There are a lot of shows on TV and finding the gems a midst the vast array of options is a lot harder than just watching Jersey Shore.  But if the TV viewing experience somehow devolves to the point where there is only one spot on my DVR, it would be reserved for 30 Rock.

It’s a barrage of jokes, layered one on top of the other and paced so brilliantly that while you are digesting and appreciating one joke, you have missed 3 others.  This gives the show an off the charts score on the re-watchability scale and makes the episodes sometimes more entertaining on the 4th viewing than they were on the 1st.

30 Rock has been picked up for only 13 more episodes before it is officially cancelled.  I know that 7 seasons (138 episodes) is an accomplishment and actors/writers need to move on but I’m going to sorely miss this show.  Thursday night at  8:00 or 8:30 or 9:00 or 9:30 or whatever time NBC settled on for the show is appointment television for me – but not many others.  For a network show this smart and entertaining, it is a travesty that it averages just 4 million viewers.  It is critically acclaimed and has won its share of Emmy’s so I definitely won’t be the first person in the world to say that you should be watching it.  Nevertheless, you should be watching it and if you haven’t seen an episode then I’m jealous that you have 6 seasons to catch up on before the shortened final season.

Here’s a classic line or two from some of the ensemble cast of characters to wet your appetite:

Jack Donaghy (Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming): “Okay, in my defense, every April 22nd I honor Richard Nixon’s death by getting drunk and making some unpopular decisions.”

Liz Lemon (Head writer of TGS): “Wow, Avery Jessup, she’s hot. She was on Maxim’s ”I’d Rape That 100.”

Tracy Jordan (Star of TGS): “So Here’s some advice I wish I would’ve got when I was your age: Live every week, like it’s ‘shark week’.”

“My home address is in the GPS under ‘Da Crib’… because we live on Da Crib Ave.”

Jenna Maroney (co-star of TGS): “Oh, no. Did I come across as interesting? ‘Cause I tried to mention Bono as much as possible.”

Kenneth Parcel (NBC Page): “Oh, Miss Maroney, I have your messages. Uh, a Mr. Bret Fav-ray stopped by, and uh, dropped off this picture of a hot dog? There you go.”

Pete Hornberger (Producer of TGS): “No, no, Liz. Last night for the first time ever, Tracy watched the non-porn version of the Carol Burnett Show.”

May 25, 1994 – 18 years ago, to the day, Messier guaranteed victory in Game 6 against the Devils and delivered.  We need another Game 6 win against New Jersey on May 25, 2012.  No guarantees tonight, but I know this team can force a Game 7.  Get em up!

Is Fox serious with this show?  I seriously thought that this was an SNL spoof.  I would have love to have been in that pitch room.  “So you know the Voice?  The show that gets 12 million viewers by choosing singers based only on their voice.  What if we did that with celebrities finding dates based not on their looks but on the sound of their voice?”  If everything is a remix, Fox has taken it to another level.

Talk about mailing it in.  Since they have given up creating their own shows, maybe they next they will create USA’s Got Talent and hire Tyler Perry as the host and Opie and Anthony as the judges.  The Choice will probably do well too. I’m a sucker for reality TV so I’m probably going to watch.

Excited to see girls with sexy voices make those D-list celebs chairs turn.  Imagine if Janice from Friends was on this show, with that voice and laugh.  No chairs would be spinning.

I have no idea what this movie is about based on that trailer… I read this book in high school and I plan on re-reading it before I see the movie.  All I got from that trailer is the Leo is playing a character with a lot of money and Carey Mulligan is interested in him.  I remember Gatsby and Nick Carraway and the lavish parties but this trailer did nothing to spark any specific memories from the plot.  All that being said, that was still a fantastic trailer.

Typical Hollywood with great visuals, quick cuts and exotic 1920’s costumes to draw someone in.  I’m assuming since this is such an established book and this isn’t the 1st film adaptation that the trailer-makers felt they didn’t need to give any away any plot points.  Fine by me, I can’t wait to see this movie.

What a finish!  I’ll have another and I’m not just talking about the horse… This year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness have turned me into a horse-racing fan.  Can’t wait for the Belmont and the chance to see a Triple Crown.

I felt like I was watching a replay of the Derby during the Preakness – Bodemeister off to a big lead, then I’ll Have Another comes out of nowhere and edges out the win.  The Preakness was of course much closer than the Derby (he literally won a by nose) but both times a late surge secured the wins.  Guess you have to give credit to the jockey Mario Gutierrez, who seems extremely humble, and that 3-year old Throughbred.

I don’t know a lot about horse racing but I know that the Belmont is the longest of the three races.  It will be interesting to see how that affects I’ll Have Another’s M.O. of starting in the middle and coming on strong late to win.  There have only been 11 Triple Crown winners in history, and none since 1978.  So the Belmont is going to be an exciting day that I am already looking forward to.

