Subway Hero

Infobox Television episode
Title = Subway Hero
Series = 30 Rock


Caption = Liz and Dennis in the writers room
Season = 2
Episode = 12
Airdate = Start date|2008|04|17
Production = 211cite web |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/program_photography.nbc/30rock.html |title="30 Rock"; Thursdays on NBC |accessdate=2008-04-13 |work=Photo Summaries |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village"]
Writer = Jack Burditt
Robert Carlock
Director = Don Scardino
Photographer =
Guests = Michael Bloomberg
Lord Stanley Cup
Tim Conway
Dean Winters
Episode list = "30 Rock" (season 2)
List of "30 Rock" episodes
Prev = MILF Island
Next = Succession

"Subway Hero" is the twelfth episode of the second season of "30 Rock" and thirty-third episode of the series. It was written by, one of the series co-executive producer, Jack Burditt and, executive producer, Robert Carlock.cite episode |title=Subway Hero |episodelink= |series=30 Rock |serieslink=30 Rock |credits=Don Scardino (director) Jack Burditt (writer) Robert Carlock (writer) |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=2008-04-17 |season=2 |number=12] It was directed by Don Scardino. It aired on April 17, 2008 on the NBC network in the United States.cite press release |title="30 Rock" "Subway Hero" 04-17-2008 8:30PM |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2008-03-28 |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080417203000.html |accessdate=2008-04-13] Guest stars in this episode include Michael Bloomberg, Tim Conway and Dean Winters. The Lord Stanley Cup is also jokingly listed as a guest star. Dennis Duffy's actions in this episode were modeled after real New York City Subway Hero Wesley Autrey.

The episode revolves around Liz's former boyfriend, Dennis Duffy (Dean Winters), becoming a local celebrity when he saves somebody's life at a subway station. Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) is looking for a celebrity to be the face of the Republican Party and Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) meets one of his idols, Bucky Bright (Tim Conway).

Plot

When invited to Jack's office, Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is asked whether or not she would mind having her former boyfriend, Dennis, appear on "TGS with Tracy Jordan", a fictional sketch comedy series. Since they last met, Dennis saved somebody's life at a subway station and has become a local celebrity. Liz and Dennis meet up where she agrees to let him appear on the show. Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) is weary and warns Liz not to let herself fall in love with Dennis again. When Liz realizes she does still have feelings for him, an excuse to get rid of him is presented when Dennis' "15 minutes of fame" are up and Liz revokes her invitation. Liz later follows him to 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center subway station where he tries to regain his subway hero title.

Jack is looking for a famous face to represent the Republican political party. After struggling to find somebody, he selects Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) for the position. One of Jack's failed candidates, Bucky Bright, befriends Kenneth during a tour of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The pair swap stories about the television industry.

Production

Some scenes of "Subway Hero" were filmed on March 10, 2008.cite web |url=http://images.nbcmv.com/photos/thumb/30rock/NUP_130017_0253.jpg|title="30 Rock" - "Subway Hero" Episode 211 - Pictured: Jack McBrayer as Kenneth Parcell |accessdate=2008-04-13 |last=Rivelli |first=Nicole |date=2008-03-20 |work=Set Photos |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" Save Picture as → Right click file → Properties → Summary → Advanced → Date Picture Taken] This episode was originally expected to air on April 10, 2008cite news |first=Justin |last=Ravitz |title=Bloomberg Films "30 Rock" Cameo |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/17/bloomberg-films-30-rock_n_91827.html |publisher="The Huffington Post" |date=2008-03-17 |accessdate=2008-03-25] but was rescheduled to air on April 17. The episode "MILF Island" aired on April 10 instead.cite press release |title="30 Rock" "MILF Island" 04-10-2008 8:30PM |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village" |date=2008-03-20 |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080410203000.html |accessdate=2008-03-20] On the newspaper shown to Liz by Jenna, the front page article states that Kay Cannon wrote the article. Kay Cannon is a writer of various episodes of "30 Rock". Upon working with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Dean Winters described Bloomberg as "fun" and that "he was cool. And he's a natural."

Reception

"Subway Hero" brought in an average of 6.4 million viewers.cite news |first=Rick |last=Kissell |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=NBC's "Office" tops quiet Thursday |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984253.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=30+rock+2%2E8 |publisher="Variety" |date=2008-04-18 |accessdate=2008-04-18] This was the highest rated episode since the episode "Somebody To Love" which aired on November 15, 2007.cite press release |title=I. T. R. S. Ranking Report 01 thru 101 (out of 101 programs) Daypart: Primetime Mon-Sun From 12-11-07 through 18-11-07 |publisher="ABC Medianet" |date=2007-11-20 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=112007_06 |accessdate=2008-04-18] The episode also achieved a 2.8/8 in the key 18-49 year old demographic. The 2.8 refers to 2.8% of all 18–49 years olds in the U.S. and the 8 refers to 8% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast, in the U.S. This episode built by 0.2 points, in the 18-49 demographic, from the episode of "My Name Is Earl", named "No Heads And A Duffel Bag," which aired prior to it.

