Secrets and Lies (30 Rock)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Secrets and Lies
Series = 30 Rock


Caption = Tracy accepting his fake Pacific Rim Emmy at the staged event
Season = 2
Episode = 8
Airdate = Start date|2007|12|06
Production = 208
Writer = Ron Weiner
Director = Michael Engler
Music =
Photographer = Vanja Černjul
Guests = Reathel Bean
James Carville
Paul Eichel
Edie Falco
Melissa Gallagher
Jabari Gray
Blaine Horton
John Lutz
Erich McCall
Andrew Polk
Reshma Shetty
Tom Treadwell
Darlene Violette
Episode list = "30 Rock" (season 2)
List of "30 Rock" episodes
Prev = Cougars
Next = Episode 209

"Secrets and Lies" is the eighth episode of the second season of "30 Rock", and the twenty-ninth overall. It was written by Ron Weiner and it was directed by Michael Engler.cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/profiles/Episode/main/171713/64146/2/69882/8/Secrets%20and%20Lies.html?dataSet=1 |title="30 Rock" — "Secrets and Lies" — Synopsis, Credits, Companies |accessdate=2008-08-11 |publisher="Variety"] The episode first aired on December 6, 2007 on the NBC network in the United States.cite press release |title="30 Rock" "Secrets and Lies" 12-06-2007 8:30 pm |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20071206203000.html |accessdate=2008-08-11] Guest stars in this episode include Reathel Bean, James Carville, Paul Eichel, Edie Falco, Melissa Gallagher, Jabari Gray, Blaine Horton, John Lutz, Erich McCall, Andrew Polk, Reshma Shetty, Tom Treadwell and Darlene Violette.

In this episode, Celeste "C.C." Cunningham (played by Edie Falco) wishes to go public with her relationship with Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) gets angry when she thinks Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) lets Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) do anything he likes. Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander) and James "Toofer" Spurlock (Keith Powell) feud over "Toofer"'s status as a Harvard University alumnus.

Plot

Jack is worried when his girlfriend C.C., the Democratic congresswoman for the state of Vermont, tells him that she wants to go public with their relationship. The pair had been avoiding this due to the fact that C.C. is suing the Sheinhardt Wig Company, the fictional parent company of General Electric (GE). During their secret relationship, Jack and C.C. had been sneaking to each other's house in disguises, including C.C. as a plumber named Mr. Spoonatelli. The pair confide in Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) and Liz, after they find out about their relationship. Eventually, Jack takes C.C. to dinner in the GE executive dining room where he reveals his relationship to the other executives, leading to the other executives making some bizarre revelations of their own.

When Jenna wins an award for her work on "Mystic Pizza: The Musical: The Movie", in the category of "Best Actress in a Movie Based on a Musical Based on a Movie", Tracy is annoyed that he never wins any awards of his own. When Liz feels sorry for him, she tells him that he has won a Pacific Rim Emmy Award for his work on "TGS with Tracy Jordan", a fictional sketch comedy series. Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) helps Liz stage a fake acceptance speech for Tracy, which is also attended by Tracy's co-stars, Jenna and Josh Girard (Lonny Ross). When Tracy recognises nearly everybody who works on the show, except for Jenna, Jenna gets angry and claims that Liz is willing to for Tracy, but not her. As a result, she becomes disobedient and unco-operative and starts her own entourage, much like Tracy. Liz, distraught with Jenna's new behavior, reveals to her that she in fact "coddle [s] the crap" out of her as well as Tracy. Liz then reveals that Jenna did not win an award for "Mystic Pizza: The Musical: The Movie" and that the "award" statue was actually a cookie.

After a night of performing stand up at Harvard University, Frank comes into work wearing a Harvard jersey, even though he did not attend the university. Outraged by this, Harvard alumnus "Toofer" tells him to take it off. When Frank refuses, the pair begin to argue and the argument is eventually mediated by political consultant James Carville.

