Jack-Tor

The fifth episode in Season One of 30 Rock is perhaps the most brilliant episode yet. This episode seemed to focus more on Jack than ever before and that's a good thing because it elevates this level to a height never seen before in this young season. It's funny, full of one-liners, and features Alec Baldwin at this best.

This episode, "Jack-Tor," has Jack wanting to integrate product placement in the show much to dismay of cast. Meanwhile, Jenna ha been told someone was going to be fired. In order for her not to be fired, she decides to act more sexually.

Overall, this is a very good, funny episode. Alec Baldwin is truly a comic genius and his role is more of a satire and he plays it off very well. I rate this episode 9/10.

Episode 5 benefits from a witty script as it works on several levels.

Jack Donaghy wants to integrate product placement on the show. The staff are against it while all the time plug Snapple.

Liz persuades Jack to appear in a skit only to later find out that Jack cannot act.

There was more on the nose stuff as Liz thinks Tarcy might be illiterate. Only for Tracy to take advantage of the situation by skiving work.

Jenna tries to make the most of her feminine charms to get what she wants. Only to hit some extra issues.

I've grown up with 30 Rock on in the background because my parents loved it. Started watching it on Peacock randomly. Started with season five, moved to season three (don't know why I did it so randomly). But after finishing season four I decided to start from the beginning.

I was very surprised to find that the pilot is SO DIFFERENT (as a lot of shows tend to be early on). It reminded me a lot of The Office and Seinfeld in the sense that both their pilots (and first seasons) are very different than the rest of the show.

I have a theory, now that I've seen more, that the end of this episode - the last ten minutes - is where the show truly begins. All of the relationships are set up - Liz going to Jack for help, Jenna feeling like she's losing her spotlight, Tracey not wanting to work. The dynamics that the show consists of are really solidified - in my opinion - at the end of this episode.

Sure, Jack and Liz aren't close friends yet. But most pieces are set! It really only took five episodes to reach.

I don't know, just thought I'd share my observation - maybe some others agree. Great show!

Jack-Tor is one of the funniest episodes of 30 Rock's first season, and was understandably Emmy-nominated for its witty script, which focuses on Jack Donaghy's pitiful attempts at pulling it off as a comedian.

Why does he do that? Because he had the genius idea of showing TGS's writing staff an informational video to emphasize his point: they should write sketches with GE product placement. Liz gets back at him by writing a skit that actually makes fun of the decision, and insists Jack play himself on the show. Of course, that was before she finds out the famous video, which is only a few minutes long, took five days to shoot, courtesy of Jack's lack of acting talent. In addition, Liz has to deal with the possibility that Tracy might be illiterate, while Frank and Toofer scare Jenna by making her believe someone will get the sack for the sake of budget cuts.

Jack-Tor is a complete success because of its self-referential (and self-spoofing) main storyline: watching the informational video's Making Of (basically a very long gag reel) and hearing Baldwin humbly admit he can't act is a huge treat, with the irony being even more poignant if you consider the funny-man won a Golden Globe for his work in Season One. The Tracy subplot is also one of the funniest ever made about that character (plus, it comes with a Barack Obama joke - always good), and finally, Jack-Tor features one of the smartest "breaking the fourth wall" moments ever seen on the small screen: while helping Jack to get over his stage fright, Liz says the most important thing to do is to not look into the camera. Baldwin, with a smug grin on his face, does exactly the opposite, as if to say: "What the hell, I know what I'm doing". He sure does.