Episode 210

Infobox Television episode
Title = Episode 210cite press release |title=01-10-2008 08:30 PM 30 ROCK — EPISODE 210 (30 min) |publisher="National Broadcasting Company"; "NBC Media Village" |date=December 2007 |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080110203000.html |accessdate=2008-01-18]
Series = 30 Rock


Caption = Liz calls the co-op board.
Season = 2
Episode = 10
Airdate = Start date|2008|01|10
Production = 210
Writer = Robert Carlock
Donald Glover
Director = Richard Shepard
Photographer =
Music = "Midnight Train To Georgia" performed by the cast of "30 Rock".
Guests = James Arden
Julia Barnett
Kevin Brown
James Cavanagh Burke
Grizz Chapman
Edie Falco
Edward Herrmann
Toby Huss
Gladys Knight
Episode list = "30 Rock" (season 2)
List of "30 Rock" episodes
Prev = Episode 209
Next = MILF Island

The untitled tenth episode of the second season of the television series "30 Rock" was first broadcast in the United States on January 10, 2008, on the NBC network. The episode was written by show runner Robert Carlock and Donald Glover, and was directed by Richard Shepard. Guest stars include James Arden, Julia Barnett, Kevin Brown, James Cavanagh Burke, Grizz Chapman, Edie Falco, Toby Huss and Gladys Knight, who appeared as herself. The episode focuses on Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and her decision to invest in real-estate, Jack Donaghy's (Alec Baldwin) choice between his job and his girlfriend, and Kenneth Parcell's (Jack McBrayer) addiction to coffee.

The production and broadcasting of this episode was heavily affected by the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-striketvgrid-html,0,7606966.htmlstory?coll=la-home-center |title=The TV Grid |accessdate=2008-01-19 |coauthors=Times Staff Writers |year=2007 |month=November |publisher="Los Angeles Times"] Despite never being officially named by NBC, "Episode 210" has been unofficially titled "Liz the Business Woman"cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20170629,00.html |title="30 Rock": Midnight Train Wrecks |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |date=2008-01-10 |publisher="Entertainment Weekly"] and "Coffee & TV."cite web |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/30-Rock/Stories/Coffee-TV |title=Coffee & TV |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Neal |first=Michael |date=2008-01-10 |publisher="Television Without Pity"] Although not unanimously praised by critics, the episode attracted generally positive reviews and was particularly appreciated for its cast rendition of the 1973 Gladys Knight & the Pips hit "Midnight Train to Georgia".

Plot

Tracy Jordan buys a coffee machine and puts it on Kenneth Parcell's desk, causing him to develop a caffeine addiction. Kenneth believes that he has been "sodomised", and feels guilty that he has let New York change him, contrary to a promise he made to his mother. He therefore decides to return to Georgia on the midnight train; however, he gets confused with the departure time and stays. Meanwhile, Liz takes Jack's advice to invest in real estate, and Jenna Maroney tells Liz that her business manager is selling his apartment. The sale is subject to the approval of the building's cooperative board, but Liz makes a bad impression and her purchase offer is rejected. Liz gets herself drunk and makes numerous phone calls to the board.

Jack is involved in negotiations to acquire a German cable television network, but is struggling to juggle his job and his relationship with C.C., whose work has taken her to Washington DC. Unable to see each other when they want to, the couple decide to "meet in the middle" (in a betting parlour in Pennsylvania), but this arrangement proves unsuitable and they later decide to break up. Jack, in conversation with Liz, compares his relationship to Liz's previous relationship with Floyd, and Liz declares in song that she has to go.cite episode |title=Episode 210 |series=30 Rock |serieslink=30 Rock |credits=Writer(s): Robert Carlock & Donald Glover; Director: Richard Shepard |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2008-01-10 |season=2 |number=10]

Production

Parts of this episode were filmed during the week of November 5, 2007, which coincided with the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The strike, which began at 00:01 EST on November 5, 2007,cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975364.html?categoryid=2821&cs=1 |title=WGA goes on strike |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2007-11-04 |publisher="Variety"] did not affect the episode as it had been written earlier and filming was finished on November 9.cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin/what-the-strike-is-costin_b_72120.html |title=What the Strike is Costing Us |accessdate=2008-01-27 |last=Baldwin |first=Alec |date=2007-11-11 |publisher="The Huffington Post"] Members of Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West voted to end the writers' strike on February 12, 2008,cite press release |title=Writers Guild Members Vote to End Strike |publisher="Writers Guild of America, West" |date=2008-02-12 |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2775 |accessdate=2008-02-13] and although writers were allowed to return to work on the same day,cite news |first=Cynthia |last=Littleton |coauthors=McNary, Dave |title=It's official: WGA strike is over |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117980829.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-02-12 |accessdate=2008-02-13] Robert Carlock returned to work on February 11. The remaining writers resumed work on February 13,cite news |first=Cynthia |last=Littleton |coauthors=McNary, Dave |title=Showrunners back to work Monday |url=http://www.variety.com/VR1117980626.html |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-02-10 |accessdate=2008-02-13] which began the production of the next episode, "MILF Island".cite press release |title=NBC Announces Broadcast Return of Several Scripted Series with Original Episodes in April |publisher="NBC"; "The Futon Critic" |date=2008-02-13 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080213nbc02 |accessdate=2008-02-15] During the filming, actor and executive producer Tina Fey had to balance her duties in order not to breach WGA strike rules.cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iefdf9c6b642b692d87f46900cd3b4e77 |title=High-profile writers Rock picket line in N.Y. |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=2007-11-06 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter"] Fey also took to the picket lines along with co-star Jack McBrayer.cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/27/solidarity-tina-fey-tim_n_74394.html |title=Solidarity! Tina Fey, Tim Robbins, Kristin Davis, John Edwards, And The Creepy Guy From "Lost" Rally For Striking Writers |accessdate=2008-01-19 |coauthors=Patrick Waldo and Rachel Sklar |date=2007-11-27 |publisher="The Huffington Post"] Alec Baldwin wrote blogs on "The Huffington Post" website in order to demonstrate his support for the WGA writers.cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin |title=Alec Baldwin |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Baldwin |first=Alec |publisher="The Huffington Post"]

