Kenneth Parcell

Andromakennethamblesorton "Kenneth" Ellen Parcell is a fictional character on the NBC comedy television series, ''30 Rock'', portrayed by Jack McBrayer. Originally a supporting character in the first two episodes of the series, the show's producers saw him as a breakout character.

Biography

Kenneth is a perpetually cheerful NBC page hailing from Stone Mountain, Georgia (a homage to the hometown of ''30 Rock'' writer Donald Glover,) raised in a pig farming family by parents he has alternatively claimed were first cousins"The One with the Cast of Night Court", Deleted scenes. 30 Rock. Season Three. Region 1 DVD. Prod. Universal Studios; dist. Universal Studios Home Entertainment, 2009. and "technically brothers." He states that he loves only two things: "everybody and television". After graduating an all-African-American high school, Kenneth studied at Kentucky Mountain Bible College, majoring in Television Studies and minoring in Bible Sexuality.

Throughout the series, Kenneth has painted a picture of a poverty-stricken, sexually deviant,In the series' 100th episode, Kenneth reveals his conception of intercourse to be the extremely disturbing ritual of laying a woman across his grandmother's lap in the "mating shed" while having albinos there as the "Watchers." inbred, criminal-class family line, declaring Parcells as a whole to be "neither wealthy nor circumcised." Furthering this point, he and his family lived in a militia camp during a period of time in his childhood and three of his nine siblings were given up for adoption. Kenneth has also alluded to his family subscribing to child marriage. During a drinking contest against a group of Teamsters, Kenneth discovers that he has unknowingly had alcohol before (which he calls "hill people milk",) and, because he has been drinking it "since ewas a baby", he has a high tolerance, managing to keep up on his feet while everyone else competing in the contest gets blind drunk. (This essentially mirrored a scene from '' No Time for Sergeants'', in which Andy Griffith portrayed a similar rube from backwoods Georgia.) Despite his high tolerance for liquor, Kenneth is very susceptible to the effect of caffeine, once going on an espresso-fueled bender and nearly returning to his home state in shame. In the episode " Black Light Attack," he reveals his teeth are wooden prosthetics.

Kenneth has a close relationship with his mother, Pearlene, considering her to be his best friend and crediting her with his optimism. (Quoting her as teaching him that no matter how bad things seem, there is always someone else having a worse day "like being stung by a bee, or getting a splinter, or being chained to a wall in someone's sex dungeon.") Apart from his death from a heart attack, not much else is known about Kenneth's father, although, in a deleted scene of "The One with the Cast of Night Court," Kenneth tells Tracy that Kenneth's father deliberately kept Pearlene unaware of their relationship as first cousins, as she would have not married him otherwise. In " Alexis Goodlooking and the Case of the Missing Whisky," it is revealed that Kenneth's father was the infamous D. B. Cooper, as that alias is seen on a sewn-in patch label on the inside of one of his father's former suits. Kenneth also quotes his father's final words as being "Son, if you want to get ahead in this world—''oh God, this hurts! Tell your mother I'm gay!''". After Kenneth's father died, his mother's "friend" Ron moved in with him and his mother. Many of Kenneth's comments about his mother and Ron suggest that the two had a sexual relationship, though Kenneth appears to be unaware of this. It is repeatedly implied throughout the series that he harbors a great hatred towards Ron (with Kenneth once commenting that he knew Tracy Jordan like "the back of isstep-father Ron's hand.") This is confirmed in " Governor Dunston", wherein Ron and Pearlene (played by Bryan Cranston and Catherine O'Hara, respectively), visit Kenneth, who makes his dislike of Ron apparent. Contrary to what Kenneth's comments portrayed Ron to be, Ron is an amiable if dim-witted man who is shown to care for Kenneth like a father. Much to Kenneth's disdain, it is revealed that Pearlene and Ron married seven years prior (something of which Kenneth was unaware, contradicting the previous quote.) But by the end of the episode, he comes to accept Ron as an extension of the family. The series has also established Kenneth as the cousin of ''American Idol'' second season runner-up, Clay Aiken.

In " Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish", Kenneth reveals to his boss Jack Donaghy that, after his father died, he befriended a pig, whom he named Harold. Unfortunately, Kenneth's mother had to sell Harold to a slaughterhouse, and, with Harold gone, Kenneth had no reason to remain in Georgia, deciding to move to New York. He needed $300 for his ticket and in order to get the money, Kenneth participated in a pig-eating contest but, to his horror, the pig that he was given to eat was Harold. He has since been plagued by extreme remorse for eating his "father pig." However, Jack is able to convince him that by eating Harold, Kenneth gave his death meaning, as it allowed Kenneth to embark on his new life.

