Up All Night (30 Rock)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Up All Night
Series = 30 Rock


Caption = The writers and cast, of "TGS with Tracy Jordan", discover that they have to stay "Up All Night."
Season = 1
Episode = 13
Airdate = Start date|2007|02|08
Production = 114
Writer = Tina Fey
Director = Michael Engler
Music =
Photographer = Vanja Černjul
Guests = Joy Behar
Katrina Bowden
Rachel Dratch
Rachel Hamilton
John Lutz
Maulik Pancholy
Keith Powell
Lonny Ross
Isabella Rossellini
Sherri Shepherd
Jason Sudeikis
Mark Zimmerman
Episode list = "30 Rock" (season 1)
List of "30 Rock" episodes
Prev = Black Tie
Next = The C Word

"Up All Night" is the thirteenth episode of NBC's first season of "30 Rock". It was written by the series' creator and executive producer Tina Fey, and was directed by Michael Engler. It first aired on February 8, 2007 in the United States.cite press release |title="30 Rock" "Up All Night" 02-08-2007 9:31PM |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date= |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20070208213100.html |format= |language= |accessdate=2008-07-25 |quote= ] Guest stars in this episode include Katrina Bowden, Rachel Dratch, Rachel Hamilton, John Lutz, Maulik Pancholy, Keith Powell, Lonny Ross, Isabella Rossellini, Sherri Shepherd, Jason Sudeikis and Mark Zimmerman. Joy Behar appeared as herself in the episode.

This episode focuses on the events of Valentine's Day for the cast and crew of "TGS with Tracy Jordan", a fictional sketch comedy series. Liz Lemon (played by Tina Fey) receives a mysterious gift; Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander) comments that he hates Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski); Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) forgets Valentine's Day, which also happens to be his wife, Paula's (Paula Pell) birthday; Jack Donaghy's (Alec Baldwin) divorce from Bianca (Isabella Rossellini) is made official; the writers believe that Cerie Xerox (Katrina Bowden) has romantic feelings for Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer); and Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) tries to spend a night with his wife, Angie Jordan (Sherri Shephard).

Plot

It is Valentine's Day, although the "TGS" cast and crew still have to work all night. Frank reveals that he hates Jenna when a game of Marry, Boff, Kill gets out of hand. Jenna tries many times to redeem herself with Frank, with reasons such as her participation in Vagina Day; "a charity event founded by a group of celebrities who have for whatever reason never been asked to participate in the Vagina Monologues". Another game of Marry, Boff, Kill leads some of the writers into believing that Cerie has feelings for Kenneth. The writers send the pair off to get candy for the night. Kenneth and Cerie take a walk around Rockefeller Center, and Cerie reveals that she is not attracted to Kenneth.

Pete has forgotten that it is Valentine's Day, which also happens to be his wife Paula's birthday. He spends the night running around the city to try and find Valentine's Day and birthday presents for his wife. Tracy and Angie plan spend the night at the Soho Grand Hotel only to be interrupted by the newly-divorced Jack and his prostitute, Vlem (Rachel Dratch). Liz has received a gift of chocolates and flowers from a supposed secret admirer. The "admirer" turns out to be Floyd (Jason Sudeikis) and the gifts turn out to be for his girlfriend, Liz Lemler (Anna Chlumsky), who works in the accounting department at "TGS".

Production

Rachel Dratch, longtime comedy partner and fellow "Saturday Night Live" alumna of Fey, was originally cast to portray Jenna. Dratch played the role in the show's original pilot, but in August 2006, Jane Krakowski was announced as Dratch's replacement. [cite news | url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-janekrakowskijoins30rock,0,1779072.story | title="Ally" Cat Krakowski Joins "30 Rock" | accessdate=2007-10-16 | date=2006-08-17 |publisher="Zap2it"] Executive producer Lorne Michaels announced that while Dratch would not be playing a series regular, she would appear in various episodes in different roles.cite news |first=Michael |last=Schneider |title=Inside Move: Dratch latched to multiple "Rock" roles |url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleID=VR1117948462&cs=1 |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-08-14 |accessdate=2008-03-02] In this episode, Dratch played Vlem, a prostitute.cite episode |title=Up All Night |series=30 Rock |serieslink=30 Rock |credits=Tina Fey (writer); Michael Engler (director) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2007-02-08 |season=1 |number=13]

