After five full seasons of 30 Rock, the future of the series will be undetermined until later in 2012. There have been ongoing rumors as to whether or not the show will continue, due to the length of the contract with NBC. Lorne Michaels has faith in the show, saying that he does not believe that season six will be the last.
Will We Lose Our Jack?
Although Lorne Michaels believes that the series will stay strong, one of its stars as well as a producer may be saying goodbye to 30 Rock. Alec Baldwin is, as he claims, definitely leaving the show after the sixth season. However, the show is set to continue on to a seventh season at this point. The idea of a replacement has been tossed around by fans and critics, but but a certain solution has not been announced by Tina Fey or any other producers of the show. This is possibly because there are still hopes that Baldwin will stay, despite the several times he has been quoted saying otherwise. It will be a tough transition for Fey, seeing as she plans to push the show onward, but is also nervous about losing her sidekick.
Attempts to Maintain Appeal
On a much more commercial note, the producers of 30 Rock are not giving up on keeping the name on the screen, primarily with their infamous advertising strategies. But this occurrence is a slight spin off of the usual in-show product placement. In the form of an actual commercial, they utilized the character of Dr. Spaceman from 30 Rock, and integrated him into a tricky double-advertisement by making Chris Parnell’s character sell Dr. Pepper. This is just one way that 30 Rock is fighting to “stay in the game”; simultaneously taking an extremely well-known product such as Dr. Pepper and calling attention to one of the the series’ funniest characters.
30 Rock’s Future Will Remain TBD
With Tina Fey as the head writer, and much of SNL’s crew backing the series, 30 Rock seems like it will persevere through fan ratings and the political criticism. But the question that no one can answer yet is whether or not the show will persevere through the mission of filling Alec Baldwin’s shoes, should he really leave 30 Rock. Whatever becomes of the comedy series, there is no doubt that the duo of Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon has left at least a small mark on the standards of political and and social meaning that can go into comedy if it is done right.
In these previous blogs posts, much of the behind-the-scenes work has been revealed regarding the making of 30 Rock. From the production to distribution, the hands that hold that power at NBC Universal, Comcast, as well as General Electric have been illuminated. However, to most consumers of mass media, these facts hold little importance. It’s beneficial for us to know the effects that giant corporations have, specifically within the media markets such as television because it takes up such large portions of our time. But in reality, the followers of 30 Rock are watching regardless of the negative effects that enormous companies can have on the less affluent.
Rather, the most avid followers of 30 Rock are so loyal because the series is just plain smart. Tina Fey and her crew of writers address current issues both political and social, making 30 Rock more than just a sitcom revolving around obscure characters. After examining what and who goes into creating the television show, as well as briefly recognizing that 30 Rock is a meta media critique, it’s time look more deeply into why people watch it; and even furthermore why many criticize it.
Corporate Satire
Although the constant quips that 30 Rock dishes out often pass over a viewer’s head, if you pay close enough attention it is easy to catch on to the immense criticism that the series provides about the corporate world. Almost every character at one point or another serves as a metaphor for the unbalanced comparison between capital-driven conglomerates and the consumer society.
A few examples of this type of comparison can be seen significantly in Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy. The origin alone of Jack’s career is enough to display criticism of large corporations; in this case, GE. Jack Donaghy began running a microwave oven division of GE, but only in hopes of eventually rising to a higher– much higher position. 30 Rock emphasizes Jack’s greed and desperation for a higher social status in that one small fact about the character’s past. Despite the disheartening truth about Jack’s intentions, which are one in the same with many real-life CEO’s or Vice-President’s of companies, this series puts a tangible spin on the subject by making it humorous.
