"30 Rock" Flu Shot (2009)

Director:

Don Scardino

Writers:

Tina Fey (creator)
Jon Pollack (written by)

TV Series:

"30 Rock" (2006)

Original Air Date:

15 January 2009 (Season 3, Episode 8)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Liz tries to make a stand and refuses to take a flu shot in a show of solidarity with her coworkers--until she discovers that her island vacation is not canceled. Meanwhile, Jack and Elisa break some rules to begin dating. |

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Boss | Sketch | Writer | New York

Cast

Tina Fey	...	Liz Lemon
Tracy Morgan	...	Tracy Jordan
Jane Krakowski	...	Jenna Maroney
Jack McBrayer	...	Kenneth Parcell
Scott Adsit	...	Pete Hornberger
Judah Friedlander	...	Frank Rossitano (credit only)
Alec Baldwin	...	Jack Donaghy
Katrina Bowden	...	Cerie
Keith Powell	...	Toofer (credit only)
Kevin Brown	...	Dot Com (credit only)
Grizz Chapman	...	Grizz (credit only)
Salma Hayek	...	Elisa
Chris Parnell	...	Dr. Leo Spaceman
George Bartenieff	...	Douglas Templeton
Scott Bryce	...	Michael Templeton

Trivia:

When Elisa is trying to get Jack to tell her what's wrong in episode 3.7 "Senior Macho Solo," Jack says, "It's embarrassing." and then Elisa says, "More embarrassing than your CD collection? I didn't know Michael Bublé had so many albums." In this episode, episode 3.8 "Flu Shot," Michael Buble does an uncredited song called "Mr. Templeton" after Elisa's patient, who she and Jack take on their date with them.

Quotes:

Jenna Maroney: They need medicine. And what's the best medicine?
Tracy Jordan: Medicine?

Movie Connections:

References Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

Soundtrack:

Mr. Templeton

Flu Shot was an okay episode of "30 Rock"

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

In this episode, Liz' beach vacation is canceled so she decides to support her crew-who are all working despite their flu-and not take her shot since Dr. Spaceman (Chris Parnell, welcome back!) is rationing them under Jack's orders. Jack himself is trying to get Elisa to go out on the town with him despite her other job taking care of an older man named Douglas Templeton (George Bartenieft). And, under also sick Kenneth's suggestion, Tracy and Jenna resolve to get the crew some soup but go shopping instead. They then resolve to cure them with laughter and dress as clowns to cheer them up...I liked the reappearance of Spaceman especially when he told Jack to pull down his pants as he puts the shot in his arm and when Liz betrays her promise to not get her shot, he makes her dance which is comically lame here. Those scenes with that old man in a wheelchair going with Jack and Elisa on their date were also good for a few laughs. And it was a hoot hearing Kenneth speak French when he confronts Liz with her shot arm and she tells him in his sickened state that he's hallucinating and is speaking to his French mother. The only scenes that didn't work were the Tracy and Jenna ones which seemed to be the result of the writers desperate to get them something to do. Speaking of desperation, Scott Adsit must be wondering if anybody even remembers him in the cast since his second or third appearance this season in this episode was only about a couple of minutes long. Overall, Flu Shot was a little uneven episode of "30 Rock" but Parnell's return merits this at least a 6.