30 Rock

10 Best Episodes of 30 Rock - Season 5

Liz Lemon, the head writer for a late-night TV variety show in New York, tries to juggle all the egos around her while chasing her own dream.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 04, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

Advertisement
30 Rock - S5E13

#15 - ยกQuรฉ Sorpresa! (Season 5 - Episode 13)

Jack ingratiates himself to Kabletown's executives. Meanwhile, Liz fakes pregnancy to help out Avery and a gift from their new boss puts Jenna and Tracy at odds with each other.

The episode was rated 7.82 from 369 votes.

30 Rock - S5E15

#14 - It's Never Too Late for Now (Season 5 - Episode 15)

Advertisement

With the "TGS" staff afraid Liz will become a spinster, Jenna tries to find love for her. Jack's lack of sleep puts him at a disadvantage when negotiating. Meanwhile, Pete and Frank form a band.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 377 votes.

30 Rock - S5E18

#13 - Plan B (Season 5 - Episode 18)

Liz tries to reassure her staff that the show's forced hiatus is temporary, but everyone starts to focus on their fallback plans. Meanwhile, Jack attempts to salvage a cable network by enlisting his nemesis, Devin Banks.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 366 votes.

30 Rock - S5E1

#12 - The Fabian Strategy (Season 5 - Episode 1)

Advertisement

TGS' fifth season launches and Jack begins to meddle in Liz's new relationship with Carol. Meanwhile, Tracy struggles with life at 30 Rock without Kenneth.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 426 votes.

30 Rock - S5E8

#11 - College (Season 5 - Episode 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.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 390 votes.

30 Rock - S5E16

#10 - TGS Hates Women (Season 5 - Episode 16)

Advertisement

Liz hires a new female writer who is, unfortunately, very stereotypically female. Meanwhile, Jack discovers that he has his hands full trying to get rid of the heir to the Kabletown empire.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 364 votes.

30 Rock - S5E21

#9 - 100, Part 2 (Season 5 - Episode 21)

With "TGS" facing imminent cancelation, Jack asks Hank Hooper to allow them to do their 100th episode as a final chance to prove they deserve a place on the air. Amidst the chaos of show preparation, Jack starts doubting a key decision in his life, and Jenna contemplates motherhood.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 235 votes.

30 Rock - S5E5

#8 - Reaganing (Season 5 - Episode 5)

Advertisement

Jack's determined to save Liz's relationship with Carol, but Tracy's commercial shoot threatens everything. Meanwhile, Jenna, Kenneth and Kelsey Grammer pull a con together.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 410 votes.

30 Rock - S5E6

#7 - Gentleman's Intermission (Season 5 - Episode 6)

Avery makes Jack set up some boundaries when it comes to his friendship with Liz and Liz's father visits NYC with his eyes on cruising singles bars. Meanwhile, Jenna is mad because NBC has an obituary for Tracy but not for her.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 401 votes.

30 Rock - S5E23

#6 - Respawn (Season 5 - Episode 23)

Advertisement

Tracy interrupts Liz's summer vacation. Meanwhile Jack feels lonely and turns to Kenneth, while Jenna must choose between being the Wool Council spokeswoman and her relationship with Paul.

The episode was rated 7.93 from 368 votes.

30 Rock - S5E4

#5 - Live Show (Season 5 - Episode 4)

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 becomes convinced that nothing is funnier than a performer laughing and breaking character, which he elects to do all night, much to Jenna's chagrin. Meanwhile, Jack Donaghy struggles with the consequences of his promise to give up drinking while Avery is pregnant.

The episode was rated 7.94 from 414 votes.

30 Rock - S5E14

#4 - Double-Edged Sword (Season 5 - Episode 14)

Advertisement

A last-minute trip to Canada presents a problem for Jack and Avery. Meanwhile, Liz's trip with Carol can't get off the airport tarmac and Tracy realizes achieving "EGOT" status comes with a lot of responsibility.

The episode was rated 7.96 from 366 votes.

30 Rock - S5E2

#3 - When It Rains, It Pours (Season 5 - Episode 2)

Liz uses her newfound confidence to solve Pete's problem with a difficult editor; Jack tries to cheat mortality; Tracy vows to be present when his wife gives birth; and Kenneth tries to prove he has a purpose.

The episode was rated 7.96 from 424 votes.

30 Rock - S5E11

#2 - Mrs. Donaghy (Season 5 - Episode 11)

Advertisement

The "TGS" staff is affected by budget cuts at NBC. Liz's New Year's resolution could mean more trouble for Jack's wedding. Jenna shares a dressing room with Danny. Tracy has a health scare.

The episode was rated 8.01 from 382 votes.

30 Rock - S5E12

#1 - Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning (Season 5 - Episode 12)

Liz tries to exploit the situation when a reality show follows Tracy's wife. Meanwhile, Jack pre-tapes disaster telethons and Lutz tells a lie.

The episode was rated 8.07 from 380 votes.

Search for TV shows...

About Series with Sophie

Welcome to our community!

We are a community of women who are passionate about our favorite series and want to share that passion with others.

Our mission is to create a space where women can discover new content, connect with like-minded individuals, and engage in meaningful discussions about the series we love.

We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and trustworthy information about their favorite shows, and we strive to be the premier destination for women seeking that information. Whether you're looking for recaps, fan theories, or just want to connect with other fans, we've got you covered.

So join us and be a part of our growing community of series enthusiasts!