Check out the trainer’s reaction during I’ll Have Another’s Preakness run.  Priceless and just another example of why sports is the best.

Can’t even imagine owning/training or having anything to do with a horse beyond placing a bet on it and actually having so much invested in these races.  Then to have your horse win… there can’t be a better feeling out there, can there?

What a great looking ring… The Giant Blue goes perfectly with the diamond NY logo.  Even better, this has all 4 trophies represented.  I don’t think I would ever take it off.  

David Wright and Terry Collins made me love the Mets even more last night.  The face of the franchise and the manager got into a shouting match  in the dugout last night after Collins decided to pinch hit for Wright.  Without all of the facts, it might sound like Wright was being a baby.  However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

In the top of the inning, reliever D.J. Carasco was ejected after (intentionally?) hitting reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun.  Collins was worried that the Brewers would retaliate and hit Wright who was due up in the bottom of the inning.  So, he decided to send rookie Jordany Valdespin to the plate.  The game was decided at this point, with Milwaukee holding a comfortable 8-0 lead.  Wright, who is hitting a MLB-best .408 this season, is the clear leader of the team and said “If anyone is going to get hit on this team, it’s me.”  It was a classic battle of one-upmanship in the dugout.  Both Wright and Collins doing what they know to be best for the team and getting into an argument about it.

DJ Carasco has no business hitting Ryan Braun and the fact that the 25th man on the roster can spark this debate between the manager and our star player is ridiculous.  With that being said, Collins’ job is to protect his players, especially his best players, and Wright’s job is to lead the team.  If that means getting plunked in retaliation due to one of baseball’s unwritten rules, then so be it.  Both were just trying to do their job to the best of their ability and in doing so they definitely gained the respect of their teammates.  Check out their post-game comments at the link below.

Final Score: Brewers 8 Mets 0.

The Brewers didn’t hit any Mets and the teams don’t play again until September.  We will see what happens then, but for now last night was another encouraging sign about the character of this team.  I loved watching their passionate argument and even in an 8-0 loss, I have more reason to believe that this year’s team is a fiery and resilient group that will win more than it loses in 2012.

Still so pumped up from last night’s win.  3rd times the charm – King Henrik and the Rangers finally knocked off the Caps in the playoffs.  Now we try to make the history of 1994 repeat itself against the Devils, but before looking ahead, what a fantastic Game 7 last night and what a great series.

The series was so close throughout.  If 3 overtimes in Game 3 and the Rangers scoring with 6 seconds left to tie it in Game 6 weren’t enough evidence, the last 6 games of the series were decided by one goal.

Henrik and Holtby put on a show every game.  For some perspective, think about this:  There were 390 shots taken (211 by WSH and 179 by NYR) and the goalies combined to stop 362 of them (196 for Holtby and 166 for Henrik).  There were only 28 goals in the entire 7-game series and after watching the Penguins score 10 goals in one game against the Flyers, you can really appreciate their performances.  Credit also goes to the defenses and both teams never-ending willingness to block shots, no matter how much pain it may cause.

Exhibit A

You could feel the energy in the arena just from watching on TV during each game, but especially during Game 7.  That was a legendary John Amirante anthem and the Garden remained electric for the entire night.  All of the hype of the off-season acquisition of Brad Richards paid off in the game’s 1st 2 minutes. Richards delivered all season and he didn’t wait long in Game 7 to remind everyone what makes this Ranger team different from those that lost to the Caps the last 2 postseason appearances.

The post-series hockey handshake is one of the best traditions in sports.  These two teams just battled for every inch out there on the ice and after a full on war for 7 games, they shake hands with nothing but respect for each other.  It’s amazing and a tradition I will always appreciate.

Tomorrow night kicks off the Eastern Conference Finals and this series is going to be one for the ages.  These two teams hate each other.  The Rangers and Devils already had a line fight after the opening face off of a game earlier this season.  Brodeur, probably the best goalie in NHL history against Henrik, probably the best goalie in the NHL right now.  There will be a lot of talk about 1994 during this series, so why not get a quick reminder of how that series ended…

You can’t beat playoff hockey… Let’s go Rangers!

Was not expecting that voice to come out of him.  This is definitely better than the original and I’m a fan of LMFAO.  Great arrangement and he killed the wiggle, wiggle, wiggle part.  Well done.

Another come from behind win for the Mets – the 11th of the season (most in the majors) and 3rd straight against the Phils to complete the sweep.  We have now won 5 in a row overall and it’s been must-see TV every night.  So fun to watch this team keep fighting and scrapping out wins, especially against division rivals.  The Mets beat Halladay, Blanton and Lee in this series and they started Vinny Rottino and Jordany Valdespin in the outfield.  By the way, the Phillies are in last place.  Well deserved off day tomorrow before a weekend series in Miami.  Let’s keep it rollin.