Production

This episode was performed live on stage at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. The performance, which was titled "30 Rock — On Strike!",cite news |first=Rachel |last=Sklar |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="30 Rock" Live! Dry-Humping, Boob-Grabbing And Other Fun Times At The UCB |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/20/30-rock-live-dryhumping_n_73470.html |work= |publisher="The Huffington Post" |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] was to display support for the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike,cite news |first=Tim |last=Surette |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="SNL", "30 Rock" hitting stage |url=http://www.tv.com/30-rock/show/58326/story/10472.html?tag=story_list;title;0 |work= |publisher="TV.com" |date=2007-11-16 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] which began on November 5, 2007. [cite news |first=Brian |last=Stelter |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Writers’ Strike Begins; Negotiations Break Down; Silver Lining For Networks? |url=http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/writers-strike-begins-negotiations-break-down-silver-lining-for-networks/ |work= |publisher="The New York Times" |date=2007-11-05 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] The performance took place on November 19, 2007.cite news |first=Kristen |last=Baldwin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=On the scene at "30 Rock" Live! |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/11/on-the-scene-at.html |work= |publisher="Entertainment Weekly" |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] All the main cast members of the series were in attendance, although due to other commitments, guest star Edie Falco was unable to appear in her role as Celeste "C.C." Cunningham. In her place was the "Saturday Night Live" head writer, Paula Pell. As guest star James Carville was also unable to attend, an unnamed "30 Rock" writer filled in for him.cite news |first=Dan |last=Hopper |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="30 Rock" Live Is Just As Much Fun As It Is Recorded, Plus You Get To Watch Alec Baldwin Laugh At the Word “Tampon” |url=http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/11/20/30-rock-live-is-just-as-much-fun-as-it-is-recorded-plus-you-get-to-watch-alec-baldwin-laugh-at-the-word-tampon/ |work= |publisher="Best Week Ever" |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] Other "30 Rock" writers, including Donald Glover, also played the smaller, "bit" parts. During the "commercial breaks", cast member Jack McBrayercite news |first=Ehren |last=Gresehover |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Live From New York, It's "30 Rock"! |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/11/live_from_new_york_its_30_rock.html |work= |publisher="New York Magazine" |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-08-11 ] and recurring cast member John Lutz improvised fake comedic advertisments for various products. Sheinhardt Wig Company t-shirts, which were signed by the cast of "30 Rock", were also raffled off during the performance.

Reception

"Secrets and Lies" brought in an average of 5.8 million viewers. The episode also achieved a 2.7/7 in the key 18–49 year old demographic. The 2.7 refers to 2.7% of all 18–49 years olds in the U.S., and the 7 refers to 7% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast in the U.S.. This episode ranked first in the male 18–49 year old demographic, growing 4% from its lead-in of the "My Name Is Earl" episode "Early Release."cite press release |title="Heroes" and "Sunday Night Football" Power NBC's Week of December 3–9 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-12-11 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20071211000000-039heroes039a.html |accessdate=2008-08-11 |quote=At 8:30 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (2.7/7 in 18–49, 5.8 million viewers overall) retained 87 percent of its 18-49 lead-in, while building on its lead-in by 4 percent in adults 18–34 (to a 2.9 from a 2.8 for "Earl"). Week-to-week, "30 Rock" grew by 8 percent in 18–49 (2.7/7 vs. 2.5/6) and by 21 percent in adults 18–34 (2.9/8 vs. 2.4/7). "30 Rock" won its slot in men 18–34.]

Robert Canning of IGN wrote that the episode "came close to fulfilling [its] potential, but was unable to keep the rapid-fire comedic pace going for the entire episode." He added that the second half of the show was not "a complete loss, but, man, that first act just steamrolled viewers with hilarious bit after hilarious bit."cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/840/840180p1.html |title="30 Rock": "Secrets and Lies" Review |accessdate=2008-08-11 |last=Canning |first=Robert |coauthors= |date=2007-12-07 |work= |publisher=IGN] Matt Webb Mitovich of "TV Guide" thought that the "unexpected treat this week was guest star James Carville, who'ssic presence as confidant to Jack not only made sense, but Carville also had a lot of fun lampooning himself 'Cajun style' and all. And look at how well his advice for Frank and Twofersic worked!" [cite web |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/Episode-Recap-Quotsecrets/800029027 |title=Episode Rec
TV Guide"]

References