Elise Allen's Top Five Episodes of 30 Rock

Starting off, I've wanted to make this list for a long time. I do believe 30 Rock is my favorite tv show. It definitely fulfills a lot of what I want in a TV show. WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! However, it will still be hilarious to watch it on your own... I promise.
Anyways, this better make you want to hop on Netflix and check all of these out. Life changing.


5.) Floyd, Season 4, ep. 16
Elise Synopsis: Liz's ex boyfriend Floyd returns to NYC to try to win a wedding on the Today show with his fiance who is like an ab model or a pilates instructor, one of those professions that makes normal women gag. Liz is all upset, as she is still unlucky with love, and Floyd (her one who got away) is potentially going to get married right outside of her office. Liz takes Floyd to dinner where he accidentally gets drunk (he was an alcoholic) and goes crazy. She loses him in NYC. The side story with this one: Frank, Twofer, and Lutz are in a pranking battle with Jack and Danny. Also, Jenna and Tracy had plaster molds taken of their faces and Kenneth talked to them the whole 8 hours it happened so he worked his way into their dreams in a disturbing way.
Reasons for Excellence: Liz is a slightly vengeful ex girlfriend. Floyd was my fav of all of Liz's boyfriends. Jason Sudeikis is hilarious. Liz does try to make everything right but it still falls apart. Similar to real life. The scene where they're in the restaurant (that seems like a TGI Friday's) and Liz and Floyd finally come to terms with their relationship is funny but relatable.


4.) Episode 210, Season 2, ep. 10
Elise Synopsis: Liz studied German in college so Jack, caught up in a romantic relationship with (gasp!) a democratic representative, goes to Vermont with Cici and puts Liz in charge of deciding which German TV shows to buy. Liz, trying to buy an apartment, delegates this task to Kenneth, who just learned he loves cappuccinos and is strung out on caffeine. Liz accidentally sells NBC to the Germans instead of buying the German TV station. Oops! Also, Gladys Knight makes an appearance.
Favorite moments: Liz is looking at a fancy apartment online and their line is "Wyndmere, if you lived here, you'd be home now!" Haha, thought of that this summer when I toured Lindencourt apartments, it seemed magical like Wyndmere. However, I love my current residence more than Lindencourt and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg! Liz makes a total fool of herself in front of the co-op board. Also, where Liz is drinking wine and calling the co-op board all night and they show her progressions of sad drunkenness. "You know what? I've moved on, I've bought a whole bunch of apartments. I even bought a black apartment."- Liz Lemon while drinking wine and jogging on the treadmill at 7 am. I feel you girl. Then at the end of the episode Jack asks Liz if she want to get drunk and she looks around his office and replies, "I would, but there's too many phones in here." Well played Liz Lemon. Well played.


3.) Queen of Jordan, Season 5, ep. 17
Elise's Synopsis: Through a crazy series of events, Tracy's wife, Angie gets a show and basically the whole episode is shot in reality TV style (specifically Real Housewives) and follows Angie and her crazy friends, including but not limited to D'Fwan (her sassy gay friend), Randi who has as strip aerobics studio, and Portia who's catch phrase is "Portia reads the papers!" and she's not thrilled with it. During this time Tracy is in Africa and Liz is begging Angie to help bring him back to save the show. Hilarity ensues.
Reasons it is wonderful: It's making fun of reality tv. It's excellent. Jenna tries to take up more screen time and throws drinks in everyone's face. D'Fwan has a wine called D'Fwine. Come on. What is not to love? Although I want to say D'Fwine came later? It did. I just checked. Oops. I'm claiming it as part of this. Please D'fwink responsibly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2MuXDjFTy4


2.) Black Tie, Season 1, ep. 12
Elise's Synopsis: Jack invites Liz to a birthday party for Gerhardt Hapsburg, the prince of Austria. The whole episode you're like is this a date? Is Jack into Liz? Jenna also sneaks into the party to try to "Grace Kelly" herself. While at the party Liz meets Jack's ex wife Bianca (played by Isabella Rossellini) and Jack uses Liz to make Bianca jealous. Side story, Tracy tries to get Pete to cheat on his wife. Kenneth tries to remind Pete that he is married. They have this like devil vs. angel on your shoulder thing going on.
Why this episode is special: Tina Fey looks hot at this party and fights Isabella Rossellini. This episode also defines the Liz-Jack relationship. I'd also say this is the episode where the characters really click. Also in her book, Bossypants, Tina cites this as the episode that was make or break for the show and thankfully they made it! Yay!