Along with Donaghy’s shenanigans in attempting to downsize the staff while keeping his bonus in the beginning of season four, 30 Rock continues to make examples of higher class workers such as Dr. Spaceman. This character, played by Chris Parnell, is often featured in the series as the go-to doctor, although he is clearly an extremely unintelligent man. Once again, while this character lends itself to undeniably witty jokes, the writers are definitely making a point underneath the satire. With Dr. Spaceman (if his name doesn’t explain enough), 30 Rock is essentially mocking an under qualified, yet highly paid member of society. The same mocking undertones that are used to enhance Jack’s childish greed are also utilized here to unveil Dr. Spaceman’s inabilities as a doctor and as a person in general.
Political Satire
There are numerous examples of the different jabs that 30 Rock uses to poke fun at NBC, GE, or Comcast (Kabletown) in any given episode. But often what purely seems to be a corporate pun is also combined with some sort of political message. First off, Liz and Jack of 30 Rock have very purposeful opinions and political leanings. There is a constant but gentle battle between communitarianism and libertarianism in the show, as well as just an overall recognition of current events that Fey tends to put her liberal spin on.
This series has even gone so far as to feature former secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice as one of Jack Donaghy’s love interests. If some don’t quite catch on to the political undertones of this series, they certainly will after witnessing a strong, African American woman in a federal leadership position, who apparently also has a sense of humor. This is a perfect example of the way that 30 Rock stays fresh and unique by being more than just a one-liner series; and furthermore it is a perfect example of why 30 Rock got paired up with shows like The Colbert Report of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. If you catch the right audience, smart humor is received incredibly well.
On the other hand, there are also some strong beliefs against Fey and her board of writers for 30 Rock, for the main reason that gets the series in trouble most often; critics wonder when the enveloped will be pushed a little too far.
Feedback
In between the loyal viewers who appreciate Tina Fey’s sharp wit, there are the non-believers in the crowd. After all, when it comes down to it, Fey receives most of the grief for the constant badgering of society that 30 Rock maintains. A key point that catapulted Fey into the entertainment as well as political spot light, is her infamous impression of Sarah Palin. Tina Fey’s impersonations on SNL of the former Alaskan Governor have prompted laughter, but also some heavy disagreements about Fey’s actual comedic quality. Many are skeptical about whether or not Fey would be so popular if it weren’t for Palin in the first place. Also, there is worry about GE soon being out of the picture for 30 Rock‘s script, causing a shortage in the series’ source of critical jokes.
In the End, It’s Still Funny
30 Rock has its fond and not-so-fond critics, similar to any television series. But whether or not GE loses ownership in the future, or Tina Fey continues to use Jack as a money hungry character who steps on the little guys along the way, 30 Rock is doing something different. Sure, there are a few politically savvy comedy shows out there, but overall 30 Rock is one of the few that delivers a constant stream of jokes from second to second. And for those who can’t keep up or want something a little more mindless, they aren’t being forced to tune in. However, as long as there are people who enjoy mixing entertainment with a little knowledge, 30 Rock is going to survive.
After looking at 30 Rock as a valuable commodity of the powerhouse that is General Electric and Comcast, it’s necessary to examine what the components of ownership entail for the GE/Comcast combo. After all, if you’re consuming any type of media you should know who is behind the scenes pulling the strings (i.e. who has the money to make the calls), especially if it’s a particularly media-critical television show such as 30 Rock. This series is a product up for consumption and therefore it’s vital to be aware of who we’re really paying by becoming an avid viewer; keeping in mind the impact that the media big shots have on us little guys.
History of the Companies
General Electric
The elder of the two owners is General Electric, formed in 1892 under the guidance of Thomas Edison. GE has become one of the oldest and most well-known conglomerates, providing everything from kitchen appliances to television entertaining such as the feature of this blog.
Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation however, was formed in 1963 and was actually known as American Cable Systems for the first 6 years of its existence. Although Comcast primarily serves as an internet, television and telephone provider, it also has large stakes in several cable networks, distribution companies and other random sources of media, both small and large.
