NBC's Thursday night comedy "30 Rock" took some good-natured potshots at "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams in a scene that depicted his office as rife with liquor bottles, dirty underwear, pornography ("Junk in the Trunk") and wall graffiti declaring "Katie Couric Sucks." (h/t TVNewser.com)
In a scene on last Thursday's show, "Jack Donaghy," a fictional NBC executive played by Alec Baldwin, finds "Kenneth," an NBC intern played by Jack McBrayer, cleaning an office with Brian Williams's name plate outside the door.
Looking at the mess, which also includes a sock filled with bird seed, Jack is astonished: "Good God, what does that man do in here?"
Mild-mannered Kenneth answers: "I don't know. I've never met Brian Williams, but his dressing room has to be cleaned up every morning between 11:00 and 11:30. That way, when Mr. Williams gets back from the liquor store, it's nice and tidy."
Today's Broadcasting and Cable got a reaction from Williams, and apparently he wasn't happy about the joke that implied a rivalry with Couric, who left NBC in May. An excerpt:
Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News anchor, may be the most impeccably dressed newsman in the business. But in the alternate NBC universe depicted in the network’s comedy 30 Rock, Williams is a consummate slob....At one point, Kenneth is shown scrubbing the office wall where Williams has apparently scrawled a message to his CBS rival: "Katie Couric Sucks."
When we caught up with Williams last Friday, he told us that 30 Rock creator and star Tina Fey, an old pal, had showed him the script weeks ago—without the Couric gag.
"It was a heart-stopper to see that on the wall," he said. "I hope my old friend Katie knows that’s not really what I do with my free time."
Williams called the send-up "brilliant and hilarious," and noted, for the record, that he’s a teetotaler in real life.
Unfortunately, he had to take another call before we could confirm whether or not he’s a "Junk in the Trunk" subscriber.
—Rich Noyes is Research Director at the Media Research Center.
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Oh, aren't they brave? This i
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 17:11 ET by Chris NormanOh, aren't they brave? This is real cutting humor - like the old jokes about Clinton's supposed addiction to McDonald's. SNL was a lot more astute in the way they lampooned Matthews. This is "we're just kidding - no harm done - everybody gets a good laugh - humor. Oh, brother....
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
I got a kick out of them maki
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 17:21 ET by balboaI got a kick out of them making fun of Williams. It's not brave, but it's "inside" and silly: straight-laced Williams as a boozer, slob, and Couric hater.
Yeah, way pithy...The dogs ba
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 17:22 ET by Chris NormanYeah, way pithy...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
No, not pithy. A little ins
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 17:25 ET by balboaNo, not pithy. A little inside and silly.
Never seen the show. I suspec
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 17:29 ET by Chris NormanNever seen the show. However, I suspect that any barbed humor (not silly, inside, or astute) will be reserved for others - and we know who I mean. I'm willing to bet one or ten examples will be posted on this site, sooner or later.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Thanks for breaking that down
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 17:42 ET by Roger the ShrubberThanks for breaking that down for us, Sparky.
:p
We'll be analyzing "Wh
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 17:45 ET by balboaWe'll be analyzing "Who's On First" later in the semester.
Nobody could untangle that co
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 19:31 ET by Roger the ShrubberNobody could untangle that complex, intricate web of comedy like you, Bal....
:p
I submit that that routine is
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 19:41 ET by balboaI submit that that routine is actually filled with complex subtext, commenting on the intricacies of the American social fabric and its implications for our national pasttime.
Well, what was on the chalk b
Tue, 01/23/2007 - 00:28 ET by bigtimerWell, what was almost on the chalk board is true.
According to the ratings...
But then again what the heck do ratings have to do with anything anymore...just ask msnbc.
Btw..I watch none of the shows mentioned on this, nor do I care.
Dribbling leftist sniping tripe.
"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under." Ronald Reagan