Kenneth may have been newly assigned to the ''TGS'' studio at the start of the series; in the pilot episode, Liz referred to Kenneth only as "that NBC page", suggesting they are not close. As the series progressed, however, Kenneth became more familiar with Liz and other staff and crew of '' TGS with Tracy Jordan''.

As demonstrated many times throughout the series, Kenneth is incredibly selfless, one of the most notable examples occurring in the episode "Believe in the Stars," when he and others are trapped in an elevator. Jack claims that there is enough air for eight people, but, as the elevator contains nine, he announces that one occupant must die. Kenneth is appalled by Jack's statement, and when Jack tells him that he has placed a pistol loaded with one bullet in the emergency box, Kenneth removes the gun, holds it to his head and pulls the trigger (not just once, but twice, when it does not discharge the first time.) Finding the gun inoperable, he wraps his belt around his neck and urges the others to strangle him. Jack, disgusted by Kenneth's altruism, abruptly opens the elevator door and demands, "What is ''wrong'' with you?"

When he is passing out from a severe allergy episode, Kenneth exclaims that his real name is Dick Whitman (a reference to the AMC drama, ''Mad Men''.) Kenneth has demonstrated a knack for conceptualizing rather unusual television shows, one of which (a game show called ''Gold Case'') was actually developed, although it turned out to be ill-conceived and was promptly shut down. In a pretend interview with Conan O'Brien, Kenneth shares his dreams of making "hit movies" with Zach Braff, and that he is also skilled at clogging.

Kenneth has been shown to be able to speak numerous foreign languages, including Mandarin, French, German, and Latin. He can also speak backwards with ease, is capable of ventriloquism, and claims that he can take commands from animals. He is an unintentionally skilled poker player, with his thoughts being indecipherable to his opponents, since, according to ''TGS'' writer Frank Rossitano, "he doesn't have any." Kenneth has also been shown to wear a concealed firearm.

Kenneth has technically died two different times: his first death occurs in "The Ones", when he deliberately underwent anaphylaxis and, as a result, was clinically deceased for five minutes. (Later claiming that he believes he "brought something back with im, as his breath crystalizes in the air and an ominous shadow passes over him.) He dies once again in the episode "College", when he contracted hypothermia on the balcony to Jack's office and briefly died, returning with a message from God, which he forgot. Possibly in connection with his first death, later episodes show Kenneth arguing with an unknown entity whom he addresses as "Jacob" (which may or may not be a reference to the character from ''Lost'' who possesses the power to grant immortality.) Most of Kenneth's arguments with Jacob concern the fate of the ''TGS'' staff. It has also been established that Kenneth perceives people as singing Muppets, and in one instance, when walking past an HD camera, appeared as a Muppet himself. In " Ludachristmas", Kenneth states that he had "a ' coke' problem, during is'Wall Street' days." However, a flashback reveals that he actually had developed an addiction to the soft drink Coca-Cola, when he was employed at Blockbuster Video, during the time that the 1987 film ''Wall Street'' was popular on home video. He has been shown to require medication to keep him from acting like a donkey. As the series has progressed, Kenneth's morality has become questionable, with dubious behavior including rooming with John Mark Karr in college and sharing an apartment with an elderly catatonic woman who he keeps in his closet.

There have been many comments, made by both Kenneth himself and others, that hint at him possessing a supernatural nature. In the episode "Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning", Kenneth reveals to Liz that he is unable to see his reflection, as when he looks into a mirror, "There is only a white haze" (however, this statement conflicts with an earlier episode, "Klaus and Greta.") The episode " Standards and Practices" implies that Kenneth has some sort of clone, as when Liz asks him "Do you have a second, Kenneth?", he misunderstands and nervously blurts out "''No, there's only one of me.''". When Tracy regains his ability to smell in " Nothing Left to Lose", he notices that Kenneth has no scent at all, a discovery which Kenneth cheerfully brushes off. Kenneth accidentally reveals to Hazel Wassername in " What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?" that he does not sleep. " St. Patrick's Day" also establishes a physical deformity: a rabbit foot-resembling tail he had until he was 16 years old, which he gives to Hazel for good luck.

A relationship with Hazel is first hinted at in " What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?." After Kenneth discovers that Hazel sabotaged his chances to become an NBC page again, she manipulates him by claiming to have developed feelings for him and successfully seduces him. It is confirmed that they are now dating in the seventh season premiere, however, it is also revealed that she is only using Kenneth to get close to Tracy so that Tracy would cast her in a movie and in effect launch her career in show business, a plan which fails because of Tracy's devotion to Kenneth. Kenneth and Hazel still remain in the relationship up until she is fired for her actions in the episode " Aunt Phatso vs. Jack Donaghy."

