30 ROCK: JACK-TOR {EDITED HALF-HOUR VERSION OF "SUPER-SIZED" EPISODE} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about the cast and production team of a sketch comedy television show. In this episode, Tracy notes his exasperation with the demanding schedule of "TGS," and the writers are annoyed when Jack urges them to add "positive mentions" of G.E. products into sketches. Jenna wonders if Tracy's refusal to read cue cards may be due to illiteracy, and though Liz accuses her relying on unfair stereotypes, she soon considers that Jenna may be right. The writers come up with a sketch wryly mocking their own product placement deals, and Jack agrees to take part in the "hippie humor" and appear in it himself. Jenna learns that Jack may fire one of the actors to cut costs, but is confident that she can use her sexuality to keep her job. Liz finally asks Tracy if he can, in fact, read, and when she promises to get him a tutor and build around his needs, he tragically "admits" that he is indeed illiterate, though she quickly discovers that it is a ruse to get preferential treatment.
Jonathan warns Liz and Pete against putting Jack in the sketch, revealing that he is actually a terrible actor and requires dozens of takes to deliver a simple line. Jack, however, considers it a "new challenge" and remains determined to appear on TV. Jenna seduces Jack's boss, Ron, to cement her position on the show, and when rehearsal goes badly, Jack blames the "clunky" writing rather than his own lack of talent. Liz tells Pete that Tracy "took advantage of her white guilt" by feigning illiteracy in order to avoid work, and after rehearsing late into the night, Jack admits to Liz that he cannot act after all, but also cannot accept the failure of forgoing the sketch. Liz gives him a no-nonsense pep talk, however, and informs him that "any dumb-dumb can act." Later, Jenna is stunned to find that Ron is actually an extra and is only Jack's boss in the fictional scene, and Liz finally exposes Tracy's lie and orders him to read the cue cards as written. Jack ultimately does well in the scene, and Liz catches him repeatedly watching the tape and savoring his television glory. Commercials deleted.
(This episode originally ran forty minutes and was later edited down for reruns.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 16, 2006 9:20 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:33
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 110440
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy; Television writers; Women's Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 2006-2013
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Marci Klein … Executive Producer
- David Miner … Executive Producer
- JoAnn Alfano … Executive Producer
- Lorne Michaels … Executive Producer
- Tina Fey … Executive Producer, Created by
- Jack Burditt … Co-Executive Producer
- John Riggi … Co-Executive Producer
- Brett Baer … Co-Executive Producer
- Dave Finkel … Co-Executive Producer
- Robert Carlock … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Adam Bernstein … Supervising Producer
- Jerry Kupfer … Producer
- Jeff Richmond … Producer, Music by
- Irene Burns … Co-Producer
- Matt Hubbard … Co-Producer
- Margo Myers … Co-Producer
- Andrew Singer … Associate Producer
- Jennifer Danielson … Associate Producer
- Don Scardino … Director
- Tina Fey … Cast, Liz Lemon
- Tracy Morgan … Cast, Tracy Jordan
- Jane Krakowski … Cast, Jenna Maroney
- Jack McBrayer … Cast, Kenneth Parcell
- Scott Adsit … Cast, Pete Hornberger
- Judah Friedlander … Cast, Frank Rossitano
- Alec Baldwin … Cast, Jack Donaghy
- Keith Powell … Cast, Toofer
- Lonny Ross … Cast, Josh Girard
- Katrina Bowden … Cast, Cerie
- Maulik Pancholy … Cast, Jonathan
- James Murtaugh … Cast, Ron
- Teddy Coluca … Cast, Stage Manager
- Donald Glover … Cast, Young P.A.
- Doug Moe … Cast, Host
- Joey La Varco … Cast, 10 Year Old Jack
- Matthew Stocke … Cast, Snapple Man