30 Rock: Season 5

2010 · 23 episodes · ★ 8.2

What Season 5 of 30 Rock

Season 5 opens with Liz Lemon leading the TGS writers' room, now in a new relationship with Carol Burnett, a role played by Matt Damon. Jack Donaghy meddles in that storyline more than Liz would like, while he prepares for fatherhood with Avery. Tracy Jordan, determined to win an EGOT, remains the most unpredictable member of the show. Kenneth tries to return to NBC, and Jenna fears someone will steal her spotlight. Amid her colleagues' egos and the executive's interference, Liz has to get each broadcast on air.

23episodes

Sep 23, 2010premiered

May 5, 2011latest episode

8.1 hrtotal runtime

Season 5 Episodes

5x01 The Fabian Strategy
Sep 23, 2010 · 21 min · ★ 7.4
Jack begins to meddle in Liz's new relationship with Carol.
Directing: Beth McCarthy-Miller · Writing: Tina Fey · Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, Matt Damon, Jan Owen
5x02 When It Rains, It Pours
Sep 30, 2010 · 21 min
Liz uses her newfound confidence to solve Pete's problem with a difficult editor (Paul Giamatti); Jack tries to cheat mortality; Tracy vows to be present when his wife gives birth.
Directing: Don Scardino · Writing: Robert Carlock · Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti
5x03 Let's Stay Together
Oct 7, 2010 · 21 min
Jack must appear before Congress to discuss NBC's merger with KableTown. He hopes that he will charm celebrity members, but one Congresswoman, Regina Bookman, demands more diversity in its programming lineup. Jack quickly enlists Tracy to come up with some new development ideas. Meanwhile, Liz is fed up with the flack her writing staff gives her, and Jenna helps Kenneth reapply to the extremely competitive Page Program.
Directing: John Riggi · Writing: Jack Burditt · Starring: John Lutz, Rob Reiner, Queen Latifah, Reg E. Cathey
5x04 Live Show
Oct 14, 2010 · 23 min · ★ 8.8
On show night, Liz Lemon grows increasingly infuriated when no one seems to remember that it's her 40th birthday. Just before the taping, Tracy Jordan becomes convinced that nothing is funnier than a performer laughing and breaking character, which he elects to do all night, much to Jenna Maroney's chagrin. Meanwhile, Jack Donaghy struggles with the consequences of his promise to give up drinking while Avery is pregnant.The episode was filmed twice. The East Coast version aired for the Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones. The West Coast version was aired in the western, Alaskan and Hawaiian time zones.
Directing: Beth McCarthy-Miller · Writing: Robert Carlock, Tina Fey · Starring: John Lutz, Bill Hader, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Matt Damon
5x05 Reaganing
Oct 21, 2010 · 21 min · ★ 8.2
Jack's determined to save Liz's relationship with Carol and Tracy shoots a commercial.
Directing: Todd Holland · Writing: Matt Hubbard · Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Seth Kirschner, Sándor Técsy, Jee Young Han
5x06 Gentleman's Intermission
Nov 4, 2010 · 21 min
Avery Jessup becomes suspicious of the relationship her fiancé Jack Donaghy has with his employee and friend Liz Lemon, so she orders Jack to set boundaries in their friendship. This proves a problem for Liz when her father, Dick Lemon arrives in town on a break from his marriage. Meanwhile, actor Tracy Jordan is upset when he discovers that his pre-recorded NBC obituary shows him to have done nothing worthwhile in his life, whilst Jenna Maroney learns of the video obituaries, she decides to make a video of her own.
Directing: Don Scardino · Writing: John Riggi · Starring: Katrina Bowden, Ann Curry, Elizabeth Banks, Buck Henry
5x07 Brooklyn Without Limits
Nov 11, 2010 · 21 min · ★ 7.8
Jack rocks the vote, manipulating a congressional election to help a particular candidate, thereby leveraging advantage for the network. Meanwhile, a perfect pair of new jeans gives Liz confidence; Tracy organizes a Golden Globe event with Jenna's help.
Directing: Michael Engler · Writing: Ron Weiner · Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, John Slattery, David Gregory
5x08 College
Nov 18, 2010 · 21 min · ★ 7.8
Jack worries that GE's microwave sales have improved too much without his help and tries to find glitches in their newest design. Meanwhile, Liz partakes in a crew lottery despite Jenna and Tracy's warning her not to do so. Elsewhere, the TGS writers discover that Jack is the voice of an online dictionary's pronunciation guide.
Directing: Don Scardino · Writing: Dylan Morgan, Josh Siegal · Starring: John Lutz, Daniel Sunjata, Kevin L. Bright, Samrat Chakrabarti
5x09 Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish
Dec 2, 2010 · 21 min · ★ 7.8
Jack recommends that Liz start seeing a therapist when she worries that Carol is getting bored with their relationship. In an attempt to take Jack's advice, Liz begins talking to Kenneth about her problems. Jack also finds himself caught up in one of Tracy's schemes when Tracy tries to convince him to invest in his son's theme restaurant in Times Square. Meanwhile, Jenna and Paul celebrate their six month anniversary.
Directing: Ken Whittingham · Writing: Kay Cannon · Starring: Will Forte, Ben Cook, Michael Benjamin Washington, Zack Robidas
5x10 Christmas Attack Zone Mid-Season Finale
Dec 9, 2010 · 21 min
Liz and Avery try to persuade Jack to disclose two secrets he's been hiding from his mother, who visits for the holidays. Then, Liz tries to repair Jenna's relationship with Paul; and Tracy tries to block his film's release because it undermines his newly invented serious persona.
