30 Rock: - TV.com

30 Rock: Jack the Writer

« prev episode next » episode

Liz struggles to keep Jack out of the writers' room, and Kenneth learns that working for Tracy may be more than he expected. Add a recap »

YOUR SCORE

N/A n/a

Stars:: Judah Friedlander (Frank Rossitano); Tracy Morgan (Tracy Jordan); Tina Fey (Liz Lemon); Scott Adsit (Pete Hornberger); Jack McBrayer (Kenneth Parcell); Alec Baldwin (Jack Donaghy)

Recurring Role:: Keith Powell (James "Toofer" Spurlock); Katrina Bowden (Cerie Xerox); John Lutz (J.D. Lutz); Maulik Pancholy (Jonathan)

Guest Star:: Sharon Wilkins (Angie Jordan); James Anderson (I) (James Anderson); Tom Broecker (Lee)

When Tracy throws bologna on the wall before talking to Kenneth, a piece lands right next to the top of some metal flashing on the corner. When the camera angle switches to a shot where the wall is visible over Kenneth's shoulder, it's moved to about foot above where the flashing ends. edit »
Frank's three trucker hats read "Ninja Expert," "Arcade Champ," and "Bigfoot Expert." edit »

Though credited, Jane Krakowski does not appear in this episode. edit »
The scene with Kenneth riding his bicycle and singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" called for actor Jack McBrayer to ride a stationary bicycle on a flatbed truck through Midtown Manhattan. The scene was shot before 30 Rock was on the air; McBrayer, an unknown at the time, calls the experience "humiliating." edit »
This episode aired in Canada Tuesday, October 31st, 2006 on CTV. edit »

(all the writers are in Liz's office)
Liz: Boy, we as a group... might not smell great. edit »
Tracy: What did I tell you was the secret to having a good marriage and keeping it together, Kenneth?
Kenneth: Be a good listener, a giver of gifts, and work that 'va-jay-jay'.
Tracy: That's my boy. edit »
Tracy: When the law conflicts with our desires, we must operate outside of the law. edit »
Tracy: But I want you to know something... You and me, it's not gonna be a one-way street. 'Cause I don't believe in one-way streets. Not between people, and not while I'm driving.
Kenneth: Oh, OK.
Tracy: So, here's some advice I wish I woulda got when I was your age: Live every week like it's Shark Week. edit »
Liz: That's it. I gotta talk to her about her clothes, she can't dress like that.
Pete: (defensive) Well, yes, she can! People like the way she dresses!
Liz: Oh, c'mon. It's distracting, it's inappropriate.
Pete: (angry) You're inappropriate, you jerk, with your big stupid face! edit »

Jack asks Frank if he's, "familiar with Six Sigma," to which Frank replies, "It's a special kind of G.I. Joe," confusing G.I. Joe's Sigma 6 for Motorola's business practices. edit »
Tracy says, "What's the frequency, Ken?" riffing on "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" a quote attributed to the man who assaulted then-CBS-Evening-News-anchor Dan Rather in 1986. Georgia rockers R.E.M. have a song by the same title, based on the bizarre incident. edit »
When Kenneth gets stuck at the top of the chain-link fence while trying to get into Yankee Stadium, he calls out to a large rat, "Go get help, girl!". This is an allusion to the rescue missions inevitably seen in every episode of the various incarnations of "Lassie". edit »
(Liz and Pete stroll through the studio and realize they've walked in a circle.)
Pete: Good walk and talk.

Walk-and-talks have become Aaron Sorkin's trademark. Walk-and-talks were a prominent camera style of The West Wing, which usually had 2 to 3 actors walking through that enormous set while carrying on long conversations/expositions, and was produced by Sorkin. The walk-and-talks were also seen on his show, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which aired the same season and on the same network as 30 Rock's first season. It was widely believed in the media, prior to both shows hitting the airwaves, that Studio 60 would be a monster hit and that 30 Rock would not be successful. edit »