Robert Carlock, executive producer and writer of the NBC sitcom “30 Rock.’’
(Ali Goldstein/Nbc)
G FORCE | ROBERT CARLOCK
Fine state of comedy
Robert Carlock, executive producer and writer of the NBC sitcom “30 Rock.’’
(Ali Goldstein/Nbc)
Massachusetts is a funny place. Or at least a lot of people originally from the state are currently at the forefront of TV comedy, including Conan O’Brien, Amy Poehler, and “Office’’ workers such as Steve Carell. Also on the list: Robert Carlock, executive producer and writer of “30 Rock,’’ who grew up in Weston and graduated from Harvard. I spoke to Carlock about his Emmy-winning - but low-rated - NBC sitcom on the phone from New York. Carlock’s credits include “Friends’’ and “Saturday Night Live.’’
Q. Why is Massachusetts such a TV comedy hotbed?
A. I don’t know what it is - the cold and self-loathing, maybe? Or something in the Quabbin Reservoir?
Q. Do you feel underappreciated on “30 Rock,’’ not by the Emmys but by the viewing public?
A. I’ve really never felt more appreciated. I meet so many more people than I’ve ever experienced - including on “Friends,’’ although I was there when maybe people were taking “Friends’’ for granted, and maybe it was different the first years.
Q. Do you have a big theory about why the show isn’t a ratings hit?
A. I don’t. When we’re self-critical - which is all the time, which is our job - we talk about how the pace is very fast. . . . We talk about trying to slow the pace. Maybe that will make it more accessible to people. But we’re in year four, and I and our writers just don’t write that way.
Q. Many “30 Rock’’ jokes are about NBC and
A. I don’t think so. They’ve been really good sports. A couple of times. I’ve met [GE CEO] Jeff Immelt and he’s been really complimentary and said how much he appreciates the business-satire aspect of it. I think there was one time when we were talking about a product that we were saying was a GE product and that was hurting people, and they asked us to change the language to make it clear that GE products are well tested.
Q. Is it hard to rein in Tracy Morgan?
A. In an upcoming episode that we’re shooting now, the show goes to Boston. . . . And Tracy, trying not to get in trouble on the road, goes on a walking tour that’s led by a guy dressed as John Hancock, and he gets in a fight about history with John Hancock. . . . Tracy is so out there, you don’t rein him in, you play him as straight as you can.
Q. Any plot twists you want to give away?
A. Nothing I can get into, except for the second half of the season we want to get back into the characters’ personal lives. . . . There’s some fun relationship stuff coming up for Jack and Liz.
Q. You’re not ever going to put Jack and Liz together romantically, are you?
A. No. . . . When you step back and look at the characters, I don’t think that’s what either of them is looking for. They’ll both find somebody eventually. He’ll give her away at her wedding.
Q. They will each find somebody?
A. Eventually, yeah. That’s the whole goal.
Interview was condensed and edited.
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