Was the Latest 30 Rock Jane Krakowski's Surest Bet for an Emmy?
Sometimes you've got to do the right thing even when the wrong thing is a whole lot easier, Emmy voters -- and I'm talking about which "Jane" you vote for come nominations season. It's Jane Lynch whose snippiness on Glee was rewarded this year, but it cannot be denied that Jane Krakowski has sold the hell out of Jenna Maroney's brilliant idiocy on 30 Rock all season long, culminating last night with some of her finest one-liners yet. Let's review the reasons this Tony winner deserves an Emmy (and therefore greater EGOT potential).
Like all characters in the diagnosable 30 Rock spectrum, Jenna boils down to a type: the narcissistic starlet with a grubby sexual history and an apathy for, say, all things that actually matter. But Krakowski infuses Jenna's unself-awareness with vim, spot-on timing, and delirious sincerity. When she complimented Liz Lemon on her new jeans and swore "to Kabbalah monster" that she was serious, Krakowski not only beat Jane Lynch at her quippy shtick, but she did the work of three different Glee characters, combining Sue Sylvester's timing, Rachel's shallow perkiness, and Brittany's blockheadedness. Simply put: She's the most dynamic supporting actress in comedy today, a fiercely crafted hellcat we haven't seen the likes of since Roseanne's Aunt Jackie. She makes it look easy. Moronically easy.
She sustained her hilarity throughout the episode. Jenna panicked at the thought of Tracy's Golden Globe chances ("I talked about your movie with my therapist last week for 20 hours," she deadpanned), schemed to impress the Hollywood Foreign Press ("I should get a chafing dish and fill it with my underwear in case some Saudi guys show up," she sputtered) and found herself touched by Tracy's acting skills ("That movie gave me drunk-in-the-bathtub face"; pictured). After all these seasons of punchy comedy, isn't it time this impromptu balladeer (and David Blaine ex) earned her place among the great caricatures in Emmy history? She deserves something for sleeping with Roseanne and Tom Arnold. ("That was two years ago.")
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"Oh, I can play dead. I watched my whole church group get eaten by a bear!"
If Alec Baldwin can get honored multiple times for, in essence, playing Donald Trump then Jane K should get her due from the Emmy voters this year. She has done a fantastic job.
As someone who has loved Jane K from her time at Ally McBeal, I've been 1000% on board the Jenna love train because it's hysterical. The lady deserves some award show love because it's clear she's laughing at herself along with the rest of us.
I was so sad when she lost last year to Jane Lynch, I love Jane Lynch, but I think Jane Krakowski knocks it out of the park in every episode on 30 Rock, even if the main story is not about her. I really hope they nominate her again, and I really hope she gets a win, because she deserves it. Her timing in amazing, and dead on every time, and she really shined in the live episode thanks to her theatre background. Let's hope for some strong support this season from the Emmy voters, she deserves it. If I could vote, I would definitely vote for her!