Couch Potato: Recession hits ‘30 Rock’

The struggling economy has finally hit “30 Rock.”

When the NBC show’s fourth season premieres at 9:30 p.m. today, Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy is making all kinds of changes at TGS, the late-night sketch comedy show around which the series revolves, and its parent company, GE.

In addition to cutting the pages’ overtime hours — which sends “apple-cheeked goon” Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) to the picket line — Jack tries to reach out to middle America by having Jenna (Jane Krakowski) go country, a la Jessica Simpson, and Liz (Tina Fey) hire another, more relatable cast member for the show.

Tracy (Tracy Morgan) also tries to relate to the common man, to hilariously unsuccessful results.

Morgan remains one of my favorite parts of the show.

Both he and Krakowski’s characters revel in their self-centeredness and immaturity. But while Krakowski is usually just plain grating, Morgan’s out-there behavior is entertaining.

The premiere is pretty good, but the second episode, which airs on Oct. 22, is much funnier, mostly because it features the return of Jack’s nemesis, Devin Banks (the always funny Will Arnett).

It also refers back to one of last season’s episodes, when Liz went on a talk show and coined the catchphrase “that’s a dealbreaker” about various women’s unfulfilling relationships.

Apparently, Ms. Lemon has since written a book, and it’s now wreaking havoc with men everywhere.

We wouldn’t have it any other way.