1.) Sandwich Day, Season 2, ep. 14
Elise's Synopsis: Liz Lemon gets a call from ex boyfriend Floyd (Jason Sudeikis) that he will be coming to NYC and was wondering if he could "crash" with Liz. Floyd was Liz's boyfriend earlier in the season (and he was one of my all time favorite Liz boyfriends) but he left his job as a lawyer in 30 rock to move home to Cleveland. Then they broke up. So sad. So Liz accepts and then has a mini freak out about the meaning of 'crash'. Ok so then the side story is about sandwich day which is a magical day where the Teamsters bring subs for everyone from this amazing sandwich shop which is a teamster's secret. Liz is too busy preparing for Floyd and her sub gets left on her desk and the writers (after demolishing) their own sandwiches take Liz's sandwich. Oops. So this is the story of Liz trying to make Floyd miss leaving NYC and Jenna, Tracy, Kenneth, and the writers trying to win Liz a new sandwich.
Favorite moments: Well, I love that Floyd is in this episode. When Floyd meets Liz to pick up keys to her apartment and they make plans to get dinner. When Liz runs to the airport to track down Floyd and has to choose between her sandwich (the dipping sauce is more than 3 oz) and tracking down Floyd so she inhales the sandwich (with dipping sauce) while the TSA agent (a sassy black lady) tells Liz "You've got crazy eyes. I ought to detain you..." Also this episode has a good message when Jack reminds Liz "Life is about minimizing regrets" Agreed Jack. I agree.



Ok so that's my top five, however I do have a few other memorable moments that didn't make the top five episodes those are (in no particular order):

• Where Liz buys a wedding dress (just in case!) Season 2, episode 1.
• Where Liz and Criss get it on in an office supply store Season 7, episode 2. 
• Liz and Jack venture to Stone Mountain, Georgia Season 4, episode 3. 
• Where Liz scares the gay, hipster, cop out of his apartment Season 4, episode 6.
• The whole time Liz dates Jon Hamm. Beginning Season 3, episode 11. 
• Whenever Liz sings Night Cheese. 
• When Liz has Fred Armison taken away by the Department of Homeland Security. Season 2, episode 6. 

There are so many more! Please, please, watch them and fall in love!

Professor Allen and her love of lists

Hi. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5 in the band room of the University of Jamestown I am Professor Allen. Which is weird. But I like it. But it's weird. We're having a good time. I have 7 students and one auditing so 8 total. Due to the quality of some of the instruments we have 3 on clarinet, 2 on flute, 1 on alto sax, 1 on oboe, and 1 on bassoon. Yep, that equals 8. Anyways, so I'm using Andrew's syllabus from when he's taught it a few times. It is very helpful. We have woodwind time together once a week to make sure I teach correct information in a logical way.

So I've noticed that lists are very popular on the internet so I'm gonna make some lists that you may enjoy.

My list of grievances with the movie theater:
1) It's in a mall (is it 1998? Why the mall? Why do we go to the mall all the time?)
2) Movies come after they've been released elsewhere and leave earlier. We've missed Anchorman II and American Hustle. Very disappointed.
3) They serve Pepsi products. All I want with my movie popcorn is diet coke.
4) Lindsay Millirons doesn't work there so....

Best responses to my name change from the kids at school:
1) You look different. (Thank you, I had pulled my bangs back that day)
2) When did you get married? You didn't tell us you were getting married! (You're in the third grade. No excuses from you on that one... I promise I did tell you)
3) Oh, you had your baby?! (EXCUSE ME? Hahahaha, this was hilarious)

