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30 Rock: Jack the Writer

Kenneth the Page learns that working for Tracy is more than he expected. Liz continues to try to keep Jack away from the writers' room while trying to keep Cerie clothed.


8.9/10 (7 Votes cast)

Episode Info


Episode number: 1x4
Production Number: 104
Airdate: Wednesday November 01st, 2006

Director: Gail Mancuso
Writer: Robert Carlock

Alternate Airdates:

UK (Comedy Central UK) Nov 01, 2007
FI (SubTV) Mar 03, 2008

Guest Stars
John LutzJohn Lutz
As Lutz
Recurring
Katie BowdenKatie Bowden
As Cerie
Recurring
Keith PowellKeith Powell
As Toofer
Recurring
Kevin Brown (2)Kevin Brown (2)
As Dot Com
Recurring
Maulik PancholyMaulik Pancholy
As Jonathan
Recurring
Tom BroeckerTom Broecker
As Lee
Recurring
James Anderson (4)James Anderson (4)
As James Anderson
Sharon WilkinsSharon Wilkins
As Angie Jordan
Main Cast
Tina FeyTina Fey
As Liz Lemon
Tracy MorganTracy Morgan
As Tracy Jordan
Jack McBrayerJack McBrayer
As Kenneth Parcell
Scott AdsitScott Adsit
As Pete Hornberger
Judah FriedlanderJudah Friedlander
As Frank Rossitano
Alec BaldwinAlec Baldwin
As Jack Donaghy
Episode Notes
Ratings: 4.61 million viewers

Frank's hats read "Ninja Expert," "Arcade Champ," and "Bigfoot Expert."

Jane Krakowski (Jenna Maroney) does not appear in this episode.



Episode Quotes
Liz: (to the writers) I think we need to change this Donald Trump joke.
(Everyone stares at a scantily-clad Cerie instead of listening to Liz)
Liz: ...because Donald Trump was eaten by a lion this morning on the International Space Station. Anyone listening?

Kenneth: Anything you ever need, just ask.
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.

(trying to come up with cereal names for a commercial parody)
Frank: Fart Nuggets.
(only Jack laughs, upoariously)
Jack: I'm sorry. That's really great.
Liz: OK, let's just think for another minute. Um, Frosted Mini Guns.
Frank: Lucky Bastards?
Jack: If you don't mind, I think we all really laughed at Fart Nuggets, so could we just move on, please?

Jack: So, I was doing some research on comedy and I came across the cartoon strip Dilbert. It's quite good. And I was wondering if we could do that.
Liz: Do what?
Jack: Dilbert.

Liz: Me trying to tell Jack what to do would be like you trying to boss around... Which one of your kids is it that you're afraid of?
Pete: Kyle. Kyle... So strong.

Liz: (about Cerie) That's it. I gotta talk to her about her clothes. She can't dress like that.
Pete: What? Yes, she can! People like the way she dresses!
Liz: Oh, come on. It's distracting. It's inappropriate.
Pete: (shouting) You're inappropriate, you jerk, with your big stupid face!

Cerie: Like, how'd you dress before you were married?
Liz: I'm not married, Cerie.
Cerie: Oh, for some reason, I thought you had, like, three kids.
Liz: Nope, never married, no kids.
Cerie: 'Cause sometimes you have, like, food stains on your shirt and stuff. I just assumed that it was kids.

Liz: Hey, Mr. Donaghy.
Jack: Sorry I'm late. I was at a luncheon for Ann Coulter's 60th birthday.

Tracy: You wanna know another key to success?
Kenneth: I do, Mr. Jordan.
Tracy: Dress every day like you gonna get murdered in those clothes.

(Tracy sends Kenneth on an errand; he arrives at a building covered in graffiti)
Kenneth: Hello, gentlemen. (steps inside) Oh, thank goodness, air conditioning. Ooh, what does that tattoo mean? When I get nervous, I ask a lot of questions. Do y'all have a bathroom I could use? Y'all have long fingernails. Now, do y'all rent this space, or do you own it? Hey, that's a funny looking fish. What is that, like a grapefruit knife? Do you have a cell phone? What's your plan?

(Pete reassures Liz about her meeting with Jack)
Pete: You'll be fine, Captain Needa.
Liz: No, Captain Needa dies! He dies!

(Cerie is in wardrobe being fitted in a revealing dress)
Liz: You need to dress like you have a job. And parents, who raised you in some kind of shame-based American religious tradition. Here. (gives Cerie a blazer)
Cerie: I can make this hot.

(Liz walks confidently into the writers' room after Cerie has given her a makeover)
Liz: Hey, guys. What's up?
Pete: Oh, my God! Wha...(laughter) what are you wearing?!
Frank: You're making me gay.
Liz: It's a joke, obviously. I'm wearing this as a joke. Bunch of comedy writers don't know a joke. Jeez.
Frank: I just threw up in my mouth.
Liz: I said it's a joke!



Episode Goofs
When Tracy throws bologna on the wall, the position of the bologna changes between shots.



Cultural References
Jack: Are you familiar with Six Sigma.
Frank: It's a special kind of G.I. Joe.

Frank is confusing G.I. Joe's Sigma 6 for Six Sigma, the name of Motorola's business practices.

Tracy: What's the frequency, Ken?

Tracy's line is a reference to the line "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" a quote from the man who attacked Dan Rather in 1986.

Kenneth: (to a rat at Yankee Stadium) Go get help, girl!

While stuck on a chain link fence, Kenneth tells the large rat to get him help, referencing episodes of Lassie in which Lassie often runs to get help.

Pete: (to Liz) Good walk and talk.

The "walk and talk" is a trademark shot used by Aaron Sorkin in The West Wing in which characters walk around the set while carrying on various conversations.



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