30 Rock (season 2)

Infobox tvseason
season_name = 30 Rock season 2
headercolour = d8342b


caption = "30 Rock" season two DVD cover
dvd_release_date = October 7, 2008 (Region 1)cite web |url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/30-Rock-Season-2-Extras/9979 |title="30 Rock" - 2nd Season Release Date Jumps A Week Forward, Announces Extras |accessdate=2008-06-17 |last=Lambert |first=David |coauthors= |date=2008-07-03 |work= |publisher="TVShowsOnDVD.com"]
dvd_format =
country = USA
network = NBC
first_aired = October 4, 2007
last_aired = May 8, 2008
num_episodes = 15
prev_season = 1
prev_series =
next_season =
next_series =

The second season of "30 Rock", an American television comedy series, originally aired between October 4, 2007 and May 8, 2008 on NBC in the United States.cite press release |title="30 Rock" "SeinfeldVision" 10-04-2007 8:30PM |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20071004203000.html |accessdate=2008-05-25] "30 Rock" is centered around "TGS with Tracy Jordan", a fictional sketch comedy series, and its head writer Liz Lemon portrayed by Tina Fey. The series follows Lemon as she juggles her job and her personal life.

The season consisted of 15 episodes, each of which was approximately 22 minutes long, excluding commercials. During its second season, "30 Rock" moved timeslots three times. All episodes aired on a Thursday, but with the first eight episodes airing 8:30 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST),cite press release |title="30 Rock" "Secrets and Lies" 12-06-2007 8:30PM |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20071206203000.html |accessdate=2008-05-25] the ninth episode airing at 9:00 pm EST,cite press release |title="30 Rock" "Episode 209" 12-13-2007 9:00PM |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |url=http://www.nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20071213210000.html |accessdate=2008-05-25] episode ten through twelve airing at 8:30 pm ESTcite press release |title="30 Rock" "Episode 210" 01-10-2008 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080110203000.html |accessdate=2008-05-25] and the final three episodes airing at 9:30 pm EST.cite press release |title="30 Rock" "Succession" 04-24-2008 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080424213100.html |accessdate=2008-05-25] Throughout the season, "30 Rock" aired under NBC's promotional banner "Comedy Night Done Right".cite news |first=Jon |last=Hein |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Is Comedy Night Being Done Right? |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Hein-Sight/Comedy-Night-Right/800038049 |work= |publisher="TV Guide" |date=2008-04-22 |accessdate=2008-07-30 ]

The season was affected by the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which began on November 5, 2007 and ended on February 12, 2008.cite news |first=Steve |last=Gorman |title=Hollywood writers begin strike |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKN0246316920071105 |publisher="Reuters" |date=2007-11-05 |accessdate=2008-07-17] cite news |first=Claudia |last=Eller |coauthors=Verrier, Richard |title=Hollywood writers strike ends |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-strike13feb13,0,365871.story |publisher="The Los Angeles Times" |date=2008-02-13 |accessdate=2008-05-25] The season's show runners Tina Fey and Robert Carlock agreed not to allow their writing staff to write episodes of "30 Rock" during the strike.cite web |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2529 |title=Pencils Down Means Pencils Down |accessdate=2008-05-25 |publisher="Writers Guild of America, West"] As a result, only 15 episodes of the 22 episodes ordered could be produced.cite news |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |authorlink=Michael Ausiello |title=UPDATED Strike Chart: How Long Before Your Shows Go Dark? |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Strike-Chart-Long/800026937 |publisher="TV Guide" |date=2007-11-09 |accessdate=2008-05-25] cite news |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Wga-Strike-Favorite/800032698 |title=UPDATED! After the Strike: When Your Favorites Will Return! |accessdate=2008-05-25 |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Ausiello |date=2008-02-07 |publisher="TV Guide"] The "30 Rock" season two DVD box set is expected to be released on October 7, 2008 in Region 1 format.