Directing: John Riggi · Writing: Tracey Wigfield · Starring: John Lutz, Alan Alda, Elizabeth Banks, Will Forte
5x11 Mrs. Donaghy
Jan 20, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.2
Budget cuts at the company impact the "TGS" gang. Elsewhere, Liz's New Year's resolution adds a potential snarl to Jack's wedding; Jenna and Danny share a dressing room; and a health scare hits Tracy.
Directing: Tricia Brock · Writing: Jack Burditt · Starring: John Lutz, Tituss Burgess, Sherri Shepherd, Todd Buonopane
5x12 Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning
Jan 27, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.8
A reality TV series trails Tracy, which Liz tries to exploit for her own gain. Jack does his own exploiting: He attempts to make a fast buck off natural-disaster telethons. And Lutz sets out to increase his worth in the event of an apocalypse.
Directing: Beth McCarthy-Miller · Writing: Robert Carlock · Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, Robert De Niro, Lester Holt
5x13 ¡Qué Sorpresa!
Feb 3, 2011 · 21 min
As Jack tries to cozy up to the owner of Kabletown, Liz fakes being pregnant to help Avery gain advantage over a competitive colleague. Elsewhere, Tracy and Jenna clash when trying to share a gift from their new bosses.
Directing: John Riggi · Writing: Matt Hubbard · Starring: John Lutz, Richard Belzer, Elizabeth Banks, Vanessa Lachey
5x14 Double-Edged Sword
Feb 10, 2011 · 21 min
Jack and a very pregnant Avery take a romantic break in Canada. When Avery goes into labor, the power couple desperately scramble to not give birth to a Canadian. Meanwhile, Liz's getaway with Carol gets grounded, literally, when their plane collects dust on the tarmac. And Tracy is an EGOT winner, but with that comes overwhelming demands.
Directing: Don Scardino · Writing: Kay Cannon · Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Matt Damon, John Cho, Grizz Chapman
5x15 It's Never Too Late for Now
Feb 17, 2011 · 21 min
Jenna tries to help a lovelorn Liz rebound from a broken relationship. Elsewhere, sleep deprivation impacts new father Jack, who begins to lose his business savvy and negotiating prowess; and Pete and Frank form a rock band.
Directing: John Riggi · Writing: Vali Chandrasekaran · Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, Eion Bailey, Adriane Lenox
5x16 TGS Hates Women
Feb 24, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.7
Liz hires a new female writer after a blog declares "TGS" misogynistic. Meanwhile, Jack plots his takeover of Kabletown by zeroing in on his main competition--the CEO's granddaughter.
Directing: Beth McCarthy-Miller · Writing: Ron Weiner · Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, Chloë Grace Moretz, Terrence Mann
5x17 Queen of Jordan
Mar 17, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 7.8
Angie's reality show visits "TGS", resulting in a red-faced situation for Jack, Jenna pining for attention, and Liz leading a scheme to lure Tracy back from Africa. Meanwhile, Frank reconnects with a lost love.
Directing: Ken Whittingham · Starring: Susan Sarandon, Tituss Burgess, Grizz Chapman, Sherri Shepherd
5x18 Plan B
Mar 24, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.6
"TGS" is forced into hiatus, spurring the show's staffers to seek backup jobs. Meanwhile, Jack tries to rescue a cable network by forging an unlikely alliance with his archenemy, Devin Banks.
Starring: Aaron Sorkin, Will Arnett, William Jackson Harper, Grizz Chapman
5x19 I Heart Connecticut
Apr 14, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.5
As cancellation looms for "TGS", Liz snoops with Kenneth to find a missing Tracy. Meanwhile, Jack works his magic to ensure the financial success of Jenna's newest endeavor; and an emasculated Pete organizes a manly contest for the writers and crew.
Writing: Vali Chandrasekaran · Starring: Katrina Bowden, Phil Rosenthal, Rob Riggle, Jack Haley
5x20 100 (1)
Apr 21, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.6
Chaos builds when bigwig Hank Hooper marks "TGS" for cancellation, yet Jack persuades him to let the staffers stage the show's 100th episode.
Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, Will Forte, Rachael Ray
5x21 100 (2)
Apr 21, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.6
With their show targeted for cancellation, the "TGS" crew desperately scramble to mount a top-notch production for their 100th episode. Meanwhile, Jack reconsiders a vital decision in his life, and Jenna mulls over motherhood.
Directing: Don Scardino · Writing: Jack Burditt, Robert Carlock, Tina Fey · Starring: Katrina Bowden, Dean Winters, Ken Howard, Cheyenne Jackson
5x22 Everything Sunny All the Time Always
Apr 28, 2011 · 21 min · ★ 8.8
Liz tries to turn her personal life from drab to fab by revamping her dream apartment. Meanwhile, Avery is held hostage, and Tracy discovers that Kenneth, Dot Com and Grizz have forged a solid bond while he was away.
Directing: John Riggi · Writing: Kay Cannon, Matt Hubbard · Starring: Thomas Roberts, Adriane Lenox, Margaret Cho, Elizabeth Banks
5x23 Respawn Season Finale
May 5, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 8.4
The "TGS" crew anticipate their summer vacation. Liz lands in the Hamptons for some rest and relaxation, but she gets the summertime blues when Tracy moves in next door. Elsewhere, a lonely Jack latches onto Kenneth for company; and Jenna's new job impacts her relationship with Paul.
Directing: Don Scardino · Writing: Hannibal Buress, Ron Weiner · Starring: Katrina Bowden, John Lutz, Adriane Lenox, Victor Garber