NBC is at least giving the show a proper send-off. But the Emmy-winning comedy deserved it, and not just because it was the rare show set in Northeast Ohio. More important, it could be very, very funny. Former Akron resident John Lithgow headed an ensemble that knew how to get the most out of the material, that took the farcical premises the writers came up with and made them magical. Of course, magic can fade.
Concepts get tired.
And 3rd Rock suffered from all that moving around, when settling into a good time-slot early on might have made it a blockbuster. And the quest for ratings led to some dubious stunts, especially those involving guest stars. William Shatner proved an inspired choice, but neither Roseanne nor a gaggle of supermodels added anything to the show. But when the show was on its game, there was nothing funnier in prime time. R.D. Heldenfels writes about television for the Beacon Journal.