Crew

The season was produced by Broadway Video, Little Stranger and NBC Universal and was aired on NBC, a terrestrial television network in the U.S. The executive producers were creator Tina Fey, Lorne Michaels, Joann Alfano, Marci Klein, David Miner and Robert Carlock with Jack Burditt and John Riggi acting as co-executive producers. Producers for the season were music composer Jeff Richmond, Matt Hubbard and Don Scardino with Diana Schmidt, Margo A. Myers and Irene Burns acting as co-producers.cite web |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/credit_detail.nbc/30rock.html |title="30 Rock" Thursdays on NBC (8:30-9 p.m. ET) |accessdate=2008-05-25 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village"]

There were six different directors throughout the season. Those who directed more than one episode were Don Scardino,cite web |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/832706?view=credit |title=Credits "30 Rock": 'SeinfeldVision' |accessdate=2008-07-17 |publisher="British Film Institute"] cite episode |title=The Collection |episodelink= |series=30 Rock |serieslink=30 Rock |credits=Matthew Hubbard (writer); Don Scardino (director) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2007-10-18 |season=2 |seriesno= |number=3 |minutes= Note: See the credits which appear after the opening titles.] Michael Engler and Beth McCarthy.cite news |first=Dave |last=McNary |title=DGA announces TV nominations |url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=news&id=dga&articleid=VR1117978818 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-03-07] There were three directors who only directed one episode each throughout the season, they were Richard Shepard, Kevin Rodney Sullivan and Gail Mancuso. The main writers for the season were Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, Matt Hubbard, Jack Burditt and John Riggi, who all wrote, or co-wrote at least two episodes. Jon Pollack, Kay Cannon, Ron Weiner, Tami Sagher, Donald Glover and Andrew Guest only wrote, or co-wrote, one episode each.cite press release |title=Writers Guild Awards Awards Winners 2008 Awards Winners Film and Television Winners |publisher="Writers Guild of America, West" |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 |accessdate=2008-03-07] cite episode |title=Succession |episodelink=Succession (30 Rock) |series=30 Rock |serieslink=30 Rock |credits=Andrew Guest (writer); John Riggi (writer); Gail Mancuso (director) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2008-04-24 |season=2 |seriesno= |number=13 |minutes= Note: See the credits which appear after the opening titles.]

