:Episode 210
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox television episode
| series = 30 Rock
| caption =
| season = 2
| episode = 10
| airdate = {{Start date|2008|01|10}}
| production = 210
| writer = Robert Carlock
Donald Glover
| director = Richard Shepard
| photographer =
| music = "Midnight Train to Georgia" performed by the cast of 30 Rock.
| guests =
- Kevin Brown as Dot Com Slattery
- Grizz Chapman as Grizz Griswold
- Edie Falco as C.C. Cunningham
- Edward Herrmann as Walter
- Toby Huss as Deutsche Stimme
- Gladys Knight as herself
| season_article = 30 Rock season 2
| episode_list = List of 30 Rock episodes
| prev = Ludachristmas
| next = MILF Island
}}
The untitled tenth episode of the second season of the television series 30 Rock is the 31st episode of the series overall, and was first broadcast in the United States on January 10, 2008, on the NBC network. The episode was written by showrunner Robert Carlock and Donald Glover, and was directed by Richard Shepard. Guest stars include Kevin Brown, Grizz Chapman, Edie Falco, Toby Huss and Gladys Knight, who appeared as herself. The episode focuses on Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and her decision to invest in real-estate, Jack Donaghy's (Alec Baldwin) choice between his job and his girlfriend, and Kenneth Parcell's (Jack McBrayer) addiction to coffee.
The production and broadcasting of this episode was heavily affected by the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-striketvgrid-html,0,7606966.htmlstory?coll=la-home-center |title=The TV Grid |access-date=2008-01-19 |date=November 2007 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} Despite never being officially named by NBC, Episode 210 has been unofficially titled "Liz the Business Woman"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20170629,00.html |title=30 Rock: Midnight Train Wrecks |access-date=2008-01-19 |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |date=2008-01-10 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112204246/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20170629%2C00.html |archive-date=2008-01-12 }} and "Coffee & TV".{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/30-Rock/Stories/Coffee-TV |title=Coffee & TV |access-date=2008-01-19 |last=Neal |first=Michael |date=2008-01-10 |publisher=Television Without Pity |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115082914/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/30-Rock/Stories/Coffee-TV |archive-date=2008-01-15 }} Although not unanimously praised by critics, the episode attracted generally positive reviews and was particularly appreciated for its cast's rendition of the 1973 Gladys Knight & the Pips hit "Midnight Train to Georgia". Liz also sings a snippet of Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" when leaving a message for the co-op board.
Plot
Liz takes Jack's advice to invest in real estate, and Jenna Maroney tells Liz that her business manager is selling his apartment. The sale is subject to the approval of the building's cooperative board, but Liz makes a bad impression and her purchase offer is rejected. Liz gets herself drunk and makes numerous phone calls to the board.
Jack is involved in negotiations to acquire a German cable television network, but is struggling to juggle his job and his relationship with C.C., whose work as a congresswoman keeps her busy in Washington D.C. Unable to see each other when they want to, the couple decide to "meet in the middle" (in a betting parlor in Pennsylvania). While exploring the surrounding area, they find they can better focus on each other and their relationship. However, C.C. misses an important vote and Liz is forced to negotiate with the Germans on Jack's behalf, accidentally offering to sell NBC in the process. Realizing they cannot balance their relationship with their careers, they decide to break up. Jack, in conversation with Liz, compares his relationship to Liz's previous relationship with Floyd, and Liz declares in song that she has to go.{{cite episode |title=Episode 210 |series=30 Rock |series-link=30 Rock |credits=Writer(s): Robert Carlock & Donald Glover; Director: Richard Shepard |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |air-date=2008-01-10 |season=2 |number=10}}
Tracy Jordan buys a coffee machine and puts it on Kenneth Parcell's desk, causing him to develop a caffeine addiction. Comparing New York to Sodom, Kenneth claims that he has been "sodomized", and feels guilty that he has let New York change him, contrary to a promise he made to his mother. He therefore decides to return to Georgia on the midnight train; however, he quickly returns, explaining that the train was actually departing at 11:45 and he missed it.
