30 Rock debuted 20 years ago this month. Premiering in the shadow of the more-hyped and “respectable” Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, it began with so-so ratings but tremendous critical reception, eventually winning three straight Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series. But while Aaron Sorkin’s self-serious behind-the-scenes look at a struggling sketch comedy show barely got a full season, Tina Fey’s more accurate and more entertaining sitcom aired more than 100 episodes and was part of NBC’s excellent Comedy Night Done Right block, which at various times included The Office, Scrubs, and Parks and Recreation. While I was a latecomer to the show’s brilliance, its joke density and willingness to cross the line or go down a silly rabbit trail won me over almost immediately. Without further ado, here are my 10 favorite episodes.
10. “Hogcock!” / “Last Lunch” (Season 6, Episodes 12-13)
When your brand is sarcasm, it can be jarring when you try to play sincere. But the show’s creative team threaded the needle perfectly in this two-part finale, as Liz rejects giving up her dreams to be a stay-at-home mom and Jack reaches even greater corporate heights. But this pair of episodes also finds time for plenty of silly gags, including Lutz’s fondness for Blimpie and Pete’s attempt to fake his own death.
9. “Black Tie” (Season 1, Episode 12)
No show this century has better deployed its creator’s incredible Rolodex of famous friends like this one. After spending much of the 2000s in hiding after a highly public, deeply suspect legal case, Paul Reubens returned to TV as Prince Gerhardt, a grotesquely deformed royal who catches Jenna’s eye. But the other relationship conflicts are even funnier, as Liz gets into a brawl with Jack’s soon-to-be ex-wife (Isabella Rossellini) and Pete is tempted by a party guest, with Kenneth and Tracy as the angel and devil on his shoulder.
8. “Anna Howard Shaw Day” (Season 4, Episode 13)
We can talk about Jon Bon Jovi’s hilarious cameo. We can talk about real-life creep Horatio Sanz as Jenna’s retiring stalker. We can even talk about the blossoming relationship between Jack and Avery (Elizabeth Banks). But all of that pales to the greatest tag in NBC sitcom history.
7. “Greenzo” (Season 2, Episode 5)
I kind of get why everyone despises Ross, the character David Schwimmer played on Friends. But lost in all that hatred was Schwimmer’s fantastic performance. He could easily be the straight man, the poor sap, or the volcanic rage machine. He gets to bring all those talents to his turn as Jared, the struggling actor who goes viral as NBC Universal’s environmentalism mascot Greenzo. He’s riding high until he lets his newfound fame go to his head, turning against his masters and correctly blaming climate change on a handful of corporations. But this episode is also packed to the gills with comedic subplots, including the false rumors that Kenneth will be throwing a rager (with T.I. in attendance!) and Pete having an affair.
6. “Señor Macho Solo” (Season 3, Episode 7)
Of the great comedies of this century, only It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Louie would go more directly for “third rail” topics. But 30 Rock never minded episodes and subplots in poor taste. (Though they probably wish they could have a re-do on some episodes that featured white actors in heavy make-up as minorities.) Enter Peter Dinklage, about to go on a run of Emmy wins for Game of Thrones. As Liz’s love interest Stewart, he exercises great patience as Liz constantly treats him like an actual child due to his size. It’s cringe comedy at its best.
5. “Reaganing” (Season 5, Episode 5)
This late-period gem has not one but two ridiculous storylines that it commits to wholeheartedly. The first sees Jack attempt to emulate his idol Ronald Reagan by solving every problem that comes across his desk in a 24-hour period. Dealing with Tracy’s inability to remember his lines is easy, but getting Liz to overcome her sexual hang-ups (she more of them “than an adult chat line run by Gilbert Gottfried”) proves to be a real challenge. But then what the hell, sure, Jenna and Kenneth team up with Kelsey Grammer to scam Carvel. It’s all absolutely absurd but makes for one of the show’s funniest episodes.
4. “Rosemary’s Baby” (Season 2, Episode 4)
Even though it was cut short by the writers’ strike, Season 2 stands as one of the best seasons of any sitcom this century. Carrie Fisher absolutely should have won the Emmy for Guest Actress as the faded comedy writing legend Rosemary Howard, who inspired Liz as a young girl, but absolutely terrifies her in the present day with retrograde sketch ideas and a serious drinking problem. We also get a borderline-offensive therapy session with Jack and Tracy, and the introduction of Kenneth’s nemesis Donny (Paul Scheer).
3. “The Bubble” (Season 3, Episode 15)
This howlingly funny episode is probably Jon Hamm’s best performance outside of Mad Men. As the drop-dead gorgeous Drew, he lives in “the bubble,” where people treat him like royalty simply because he’s so handsome. (Calvin Klein offers him a job as a model out of nowhere. A cop rips up his parking ticket. Women demand tennis lessons from him despite being worse at the game than I am.) Seeing him shakily attempt to ride a motorcycle and explain that salmon marinated in Gatorade is a delicacy got guffaws out of me. Few things are funnier than Hamm acting unlike the suave, hyper-confident Don Draper.
2. “Fireworks” (Season 1, Episode 18)
Will Arnett in semi-serious dramatic parts? No thanks. Will Arnett as an overconfident moron? I’ll watch everything you got. As Jack’s frequent foil Devon Banks, he was a worthy adversary because he’d always go lower than Jack ever dreamed. Thus, Jack has no choice but to use Kenneth as a honey trap to try to distract him from the promotion he seeks. But even the shot of Banks in a too-short robe isn’t as funny as Tracy’s dream about going on Maury and accepting that Thomas Jefferson (as played by Alec Baldwin) is his ancestor.
1. “Reunion” (Season 3, Episode 5)
Any time I make one of these lists, I always debate putting an atypical episode at or near the top. But for me, the choice was easy. Jack ends up stranded with Liz at her high school reunion, where the latter is determined to show up her teenage bullies with her important job and better fashion sense. But Jack seizes the moment to one-up her once the attendees reject Liz, who learns she was actually the tormentor in her school’s halls. It’s one of the best Jack-and-Liz episodes because it reveals both of their deepest insecurities. It’s the best episode of the show for giving its ridiculous characters real depth while delivering laugh after laugh.