30 Rock (TV Series) The Collection (2007) User Reviews

Mostly Funny!

[g-bodyl · 8/10 · 16 July 2014]

This is the third episode of the second season of 30 Rock and for the most part, it's funny. It does have the unfortunate title of being the weakest episode so far, but we are only three episodes in. But the highlight of the episode is the hilarious inclusion of Steve Buscemi. As an inspector looking into Jack's life, I just couldn't stop laughing.

In this episode, "The Collection," with Jack in the running for the new CEO, he hires an inspector to look into his life and he advises Jack to get rid of his cookie jar collection. Meanwhile, Liz has to keep an eye on Tracy to make sure he doesn't upset his wife. Finally, Kenneth is ordered to force Jenna to eat, so she won't lose her weight.

Overall, this is a solid episode. But I felt the cookie jar scenario was weak. The acting by Alec Baldwin and Buscemi makes it bearable, but it could have been better. I loved the Tracy scenes though, especially when his wife is ordering everyone around. I rate this episode 8/10.

Average for 30 Rock

[gizmomogwai · 8/10 · 18 October 2007]

This is an average installment of 30 Rock, with a few laughs throughout the episode but nothing much making it a standout. As with Jack Gets in the Game, Tina's role is reduced and she finds herself watching Tracy to make sure he stays faithful to his wife. This wasn't an incredibly funny plot line, although maybe others can relate to it more. The subplots see Jack parting with a collection of cookie jars since he believes people with weird hobbies don't get the big promotion. This, along with a private investigator who learns about the cookie jars, was somewhat funnier, a little quirky.

Meanwhile, Jenna is losing weight and since her fame had increased with her size, Kenneth is assigned to help her put on the pounds. I've heard people criticize Jack McBrayer, who plays Kenneth, as an actor, but here he actually showed a little range and played the part nicely. As always, Kenneth is a good character.

The Collection was another funny episode of "30 Rock"

[tavm · 8/10 · 20 October 2007]

Jack tells Liz he's getting an investigation on himself to keep G.E. from finding out about anything scandalous about him. The detective he meets (Steve Buscemi) does tell him he has to get rid of his cookie jar collection since the only reason Rudy Guiliani became New York mayor was because no one found out about his doll collection. Jenna is worried about losing her weight since her popularity increased from that so Kenneth tries to say mean things to make her hungry again. Instead it makes her horny for him. And while Liz agreed to watch Tracy when Angie goes somewhere, when Angie's gone Tracy goes to a strip club which doesn't sit well with his wife...Many hilarious stuff concerning Jack's cookie jar collection and Jenna's commercial for Enormie, the perfume for plus-size women ("Make him chase the chunk.") After missing for the first two second season episodes, Pete was back for a brief conversation with Liz. Buscemi's appearance was perhaps a bit brief. Maybe he'll be back in another episode. Kenneth, as always, has the best lines. Sherri Shepherd also was funny as Angie. Be back next week with another review...

"You don't collect cookie jars, do you?"

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 22 October 2008]

The Collection doesn't really reach as high as previous episodes, but it's pretty darn good nonetheless, courtesy of some pleasantly laughable set-ups and a humorous if a bit brief guest appearance by Steve Buscemi (who was deemed funny enough to get nominated for an Emmy).

The main plot concerns Jack setting up an investigation about his past so that GE doesn't learn anything scandalous about him. The guy he hires, Lenny Wozniak (Buscemi) tells him he has to get rid of his cookie jar collection, since it was a similar hobby that cost John Kerry the 2004 Presidential election (yeah, right). Meanwhile, Liz has to make sure Tracy's wife Angie (Sherri Shepherd), who is hanging around the office all day long and imposing African- American-friendly jokes for TGS, doesn't find out about his visits to strip clubs, and Kenneth is instructed to make sure Jenna, who is more popular now that she's fat (her new catchphrase is "Me want food!"), doesn't lose any weight. His technique, however, makes her horny instead of hungry, with awkward results.

As always, dialogue is the key to success, with Jack's explanation for the collection being the best of the lot (after telling Liz how his mother never made any cookies for him and his siblings, he concludes "So obviously it has nothing to do with my childhood"). Acting-wise, Jack McBrayer gets to be as embarrassingly endearing as ever, and Shepherd uses her episode-long guest spot to perfection, cleverly assisted by Tracy Morgan. As for Buscemi, he wasn't really that funny (the Emmy nomination is difficult to explain), but it has mostly got to do with the brevity of his role. Besides, gotta love him when he says Giuliani became mayor of New York just because his doll collection was kept secret. Hilarious.

The Collection (#2.3)

[ComedyFan2010 · 9/10 · 19 November 2013]

Jack hires an investigator to see what in his life may stand in the way of him getting a promotion. And he is told to get rid of his cookie jar collection. Jenna gets all worried because she seems to be losing weight and Kenneth is supposed to make her eat more. Liz has to deal with Tracy's wife Angie who doesn't want to leave his side and gets too involved on the show.

Too many hilarious lines. Many of them said by Angie. "I trusted you, you wear glasses!" or "did you try to control my body with your white hand?" Beautiful!

Jack's cookie jar story is good as well. Very cute and so weird, that it makes it entertaining.

Maudlin and reflective episode

[safenoe · 7/10 · 16 June 2021]

Steve Buscemi guest stars, and it's easy to remember that whilst 30 Rock went from strength to strength, it was Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip that got the axe. Yes, Aaron Sorkin's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Why couldn't NBC have room for both?

Turning back into a dude from a tiger

[XeniaGuberman · 7/10 · 19 July 2022]

The Collection (2007)

This is a truly remarkably funny yet multilayered episode. However, after watching it, I was wondering what was the origin of Tracy Jordan's phrase "You can't ask a tiger not to turn back into a Chinese dude at midnight!". Curiously, at first I couldn't locate a Chinese proverb or a tale on that, of course not being a specialist in oriental studies. However, there is a story "Sangetsuki" by the author Atsushi Nakajima, featuring a Chinese guy with an ability to turn into a tiger. From there, one could find both Korean and Chinese legends with a similar premise. If it is indeed the reference, it makes that exchange with Liz even funnier!