'30 Rock': Why Liz Lemon Has Man Problems

More
30Rock5_post.jpg

NBC


We've known for a long time that Liz Lemon, as a single woman in New York, is not of the same mold as the sex-swinging, vibrator-toting Samantha Joneses of the world. Before tonight's unique opportunity to dive deep into Liz's psyche, we have chalked up her negative attitude regarding sex to her generally uptight and neurotic nature.

Luckily for Liz, Jack is "Reaganing," batting a thousand, and is eager to help the "Albert Pujols of having problems." He corners her in his car, and Liz admits, under duress, that "my junk closed for business. It's like Fort Knox down there." She attributes her reoccurring inabilities on a particularly painful childhood memory:



After a long and painful ride to Newark Airport to break up with Carol, Jack continues his success streak and realizes that it's not the fact that "sex makes the people go away" that turns Liz off. All of her dysfunction happens as a direct result of Tom Jones (Las Vegas, song playing, unfortunate man perm). The episode ends with Liz remembering that Carol is at JFK instead of Newark, and we don't get a resolution regarding their possible break-up. Will Liz still break up with Carol, considering her new unusual revelation regarding the "It's Not Unusual" singer? My guess is yes, but only after we find out Carol has always dreamed of dancing to a Tom Jones song at his wedding, or something like that.

Best random quote that has nothing to do with the show's plot: "I have to talk to Rachel Maddow—only one of us can have this haircut." – Jack Donaghy

Jump to comments
Presented by

Caitlan Smith is a senior recruiter for Atlantic Media Company, having previously worked for The Atlantic as an editorial assistant and researcher. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

Get Today's Top Stories in Your Inbox (preview)


Elsewhere on the web

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register. blog comments powered by Disqus

Video

Miami: The Next Big Start-Up City?

How the city became a center for innovation

Video

Video

A Brief History of Romantic Comedies

From The Atlantic's Chris Orr

Video

Video

Life in 'the New Arctic'

A moving portrait of a fading landscape

Video

Video

The Rise of New York City

A fascinating look at Manhattan in the 1940s

Video

'I Thought It Was Really Funny, but No One Else Did'

A day with New Yorker cartoonist Joe Dator

Video

New Yorkers: The Winemaker

Make your own wine ... in New York City

Video

What Is Methane Hydrate?

"Flaming ice" is a vast natural energy source

Video

NASA's Time-Lapse of the Sun

Now with epic dubstep music

Video

A Video Letter From the Editor

Highlights from the May 2013 issue

Video

Shaken Not Tuned: Cocktail Experiments

Can a tuning fork improve a cocktail?

Video

Video

The Rise of Environmentalism

Tracking 50 years, from the Love Canal disaster to Greenpeace

Video

Is He Cheating? A 1950s Guide

'That little blonde secretary from the office?’

Video

New Yorkers: Vintage Vacuum-Tube Amps

Risking electric shock to restore old amplifiers

Video

The DIY Piano-Bicycle

Everybody needs a hobby

Writers

Up
Down

More in Entertainment

In Focus

2013 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Just In