Succession (30 Rock)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Succession
Series = 30 Rock


Caption = Cathy Geiss, the new chairwoman of General Electric
Season = 2
Episode = 13
Airdate = Start date|2008|04|24
Production = 213
Writer = Andrew Guest
John Riggi
Director = Gail Mancuso
Photographer = Vanja Černjul
Guests = Will Arnett
Marceline Hugot
Chris Parnell
Brian Stack
Tom Toner
Rip Torn
Episode list = "30 Rock" (season 2)
List of "30 Rock" episodes
Music = "Requiem" composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Prev = Subway Hero
Next = Sandwich Day

"Succession" is the thirteenth episode of NBC's second season of "30 Rock" and the thirty-fourth episode overall.cite press release |title="30 Rock" "Succession" 04-24-2008 9:31PM |publisher="NBC Universal Media Village"|date= |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080424213100.html |format= |language= |accessdate=2008-07-30 |quote= ] It was written by Andrew Guest and one of the seasons' co-executive producers, John Riggi; it was directed by Gail Mancuso.cite web |url=http://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/succession/episode/168175 |title="30 Rock" "Succession" |accessdate=2008-07-30 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher="Yahoo"] It first aired on April 24, 2008 in the United States. Guest stars in this episode include Will Arnett, Marceline Hugot, Chris Parnell, Brian Stack, Tom Toner and Rip Torn.

In this episode Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) and Devon Banks' (Will Arnett) race to be the new CEO of General Electric comes to an end; Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) gets the idea to make a pornographic video game, and Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) prepares to become the new Head of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming.

Plot

Jack meets with retiring corporate head Don Geiss (Rip Torn), who discloses that he has chosen Jack over his soon-to-be son-in-law Devon to run the company. Jack is overjoyed and chooses Liz to replace himself as Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming. Liz accepts when she learns of the higher salary and tells her staff "Suck it monkeys, I'm going corporate." Meanwhile, Devon returns with intent to sabotage Jack, but Liz attempts to make Devon look bad by forcibly making out with him in front of a security camera.

At this time, Tracy begins to feel he is an embarrassment to his son. Hoping to make his family proud, Tracy searches for a legacy and decides to produce the world's first pornographic video game. Despite Frank's skepticism, Tracy has some success in designing the game by conquering the "uncanny valley", a scale on which the strangeness of special effects are measured.

A depressed Devon becomes resigned to the fact that Jack will receive the promotion. Don Geiss, however, goes into a diabetic coma, despite the efforts of Dr. Spaceman (Chris Parnell), before he can announce his decision. Devon denies knowing that Geiss had chosen Jack as his successor. The next day, Devon appears in Jack's office, revealing he has convinced the board to put Cathy Geiss (Marceline Hugot), his fiancée, in charge, with Devon acting as the power behind the throne. He then kicks Jack out of his office.

Production

Chris Parnell, who played Dr. Leo Spaceman in this episode, has appeared in the main cast of "Saturday Night Live",cite 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 ] a weekly sketch comedy series which airs on NBC in the United States.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", including 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"] Jason Sudeikiscite 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 ] 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

"Succession" was viewed by an average of 5.5 million viewers upon its original broadcast. The episode also achieved a 2.8/7 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 7 refers to 7% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast in the U.S.. The episode also ranked first place, against episodes of "" and "Grey's Anatomy", among males aged 18–34. [cite press release |title=NBC Results For The Primetime Week Of April 21–27 |publisher=NBC Universal Media Village |date=2008-04-29 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20080429000000-nbcresultsforthe.html |format= |language= |accessdate=2008-08-30 |quote="30 Rock" (2.8/7 in 18–49, 5.5 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18–49 rating from its last seven original telecasts (dating back to November 15), despite the tough time-period competition. "30 Rock" won its slot among men 18–34. ]

The episode received some positive feedback from critics. Bob Sassone of AOL's TV Squad compared "Succession" to a soap opera and said it was "a great episode" with "a lot of great lines," and he hoped the pornographic video game storyline would be continued. [cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/04/25/30-rock-succession-video/ |title="30 Rock": "Succession" - VIDEO |accessdate=2008-04-27 |last=Sassone |first=Bob |authorlink=Bob Sassone |date=2008-04-25 |work= |publisher=AOL's TV Squad] Robert Canning of "IGN" complimented Devon's appearances on "30 Rock", including in "Succession," and felt that "Succession" would be the first episode in a new story arc, which was a good thing. He rated the episode an 8 out of 10. [cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/869/869394p1.html |title="30 Rock": "Succession" Review |accessdate=2008-04-27 |last=Canning |first=Robert |coauthors= |date=2008-04-25 |work= |publisher="IGN"]

Alan Sepinwell of "The Star-Ledger" generally praised "Succession" but took issue with a few aspects of the episode and its airing. He felt that it was "fabulous" and "showcased" Tina Fey as an actress. Sepinwell also noted that "Succession" included an "inspired riff on "Amadeus" and compared Tracy and Frank when they were working on a pornographic video game to Amadeus and Salieri. Less positively, he commented on the "one-note-ness of Will Arnett as Devon Banks" and did not like the "Baby Mama" ad that was displayed on screen during "mozart montage." The ad made Sepinwell want to "to drive to NBC Universal corporate headquarters and start slapping everyone there out of existence."cite web |url=http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2008/04/30_rock_succession_too_many_no.html |title=30 Rock, "Succession": Too many notes |accessdate=2008-05-02 |last=Sepinwell |first=Alan |date=April 25, 2008 |publisher=NJ.com]

References

External links

*" [http://www.tv.com/30-rock/succession/episode/1188080/summary.html Succession] ," at TV.com
*" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001577/ Succession] ," at the Internet Movie Database
*" [http://www.hulu.com/watch/18072/30-rock-succession Succession] " at Hulu.com