Rejecting traditional hideous-lonely-cat-lady stereotypes, Neko Case goes with a more modern "wistful bird lady" look.

[This post presented with standard Liz Lemonism caveats.]

Last week Jamelle shared a post by Freddie deBoer about his decision to give up 30 Rock. To be fair, there are lots of points at which I have considered quitting this ultimately beloved show, namely the season five premiere’s horrific rape scenes and every time Jack McBrayer speaks.

The final straw for Freddie?

I just can't take any more of the "Liz Lemon is absurdly, comically unattractive and unlucky in love" plot lines. It's simply too incongruous with Tina Fey's beauty, Liz's smarts, and her position as a successful, prominent head writer and producer of a major network television show.

Did you catch that? Freddie thinks that a woman’s beauty, smarts, and professional success have something to do with how much sex she has.

Ahahahahahahahahhaaha. [breath] HAHAHAHAH AHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

No really, it’s not funny.

It’s true that everyone in the world thinks everyone else is having more sex than they are. Especially people they consider attractive. I am here to tell you that this is probably not the case! And it is definitely not the case when it comes to accomplished and funny and beautiful women who would like to be having sex with men.

Are you shocked by this news? Yes? Welcome, heterosexual male readers!

Some evidence to support my statement, because I’m unwilling to go personal on this one: Neko Case can't get laid. Neko fucking Case! An accomplished musician who, even by rigid mainstream beauty standards, is gorgeous. Salon diagnoses the problem as a dearth of male groupies. But really, it’s the Liz Lemon issue. I almost emailed Neko to ask if she’s ever acquiesced to a threesome with a Japanese body pillow just to get some.

Writes Josh in comments to Freddie’s post:

Mmm, I think the point isn't that Liz is actually unattractive, but that she -- like a lot of attractive women -- thinks she is. And consequently, she lets herself get treated that way; she's also kind of a dick. I mean, the big theme of 30 Rock is how its characters' neuroses get in the way of their happiness. She only ends up with Matt Damon because he happens to perfectly match her absurd standards. (Also, I don't see how you could do a story about a woman feeling perpetually unattractive and actually cast an unattractive woman. Do that, and it's not funny, just mean.)

Yes, Liz has absurd standards. And her self-image is a huge factor, too. (Decide that you fit every spinster-cat-lady stereotype, and a spinster cat lady ye shall be.) But isn’t that what this is all about? Her core neurosis -- that you can’t be the wittiest AND the prettiest girl in the room -- is an all-too-familiar smart-girl insecurity. To address this point, let me turn things over to Molly Lambert. (This is a brilliant essay about modern first-world womanhood. Please kick back, tap into a box of wine, and read the whole thing if you haven’t already.)

The idea that men will be turned off by ambition or success is just another part of the big lie. It is meant to scare you and keep you from questioning the system. The only men who are turned off by ambition and success are men that are insecure about their own talents and success or lack thereof. You don't really want to know those guys anyway, because they suck and they will constantly attempt to undermine you, and even if you are secure enough in yourself not to care it's still really fucking annoying.

I really want to believe her, so I will choose to do so. And I agree that men who are turned off by ambition and success are men you don’t really want to know. But … would it hurt to have sex with them occasionally? Like, when you are really hard up? Just askin’.

One more thought on this: My friend Channing says, “I've always interpreted 'Liz Lemon is hideous' as a wink for how Tina Fey's been objectified in the entertainment business. The joke will go away when business gets over its fear of ladies. Right?"

Which brings up another great point raised by both Neko’s and Liz’s sexual frustrations: Being objectified doesn’t mean you actually get laid! Worst of all worlds: Catcalls but not cunnilingus. One million sadfaces.