Merkins for hope

While most of America was watching the NCAA tournament, 30 Rock decided to throw non sports fans a bone with a new episode. This wee, Jack has to figure out a way to re-sign Tracey to a new contract and Liz finds their are hidden benefits and risks to dating a super handsome man.

Liz begins to notice that when she’s with her new beau Drew, they get preferential treatment. Drew’s so handsome that he has lived in a bubble of good will for years. While playing tennis, Drew reveals that he was once a teaching pro. After just a few swings its clear that Drew only got work because women wanted to spend time with him. Liz finds that Drew is actually terrible at most things but no one’s been honest with him due to his supernatural handsomeness. Liz levels with Drew and it becomes clear that he can’t handle life this way. Liz has to choose between Drew and his bubble and a life with the rest of us. Not surprisingly, Liz chooses a normal non-handsome life.

Tracey quits the show after Jack reveals to him how rich he really is. Jack is desperate to sign him. He even goes so far as to impersonate Bill Cosby and Billy Dee Williams during phone negotiations. Jack eventually decides that the one thing that Tracey can’t live without at the show is Kenneth and eventually he pulls the right strings to get Tracey back.

The attractive girlfriend bit has already been done on Seinfeld years ago, but 30 Rock did a pretty good job of retooling it. Drew was clearly another temporary stop in Liz’s love life, but I was pretty satisfied with the way the show took him out.