Cast

This season had a cast of ten actors who received star billing. Tina Fey portrayed Liz Lemon, the head writer of a fictitious live sketch comedy television series named "TGS with Tracy Jordan" (commonly known as just "TGS").cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15206996/ |title=Tina Fey channels "SNL" on "30 Rock" |accessdate=2008-03-23 |date=2006-10-11 |publisher="MSNBC"] The "TGS" cast consists of three actors. The lead actor is the loose cannon movie star Tracy Jordan, portrayed by Tracy Morgan. The co-stars are the dense, limelight-craving Jenna Maroney, portrayed by Jane Krakowskicite press release |title=Jane Krakowski joins the cast of new NBC comedy "30 Rock" |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-08-17 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20060817000000-janekrakowskijoins.html |accessdate=2008-03-02] as well as the playful Josh Girard, who is also a writer for "TGS", portrayed by Lonny Ross. Jack McBrayer played the naïve Kenneth Parcell.cite news |first=Rick |last=Porter |title="30 Rock" talk with Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2007/10/30-rock-talk-wi.html |publisher="Zap2it" |date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2008-03-24] Scott Adsit acted as the witty and wise "TGS" producer, Pete Hornberger.cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/110233/Scott%20Adsit.html?dataSet=1 |title=Scott Adsit: Actor, Writer, Improviser |accessdate=2008-03-24 |work=Filmography |publisher="Variety"] Judah Friedlander portrayed the wise-cracking, trucker hat wearing, repulsive staff writer Frank Rossitano.cite news |first=Lindsay |last=Robertson |title=Judah Friedlander's Hats on "30 Rock" |url=http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/cc_insider/2007/04/judah_friedland.html |publisher="Comedy Central" |date=2007-04-13 |accessdate=2008-03-24] Alec Baldwin played the high flying NBC network executive Jack Donaghy.cite news |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |title=Baldwin eyes Fey's NBC pilot |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002034584 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2006-02-17 |accessdate=2008-03-24] Donaghy's full corporate title for the majority of the season is "Head of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming."cite episode |title=Pilot |episodelink=Pilot (30 Rock) |series=30 Rock |serieslink=30 Rock |credits=Writer(s): Tina Fey; Director: Adam Bernstein |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2006-10-11 |season=1 |number=1] Keith Powell played the Harvard University alumnus and "TGS" staff writer James "Toofer" Spurlock.cite web |url=http://www.nbcumv.com/entertainment/program_detail.nbc/30rock.html |title=30 Rock; Thursdays on NBC (8:30-9 p.m. ET); Season Premiere: Thursday, October 4 |accessdate=2007-10-14 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village"] Katrina Bowden acted as writers' assistant Cerie Xerox.cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=8af9b8c0-fbde-4b8b-8353-237b3c459a8e |title=Exclusive! "30 Rock" Scores Will Arnett, Chris Kattan and Mariah Carey (in Our Dreams) |accessdate=2008-03-05 |last=Dos Santos |first=Kristen |date=2008-03-04 |publisher="E! Online"] The cast also included some recurring characters including Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan,cite news |first=Gregory |last=Kirschling |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Maulik Pancholy: You Might Know Me From... |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20037736,00.html |work= |publisher="Entertainment Weekly" |date=2007-05-04 |accessdate=2008-07-30 ] Grizz Chapman as Grizz Griswold,cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Grizz Chapman |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/1472958/Grizz-Chapman |work= |publisher="The New York Times" |date= |accessdate=2008-07-30 ] Kevin Brown as "Dot Com" Slatterycite news |first=Gillian |last=Reagan |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="30 Rock"'s Kevin Brown to "Die Laughing" |url=http://www.observer.com/2008/30-rocks-kevin-brown-die-laughing |work= |publisher="The New York Observer" |date=2008-02-18 |accessdate=2008-07-30 ] and John Lutz as J.D. Lutz.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=2008-07-30 ]

Reception

Ratings

The season premiere, "SeinfeldVision," garnered 7.33 million American viewers, placing it third in its timeslot of 8:30 pm EST.cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117973599.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=30+rock+ratings+premiere |title="Friday Night Lights" Lights up NBC |accessdate=2008-03-29 |last=Kissell |first=Rick |date=2007-10-07 |publisher="Variety"] On December 13, 2007, "Episode 209" aired at 9:00 pm EST and it was viewed by 5.6 million viewers.cite press release |title="Deal", "Biggest Loser", and "Sunday Night Football" lead NBC's weeks of Dec. 10-16 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2007-12-18 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20071218000000-039deal4403.html |accessdate=2008-05-26] Upon returning to its 8:30 pm EST timeslot on January 10, 2008, the episode which aired, "Episode 210," was viewed by 6 million viewers.cite press release |title="American Gladiators", "Biggest Loser" and "Law & Order: SVU" pace NBC's week of Jan. 7-13 |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2008-01-15 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20080115000000-039americangladi.html |accessdate=2008-05-26] "30 Rock" was moved to 9:30 pm EST on April 24, 2007 and began airing after "The Office". The season's first airing at 9:30 pm EST garnered 5.52 million viewers.cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 100 (out of 100 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2008-04-29 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=042908_06 |accessdate=2008-05-26] The following week, the lowest rated episode of the season, "Sandwich Day," aired. The episode was viewed by 5.4 million viewers.cite news |first=Stuart |last=Levine |title=ABC wins Thursday but dramas dip |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984985.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=30+rock |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2008-05-26] The season finale, "Cooter," which aired on May 8, 2008, was viewed by 5.6 million viewers.cite news |first=Stuart |last=Levine |title=ABC wins tight Thursday race |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985392.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2563 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-05-09 |accessdate=2008-05-09] The second season averaged 6.4 million viewers for all 15 episodes, excluding repeat broadcasts.cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 220 (out of 220 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2008-05-20 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=052008_06 |accessdate=2008-05-26] cite news |first=James |last=Hibberd |title=For the networks, season didn't rate |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i6e06ab8971554c64624b9b5f980db683?pn=3 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2008-05-22 |accessdate=2008-05-26]