These two companies merged within the last year to share ownership of 30 Rock‘s home network, NBC Universal. But prior to the GE/Comcast merger, NBC Universal was produced by the earlier collaboration of General Electric’s NBC and Vivendi’s Universal.
Board of Directors
General Electric
GE’s board of directors has sixteen members, many of which are independent, meaning that they are not affiliated with the General Electric company in an executive position. Jeff Immelt however, serves on the board of directors and has also been the CEO for the last decade. A couple of the members on this board simultaneously work on other boards of successful companies, such as Wal-Mart, Dell Inc., Coca-Cola, and Verizon. This connection is interesting because knowing who is on several separate boards also shows who earns money from several levels of 30 Rock revenue. For example, in a situation such as Robert Lane’s, being a board member of both GE and Verizon benefits him from two angles when 30 Rock incorporates product placement for Verizon into the show.
Comcast Corporation
Comcast has a slightly smaller board of directors with thirteen members, and the CEO is Brian Roberts. The only member who sits on more than one other board is Judith Rodin, who is also on the board for Citigroup and AMR, both very lucrative companies.
How Much They Earn/What They Own
The sales revenue for General Electric has remained relatively steady over the last five years, only decreasing minutely, while their actual profit (gross income) has had a similar trend. Comcast has shown a more promising trend, with their revenue, cash flow and income all increasing by at least 3%, sometimes much higher. However both companies are incredibly stable, and Comcast’s profit of more increases than decreases in money could simply be due to its wide expansion in the last few years.
When it comes to what these two companies own, 30 Rock‘s home of NBC Universal is just one asset. GE and Comcast both own a plethora of either manufacturing, distributing, and/or media companies that serve as various assets and subsidiaries of the two. Consequently, whether it is GE who has been a household name even for the baby boomers or Comcast who is just recently growing to its enormous expansion, both companies have very big hands in what, where, and how we consume.
What Effects Will The Merger Have?
Now that Comcast has obtained the majority ownership of NBC Universal, the opportunity may arise to gain sole ownership of the media company by 2020. The outcome of that acquisition is not certain, seeing as GE and Comcast combined result in a lot of room for some prime vertical integration. Not only do both companies distribute media, but they can now join forces in aspects such as GE’s theme parks, both companies’ broadcast stations, and the use of Universal Studios.
Although there have been speculations and worries about the results of the merger, it has been pointed out that in general, vertical integration does not do much harm to the industry in comparison to its alternative, horizontal integration. Therefore, some are saying that by Comcast and GE using their combined subsidiaries to vertically integrate products, the outcome will not cause much harm to competition. Whether or not the outcome will disable competitors is up in the air until the merged companies begin affirming alterations within the media.
Criticism
As mentioned before, there have definitely been many that have doubted this giant merger since the very first discussion of it in 2008-2009. The main fears revolve around the mere size of the two companies by themselves, let alone when they are a duo. For instance, in 2010 Comcast angered thousands of customers when proposing to add an extra fee in order to use the streaming site under Comcast’s internet service. This was eventually shot down by the FCC, protecting Net-Neutrality, but the fear of this seemingly power-hungry company remains, and is certainly not soothed by its merger with an even larger conglomerate.
So, What?
In this case, the point of investigating giant companies in such depth is to find their inevitable relation to us little ol’ consumers. When looking at 30 Rock, you have to remember you’re also looking at NBC Universal, who originally came from Vivendi, and is now essentially General Electric and Comcast. All of these corporations have helped to bring us this comedy series, yet for how much money they bring in, the large profits end up in a small amount of hands. Unfortunately, no matter how funny it is to see Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey make corporate jokes and rub the company’s nose in their money-hungry strategies, at the end of the day these actors, as well as us consumers, are promoting the giants.