Despite his positivity, Kenneth has more situational awareness than he lets others normally see, in one instance explicitly confessing to Jack that the only grasp he has on his optimism is by lying to himself. In general, Jack has stated that Kenneth's Myers–Briggs Type Indicator "shows a rare combination of extroverted, intuitive, and aggressive" (which is the same as his own,) claiming that "in five years we'll all either be working for him... or be dead by his hand." A little more than six years later, Jack fulfills his own prophecy by appointing Kenneth to replace him as president of NBC, thus making all but Jonathan and himself work for Kenneth.

Religious, political and other views

Kenneth's religious views are mainly a satirically exaggerated form of Christian fundamentalism, being a follower of a sect called "Eighth Day Resurrected Covenant of the Holy Trinity." The church is located in the basement of a Cuban restaurant and is led by a fire and brimstone preacher, named Rev. Gary (who is frequently implied to be a hebephile.) As such, Kenneth's definitions of what constitutes sin and righteousness are ridiculously anal retentive, ranging from not believing in hypothetical situations (comparing it to "lying to your brain") to refusing to drink hot beverages as that is "the Devil's temperature," among other oddities.In " When It Rains, It Pours," he voices his disapproval of sedation during childbirth, as he believes that the "whole point sto feel God punishing you." Kenneth refers to '' Footloose'' as the movie where "those evil kids won in the end."In "Plan B," he claims that sealing an envelope by licking it is a sin, unless you are married to it.In " ¡Qué Sorpresa!", he lists soccer as one of the many things on television that is inappropriate.

Kenneth often offers religious advice to others, such as in "Black Tie", when he advises Pete to think of God in order to prevent him from cheating on his wife. In "Christmas Special," when Liz believes that she was conned by two adults who scammed her through the letters to Santa program, Kenneth refuses to believe anyone would scam a Christmas charity, further demonstrating his naivete when he asks Liz, "When has religion ever caused any trouble?" Kenneth carries no political views as "choosing is a sin." Instead, he always submits write-in votes for God (however, according to Jack, those count as Republican.)

Kenneth reads the Bible only in German, declaring it the only way "to get all the ''versteckte Bedeutungen'' (hidden meanings)". He believes that the Earth was created a mere 800 years ago, that there is a Heaven and Hell for each ethnicity and, when he goes to Heaven, he expects to be rewarded with "72 virgin... margaritas." Despite referring to God as singular, Kenneth proclaims a God for independent foods, saying grace over dinner to the "Onion God," "Carrot God," and so forth. In the episode "Greenzo," Kenneth states that he intends to " party like it's 1999," a date which, according to his Bible, will occur in seven years. He has also mentioned a sister, who, similar to the story of the Virgin Mary, became pregnant despite never having sex.

In various episodes, Kenneth is shown to be considerably uneducated and disrespectful of other religions. In "Christmas Special", while passing out gifts to the ''TGS'' writing staff, he wishes Josh Girard a "merry Jewish"; in "Secret Santa", he sets up a multi-faith holiday display, which includes a framed photo of Barack Obama, that Kenneth states is "for the Muslims"; in " 100", when Jenna, who wants to have a baby, tries to seduce him, he refuses, on the grounds that they are unmarried and part of different religions; in " Standards and Practices", he comments that the Jewish network executives are "trained from birth to argue".

In "Believe in the Stars," when Jack tells Kenneth that he knows the Ten Commandments, Kenneth snorts and says "Ten?", implying that he follows more. In " 100", he calls Darwin's Theory of Evolution "crazy". In "Respawn", Kenneth reveals that he believes the phrase "No, thank you", to be vulgar language. The episode " The Funcooker" implies that he prefers the clean shaven look, as when Liz places him in charge, he bans beards and moustaches in the workplace. In " Alexis Goodlooking and the Case of the Missing Whisky", Kenneth informs Jack, who is attempting to convince Kenneth to professionally ruin a potential rival in his new job, that he has never "crushed" anyone before, except for accused witches.

Kenneth's family are staunch supporters of the Confederacy, with Jack once proclaiming Kenneth a foreigner since Kenneth's home of DeKalb County, Georgia "never rejoined the Union."A comment solidified as fact in the episode "Reaganing" when Kenneth writes "Independent Nation of DeKalb County" on an envelope. As such, Kenneth's schooling consisted of Confederacy propagandaIn the episode " Idiots Are People Three!", Kenneth states that the only information that was given in his school about Abraham Lincoln was that he was a "gay alcoholic" and his home culture consisted of bizarre anti-Union rituals.Murphy Brown Lied To Us