Episode Report Card Michael Neal: A | 8 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT The Oprah Effect
By Michael Neal | Season 3 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.06.2008
Fake Olympic medalist Tyler Brody paces inside of Jack's office. He's on the verge of spilling the beans about the rigged tetherball event to the news. "There's no such thing as Olympic tetherball or synchronized running or octuples tennis. It's all a lie." He storms out but is stopped by Kenneth in the doorway. He tells Kenneth the sad truth that there is no such thing as Olympic tetherball and Kenneth is left utterly deflated. Jonathan yanks him away. Jack coaxes Tyler from his perch of self-righteousness. "You can be the voice of Knight Rider. The film." "I'm listening," is his sly reply.Tracy and Jenna sit in mediation with a very warm and somewhat rotund fellow. He asks them to explain the dispute. "Tracy thinks he can treat me unfairly because I'm a woman." "What? Please. We are here because white folks think they can do whatever they want to do to black folks. It's like when Adrian Brody kissed Halle Berry at the Oscars." The argument escalates. The only thing that could make this fight more contentious is if one of them was also Jewish. Wait. The rapidly frustrated mediator has something to say: "Do you have any idea how hard it is to be an overweight transgender in this country?" Meeting dismissed.
Lemon is completely delirious from the pills Jack gave her for the plane. She snores in first class. Back at 30 Rock Jack finds Kenneth sulking over the horrible revelation about Tyler Brody. "Believe in the stars. It's like it doesn't even mean anything any more." Jack attempts to talk him down by explaining that life is never as simple as right vs. wrong but Kenneth is unmoved. He always does the right thing even when it's hard.
Tracy and Jenna have it out in front of Toofer, Grizz, and DotCom. They make an important decision. The only way to resolve which group has it harder -- black men or white women -- they must pull some ole' Freaky Friday shiznit and trade places. You know, like . The movie? Except that was a white guy black guy thing. This is more ... how do I put this? Romantic. Of course I'm somewhat biased in this debate seeing as I am a black male. I'm pretty convinced black men have it harder in this country and I always try to tell white women that right before I ask them out on dates. Some people call that "playing the race card" but I think it's more "going on too many Nerve.com dates." Jenna and Tracy decide to trade places for a day to the objection of everyone. DotCom is especially concerned: "Where is Liz Lemon?"