Claire Zulkey of "The Los Angeles Times" wrote that "In some ways the episode almost felt too comfortable, with the familiar story lines and even the obligatory fantasy featuring Baldwin as a former president. The show, thus far post-strike, hasn't seemed like it has distinguished itself too much from Season 1. But is that really so bad?" [cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/04/30-rock-two-men.html |title="30 Rock": Back in the groove |accessdate=2008-04-18 |last=Zulkey |first=Claire |date=2008-04-18 |work= |publisher="The Los Angeles Times"] Ann Oldenburg of "USA Today" said that "As always, [this episode of] "30 Rock" was filled with fast one-liners." [cite web |url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/entertainment/2008/04/watercooler-t-3.html |title=Watercooler talk |accessdate=2008-04-18 |last=Oldenburg |first=Ann |coauthors= |date=2008-04-18 |work= |publisher="USA Today"] Jeff Labrecque of "Entertainment Weekly" thought that "Even for the always politically astute "30 Rock", last night's episode was unusually so." [cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192377_2,00.html |title='30 Rock' Rec
(Page 2) |accessdate=2008-04-18 |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |coauthors= |date=2008-04-17 |work= |publisher="Entertainment Weekly"] Bob Sassone of AOL's TV Squad said that " [This] episode of "30 Rock" had more jokes and one-liners - the kind where you actually smile and laugh out loud" and that "There's no other comedy that's running on all cylinders like "30 Rock" is right now." [cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/04/17/30-rock-subway-hero-video/ |title="30 Rock": "Subway Hero" - VIDEO |accessdate=2008-04-18 |last=Sassone |first=Bob |authorlink=Bob Sassone |coauthors= |date=2008-04-17 |work= |publisher=AOL's TV Squad] Matt Webb Mitovich of "TV Guide" said that " [the episode] was filled not with just great laughs, but also some heart. Damn the roller coaster that is the crazy Dennis-and-Liz on-again/off-again thing!" [cite web |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/Episode-Recap-Quotsubway/800037831 |title=Episode Rec
TV Guide"]

Robert Canning of IGN wrote that "this is why "30 Rock" is still a show you can't miss. Even the weaker episodes can be damn funny." Canning rated the episode 7.7 out of 10. [cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/867/867632p1.html |title="30 Rock": "Subway Hero" Review |accessdate=2008-04-18 |last=Canning |first=Robert |coauthors= |date=2008-04-18 |work= |publisher=IGN] The "Daily Herald"'s Ted Cox wrote that " [he has] to insist that it sure seems to me that not just Fey and Liz, but most of all viewers at home deserve better." [cite web |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=173686 |title="30 Rock" returns: Is it more stoopid or just being stupid? |accessdate=2008-04-18 |last=Cox |first=Ted |date=2008-04-17 |work= |publisher="Daily Herald"] Alan Sepinwall of "The Star-Ledger" said that "I saw "Subway Hero" a while back, and as I wrote in my column last week, my reaction to it was roughly the same as it was to "MILF Island": a number of very funny individual moments, but an episode that was less than the sum of its parts." [cite web |url=http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2008/04/30_rock_subway_hero_bababooey.html |title="30 Rock", "Subway Hero": Baba-booey! |accessdate=2008-04-18 |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |coauthors= |date=2008-04-17 |work= |publisher="The Star-Ledger"] David Hinckley of "The New York Daily News" said that there were "a lot of former-boyfriend gags that are, once again, well-formulated" in this episode and that "They work." Hinckley also wrote that "the real reason ["Subway Hero"] is must-see TV is a guest spot by Tim Conway as an old-time television star whose deadpan recollections of the "good old days" keep getting weirder and funnier. He darn near steals the show."cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/04/10/2008-04-10_30_rock_is_back_and_its_a_gem.html |title="30 Rock" is back and it's a gem |accessdate=2008-05-25 |last=Hinckley |first=David |coauthors= |date=2008-04-10 |work= |publisher="The New York Daily News"]

References

External links

*" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001576/ Subway Hero] ," at the Internet Movie Database
*" [http://www.tv.com/30-rock/subway-hero/episode/1182689/summary.html Subway Hero] ," at TV.com