In my previous post, the background of 30 Rock and how it came to be was covered. But after discussing where the series began, here is some information on what it has grown to be and what goes into making the show a successful commodity…
Production
30 Rock is primarily written and produced by Tina Fey, who is also featured in every episode as one of the show’s main actors. But Fey does have help from a handful of writer/producer collaborators such as Lorne Michaels, Robert Carlock and Marci Klein, who have all assisted Fey on over half of the aired episodes. The show’s most prominent director is Don Scardino, who has directed several television series’ since the 1960’s and also been a part of the majority of 30 Rock‘s production. In various costs for the series, Tina Fey makes roughly $350,000 per episode, compared to her co-star, Alec Baldwin who receives $300,000 per episode. In addition to these amounts, a rough estimate on production costs for a network such as NBC comes to about $1.5 to $2 million for one episode. Therefore, while the other head writers and executive producers probably don’t receive quite as much compensation as Tina Fey, hundreds of thousands of dollars are going into paying all of these employees and being added to the high expenses for just one episode.
Distribution/Profit
Despite the ongoing sums of money being put into this comedy series, 30 Rock levels things out with the help of areas such as distribution. NBC Universal runs the domestic television distribution for 30 Rock, therefore having the say of how much money another network or market has to pay in order to offer the show to the public. 30 Rock can be viewed in a number of ways, including: online streaming from sites such as Netflix, Hulu, NBC.com viewer, Amazon; as well as DVD rental or purchase from various online or in store sources. The show’s two main distributors on television are of course, NBC, as well as Comedy Central/WGN.
Several licensing agreements have been reached enabling such off-network distribution, profiting NBC Universal big bucks from all angles. Last summer (July, 2011), Amazon.com Inc. made an agreement with Universal Pictures, obtaining thousands of movies and television shows for approximately $50 million, and also creating some competition for other online viewing sites. Meanwhile, Comedy Central and Tribune Company’s WGN purchased rights to broadcast 30 Rock in 2011for upwards of $800,000 per episode. Hulu and the NBC.com viewer were set up by NBC Universal itself, and as for Netflix, the cost of their deal with NBC Universal is hard to pin down, but is sure to produce a large profit considering how much of this series can be streamed and rented through the site.
Advertising revenue is also a very key component is gaining profit, for example, it costs $133,000 for a 30-second commercial spot on NBC. This essentially means that if a company or market wants to advertise a product for just 30 seconds during a commerical break when 30 Rock is airing, they have to give NBC this lump sum. This time slot and cost for NBC Thursday night television is second only to The Office, who costs $178,840 for the same amount of time.
Synergy
Similar to most media these days, 30 Rock makes a profit from creating synergy through selling various items of merchandise. If you visit NBCstore.com you’ll find pages upon pages of profitable items that represent virtually all that NBC airs. 30 Rock sells everything from clothing to lanyards, with the typically random items such as bobble heads and magnets in the mix as well. Also included is the availability of seasons of 30 Rock on DVD, soundtracks and SNL related merch (namely, The best of Alec Baldwin).
During the first two seasons of the show, viewers and critics noticed the satirical use of product placement rising to a largely profitable amount; by 2007 having 142 product placements within the episodes. The way in which 30 Rock writes these products into the script is clever, but has been questioned when it comes to how long the writers can pull off such a sarcastic way of selling ads. With the meta-critique basis of the show, that is making a sort of parody of the show’s real-life similarities (Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy actually working for NBC within the series), the satire extends even to incorporating product placement in order to gain revenue. The exact prices paid to NBC are unknown, but memorable moments on the show include Snapple, Cisco and Verizon all placing ads into the comedy series and certainly paying a significant amount. There are times however, that 30 Rock has used or portrayed a market in the show without receiving payment, i.e. the “Mcflurry” situation. In this case, Tina Fey did write in Jack Donaghy’s consumption of/love for McDonald’s Mcflurry just as a quirky part of the episode’s plot; relieving critics by revealing it was not for money. Such quirks are what keep 30 Rock ahead of the game in terms of not simply selling out for money’s sake.
