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30 Rock and Criminal Justice

Tina Fey
  • Posted at 1:02pm
  • 02 October 2009
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 10 comments

The US comedy 30 Rock is always described as "critically acclaimed" which, as we all know, really means "nobody watches it". Even in its native land, 30 Rock's audience is comparatively tiny, with writer/creator/star Tina Fey (pictured) memorably thanking the show's "several viewers" at an awards ceremony.

So with 30 Rock a prophet without honour in its own land, it never really stood much of a chance over here. The first two series were bought by Five, who broadcast season one in increasingly eccentric time slots (ie late or, sometimes, not at all). Yes, of course, it died.

Season two was finally interred on Five USA, though, without a decent funeral, and unsurprisingly Five didn't bother opening its piggy bank for series three, which looked set to be an orphan.

Until digital channel Comedy Central swooped in and bought it. The series starts on Monday (12 October). I'm glad it's found a UK home, though I'm sad it's available to satellite-only audiences.

But I long ago resigned myself to 30 Rock being very niche indeed. Historically, series set behind the scenes in television don't do well. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip starring Matthew Perry tanked in the States; Moving Wallpaper on ITV1 didn't do much (mind you, it was mainly pretty terrible) and the greatest TV-set sitcom of all, The Larry Sanders Show, featuring Garry Shandling as an egregious chat show host, is beloved of about 28 people.

30 Rock is set backstage at a Saturday Night Live-type comedy show, with Fey as Liz Lemon, its clever, but perpetually insecure producer, forever at the mercy of her mad boss, Jack (Alec Baldwin, who is brilliant in the role of a lifetime).

And, Mad Men fans take note, future episodes of the new series feature Jon Hamm as Liz's new neighbour and love interest. Goodness, how many "critically acclaimed", barely watched TV series can one man star in?

**

I hope you're limbering up for the week's big drama event, Criminal Justice, showing across five consecutive nights from Monday on BBC1. I'd recommend you stock up on energy drinks and possibly Kendal Mint Cake, because it's a long slog.

Maxine Peake will break your heart as Juliet, an abused wife who finally snaps after she's ill-treated once too often by her coolly powerful barrister husband (Matthew MacFadyen). Immediately she's swallowed whole by the baffling, harsh British legal system.

Frankly, five nights of remorseless sadness is an awful lot to ask of any viewer, and the scheduling gives little time for collecting thoughts or even trying to take a deep breath, such is Criminal Justice's cumulative effect.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

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Comments

  • Posted on 09 November 2009
  • at 4:57pm
  • by Carolyn

Yes this was a triumph of a series - it taught me again not to take things at face value. But oh the victim was so vulnerable and useless! I immediately started willing her to run rings round him if he was so obsessive about me - a myriad of false trails. Also a good strong curry would work wonders...

  • Posted on 10 October 2009
  • at 1:30pm
  • by Steve

Well acted throughout the five episodes, clearly depicting the futility faced by women who suffer such emotional control, their own dispair and inability to confide in anyone, through the lack of trust in themselves or others. To say the least an exceptionally emotive topic and very thought provoking about our legal system.

  • Posted on 10 October 2009
  • at 11:23am
  • by Ruth

But what of the sentence passed? Was the judge really being objective seeing as he'd known and worked with and admired the husband? Along with all his colleagues. Surely in a case like this where is a conflict of interest he should have been a judge who didn't know him? And the sentence - two and a half years to remain in prison in a hell hole and go quietly mad without either of her children or any family support, when all she ever did was suffer. How can this possibly be portrayed as justice?

  • Posted on 10 October 2009
  • at 12:59am
  • by Sylda

Maxine Peake - absolutely marvellous!! Rarely felt so much sympathy with what I know to be a fictional character. Slow - yes it was slow but how could it have been fast and so in depth. More of the same quality please!

  • Posted on 09 October 2009
  • at 6:01pm
  • by paul

i only just restrained myself from shouting "GET ON WITH IT" at the screen.she ought to be given 10 years for being pathetic. for God's sake tell them what happened to you!

  • Posted on 09 October 2009
  • at 11:05am
  • by Helen

Brilliantly acted and superbly written and directed. The writing is so spare, so trusting of the viewer's intelligence. This has been a gripping treat all week. Fantastic drama - if only there were more like it on TV.

  • Posted on 08 October 2009
  • at 8:47pm
  • by helen

to 'hit me once too often' - women generally can't fight back without the use of something other than their fists. i don't condone violence but men just overpower women and his domination, humiliation and violence creeps up so imperceptably she doesn't know she's trapped until way too late to escape.

i caught up on all three episodes last night back-to-back. talk about wrung out. the portrayal of the lovely, worshipped, reasonable dad and laywer is so perfect. these violent men work things so no-one else can possibly believe such a thing of them if their wives ever do make a complaint. manipulative, clever, persuasive and charming - a very dangerous combination

  • Posted on 08 October 2009
  • at 11:52am
  • by hit me once too often

have not stopped thinking about this programme all week hopefullt battered women everywhere can find the courage to be strong without the knife and fight back

  • Posted on 07 October 2009
  • at 9:34am
  • by Rachel

Interesting to compare the 'justice' Juliet gets with the case of lawyer Chris Lumsden, who repeatedly stabbed his wife to death.

  • Posted on 05 October 2009
  • at 10:12pm
  • by Shaking

Criminal Justice..I am shaking from head to toe, the reason is, I went through very similar to Juliet character. Minus knife but the police said 'he is your husband, there is nothing we can do'.... when I tried to make a complaint'

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