Lux Absio Bervatum

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Season 7 Judah is way worse than all previous seasons

Early Judah: Funny
Judah Friedlander played Frank on 30 Rock. He was funny in the early seasons. Then around like season 5 they started giving him more focus. He had his own little story lines and stuff. Like his romances with the old cleaning ladies. "Frank moves in with Liz" and "Frank and Jenna sleep together." Those were kind of trite. 30 Rock is a great show, but they were really coasting when they wrote these episodes. It's such 90s-sitcom stuff. I think those arcs were demeaning to Judah Friedlander, like the writers had a grudge against him. "Yeah, we'll make you famous. But your character will be lame!" And maybe Judah took that deal but forever regretted it. So he got less invested in the show, grew a beard, and started phoning in his performances very overtly starting with season 7. I think his acting in early season 7, and growing the beard, those were the only "fuck you's" he could publicly direct at the writers.

Season 7 Judah: Lame
I should listen to the commentaries and see if they explain what happened. Alternate theory: Judah got  more famous in seasons 5 and 6 and decided to rest on his laurels and not try anymore. "Another take? I don't think so. Next scene." That kind of thing. Or, since he knew he'd get paid regardless of how he performed this season, maybe it was just him not caring. Anyhow, I don't like season 7 Judah.