A letter to Tina Fey

By Rick Porter

    

September 1, 2006 1:51 PM ET

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Dear Tina Fey,

I know you're making some changes to your NBC show 30 Rock, and from what I understand the new version will focus more on your character's relationship with your boss, Alec Baldwin. That's fine -- Alec Baldwin was really, really good in the version you sent us over the summer, and the two of you seem to have a nice comedy thing going there.

I don't want to tell you how to run your show, Tina, 'cause you're already good at it. But if I could, I'd like to make just one plea to you as you put the finishing touches on the new version of the show:

Please don't cut the writer's room bits.

I have to be honest with you, Tina -- it's been nagging at me that since the changes were announced, there's been next to no mention of Judah Friedlander and Keith Powell and the folks in the writers room. And that's a bummer, because the scenes with them are gold. The "just you and Urkel" line -- fantastic. The myriad Jay Leno impressions? Beautiful. And, at the July press tour, all I and a couple of other critics had to do when we wanted to laugh was turn to each other and whine "My brother's tawl!" in our best Ray Romano voice.

Thanks for listening, Tina, and I hope you don't listen to anyone who says those scenes are too inside-showbiz to play to a wide audience. Funny is funny. Good luck with your new show.

Your pal,

Rick