"30 Rock" on Jack Welch and Six Sigma

by Mark Graban on December 2, 2006 · 7 comments

We know Dilbert makes fun of Six Sigma, but the new NBC show “30 Rock” does a great job of skewering GE culture (of which NBC is a part) and Six Sigma. 30 Rock is easily the funniest workplace show (even better than The Office). No, this isn’t a paid pitch for NBC.

In the most recent episode, the boss (played by a hilarious Alec Baldwin) tells the employee (Tina Fey):

“Do you know why Jack Welch is the greatest leaders since the Pharaohs? Because he didn’t only involve himself in our work lives, but our personal lives as well. He introduced us to the finest booze, the most restrictive country clubs. He gave us the names of the most discreet private investigators to spy on our ex-wives. He held our hands during our triumphs… and our senate hearings. “

It’s all delivered in a Welch-worshipping sincerity. Baldwin’s character, Jack Donaghy, is a long-time successful GE exec who was promoting into a title of “Vice President of Network and Microwave Programming” (ah, GE synergies!!!). Donaghy definitely would NOT think Welch is a turkey.

It cracks me up that GE-owned NBC would allow a character to imply such things about Welch, that they golfed at clubs that exclude minorites or that they regularly spy on their ex-wives. I guess they aren’t that afraid of Welch after all.

Funny funny stuff. It’s a consistently funny show, in a very dry way.

Mark Graban 2011 Smaller "30 Rock" on Jack Welch and Six Sigma leanAbout LeanBlog.org: Mark Graban is a consultant, author, and speaker in the “lean healthcare” methodology. Mark is author of the Shingo Award-winning book Lean Hospitals and the upcoming book Healthcare Kaizen. He is also the Chief Improvement Officer for the technology startup KaiNexus.


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{ 4 trackbacks }

Saturday Fun: 30 Rock’s 6 Principles of 6 Sigma — Lean Blog
March 13, 2010 at 7:52 am
This Will Happen Again, Unless… — Lean Blog
July 28, 2011 at 9:11 am
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July 28, 2011 at 9:15 am
Weekend Fun: 30 Rock Mocks GE’s Manufacturing Reshoring — Lean Blog
April 21, 2012 at 9:49 am

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Mike Gardner December 4, 2006 at 4:07 pm

Maybe it’s just me, but the video link doesn’t show up.

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2 Mark Graban December 4, 2006 at 6:54 pm

It’s probably a setting on your PC. Do any videos work if you go straight to YouTube.com?

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3 Mark Graban February 15, 2008 at 9:35 pm

The video was taken down by YouTube… sorry.

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