Production
Image:Wga rally - ave stars - crossing street.JPG was on strike for 100 days.{{cite news |title=The 100-Day Writers' Strike: A Timeline |url=http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/the-100-day-writers-strike-a-timeline/ |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2008-02-12 |access-date=2008-02-24}}]]
Parts of this episode were filmed during the week of November 5, 2007, which coincided with the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The strike, which began at 00:01 EST on November 5, 2007,{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/wga-goes-on-strike-1117975364/ |title=WGA goes on strike |access-date=2008-01-19 |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2007-11-04 |magazine=Variety}} did not affect the episode as it had been written earlier and filming was finished on November 9.{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin/what-the-strike-is-costin_b_72120.html |title=What the Strike is Costing Us |access-date=2008-01-27 |last=Baldwin |first=Alec |date=2007-11-11 |work=The Huffington Post}} Members of Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West voted to end the writers' strike on February 12, 2008,{{cite press release|title=Writers Guild Members Vote to End Strike |publisher=Writers Guild of America, West |date=2008-02-12 |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2775 |access-date=2008-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418063200/http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2775 |archive-date=2008-04-18 }} and although writers were allowed to return to work on the same day,{{cite magazine |first=Cynthia |last=Littleton |author2=McNary, Dave |title=It's official: WGA strike is over |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/it-s-official-wga-strike-is-over-1117980829/ |magazine=Variety |date=2008-02-12 |access-date=2008-02-13}} Robert Carlock returned to work on February 11. The remaining writers resumed work on February 13,{{cite magazine |first=Cynthia |last=Littleton |author2=McNary, Dave |title=Showrunners back to work Monday |url=https://www.variety.com/VR1117980626.html |magazine=Variety |date=2008-02-10 |access-date=2008-02-13}} which began the production of the next episode, "MILF Island".{{cite press release |title=NBC Announces Broadcast Return of Several Scripted Series with Original Episodes in April |publisher=NBC; The Futon Critic |date=2008-02-13 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080213nbc02 |access-date=2008-02-15}} During the filming, actor and executive producer Tina Fey had to balance her duties in order not to breach WGA strike rules.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iefdf9c6b642b692d87f46900cd3b4e77 |title=High-profile writers Rock picket line in N.Y |access-date=2008-01-19 |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=2007-11-06 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203234215/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iefdf9c6b642b692d87f46900cd3b4e77 |archive-date=2008-12-03 }} Fey also took to the picket lines along with co-star Jack McBrayer.{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/27/solidarity-tina-fey-tim_n_74394.html |title=Solidarity! Tina Fey, Tim Robbins, Kristin Davis, John Edwards, And The Creepy Guy From "Lost" Rally For Striking Writers |access-date=2008-01-19 |first1=Patrick|last1=Waldo|first2=Rachel|last2=Sklar|date=2007-11-27 |work=The Huffington Post}} Alec Baldwin wrote blogs on The Huffington Post website in order to demonstrate his support for the WGA writers.{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin |title=Alec Baldwin |access-date=2008-01-19 |last=Baldwin |first=Alec |work=The Huffington Post}}
Episode 210 was broadcast on January 10, 2008 and was the final episode, including repeats,{{cite web |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/storylines.nbc/30rock.html |title=30 ROCK Storylines |access-date=2008-01-19 |website=NBC Universal Media Village}}{{dead link| date=June 2010 | bot=DASHBot}} of 30 Rock to be broadcast until the episode "MILF Island" in April.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7525 |title=ABC, NBC Shuffle January Premieres |access-date=2008-01-19 |date=2007-12-20 |website=The Futon Critic}} This episode is also notable for being officially unnamed; NBC billed this episode on its press releases as "Episode 210".{{cite press release |title=01-10-2008 08:30 PM 30 ROCK — EPISODE 210 (30 min) |publisher=National Broadcasting Company; NBC Media Village |date=December 2007 |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080110203000.html |access-date=2008-01-18}} {{dead link| date=June 2010 | bot=DASHBot}}{{cite press release |title=30 ROCK; Air Date: Thursday, January 10, 2008; Time Slot: 8:30 PM-9:00 PM EST on NBC; Episode Title: (#210) "EPISODE 210" |publisher=The Futon Critic |date=December 2007 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings.aspx?id=20071231nbc09 |access-date=2008-01-19}} This led some critics to give it the unofficial title of "Liz the Business Woman", while others named it "Coffee & TV".
Reception
On its original broadcast in the United States, Episode 210 was viewed by 6.0 million viewers and earned a 2.8/7 in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic. This means that it was seen by 2.8% of all 18- to 49-year-olds, and 7% of all 18- to 49-year-olds watching television at the time of the broadcast.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia6dc904e032a3e878dedf54cfc89aa25 |title=Last Thursday of new episodes lackluster |access-date=2008-01-19 |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2008-01-12 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
Entertainment Weekly
Despite the good reviews, there was no universal acclaim from critics as a whole. Robert Canning of IGN said that "[this episode] wasn't the most spectacular half-hour from this truncated season" and "unfortunately, there wasn't all that much that was funny about it. Sure, there were a couple of decent one-liners, but overall [Kenneth's storyline] offered up nothing new." Despite these criticisms, Canning added further praise to the "Midnight Train to Georgia" performance. Canning gave this episode a rating of 8.4 out of 10.{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/844/844993p1.html |title=30 Rock: "Episode 210" Review |access-date=2008-01-19 |last=Canning |first=Robert |date=2008-01-11 |website=IGN}}
Edie Falco was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for this episode.{{cite web|url=http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2008pte/60thpte_noms.php |title=The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are... |access-date=2008-07-17 |date=2008-07-17 |work=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718145548/http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2008pte/60thpte_noms.php |archive-date=2008-07-18 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001574/ Episode 210] at the Internet Movie Database
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{{30 Rock episodes}}
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Category:2008 American television episodes
Category:30 Rock season 2 episodes