DÉJÀ VU

Don't disgrace the peacock

Back in 2004, when Arrested Development -- a.k.a. the Best Show in the History of Television -- surprisingly won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, I had high hopes that the award signaled decades of season renewals and a new era of smart, multi-layered comic writing on television. Unfortunately, despite wide acclaim and a rabid fan base, Arrested Development died 18 months later from ratings lower than O.J. Simpson's respect for boundaries.

30 Rock is the closest thing to Arrested Development.

Thus, last night was déjà vu for me.

In a stunning upset, 30 Rock, currently the best scripted show on television, won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, beating out more predictable winners The Office, Ugly Betty, Entourage, and Two and a Half Men.

But as Tina Fey hinted last night when she thanked the show's "dozens and dozens of viewers," 30 Rock's ratings are also rock bottom. Cops has more viewers than 30 Rock.

So here I am again, naively optimistic that my choice show's viewership will exponentially multiply so I can watch new eps until the end of time. Only now, my hardened heart is preparing for it to be replaced by some reality show about the lead singer of Whitesnake teaching a group of lesbian strippers how to cook asparagus.

Nevertheless, if you don't watch 30 Rock, I beg of you to buy Season 1 on DVD. You can even watch entire episodes for free online.

The density and range of jokes and references beg for multiple viewings. The cameos, ranging from Ghostface to Paul Reubens, are priceless. Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, and Jack McBrayer are outrageously superb.

And then, there's Tracy Morgan, the third heat of the show and star of Honky Grandma Be Trippin' ...

--Junichi