Season four opens with Jack welcoming us back. Right off the bat we are reminded of Lemon’s relationship with food as she sings a popular jingle to “Cheesy-Blasters.” This familiar relationship shows up in all of the first three episodes, including an accidental run-in with some “chuckle” as well as when Liz explains her world view, which is food based, of course. Other familiarities appear, ranging from more examples of Kenneth’s strange southern charm to Jack’s overall bad character. At one point he looks at a picture of Jesus, asking for guidance, only to pull a photo of Nixon out from behind it. There are plenty of examples of Jenna and Tracy’s eccentricities as well.

Viewers also find out that there may be a new cast member added as Jack requests Pete and Liz to find a new addition for the show. Jenna and Tracy become dramatically upset over the news and torment Liz with sleepovers, Icelandic werewolves, adopted dogs, and pornographic remakes. Jack desires a cast member that is a “real American” which threads a theme of Americanism into the first three episodes. In the third episode there is a hint that the new cast member may be Jeff Denham, the comedian that performs with puppets, but by the end of it, viewers are no closer to knowing who it may be.

Devin Banks, Will Arnett, Jack’s arch nemesis, makes a return, terrorizing Jack yet again, which leads to reinventing the microwave. The scene is reminiscent of the “Fun Cooker” episode, and in the end they create a car, the Pontiac Aztec, which plays off a joke earlier in the episode. And, as always, many guest appearances are made as well as yet “another successful interaction with a man” for Liz Lemon. And who would want to miss the awesome gay-dude party?

There is sure to more awkward moments for Liz and power-hungry Jack episodes, along with plenty of freak-outs from Tracy and Jenna. It is also safe to say that the search for the new addition will continue, possibly taking Liz around the country some more. It will definitely be interesting to see how the new member interacts with everyone and fits into the special family that is 30 Rock.

Update:

When Kenneth accidently shows Jenna an information sheet about the casting call TGS is hosting, it’s spread around the building. The episode centers around this as Jenna and Tracy flip out, driving around New York looking for people unfit to audition, DotCom throws his name in the hat, and Brian Williams shows up donning a horrible Brooklyn accent, sounding something like Hugh Grant in Mickey Blue Eyes, hoping to score a role on TGS. Jayden Michael Tyler has a guest appearance as well, begging the question, is he the new cast member? There are some great Christopher Walken impressions, and our favorite awkward character Kathy Guice reappears, poking some fun at Susan Boyle, possibly the best bit of this episode. Aside from the casting call, Jack gets bedbugs and is reduced to a lowly commoner, and even Kenneth won’t show him some love. There is a food-based bit with Liz, of course, and some horribly shameless plugs for the Winter Olympics airing on NBC. We’re also beaten over the head with an endorsement for Cisco, but its purposefully obvious and turns out hilarious. We’re left wondering if Jack’s discovered a new actor when he announces he’s found someone who’s left an impression on him, literally.