, Jr. was a Republican, Jordan signs up, but his first attempt at a pro-Republican commercial is a failure.

Right at the outset, Jordan stumbles on Donaghy’s culturally insensitive script: “My fellow black-mericans — hey, Jack. Can I just say black Americans? There’s no such thing as black-mericans.” Donaghy supportively replies, “That’s great, that’s why you’re here.”

“My fellow black Americans,” Jordan continues, “Dr. King once had a dream, a dream that we all share: To build a 200-foot high wall to keep Mexico out. And he also hated the estate tax.” Jordan’s black friend “DotCom” shakes his head in disgust: “Unbelievable.”

Jordan tells Donaghy: “Jack, I don't know about this. The Republican party means less taxes, more guns, and the end of the gun tax. But everybody isn’t forward-thinking like I am. No matter what, black-mericans are gonna always vote Democrat.”

Donaghy agrees: “They will, won’t they? Unless-”

The next scene cuts to the final commercial, in which Jordan pitches: “Black people: don’t vote! Just don’t do it! In the amount of time it’d take for you to vote, you could play three games of pool. Three! And that’s fresh. I’m Tracy Jordan, and I improved this message.” A female announcer the intones: “Paid for by the Committee to Re-invade Vietnam.”

Donaghy looks to Jordan: “Sure feels good to make a difference, doesn’t it.”

Jordan agrees. “Yes, it does.” He holds up a screwdriver. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Nixon asked me to take some stuff out of his Wikipedia page.”

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Oh isn't this just so

Oh isn't this just so special...

Cute by half....just a rip-roaring riot of laughs....

Like my tag-line says below....

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

I watched it when it aired

I really like 30ROCK and I try to just ignore the liberal tilt that it has, but last weeks' episode was just too much.

I am black and I would vote for a Republican in a heartbeat. I know the show is fiction, but the foolishness they spew will be swallowed whole by foolish, brainwashed liberals who detest anything and anyone 'Conservative' or 'Republican'.

That episode disgusted me.

hey dittos ksimm! Makes me

hey dittos ksimm! Makes me laugh to, and I'm to the right of Attila..

Isn't the main black character Tracey depicted as a shallow, vain, narcissistic thin-skinned, borderline insane, dimwit -- and the black writer depicted as an effete snob who's above it all?

And very funny they are too!

I just ignore the obvious liberal biases. Though I haven't seen Season 2 yet.

Okay -- if I have ONE obersavation to make on the stereotypes -- the Republican is always depicted as an essentially venal, evil SOB who you just can't help liking; wheras the "liberals" like Lemon are essentially big hearted while being totally stupid trying to do the right liberal thing, and who you just can't help liking.

Okay -- once you start to analyse comedy, the joke's gone.

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

Send a message to Tina Fey

Tina Fey, the creator, producer, and star of this show, has a movie coming out this weekend called "Baby Mama".  This might be a good weekend to either stay home or pick another movie 

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

Those of you who watch are braver than me!

I haven't been able to stand Alec Baldwin since his wonderful role in "The Shadow".  I figured while waiting for The Office (so far no politics there-let's hope it stays that way) to come on I can either give the kids a bath and watch some of O'Reilly. 
I'm still waiting for Alec Baldwin to leave the country but . . .

Those of you are able to stomach this show are braver than I am. 

I agree if it wasn't for

I agree if it wasn't for the Office or Scrubs I wouldn't watch NBC at all. Hopefully the writers are smart enough to keep political stuff out of the office because so far it has been great.

 

"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather

Does no one realize that

Does no one realize that this is as much a critique of engrained stereotypes about black people and party allegiance as anything else?

I mean - "Just don’t do it! In the amount of time it’d take for you to vote, you could play three games of pool. Three! And that’s fresh" - you're going to tell me this isn't parodic?

