"30 Rock" Not Helped By Jennifer Aniston

E!:

So about those big-name guest stars on 30 Rock...

Last night's episode, featuring Jennifer Aniston, and, as an added bonus for fans of vintage NBC Thursdays, a Night Court cast reunion, was watched by a season-low 7.5 million, Nielsen estimates report.

The show's previous low (8.1 million) came a week ago, when no less than Oprah Winfrey appeared.

Overall, 30 Rock, bolstered more by Tina Fey's rising star than any one guest star, is bigger than ever, averaging 8.1 million through the first three weeks of its season.

Read the whole story: E!

Comments

[Sammy00400]

Perhaps its a post-election hangover and people are not watching network TV right now. There is competition out there and personally I am behind in DVD's. Only just watched Indiana Jones this past weekend if you can believe it.

[claptrapa]

Jen-A is a gifted actress who is funny, bubbly and cute as a button. Why the bashing?

[RogerBurke]

May not have helped THEM. Sure helped ME.

[auramac]

Maybe it was. Sure couldn't hurt. I'm a fan of both Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, but never watch the show. I watched it when Aniston was on, though.

[SheriChardonnay]

i like jennifer and 30 rock...why cant networks forget about the ratings and just let good shows go on....watching tv is not like it was anymore...folks do it online and cable so they need to reconsider their ratings and please dont ax 30 Rock!

[Takae]

Because good ratings ensure that networks can sell their advertising space easily and at good rates.

High ratings means high advertising revenues, which could be used to invest in production budgets. When ratings drop, it affects advertising sales, which in turn means little money available to spend on a wide range of TV shows under a network. It's very simplistic, but that's the gist.

[LaFilleEnRose]

Do you know what would help 30 Rock? Make it funnier to the majority or even to a few more than television insiders. I've tried so many times and it's just not funny to me. And I LOVE Alec Baldwin playing funny roles. His take on the slightly stupid FBI head in The Departed for example. He's brilliant. And their acting -- all of them is flawless. It's the scripts. Sorry Tina. It's the writing. God knows you're great. And with all the publicity you've gained since your Sarah Palin achievement, man, your show should be off the charts. But it's not publicity, star power or anything else. It's the writing.

[moveleft]

First of all, leave Jennifer Anniston alone. What did she ever do to you bitter people? Perhaps the ratings are down two weeks in a row is because curiosity seekers realized what most TV viewers already knew: 30 ROCK is one of the most undeservingly overpraised shows on television. It's not brilliant comedy and Tina Fey is not the second coming. As for those whining about the show being in a bad time slot or needing more of a chance to find an audience: wake up! It's been given every chance in the world to find an audience and it has yet to catch on. NBC was giving the first episode away for free online a full week before the season debut and it is still suffering. It's had a chance. Most people watched it, shrugged their shoulders and moved on.

[Shrinath]

I wouldn't agree about 30 Rock being over praised. However, YES, Leave Jennifer Aniston alone. Seesh. She is sweet and I see no reason why people should pounce on her. 30 Rock, some shows were really good, some were on the low side of mediocre. Anyways, peace out.

[raker]

30 Rock's big problem is 9:30. Put it on at 9 and it will be a big hit. It's hard to remember to stop watching halfway through the show you're enjoying and turn the channel to NBC. I love 30 Rock but never remember to watch.

[marymansour]

Jennifer Aniston is not the world's greatest actress but she has a flare for comedy and is certainly competent in her acting roles - movie and television. She is bubbly and fun to watch. She has taken a beating due to her status as Brad Pitt's ex-wife. The Brangelites show her no mercy. I say it's time she was judged on her own merits and not those dictated by fans of AJ and Pitt who despise her simply because she breathes and is asked an occasional question by the media in regard to Jolie/Pitt. My take is that Jen has been dignified in the face of what must have been terrific pain, exacerbated if she has infertility problems and could not 'gift' Brad with litters of kids.

[trinity29]

this thread is not about brad pitt, jolie, and aniston. its about 30 rock and its ratings and how the guest actors are not helping the ratings.

[Takae]

Firstly, I like all three people you mentioned in your post. Now that's out of the way. I disagree with you on her status was due to the "Brangelites" and Aniston war. Most these days are bored with the war and just want to move on. The media is the one who won't let it die. Onto the reality of business:

Aniston tends to appear in romantic comedies only. Historically, actresses whose resumes are limited to this type of movie tend to be less critically regarded than their peers. There isn't much variety to her roles these days, which probably explains why she doesn't hold "star attraction".

Also, historically, actors who started out in successful TV shows tend to have poor-rated movie careers because they tend to revive a type of character they're best known for.

However, in terms of longevity, Aniston is more successful than her peers, but she still hasn't quite broken through the infamous barrier. She seems to be aware of this, because she has an active interest in producing. So far she's reasonably successful. Still not quite there yet, but I think she'll make it.

[marymansour]

You are so right on that. Too bad Jen didn't live in the era of Doris Day and her wonderfully lighthearted flicks. Anniston would've have been box office gold in those far away, now seemingly halcyon days.

[Pippilangstrumpf]

I am absolutely NO fan of Jennifer Aniston, but I think that she was surprisingly good in this episode.

They should make her a recurring character on the show (and coming from me, that says a lot).

[Spaznuski]

I miss the rest of the cast, they are the best thing about 30 rock, which ever genius decided that a guest actor every week was a good idea needs to be shot.
We want more crazy stuff from tracy, the writers, tgs drama, or old snl cast members. (dr. spaceman).

[jdmba]

I LOVE Dr. Spaceman!!!

[RealityBeatsDenial]

For some REALLY enjoyable viewing - go to the live Puppy Cam. This should brighten your day - and provide at least some in-the-moment relief from the woes of the world.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shiba-inu-puppy-cam

[AngryAmish]

Shhhhhh! Don't give AJ any ideas. The next thing you'll know, she'll have a live cam trained on the twins' crib.

[RealityBeatsDenial]

The idea was to get OUT of cynicism and negativity for a moment.

[andj]

you are so funny

[Titus Pullo]

You mean there's something on network television worth watching? Knock me over with a feather. Maybe they need this site's headline writer ...

[KayCo]

Who needs to watch Jen Anniston on TV when her love life (or lack thereof) is splashed all over the supermaket tabloids, which unfortunately are staring me in the face when I am waiting in line to check out (which is often).

I think she is too overexposed like Paris, Britney, Jessica ...Sarah Palin.............................

30 Rock will have rally jumped the shark when they have Sarah Palin on....Just wait......

[Magella]

BARACK OBAMA TOP TEN:

Fugees - 'Ready Or Not'
Marvin Gaye - 'What's Going On'
Mystique GP -"Vanity"
The Rolling Stones - 'Gimme Shelter'
Nina Simone - 'Sinnerman'
Kanye West - 'Touch The Sky'
Frank Sinatra - 'You'd Be So Easy To Love'
Aretha Franklin - 'Think'
U2 - 'City of Blinding Lights'
will.i.am - 'Yes We Can'

[meleon]

Is this his real list? If so, I love him MORE.

[cindyw]

The last list I saw included Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark". What happened to Bruce?

[SheriChardonnay]

I love Sinnerman by Nina Simone!