Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: 10 Times Jacqueline Was Just Like Jenna Maroney

The same creative team behind 30 Rock is also behind Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and it is easy to see the similarities. Both series have been critically lauded for their irreverent sense of humor, which mixes zany situations and biting social and political satire, with snappy dialogue.

One of the most notable similarities between the two shows is one of the main stars of both series, Jane Krakowski. In 30 Rock she plays TGS co-star and raging narcissist, Jenna Maroney, while on Kimmy, she plays socialite and raging narcissist intent on changing, Jacqueline White. While these characters have different arcs, they’re more alike than one may realize.

10 They Are Both Narcissists

This toxic trait is a staple in both Jenna and Jacqueline and manifests in different and hilarious ways. Jenna is always convinced that her problems are the only problems that matter in the world and Jacqueline has a hard time dealing with the same issues early in her respective series.

After finding out some bad news, Jacqueline breaks down crying in front of Kimmy exclaiming, “this is the worst thing to happen to any woman, ever!” This over-exaggeration is something Jenna herself would say during the most minor of inconveniences, and Jacqueline clearly followed suit.

9 They’ll Do Anything For Attention

Jenna says “I’ll do it, but only for the attention,” early on in 30 Rock and that sentiment is a cornerstone for both her and Jacqueline. The latter, even more so, will try to spin the attention she gets in a way to get money, as her character loses her wealth after the first season of Kimmy.

She goes so far as to make a video pretending to be a desperate party girl looking for a sugar daddy, only to be caught by her son. Far from Jacqueline’s proudest moment, but it does emphasize her need for attention and money.

8 They’re Oblivious Of World History

Not caring for other people means you tend to miss out on important events that range in scale from small to big. Both Jenna and Jacqueline tend to look out for themselves first and can be oblivious to what is going on around them. Jenna seems to think airplanes weren’t commonplace in the 1970s and forgets many moments of her and Liz’s friendship. Similarly, Jacqueline cannot find it in herself to empathize with Kimmy.

To prove the point further she says “I’m standing on a street named after a rapper, I guess,” as the camera cuts to show the sign that reads “Malcolm X Boulevard.” Kimmy may think Malcolm X was “Malcolm the 10th, a Black pope,” but she was kidnapped underground for 15 years, whereas Jacqueline has no excuse.

7 They Both Are Bad At Cooking

Cleaning, cooking, and other household chores are not things that Jenna nor Jacqueline know how to do very well. Jenna’s inflated and delusional ego doesn’t let her do these things, whereas Jacqueline’s wealth always made sure there was a maid employed to do them for her. But when Jacqueline loses her fortune in her divorce, she has to adapt.

When she successfully makes an espresso, she exclaims “I’m cooking!” When making a recipe, she reads, “‘Beat 3 eggs’ At what?” she says out loud to herself, unironically. Needless to say, neither of these characters are candidates for Top Chef.

6 They Both Lack Empathy

Looking outside yourself to make other people feel better is something that doesn’t come naturally to Jenna or Jacqueline. This can be a detriment to them, especially when friends like Kimmy or Liz have clearly had it much worse in life than someone like Jacqueline or Jenna. This isn’t for lack of trying, however. But even that can come out wrong.

Jenna constantly ignores Liz when the latter is venting about her life, which makes one wonder why Liz sticks with her. Then, while trying to comfort Kimmy, Jacqueline says she is sorry that Reverend Richard Wayne “cheated on [her], or whatever.” Kimmy corrects her by saying he kidnapped her, to which Jacqueline replies, “I said ‘or whatever.'” Jacqueline at least tried, which counts for something, to her.

5 They’re Culturally Unaware

Jenna Maroney lives in her own world where she is the sun and everyone else are merely planets orbiting her, and therefore needn’t worry herself with the goings-on of regular people. Jacqueline used to be just as aloof as Jenna, but she has since tried to change her ways, if not completely. Jacqueline is actually Native American and rejected her cultural heritage because she thought it would help her make it big in New York. When she realizes the error of her ways, she tries to reconnect with her culture, but fails miserably.

Doing a ridiculous chant to the “Corn God,” calling buffalo “fluffy dogs,” and saying goodbye to her parents by saying “aloha” shows that while she may be making an effort to connect with her culture, she still has a long way to go.

4 They Are Both Eager To Please Men

Both of these delusional blondes know that they live in a patriarchal society and try their best to gain money, access, and power through whatever means necessary. They may not always be noble with their intentions, as they are willing to do many weird and questionable things for the attention and pleasure of men.

Jenna’s running gag of doing crazy things with Mickey Rourke is all in service of getting something in exchange. Jacqueline describes her ex-husband’s multiple fetishes that she was willing to put up with for his money. Kimmy and Titus see this as exploiting yourself for men, but Jacqueline sees it as a stepping stone to getting what you want.

3 They Both Think That Image Is Everything

Appearance is everything to Jenna and Jacqueline, and both understand that you must present a strong front, no matter what is happening behind the scenes. Jenna is constantly making up lies to benefit a narrative that she is better than most people, and after Jacqueline’s divorce, she loses her fortune and has to pretend she is still rich in order to keep the same social standing as her peers. She even enters a random car in the middle of the street, pretending it’s hers, in order for the illusion to not be shattered.

If pretending to be rich were a full-time job, Jacqueline would have made her fortune back by the time the series was over.

2 They Talk To Themselves

Being your own best friend is taken to another level with Jenna and Jacqueline. Both characters have an internal and external monologue with themselves at various points in their respective series. Jacqueline often zones out while listening to Liz or Kenneth and often talks to herself about things like how she can’t wear hats because of her abnormally shaped head. The one-sided conversation ends with her saying “but that’s between us.”

This trait isn’t a surprise, as both women see themselves as the ideal woman, so who better to talk to when one is in need of assistance than oneself?

1 They Both Take Superficiality As A Compliment

Taking pride in their image, Jenna and Jacqueline put immense time and effort into how they look and present themselves to others, so when that is recognized even in the slightest of ways, they are grateful. There are many instances when Jacqueline and Jenna are addressed as a “blonde woman,” or “skinny blonde b***h,” and she sincerely responds with a “thank you.”

They may sense that these words are not framed as compliments, but they simply do not care. They see those attributes as positives and lives in a world where those words that could belittle someone’s worth, only prove one’s worth in the end.

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