"Episode 210" was broadcast on January 10, 2008 and was the final episode, including repeats,cite web |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/storylines.nbc/30rock.html |title=30 ROCK Storylines |accessdate=2008-01-19 |coauthors=National Broadcasting Company |work=Press Release |publisher=NBC Media Village] of "30 Rock" to be broadcast until the episode "MILF Island," the following April.cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7525 |title=ABC, NBC Shuffle January Premieres |accessdate=2008-01-19 |coauthors=The Futon Critic Staff |date=2007-12-20 |publisher="The Futon Critic"] This episode is also notable for being officially unnamed; NBC billed this episode on its press releases as "Episode 210."cite press release |title=30 ROCK; Air Date: Thursday, January 10, 2008; Time Slot: 8:30 PM-9:00 PM EST on NBC; Episode Title: (#210) "EPISODE 210" |publisher="The Futon Critic" |date=December 2007 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings.aspx?id=20071231nbc09 |accessdate=2008-01-19] This led some critics to give it the unofficial title of "Liz the Business Woman",cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20170629,00.html |title="30 Rock": Midnight Train Wrecks |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |date=2008-01-10 |publisher="Entertainment Weekly"] while others named it, "Coffee & TV."cite web |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/30-Rock/Stories/Coffee-TV |title=Coffee & TV |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Neal |first=Michael |date=2008-01-10 |publisher="Television Without Pity"] The previous episode, "Episode 209", also remains without an official title.cite press release |title=30 ROCK endash EPISODE 209 12-13-2007 9:00PM |publisher="National Broadcasting Company" |date=December 2007 |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20071213210000.html |accessdate=2008-02-28]

Reception

On its original broadcast in the United States, "Episode 210" was viewed by 5.97 million viewers and earned a 2.8/7 in the 18-49 year old demographic. This means that it was seen by 2.8% of all 18-49 years olds, and 7% of all 18-49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast.cite web |url=http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/63310451/m/91110169 |title=Prime-Time Ratings: Thursday 1/10/08 |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Berman |first=Marc |date=2008-01-11 |publisher="The Programming Insider"] cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia6dc904e032a3e878dedf54cfc89aa25 |title=Last Thursday of new episodes lackluster |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2008-01-12 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter"]

"Entertainment Weekly"'s Jeff Labrecque wrote "the episode really finished strong with a fabulous Gladys Knight musical number". Matt Webb Mitovich of "TV Guide" also praised the musical number, saying "that 'Midnight Train to Georgia' number at the end of tonight's episode... Wow. So out of nowhere and so fun."cite web |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/Episode-Recap-Quotepisode/800030654 |title=Episode Rec
TV Guide"] Bob Sassone of AOL's TV Squad said that the episode "was a good episode to go into the hiatus with, if that makes things better". He criticized the fact that the fictional "TGS" writing staff was not present in this episode, even though they could have been effectively used.cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/01/10/30-rock-episode-210/ |title=30 Rock: Episode 210 |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Sassone |first=Bob |date=2008-01-10 |publisher=TV Squad] Michael Neal of Television Without Pity awarded the episode a grading of A+. The "Boston Globe"'s Joanna Weiss reviewed the episode positively, saying " [the episode] concluded with a musical interlude that was both hilarious and wistful".cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/2008/01/maybe_it_was_al.html |title="30 Rock:" They're leaving |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Weiss |first=Joanna |date=2008-01-12 |publisher="Boston Globe"]

Despite the good reviews, there was no universal acclaim from critics as a whole. Robert Canning of IGN said that " [this episode] wasn't the most spectacular half-hour from this truncated season" and "unfortunately, there wasn't all that much that was funny about it. Sure, there were a couple of decent one-liners, but overall [Kenneth's storyline] offered up nothing new." Despite these criticisms, Canning added further praise to the "Midnight Train to Georgia" performance. Canning gave this episode a rating of 8.4 out of 10.cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/844/844993p1.html |title=30 Rock: "Episode 210" Review |accessdate=2008-01-19 |last=Canning |first=Robert |date=2008-01-11 |publisher=IGN]

ee also

* 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
* Effect of the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike on television

References

External links

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