30 Rock’s quip to Verizon “Can we have our money now?”
Consumption
With the level of intelligence that goes into creating this television series, it’s no surprise that 30 Rock is well received on a station such as Comedy Central, reaching an audience that is used to highly politicized content and a fresh point of view (South Park, Jon Stewart, etc). In the spring of 2011, 30 Rock’s ratings for its targeted 18-49 year old demographic was 2.2, a little lower than both The Office and Parks and Recreation, but still in the top rankings for Thursday night comedy on NBC. As far as DVD sales, the seasons are available in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and various other places based on the DVD Regions of one, two, and four. Over all, 30 Rock is a favorite of the critics but still takes a little more time to catch on than a show such as The Office. This could be due to The Office having a male lead as opposed to Tina Fey’s star position, or even the time in which The Office‘s once leading man, Steve Carell became popular (this being much more recent than, say, Alec Baldwin).
However, the departure of Steve Carell from The Office is not the only commodity that’s been shaken up in the television world; 30 Rock’s newest season was postponed because of Tina Fey’s pregnancy, and there are rumors of just how long Alec Baldwin will or will not stay with the series. Which sitcom will come out on top? Only time will tell. But while he’s still on board, I’ll leave you with a little of Jack Donaghy’s brilliance…
For most dedicated NBC viewers, Thursday night is usually booked up each week. This is because many people sanction off the hours of anywhere from 8 to 11 p.m. for a variety of different television series’, one of the big hitters being 30 Rock.
30 Rock is a comedy series that began in 2006, springing off an idea similar to the actual life of one its writers, Tina Fey. The series primarily creates a sketch comedy show about a sketch comedy show, hence the similarity to Tina Fey’s career. This cleverly named (or simply named, depending on how you look at it) series may seem like just another satirical show by NBC, but aspects right down to its namesake are actually quite unique. For those who didn’t already catch on, 30 Rock is short for 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the home base for General Electric Company in New York City.
Who Owns 30 Rock?
As previously mentioned, GE (General Electric) has an inherit stake in 30 Rock, in the name alone. But the power extends far beyond just the name. To the dismay of some, GE merged companies with Comcast, leaving Comcast with a slightly higher percentage of ownership of NBCUniversal than GE. These percentages amount to 51% for Comcast and 49% for GE, clearly making Comcast the most powerful company in yet another area of the media industry. In comparison to another television network such as CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System), who produces other comedic series’ such as How I Met Your Mother, there are several differences between the services they offer and the ownership throughout the companies. For instance, CBS Corporation* owns CBS television, but overall the corporation offers slightly less television related services through cable, programming and international channels. However, when comparing the sources of power in NBC and CBS; NBC is now owned by two partnered conglomerates, while CBS is solely owned by CBS Corporation.
Writers and Producers
Tina Fey is essentially the leading lady of 30 Rock, in more ways than one. Not only is she one of the main characters of the series, serving as the brunt of many of her boss, Jack Donaghy’s jokes; but she is also a writer and executive producer of the show. After almost a decade of performing and eventually becoming a head writer for Saturday Night Live, she took much of the content for 30 Rock from her actual struggles and accomplishments as a real-life writer for a sketch comedy show.
Along with Tina Fey, the other producers include: Lorne Michaels, Marci Klein, Robert Carlock and David Miner- two of which, Lorne Michaels and Robert Carlock, also have written for SNL.
When it comes to writing for 30 Rock, Tina Fey has help from Kay Cannon, and for a few years was assisted by Community star and rising hip hop artist, Donald Glover.
Actors
When it comes to the stars of the show, 30 Rock would be nothing without the co-star characters that Tina Fey created. Her partner in the dynamic duo that is “Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon” is Alec Baldwin, yet another star that has had his face in the SNL scene for year. Also helping to complete the “NBC” image are Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer, serving as the two main stars of Liz Lemon’s show “TGS” and the leading page boy for the company.
30 Rock: Comedy at its Finest 