A national TV show has finally realized that Cleveland is okay. On Thursday’s 30 Rock, Tina Fey’s character, Liz — a neurotic, sarcastic executive on a variety show that looks a lot like SNL — is dating Floyd, a lawyer originally from Cleveland. Struggling with ennui and stress, Floyd suggests the two of them take a vacation. Liz is all for the idea. “Where should we go, the Bahamas?” she asks. Floyd pauses. “I was thinking of Cleveland,” he responds.
“Cleveland?” Liz asks doubtfully. But after getting hit in the face by an ungrateful panhandler, she rethinks her pessimism.
Exiting the car after a seven hour drive, Liz takes a long breath. “What’s that wonderful smell?” she asks.
“Cleveland,” Floyd answers.
Over an extended weekend, Liz proceeds to fall in love with our fair city, taking in Jacob’s Field, the Rock Hall, and lakeview restaurants. “Are you a model?” one kindhearted soul asks. “You should really eat something.”
Liz arrives back to New York ebuillant. “In Cleveland I could be a model,” she exorts. Her cohorts chuckle. But unlike the cliched, Cleveland-as-a-punchline normal response, her co-workers all understand her infatuation with the city. “We’d all like to flee to the Cleve,” Liz’s boss (Alec Baldwin) says, kindly. — Rebecca Meiser
This article appears in Apr 18-24, 2007.
You’re dreaming if you think this episode was anything other than a backhanded ‘compliment’ to Cleveland. It managed to recycle every well-worn cliche (the “glow” of the Cuyahoga, the fat and ugly populace) that has beleaguered the city for decades. Instead of an all-out assault, they took the opposite direction and went for a sarcastic parody. Trawl the interwebs for a moment and you’ll see what I mean. People recognize this for the underhanded sarcasm that it is. Everybody, that is, except for the media in Cleveland.
The joke’s on us. Again.
Unfortunately Robespierre is so wrong. Some of the jokes are tongue in cheek, but the joke is more on New York City and while it is often talked up as the greatest city in the world, it’s actually no more perfect than anywhere else. Tina Fey’s husband went to Kent State and spent some time in Cleveland so she has spoken well of Cleveland in the past.
Loosen up, Robespierre – the episode was funny and a tribute to our city.
Howdie. MOSTLY agree w/Robespierre. OR NY* crew REfugees figure BETTER TO stand out HERE v.TRYIN there til blue in the face. Economically…US here. LAND of pellmellmishmashfreakynomics . SPEAKS volumes)w/all the rest of it thrown in………….OUR problem is NOT outlandish ENOUGH…. SUSPECTS advertisty PUSHES one to do stuff SHOULD have done….
The problem is even attempting to compare Cleveland to New York. It’s utterly ridiculous to try to compare a third rate midwestern city to the greatest city in the world. You lose. Maybe compare Cleveland to Pittsburgh or even Philadelphia, but don’t try New York. Freaking Cleveland is not Paris in case you haven’t noticed.
I’m a New Yorker. Cleveland to me is the dreariest grayest most boring depressing place on earth. There is no question that a person who go through life and be successful in New York or LA would be the belle of whatever ball they choose in Cleveland. Conversely, the best of Cleveland wouldn’t stand a chance in New York or LA.
And the truth is 90% of Clevelanders are at least 30 pounds overweight (and I’m being kind), out of style, hayseeds. It’s the midwest, get over yourselves and accept that. Go on myspace. Every Clevelander’s profile has a banner that says “Stop the Hatin” Geez. How much hate is there in the state of Ohio??????
Maybe it’s the dull grey Harvey Pikar-ness of Cleveland that makes everybody so depressed that they just eat themselves into oblivion. Watch American Splendor to see the reality that is Cleveland. I lived in Cleveland for a very long six months. That film, Harvey Pikar himself, the dullness, the greyness, the droopiness of the person is the personification of Cleveland itself.
Stay there and keep trying to convince yourselves you live in the coolest place in the world. It’s the midwest. If there was a world war, Cleveland would be the last place the US standing because nobody would waste a missile on it.
Wow, yeah a “national” TV show! Bow Howdy. Why is it that Clevelanders are so desperate for validation that Cleveland is the coolest place in the world. Oh, because it’s not. That’s right.
Geez stop trying so hard to go up against NY. Try some other really crappy midwestern city and maybe you will really feel cool.
If you don’t think that show made fun of Cleveland, watch it again. The most uncool out of touch woman (the typical Clevelander) asks Lemon if she’s a model. Message sent: Clevelanders are hayseeds. Message received: Even YOU can be cool in Cleveland, we’re so out of it.
Every single thing in that show mocked Cleveland and Clevelanders, like puppy dogs desperate for attention, try to find a way to take it as a compliment.
You’re messed up and Cleveland is as awful as you know it is. Sorry, it’s true. I ran all the way to New York after two weeks there. I think Hootersville is a little hipper actually.
In response to the B.S. below. Mellow Yellow, you are an @sshole that is as sorry as your NY Stankies, that’s why they are sitting home because people from NY think their S*** don’t stink. A bunch of losers (including mellow yellow) that think they are better than they are. Reality hurts huh mellow yellow? Keep Cleveland out your mouth and go get a life, clean up your rotten apple instead of worrying about Cleveland. Just because you claim NY to be home doesn’t mean you’re on top of the world, I’ve seen many people from NY get tossed up for thinking they are dominant over everyone. NY is a legend in their own minds ONLY. nobody cares about NY but New Yorkers. I not going to be stupid like mellow yellow though, I’ve some some cool people from NY, to them I do not mean to offend but to mellow yellow,and anybody like him. Please take what I said personally, @assholes
“Mellow Yellow says:
The problem is even attempting to compare Cleveland to New York. It’s utterly ridiculous to try to compare a third rate midwestern city to the greatest city in the world. You lose. Maybe compare Cleveland to Pittsburgh or even Philadelphia, but don’t try New York. Freaking Cleveland is not Paris in case you haven’t noticed.
I’m a New Yorker. Cleveland to me is the dreariest grayest most boring depressing place on earth. There is no question that a person who go through life and be successful in New York or LA would be the belle of whatever ball they choose in Cleveland. Conversely, the best of Cleveland wouldn’t stand a chance in New York or LA.”
As a frequent visitor to both The Cleve and NYC, I definitely enjoy the positive aspects of both cities. However, I don’t think it would serve us well to compare Cleveland to New York, especially since there isn’t another place in this country that can rival NYC for its foul stench!
http://gawker.com/maps/smell/