With creator and star Tina Fey enjoying huge buzz because of her impersonation of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, “30 Rock” returns hoping to parlay its critical notices into sizable ratings, USA Today says. Thursday night’s “funny” episode shows the series has bounced back from a post-strike slump and features guest stat Megan Mullally, the paper says. Next week Oprah Winfrey appears on the show. The Washington Post says “30 Rock” “still isn’t quite the hugely confident, competent hit one longs for,” adding that the Oprah episode is funnier that the season premiere. “But tonight’s is still a half-hour of well-above-average network television, put together by people with impeccable comedic DNA — people who are naturally, and at times brilliantly, funny,” the paper says.
— Jon Lafayette