Every Episode of ’30 Rock’ Ranked
Twelve years since it premiered, five years since it concluded: here’s the definitive ranking of every episode of ’30 Rock’
75. MILF Island (Season 2, Episode 11)
Dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Writer: Tina Fey, Matt Hubbard
30 Rock was constantly making fun of the state of TV, and in the mid 00’s nothing was easier parodied than our collective love of trashy reality TV. And while the greatest reality parody of the series would be “The Queen of Jordan”, “MILF Island” maybe it’s most offensively hilarious. But despite being the B Plot, the episodes funniest moments are in Pete’s quest to free himself from a vending machine. It’s simple, it’s kind of stupid, but it shows the strength of its cast and direction that they can make a seemingly inane idea so memorable.
74. Goodbye, My Friend (Season 3, Episode 13)
Dir. John Riggi
Writer: Ron Weiner
Later in the series 30 Rock makes it out that Liz Lemon will do anything to have a child. From accidentally stealing a baby, to even coercing an expected mother (who moonlights as a terrible singer/songwriter) to give up her child for adoption! But what makes this episode? Jack and Frank Rossitano re-enacting the heartbreaking climax from Harry and the Hendersons, even featuring a cameo with John Lithgow (another NBC veteran of 3rd Rock From The Sun). This episode also featured frequent guest star, and Broadway veteran, Patti LuPone as Frank’s mom.
73. Let’s Stay Together (Season 5, Episode 3)
Dir. John Riggi
Writer: Jack Burditt
I’m currently watching Living Single for the first time and, compounded with Queen Latifah’s guest starring role on this episode as a verbose congresswoman, I’ve come to the conclusion that what TV needs right now is more Queen Latifah. Much more Queen Latifah. Elsewhere in the episode Liz puts her foot in her mouth as she becomes jealous of Toofer’s attention when NBC attempts to promote their own diversity, despite being problematically white. This leads Liz to appear on Right On, a talk show where Toofer is awarded the ‘Arthur Ashe of the Week’ distinction, hosted by Rutherford Rice (the always wonderful Reg E. Cathey) which she realizes was a major mistake. For all of the dated racial humor in 30 Rock, it is at its best when self aware of how problematic it was.
72. The One with the Cast of Night Court (Season 3, Episode 3)
Dir. Gail Mancuso
Writer: Jack Burditt
Kenneth and I share at least one thing in common outside of our own rural upbringing: a mutual love for Night Court. Who doesn’t love a judge who is adept at sleight of hand magic? And in this reunion of friends, is Jenna’s furor for not getting to reprise her own role in Night Court: as the show’s first “were-lawyer”. And hey, if the show always took place at night, why night try to capitalize on it with some of our favorite lunar creatures! Night Court clearly missed an opportunity for Harry Anderson to convict some criminal vampires! The episode also features a guest appearance by past “Must See TV” actor Jennifer Aniston, playing a college friend of Liz and Jenna’s who is the type of crazy Jack can’t handle. Especially after Jennifer Aniston steals a cops gun and plants it on Jack!
71. Klaus and Greta (Season 4, Episode 9)
Dir. Gail Mancuso
Writer: Robert Carlock
If you get wasted and drunk dial the person you have a crush on, perhaps maybe don’t break into their house when they are away to try and delete the message you left. Just not good form, even though this is exactly what Jack does, roping in Kenneth to help him. The episode’s B Plot though where this episodes gold is at: Jenna Maroney entering a fake relationship with actor James Franco is distance himself from the very true rumors that he is in a loving relationship with a Japanese Body Pillow named Kimiko. It’s as weird, and as funny, as it sounds.
70. Live Show (Season 5, Episode 4)
Dir. Beth McCarthy-Miller
Writer: Robert Carlock
My love for the two live episodes of 30 Rock probably have to do with my love of live entertainment, and my experience of performing live on stage. Nothing quite matches the energy of being live, where anything could happen, but most likely won’t. Though what elevates the idea a step further, and actually grounds it within the reality of the show, is that the Live Episode exists solely within the mind of Jack. You see, Jack decides to become sober while Avery is pregnant, and his sobriety sends him into a panicked downward spiral where everything looks a little different. It’s only until the final moments of the episode, when Jack and Liz share a drink at the end of the night that we revert to the single camera that we are accustomed to. It’s slightly meta, and I love it.
69. Anna Howard Shaw Day (Season 4, Episode 13)
Dir. Ken Whittingham
Writer: Matt Hubbard
Anna Howard Shaw was a leader of the suffragette movement in the late 19th century. Anna Howard Shaw also happens to have been born on Valentines Day. So of course Liz would prefer to celebrate the birth of a leader of womens rights than the commercial consumer holiday centered on goopy love. And it works, because this episode is all about love, just not for Liz (who purposefully schedules a root canal on the day so she won’t have to have Valentines plans). This is the first meeting of Jack and future fiancee and mother to his daughter Avery Jessup. Jenna mourns the loss of her stalker (Horatio Sanz), who recently entered therapy. And for the audience? Well we get a cameo by Jon Bon Jovi. Who doesn’t love Bon Jovi?
68. Future Husband (Season 4, Episode 14)
Dir. Don Scardino
Writer: Jon Haller, Tracey Wigfield
After Liz comes back from her Valentines Day root canal in Anna Howard Shaw Day, she finds herself with a mysterious number in her phone listed as Future Husband. This “Future Husband” turns out to be Wesley (Michael Sheen), who has Liz labelled in his phone as “Future Wife”. Michael Sheen’s Wesley is the perfect nebbish foil to Liz Lemon as their incompatibility becomes more and more apparent. The C plot in this episode revolves around Tracy attempting to get the T in his EGOT by doing a one man show on Broadway, much to the chagrin of Jenna who agrees to coach him. But this is Tracy and Jenna we’re talking about here, and after butting heads Tracy decides to just read the phone book, which draws unexpected critical praise and of course credit from Jenna.
67. Double-Edged Sword (Season 5, Episode 14)
Dir. Don Scardino
Writer: Kay Cannon & Tom Ceraulo
Double-Edged Sword works mostly as a transition episode out of storylines and into new storylines. For one, this is the final episode in the ‘Carol Arc’ with Liz and Carol breaking up after Liz discovers that Sky Law power corrupts absolutely! We also have the birth of Avery and Jack’s daughter, who attempt in vain to cross back over the United States/Canada border so their child will be born an American citizen, getting help from John Cho as a delightfully upbeat meth smuggler. The episode’s C Plot resolves with Tracy deciding to go to Africa (which is secretly just an undisclosed location somewhere in New York), which has a rippling effect on storylines to come as Liz and Jack have no idea how to find him. Joke of the episode though? Carol mouthing along to the words of the in-flight movie Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, proving that Zack Snyder has always been a laughing stock!
66. Today You Are a Man (Season 6, Episode 5)
Dir. Jeff Richmond
Writer: Ron Weiner
Upon receiving a new contract, Liz decides to negotiate with Jack by using his own tactics against him thanks to discovering an old seminar Jack created called “Negotiating to Win”. There are some Inception level layers as Jack slowly realizes he’s negotiating against Liz, then against himself, and then against himself on behalf of Liz. Keep a notebook handy, I wouldn’t say I’ve used Jack’s “Quiet Talking” tactic, but even if I did you’d never hear it coming. This episode is also the introduction from series sociopath Hazel Wassername (Kristen Schaal), and gifts us with Jenna and Tracy performing as Transformers for a rich kids Bar Mitzvah. Fun for the whole family!
