This was the first episode of 30 Rock that I saw. In it, Tina Fey's character Liz is set up on a blind date by her boss. The date turns out to be with another woman, as the boss mistakenly assumed that Liz was a lesbian. I saw this "straight woman gets sent on a date with another woman" joke before on Sex and the City, but it was still okay here. The jokes about Liz afraid of dying alone were surprisingly funny, and tied in with the plot because it made Liz want to see the lesbian again. And Alec Baldwin's impression of Hannibal Lecter was a nice reference. The poker subplot was amusing, since the episode explored how an idiot would be good at the game. I'm not sure how much more a regular viewer would enjoy the episode, with more familiarity with the characters, but the episode made me want to see more. Nominated for Outstanding Individual Episode at the GLAAD Media Awards.
7 Reviews
30 Rock: Blind Date is amusing Tina Fey showcase
tavm30 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
After Liz brings a snippy vibe to work, her boss Jack offers to find her a date mentioning a Thomas. That Thomas turns out to be Gretchen Thomas, a lesbian. After confronting Jack by asking him what made him think she was interested in women, Jack replies, "Your shoes, they make you look bi-curious." Because Liz had enjoyed Gretchen's company at her dinner date, she invites her to the weekly poker game in the studio where Jack is trying to beat a network page at his game. Gretchen later breaks her friendship with Liz after Liz, despite being straight, brings off a "clingy" vibe. After two uneven episodes centering on behind the scenes, 30 Rock regains some footing in the outing about Liz's private life. Plenty of pop culture references abound including this from her producer on former boyfriends: "That gangly redhead with the guitar" "Conan" replies Liz. Also, when Jack tries to smoke out the page, Baldwin does a hilarious Hannibal Lecter impression to make him ashamed of his upbringing. No Rachel Dratch or Jane Krakowski this week but Tracy Morgan is amusing when he leaves the table and cleverly ID's other poker hands. Hope 30 Rock does better when it moves to Thursday in a couple of weeks.
Starting To Go On A Roll!
g-bodyl19 August 2013
The third episode in the series finally reaches it's potential after the first two ho-hum episodes. This episode is actually funny through out with some funny jokes and how people handle some really crazy situations. The acting gets better especially with Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan. As usual, Alec Baldwin is a beast! I also like how we get more personal with each characters as they get away from work.
"Blind Date" is about how Jack sets up Liz a date with his friend Thomas, but Thomas ends up being a lesbian. Liz takes it very well as she starts to hang out with her. Meanwhile, a weekly poker tournament goes from friendly to competitive.
Overall, this is a very funny episode. I loved how some of the minor characters got some attention this go around. This is the kind of episode I like to see with each episode. I rate this episode 9/10.
"Blind Date" is about how Jack sets up Liz a date with his friend Thomas, but Thomas ends up being a lesbian. Liz takes it very well as she starts to hang out with her. Meanwhile, a weekly poker tournament goes from friendly to competitive.
Overall, this is a very funny episode. I loved how some of the minor characters got some attention this go around. This is the kind of episode I like to see with each episode. I rate this episode 9/10.
"Those shoes are definitely bi-curious"
MaxBorg8925 September 2008
After focusing on the behind-the-scenes aspect of its concept, 30 Rock hits another high by shifting towards Liz's private life and granting minor characters more space. In this specific case, the character in question is Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer), the ambivalent NBC page.
The personal life storyline is centered on Jack's proposal that Liz go out on a date with his friend Thomas. The friend turns out to be Gretchen Thomas (Stephanie March), a lesbian. Nonetheless, Liz enjoys the evening and starts hanging out with Gretchen regularly, if only to make sure her worst fear - choking to death in an empty apartment - doesn't come true. Jack, on the other hand, joins the writing staff in a poker game and turns what used to be a friendly tradition into a full-on competition, beating everyone but Kenneth, the only person working at NBC that he can't "read".
McBrayer does his best with his moment in the spotlight, although the best moments remain Baldwin's reactions to the new situation, culminating in a spot-on Hannibal Lecter impression and a smart reference to The Godfather ("Keep your friends close and your enemies closer"). As for the lesbian part of the plot, Tina Fey's interactions with March make it funny without being excessive (despite the Oprah jokes). Then again, that detail is effortlessly handled by Judah Friedlander's semi-depraved Frank: when Liz asks him what guys like, his deadpan answer is a plain and simple "Porn". Lovely.
