30 rock
jack the writer (4/21)

Continuing tonight is the Golden Globe- and Emmy award-winning sitcom following the fortunes of long-suffering TV comedy writer Liz Lemon (Tina Fey, star and writer of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Mean Girls’). In tonight’s episode, the writers threaten to revolt after Jack decides to make himself part of the team, Tracy tests Kenneth’s loyalty with a series of unusual demands, and Liz makes an ill-advised wardrobe change.

The daily writing meetings for ‘The Girlie Show’ – or ‘TGS with Tracy Jordan’ as it is now known – are traditionally a laid-back affair, complete with pizza and one-minute dance intermissions. So when Jack Donaghy announces that he is going to sit in and observe the meetings every day, nobody is impressed. After a few days, the writers are starting to get restless – and Pete informs Liz that this new set-up is not working. “You don’t think his idea of starting with the catchphrases and working backwards is panning out?” replies Liz sarcastically, worried that telling Jack that the writers hate him being there will get her into trouble.

Unfortunately, Pete is right – and Liz knows that if she does not do something soon, her staff are going to revolt. She takes a deep breath and tells Jack the truth – and cannot believe it when he agrees to quit attending the meetings. But when he stops returning her calls and refuses to see her, Liz starts to worry that her boss’s calm reaction was a mask for his true feelings.

Realising that she has just made life more difficult for herself, Liz apologises –much to the pleasure of Jack’s assistant, who has booked her a three o’clock appointment for the purpose –and Jack is placated. However, it soon becomes clear that being ‘friends’ with the boss is a very weird experience. Can such an association last?

Kenneth, meanwhile, has a lot on his plate this week. He has been doing his best to make sure that Tracy Jordan has everything he needs – a fact which has not gone unnoticed by the star. “I don’t believe in one-way streets,” he tells Kenneth, making sure he knows he is appreciated. “Not between people – and not when I’m driving.”

Tracy’s next mission for the ever-obliging Kenneth is to get him nachos for lunch... from Yankee Stadium. After Kenneth heads up to the Bronx on the subway, he is taken aback to see that the stadium is closed – but resolves to fulfil Tracy’s request nonetheless. “I will not let you down, sir,” he vows before scaling the fence. Tracy is impressed at the lengths to which Kenneth has gone to please him – and has a couple more requests lined up...

Also this week, Liz gets tired of stunning assistant Cerie’s skimpy outfits distracting her team and sits her down for a chat –which results in Cerie giving Liz a makeover. When Liz shows up to the next writer’s meeting in a one-sleeved dress with the words ‘Dirty Diva’ emblazoned in silver across the chest, the team’s reaction is less than positive. “You’re making me gay!” gags Frank. Is it time for another costume change?