Critical reception

In his review of the season, Robert Canning of "IGN" said that this season was "smart, funny and thoroughly entertaining." He also praised many of the guest stars who appeared throughout the season.cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/874/874454p1.html |title="30 Rock": Season 2 Review (Page 1) |accessdate=2008-07-01 |last=Canning |first=Robert |date=2008-05-15 |publisher="IGN"] Regarding the main cast, Canning wrote that "the regulars all seemed to up their game in this second season," particularly praising Tina Fey's portrayal of Liz Lemon, calling her "the heart of the show." Canning ranked the season as "8.9 out of 10."cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/874/874454p2.html |title="30 Rock": Season 2 Review (Page 2) |accessdate=2008-07-01 |last=Canning |first=Robert |date=2008-05-15 |publisher="IGN"]

Awards

Tina Fey picked up a Golden Globe Award, the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical, for her portrayal of Liz Lemon.cite news |first=Phil |last=Gallo |title="Atonement", "Sweeney" win Globes |url=http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117977639.html |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-01-13 |accessdate=2008-02-18] Both Fey and Alec Baldwin received Screen Actors Guild Awards, in the categories of Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series, respectively.cite news |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |title="Country" takes top SAG film award |url=http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117979715.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-01-27 |accessdate=2008-02-18] The season also received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Series,cite press release |title=Writers Guild Awards Winners 2008 Awards Winners Film and Television Winners |publisher="Writers Guild of America, West" |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 |accessdate=2008-03-07] as well as The Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Award in Episodic Series - Comedy from the Producers Guild of America.cite news |first=Leslie |last=Simmons |title="No Country" tops PGA Awards |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iade5585233ac6180d9045068cae0c307 |publisher="The Hollywood Reporter" |date=2008-02-04 |accessdate=2008-02-18] "30 Rock" received 17 Emmy nominations, for its second season, meaning it was the second most nominated series of the year.cite web |url=http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2008pte/60thpte_noms.php |title=The 60^th Primetime Emmy® Awards and Creative Arts Emmy® Awards Nominees are... |accessdate=2008-07-17 |date=2008-07-17 |work= |publisher="Academy of Television Arts & Sciences"] These 17 nominations broke the record for the most nominations for a comedy series, meaning that "30 Rock" was the most nominated comedy series for any individual Emmy year. The previous holder of this record was "The Larry Sanders Show" in 1996 with 16 nominations.cite news |first=Tom |last=O'Neil |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="30 Rock" breaks comedy record at Emmy nominations |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/07/30-rock-and-joh.html |work= |publisher="The Los Angeles Times" |date=2008-07-18 |accessdate=2008-07-24 ] "30 Rock" also won the Television Critics Association Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Comedy."cite news |first=Stuart |last=Levine |authorlink= |coauthors= |title="Mad Men" tops TCA Awards |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989202.html?categoryId=14&cs=1 |work= |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-07-19 |accessdate=2008-07-20 ] The series was also honored with a George Foster Peabody Award during its second season.cite press release |title=67th Annual Peabody Awards Winners Announced |publisher="Peabody Awards" |date=2008-04-02 |url=http://128.192.29.189/news/pressrelease.asp?ID=152 |accessdate=2008-04-02]

Episodes

References

;General
* [http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/storylines.nbc/30rock.html "30 Rock" storylines] at "NBC Universal Media Village"
* [http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=281135&more=ucepisodelist "30 Rock" episodes] at "TV Guide";Specific