Jason Sudeikis, who played Floyd in this episode, has appeared in the main cast of "Saturday Night Live"cite news |first=Whitney |last=Matheson |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A chat with ... "30 Rock" and "SNL" star Jason Sudeikis |url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2007/04/a_chat_with_30_.html |work= |publisher="USA Today" |date=2007-04-19 |accessdate=2008-07-20 ] .cite web |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/program_detail.nbc/saturdaynightlive.html |title="Saturday Night Live" Saturdays on NBC (11:30 p.m.endash1 a.m. ET) |accessdate=2008-07-20 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village"] Tina Fey was the head writer on "Saturday Night Live" from 1999 until 2006.cite web |url=http://tv.yahoo.com/tina-fey/contributor/37979/bio;_ylt=Ah959xCzyoM_PeagipGdFJlaz9EF |title=Tina Fey Biography |accessdate=2008-07-20 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher="Yahoo!"] Various other cast members of "Saturday Night Live" have appeared on "30 Rock". These cast members include: Rachel Dratch,cite news |first=Michael |last=Schneider |title=Inside Move: Dratch latched to multiple "Rock" roles |url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleID=VR1117948462&cs=1 |publisher="Variety" |date=2006-08-14 |accessdate=2008-03-02] Fred Armisen,cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/835/835821p1.html |title="30 Rock": "Somebody to Love" Review |accessdate=2008-07-20 |last=Canning |first=Robert |coauthors= |date=2007-11-16 |work= |publisher=IGN] Kristen Wiig, Will Forte,cite web |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/February-1-2007/700017220 |title=February 1, 2007: "It Feels Good to Laugh" |accessdate=2008-07-20 |last=Webb Mitovich |first=Matt |coauthors= |date=2007-02-02 |work= |publisher="TV Guide"] Chris Parnellcite news |first=Annie |last=Barrett |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=What "SNL" alums besides Chris Parnell should guest on "30 Rock"? |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2006/12/what_snl_alums_.html |work= |publisher="Entertainment Weekly" |date=2006-12-07 |accessdate=2008-07-20 ] and Molly Shannon. Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan have both been part of the main cast of "Saturday Night Live".cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/736/736916p1.html |title=IGN Interview: "30 Rock"'s Tracy Morgan |accessdate=2008-07-20 |last=Fickett |first=Travis |coauthors= |date=2006-10-17 |work= |publisher=IGN] Alec Baldwin has also hosted "Saturday Night Live" thirteen times, the second highest amount of episodes of any host of the series.cite episode |title=Alec Baldwin/Christina Aguilera |episodelink= |series=Saturday Night Live |serieslink=Saturday Night Live |credits= |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2006-11-11 |season=32 |seriesno= |number=5 |minutes= ]

Reception

"Up All Night" brought in an average of 5.2 million viewers. The episode also achieved a 2.5/6 in the key 18–49 year old demographic.cite press release |title=NBC Ratings Results For the Week of February 5–11 — The Number One New Show of the Season In 18–49, "Heroes", is the Top-Rated Program on Television Monday and the Top-Rated New Series of the Week in Adults 18–49, 18–34 and 25–54 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-02-13 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20070213000000-nbcratingsresults.html |format= |language= |accessdate=2008-07-25 |quote="30 Rock" averaged a 2.5/6 in 18–49 and 5.2 million viewers overall.] The 2.5 refers to 2.5% of all 18–49 years olds in the U.S., and the 6 refers to 6% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast in the U.S..

Matt Webb Mitovich of "TV Guide" wrote that "it would be nearly impossible to measure up to last week's utterly manic introduction of Prince Gerhardt [Paul Ruebens] , so forgive "30 Rock" if this week's outing was 'merely' very amusing at times." He added that compared to Jack's storyline, he "actually wore more grins watching the microscopic B-story with the writers, playing Marry, Boff, Kill."cite web |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/February-8-2007/800008311 |title=February 8, 2007: "Tell Your Gay Mom I Said Thanks" |accessdate=2008-07-25 |last=Webb Mitovich |first=Matt |coauthors= |date=2007-02-09 |work= |publisher="TV Guide"] Robert Canning of IGN thought that "the Valentine's Day episode of "30 Rock" gave us a big surprise: a low-key half hour from a show known for being over the top," adding that this was "a pleasant surprise". He said that this episode "proved that ["30 Rock"] could make with the funny no matter what the tone". Canning rated this episode 8.5 out of 10.cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/763/763081p1.html |title="30 Rock": "Up All Night" Review |accessdate=2008-07-25 |last=Canning |first=Robert |coauthors= |date=2007-02-09 |work= |publisher=IGN]

Trivia

This episode shares its name with a 1994 episode of "Mad About You", an earlier hit show on NBC.

References