30 Rock: The Moms

30 Rock: The Moms
NBC
May 6, 2010
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Cannon & Carlock episode, some of the mothers of the performers and writers show up for a special Mother's Day episode of TGS.  It's the backstage drama, including in one scene between Frank and his mom (I'm omitting Patti LuPone and Judah Friedlander from the overcrowded tags),  that is the real focus here.  Note that Colleen Donaghy meets Avery and she pushes Jack to choose between his two girlfriends.

Frank Anello continues his streak as a member of the Production Staff.  John Anderson plays Astronaut Mike Dexter again, and Will Ferrell is back as Shane Hunter.

30 Rock: The Problem Solvers

30 Rock: The Problem Solvers
NBC
November 12, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Nothing quite works in this Ron-Weiner-written episode, which introduces Cheyenne Jackson as new TGS cast member Danny Baker.  (Real first name Jack, but Jack Donaghy immediately renames him.)  "Danny" is trying to get his bearings, but he gets dubious advice, including from the title team.  Tracy and Jenna also give Liz bad business advice that pits her against Jack, until the rom-com-ish resolution scene.  This isn't as painful as a Season Five episode, but it does show the beginnings of the decline, with characters Flanderized for the sake of jokes, rather than jokes revealing character.

Old Janitor Stewart Steinberg returns.  Josh Fadem would be back as Liz's new agent, Simon Barrons.

30 Rock: Goodbye, My Friend

30 Rock: Goodbye, My Friend
NBC
March 5, 2009
Sitcom
DVD
A-

This episode written by Ron Weiner is my favorite so far, perhaps ever.  You've got two very strong threads and one pretty good one, tied together in sometimes surprising ways.  Liz befriends a pregnant teen named Becca (very well played by 26-year-old Phoebe Strole), in hopes that she can adopt Becca's baby.  Meanwhile, Jack bonds with and then sort of plays father to Frank, encouraging him to go back to law school, until Jack meets Frank's fierce mother Sylvia (Patti LuPone in the first of three appearances).  And even the Jenna & Tracy plot has its moments of heart and belly laughs.  I like how Pete is again playing Liz's conscience, including telling her what it's like to be a very young parent.  And I love Jack's long line about the meaning of Harry and the Hendersons, which had me flailing with laughter even the third or fourth time through.  Another great moment is when Sylvia asks, "Do I have to paint you a picture?" and it turns out she already has, which works like a classic cartoon moment.  Just delightful from beginning to end.

Stefanie Grassley, who's Tracy's Fan, would later be a Grieving Mistress (not of Tracy's).  Frank Anello fulfills your expectations by playing part of the Production Staff.  This is the first of fifteen 30 Rock episodes directed by writer John Riggi.

30 Rock: Succession

30 Rock: Succession
NBC
April 24, 2008
Sitcom
DVD
B+

John Riggi's story, co-written with guest writer Andrew Guest (OK, he was script coordinator that season, but he didn't usually write scripts), is a great one, where actions rise and fall, against an Amadeus theme, musical and symbolic.  Although Devon Banks is engaged to Kathy Geiss (Marceline Hugot), Don Geiss chooses Jack as his successor, although he can't make the announcement until the board of directors approves.  Jack confides in Liz, promising to make her his successor.  She at first resists and then he shows her the salary.  The sequence of her reaction is hilarious: her mouth falls open and she slaps Jack, then she goes down to the writers' room and says, "Suck it, Monkeys!  I'm going corporate!"  When Pete worries about her abandoning him, she says he'll be promoted, too, and shows him the salary.  His mouth falls open and he slaps her.  She grins and says, "I know, right?"

However, although Liz quickly learns how to charm other executives, while "business drunk" and coming up with "Button Classic" for the microwave, Jack actually feels sorry for Banks, who looks miserable at the bachelor party.  And then Geiss goes into a diabetic coma, with a caped Dr. Spaceman called in to (mis)diagnose.  Banks maneuvers almost mute Kathy into her father's position as head of GE, so that Banks will be the puppetmaster.  And meanwhile, Tracy (we never learn how) conquers Uncanny Valley and invents a porn video game that is realistic without being disturbing, with Frank as his Salieri, and this is one of the best Tracy subplots I've seen.

Brian Stack again appears as human punching bag/punchline Howard Jorgensen.  This is the 2800th of my shows I've reviewed and I don't know if we'll hit 2900.  (Three thousand is very unlikely.)

30 Rock: Cougars

Frank prematurely shoots down their
ship, but who can fight that chemistry?

30 Rock: Cougars
NBC
November 29, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B

Although this John Riggi story is only a decade and change old, Jenna actually has to define the title term for Liz, when the latter starts dating the 20-year-old coffee delivery guy.  Frank goes "gay for" the guy, telling Jenna that he and she are not going to happen.  Meanwhile, Jack applies militarism to the Little League team that Tracy is coaching (community service).

Craig Castaldo, formerly Moonvest, is Radioman here.  Gay Man #1, Alan H. Green, would later be a Security Guard.  Frank Anello is, you'll be relieved to hear, portraying a member of the Production Staff.

30 Rock: The Head and the Hair

30 Rock: The Head and the Hair
NBC
January 18, 2007
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this story co-written by Tina Fey and John Riggi (his second dealing with Liz's unlucky love life), Liz and Jenna meet the title characters (see the picture).  Jenna urges Liz to ask out the nerdy balding guy, but Gray, the handsome guy with nice hair, asks out Liz.  She has to get over her insecurities, and then it turns out that she and Gray are third cousins.  Meanwhile, Jack and Kevin trade jobs and the latter explains why he loves being a page; and, in the least interesting thread, Toofer and Frank try to help Tracy write his autobiography.

Teddy Coluda returns as the Stage Manager.  Craig Castaldo has his first of three 30 Rock roles, as Moonvest.  Executive Ali Reza previously was the Sandwich Guy.  Michal Antonov makes her first of two appearances that year as Young Liz.  I'm unclear how Marcus Collins, who previously played a Bartender, is "The Hair" when that is supposed to be Gray, but that's what IMDB says.  And John McEnroe makes his first of four appearances as himself.

30 Rock: Blind Date

30 Rock: Blind Date
NBC
October 25, 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Jack interferes with Liz's personal life, not for the last time, by fixing her up with his friend "Thomas," as in Gretchen Thomas, a lesbian.  Liz does hit it off with Gretchen and keeps seeing her platonically.  Of course the irony is that we'll later find out that Liz has a lot of hang-ups about sex with men.  Note that her ex-boyfriend Dennis is referred to but not yet seen.  The other plot thread is that Jack beats everyone at poker, until he faces the unreadable Kenneth.  And it's funny to hear Kenneth referred to as "a kid," when we'll gradually find out he's much, much older than he seems.

Teddy Coluca is again the Stage Manager.  Bartender Marcus Collins would later play The Hair.  Jenna is absent this episode, but it would've been interesting to see her reaction to the lesbian plot.  This episode was written by John Riggi, who played a Manager on Ellen and who would write nine more episodes, as well as direct some.