Who can revolt if man has become a simple conglomerate of organs, a person barely free enough to use a remote control to choose his channel? -J. Kristeva

Yeaahhh... I'm sure they

Yeaahhh... I'm sure they considered a "parody" of an elitist democrat offering more welfare money to keep blacks on the plantation, as a way of critiquing engrained stereotypes; all paid for by the Committee to Appease Terrorists.

When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

Wow, what a reasonable

Wow, what a reasonable response, thanks...

Who can revolt if man has become a simple conglomerate of organs, a person barely free enough to use a remote control to choose his channel? -J. Kristeva

BT & EVERYONE !!!!!

So guess where I am as I type this? 30 Rockefeller Plaza! (yup, as in "30 Rock" :)) Doing some freelance work for BravoTV, actually... and I hope they don't break into my connection here and escort me out of the building, being on a conservative blog site at the gloriously liberal NBC Studios building :p

 

* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change

Hey Bravo and good luck

Hey Bravo and good luck sent to you and your endeavors there MrS!!!

Fill us in on what you are doing for BravoTV when you get the chance....curious ya' know....tell 'em hi from NBs....or don't until job accomplished....lol!

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Tell those Top Chef guys

Tell those Top Chef guys I've got some killer recipes for them.

Who can revolt if man has become a simple conglomerate of organs, a person barely free enough to use a remote control to choose his channel? -J. Kristeva

Shameless namedropper! Well

Shameless namedropper! Well done!

Now I'm off to drop YOUR name -- so how pathetic am I?

Amazing co-incidence... I once pitched some great ads for Bravo TV over here... and even though it was at the behest of my Bravo working girlfriend at the time -- I still didn't win the account! Ho hum bummer.

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

don't even

Don't even watch any NBC channels any more. Not since last December. I do miss Office but I figure the old shows will be on some other channel a few years from now. I can watch it then. I also don't buy any more jet engines from GE. Nor any household products made by them.

Again, for satire to work,

Again, for satire to work, it has to contain a grain of truth. This script satirizes nothing because there's no recognizable truth anywhere in it. It's based on the liberal writer's delusional ideas of "Big Business Republicans" - nothing else. Someone could satirize Republicans and their foibles - but these jokes just don't work. "...bilge water from Rupert Murdoch's yacht" - woo-hoo - stop me from slapping my knee - I'm bruisin' it...

As Sgt. Hulka said in "Stripes"...

..."Lighten up, Francis."

30 Rock is one of my favorite current shows. Baldwin's character is hands-down the best work he's ever done. Yeah, it's a caricature -- but an extremely entertaining one. And Fey's lefty Liz Lemon is a geeky basket-case who has plenty of self-deprecating moments, which also makes the show enjoyable to watch.

Newsbusters' idea of comedy is Jodi Miller smirking her way through a series of mostly lame one-liners. Nothin' but love for ya, Jodi -- but you're no Dennis Miller.

The comedy punditry around here only seems to reinforce the old saw that "Conservatives don't understand comedy."

I'm with you guys on most things media and political, but I have to disagree on 30 Rock. It may be produced by libs, but they're pretty funny ones.

DigDog1, you old saw!

The comedy punditry around here only seems to reinforce the old saw that "Conservatives don't understand comedy."

Never heard that 'old saw' about conservatives not understanding comedy.

I heard the old saw that liberals cannot laugh at themselves, which is why they seem to be always angry and offended.

 

 

   There is'nt much

 

 There is'nt much difference between NBC or MSNBC these days,ratings on both are terrible.The parent company (G.E.) is in the crapper and the CEO is on the hot seat.

re: old saws

"...which is why they seem to be always angry and offended."

They do indeed.

What I was trying to say is that the most passionate folks on our side of the aisle are too often guilty of exactly the same sin. Some Conservatives go reflexively into tsk-tsk mode anytime the Right gets satirized - even when it's as brilliant as Baldwin is on 30 Rock.  He may be a politically insufferable a-hole in real life, but his Jack Donaghy is one of the best characters on TV right now.