The personal life storyline is centered on Jack's proposal that Liz go out on a date with his friend Thomas. The friend turns out to be Gretchen Thomas (Stephanie March), a lesbian. Nonetheless, Liz enjoys the evening and starts hanging out with Gretchen regularly, if only to make sure her worst fear - choking to death in an empty apartment - doesn't come true. Jack, on the other hand, joins the writing staff in a poker game and turns what used to be a friendly tradition into a full-on competition, beating everyone but Kenneth, the only person working at NBC that he can't "read".
McBrayer does his best with his moment in the spotlight, although the best moments remain Baldwin's reactions to the new situation, culminating in a spot-on Hannibal Lecter impression and a smart reference to The Godfather ("Keep your friends close and your enemies closer"). As for the lesbian part of the plot, Tina Fey's interactions with March make it funny without being excessive (despite the Oprah jokes). Then again, that detail is effortlessly handled by Judah Friedlander's semi-depraved Frank: when Liz asks him what guys like, his deadpan answer is a plain and simple "Porn". Lovely.
Episode rip off of two Sex and the City episodes
tazguys23 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Can anyone say "Sex and the City"? Check out the episode when Miranda gets set up on a blind date by a co-worker who thinks she is a lesbian. And check out the show where she thinks she will die alone after choking on food. Honestly, this episode is just a rip-off of those two episodes.
So I have to add lines to submit? This doesn't make any sense. Anyway, this show has promise, but this episode was practically plagiarism. I can't believe that no one on this show flagged this episode as problematic. And to have an episode this early on in the show be this uncreative really sealed its fate for me. But I'm trying to get on board again since I am a fan of practically everyone involved.
So I have to add lines to submit? This doesn't make any sense. Anyway, this show has promise, but this episode was practically plagiarism. I can't believe that no one on this show flagged this episode as problematic. And to have an episode this early on in the show be this uncreative really sealed its fate for me. But I'm trying to get on board again since I am a fan of practically everyone involved.
Blind Date (#1.3)
ComedyFan201016 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Jack sets Liz up on a lesbian date because of her bi-curious shoes. She first refuses but then she gets scared of choking to death while alone and goes.
In the other story there is a poker night and Jack is great at reading his opponents except for Kenneth, the page of the network.
Good episode. Now it concentrated less on Tracy and Jenna and we got to learn more about Liz and Kenneth. And I love Alec Baldwin's character. Very well done.
And yes, the idea on Liz story really seems to come from SATC. But I still liked it. It has a bit different spin on it.
In the other story there is a poker night and Jack is great at reading his opponents except for Kenneth, the page of the network.
Good episode. Now it concentrated less on Tracy and Jenna and we got to learn more about Liz and Kenneth. And I love Alec Baldwin's character. Very well done.
And yes, the idea on Liz story really seems to come from SATC. But I still liked it. It has a bit different spin on it.
Blind Date
Prismark107 May 2021
The third episode seems to show more promise. Mainly because it involves the characters rather than the show they are producing.
The two key elements are Jack sets Liz up with a date wrongly assuming that she is a lesbian.
The clue might have been when Jack told Liz to go out and get some girlie clothes.
Meanwhile the guys friendly game of poker is taken over by Jack who can read them all like a book. The exception being the page Kenneth.
This allows Alec Baldwin to shine with some pop cultural references ranging from The Silence of the Lambs to The Godfather.
It was notable that Tracy had been dialled down a lot in this episode.
The two key elements are Jack sets Liz up with a date wrongly assuming that she is a lesbian.
The clue might have been when Jack told Liz to go out and get some girlie clothes.
Meanwhile the guys friendly game of poker is taken over by Jack who can read them all like a book. The exception being the page Kenneth.
This allows Alec Baldwin to shine with some pop cultural references ranging from The Silence of the Lambs to The Godfather.
It was notable that Tracy had been dialled down a lot in this episode.
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