Well, Tina Fey and crew went and surprised us all last TV season when her Saturday Night Live-themed comedy 30 Rock went and completely whooped the ass of Aaron Sorkin’s Saturday Night Live-themed dramedy, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It wasn’t only that Studio 60 was so bad (though it was), but that 30 Rock was an ingeniously devised sitcom with a brilliant sense of absurdity. In addition to Fey as show-runner Liz Lemon (one of the best character names ever), Alec Baldwin as studio boss Jack Donaghy, Tracy Morgan as comic Tracy... Jordan, and relative newcomer Jack McBrayer as earnest page Kenneth, rounded out a pretty awesome cast. 30 Rock is one of the few comedies that can deal with pop culture—and specifically hip hop culture—without seeming completely clueless, and its smart New York references give it a solid sense of place. With its first season now out on DVD, it’s possibly one of the best comedies on TV these days.

Another comedy contender is The Office, the American version, the third season of which is also out on DVD this month. While season three wasn’t quite as strong as the rock-solid second season, there’s still some magnificent and hilarious stuff here, as well as the welcome addition of cast member Rashida Jones as love interest to John Krasinski’s Jim.

by MARK SLUTSKY