Elise Allen's favorite TV shows of all time:
1) 30 Rock, Tina Fey is my spirit animal. There is another list coming in a separate post devoted entirely to 30 rock with my top 5 favorite episodes. But let's be real, Tina Fey does it all and does it amazingly and if you don't watch this but have a netflix account you should be ashamed of yourself.
2) Friends. Enough said. A classic. I love it.
3) New Girl. This is hilarious and totes worth your time. Seasons 1 and 2 are on Netflix.
4) The Mindy Project. Love it. Again, like Tina Fey, Mindy Kahling does everything and it's wonderful. She's so relatable and I love seeing a woman who's not afraid to say she's a size 8 and rock it on television. However, I'm so glad she grew her hair back out. Was not liking the super short pixie cut.
5) How I Met Your Mother. Ok so, side note on this one, I really enjoy this one more on Netflix in a binge watch sort of situation because in any given week, not a lot happens however in a season a fair amount goes down and they go by quickly so I like to have it on while I'm doing dishes alone or like cleaning the bathroom or whatever. You know, background noise. I do watch each week though.
6) Parks and Rec. Along the same lines of the Mindy Project and 30 Rock where Amy Pohler is just like being amazing and making strong women everywhere proud. Also it's hilarious.
7) Kathy Lee and Hoda. Yep I count this. I love watching those ladies booze it up way too early in the morning and make fools of themselves on national tv. Also I love me some ambush makeovers with Louis LaCari La la la la   la la. You know what I'm talkin about. However the Joy fit club doesn't inspire me, it just makes me feel ashamed. Anyways. I would love to go to NYC and drink wine at 10 am with them and gossip about celebs and just talk about my life as if the world cares. I love them. I've read their books and I love them. KLG is too much and Hoda, you scare me when you're on dateline. I don't like dateline Hoda just Today show Hoda.

Now, I do watch other shows but these are my favorite. Other shows I watch: Grey's Anatomy (anyone know when it's coming back this season?), Parenthood (amazing, makes me think about crying), Modern Family (also excellent)... Yeah I think that's it...

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
So, I have some pics from the wedding... I know if you're reading this it's probably because we're facebook friends but you never know, maybe one day I'll be a famous blogger and people will be like, I wonder what Elise looked like on her wedding day? Well they can come back far enough in my blog and see. Just sayin. Oh and all of these are just like ones that friends and family took, we're still waiting on the ones from the photographer which I'm super excited about!!!

Here is me and Andrew with Colleen, my maid of honor, and Kelliston the best man. 

These are the Amanda's. We all played piccolo together in high school and have stayed in touch even though we all live so far away now! 

These are the SAI ladies who came! I don't know why I'm making a face, I promise I was happy. Also, the other bridesmaids in this pic from left to right are Bronwyn, Alex, and Katy! 

Here we are with Michelle! Michelle was in SAI with me and we lived across the hall from each other freshman year at USC! 

Here we are with Katy and her boyfriend Jordan. 

Here we are with Katie and Diego who are also newlyweds! 

Here we are with my middle school band director, Dr. Jackson!

This is me with my most recent little, Aubrey! Love you girl! 

Here I am with Aileen, sister to Colleen the MoH! 

The excellent saxophone cake! 

Here we are cutting the cake, I love our cake, it was gorgeous! 

Here we are at the bachelorette party at Sips and Strokes! From left to right we have Colleen, Alex, Amanda Perme, me, Bronwyn, and Katy! 

It was so great to get to see all my bridesmaids before the wedding for a little bit! I hadn't seen Colleen since this summer, I hadn't seen Alex since graduation and she had gotten engaged since then(!!!), Bronwyn I think it was since July, and same with Katy it was late June or early July :( but I'm so glad we were able to get caught up! 

In general, it was just nice to get to see people since we have been living here for a while you know...

Anyways, so the wedding went really well! I was very pleased and want to say a huge thank you to my parents for all they did to make it lovely and as well to anyone and everyone who traveled to be there! It really was touching to see people come out and support our marriage! We hope you had fun! 

After the wedding Andrew and I spent one night downtown in ATL which was awesome! Then Sunday we went to church at the Episcopal Cathedral of Atlanta and it was GORGEOUS! We wanted to take communion because we did it during our wedding but the church was out of communion wafers so we used some wheat thins and the cup had water in it, so we just wanted to you know make it a little more official. Plus, you know it's good to start off your marriage by going to church. After church we went to lunch at Goldberg's Deli which was also fabulous. Bagels. I've missed them. Then we headed for Savannah! 

We stayed at this really nice B&B called the Eliza Thompson House. It was very nice! We really enjoyed our stay. We just sort of relaxed and ate some lovely meals, did two different ghost tours, one trolly tour, toured the Mercer-Williams house, and toured Flannery O'Connor's childhood home! Also we window shopped and wandered around. All in all it was lovely! 

Well, now we're back and getting settled in, it was nice to have lots of boxes to open when we got home! The weather is super yucky here so we're gonna just stay inside until church on Sunday... the wind sounds like it may blow the house down, but it's super cozy inside so we'll be ok! Hope you enjoyed the pics!