7.9/10896 votes#1 - The Fabian Strategy
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2010
Jack begins to meddle in Liz's new relationship with Carol.
Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller
Writer: Tina Fey
8.2/10899 votes#2 - When It Rains, It Pours
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/2010
Liz uses her newfound confidence to solve Pete's problem with a difficult editor (Paul Giamatti); Jack tries to cheat mortality; Tracy vows to be present when his wife gives birth.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: Robert Carlock
7.7/10830 votes#3 - Let's Stay Together
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/2010
Jack must appear before Congress to discuss NBC's merger with KableTown. He hopes that he will charm celebrity members, but one Congresswoman, Regina Bookman, demands more diversity in its programming lineup. Jack quickly enlists Tracy to come up with some new development ideas. Meanwhile, Liz is fed up with the flack her writing staff gives her, and Jenna helps Kenneth reapply to the extremely competitive Page Program.
Director: John Riggi
Writer: Jack Burditt
8.5/101,291 votes#4 - Live Show
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/2010
On show night, Liz Lemon grows increasingly infuriated when no one seems to remember that it's her 40th birthday. Just before the taping, Tracy Jordan becomes convinced that nothing is funnier than a performer laughing and breaking character, which he elects to do all night, much to Jenna Maroney's chagrin. Meanwhile, Jack Donaghy struggles with the consequences of his promise to give up drinking while Avery is pregnant. The episode was filmed twice. The East Coast version aired for the Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones. The West Coast version was aired in the western, Alaskan and Hawaiian time zones.
Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller
Writer: Tina Fey, Robert Carlock
8.0/10886 votes#5 - Reaganing
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/2010
Jack's determined to save Liz's relationship with Carol and Tracy shoots a commercial.
Director: Todd Holland
Writer: Matt Hubbard
7.8/10820 votes#6 - Gentleman's Intermission
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 11/4/2010
Avery Jessup becomes suspicious of the relationship her fiancé Jack Donaghy has with his employee and friend Liz Lemon, so she orders Jack to set boundaries in their friendship. This proves a problem for Liz when her father, Dick Lemon arrives in town on a break from his marriage. Meanwhile, actor Tracy Jordan is upset when he discovers that his pre-recorded NBC obituary shows him to have done nothing worthwhile in his life, whilst Jenna Maroney learns of the video obituaries, she decides to make a video of her own.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: John Riggi
7.9/10858 votes#7 - Brooklyn Without Limits
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/2010
Jack rocks the vote, manipulating a congressional election to help a particular candidate, thereby leveraging advantage for the network. Meanwhile, a perfect pair of new jeans gives Liz confidence; Tracy organizes a Golden Globe event with Jenna's help.
Director: Michael Engler
Writer: Ron Weiner
7.8/10819 votes#8 - College
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/2010
Jack worries that GE's microwave sales have improved too much without his help and tries to find glitches in their newest design. Meanwhile, Liz partakes in a crew lottery despite Jenna and Tracy's warning her not to do so. Elsewhere, the TGS writers discover that Jack is the voice of an online dictionary's pronunciation guide.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: Josh Siegal, Dylan Morgan
7.6/10812 votes#9 - Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish
Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 12/2/2010
Jack recommends that Liz start seeing a therapist when she worries that Carol is getting bored with their relationship. In an attempt to take Jack's advice, Liz begins talking to Kenneth about her problems. Jack also finds himself caught up in one of Tracy's schemes when Tracy tries to convince him to invest in his son's theme restaurant in Times Square. Meanwhile, Jenna and Paul celebrate their six month anniversary.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: Kay Cannon
7.9/10785 votes#10 - Christmas Attack Zone
Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 12/9/2010
Liz and Avery try to persuade Jack to disclose two secrets he's been hiding from his mother, who visits for the holidays. Then, Liz tries to repair Jenna's relationship with Paul; and Tracy tries to block his film's release because it undermines his newly invented serious persona.
Director: John Riggi
Writer: Tracey Wigfield
8.2/10861 votes#11 - Mrs. Donaghy
Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 1/20/2011
Budget cuts at the company impact the "TGS" gang. Elsewhere, Liz's New Year's resolution adds a potential snarl to Jack's wedding; Jenna and Danny share a dressing room; and a health scare hits Tracy.
Director: Tricia Brock
Writer: Jack Burditt
8.3/10924 votes#12 - Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning
Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 1/27/2011
A reality TV series trails Tracy, which Liz tries to exploit for her own gain. Jack does his own exploiting: He attempts to make a fast buck off natural-disaster telethons. And Lutz sets out to increase his worth in the event of an apocalypse.
Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller
Writer: Robert Carlock
7.9/10822 votes#13 - ¡Qué Sorpresa!
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 2/3/2011
As Jack tries to cozy up to the owner of Kabletown, Liz fakes being pregnant to help Avery gain advantage over a competitive colleague. Elsewhere, Tracy and Jenna clash when trying to share a gift from their new bosses.
Director: John Riggi
Writer: Matt Hubbard
8.3/10917 votes#14 - Double-Edged Sword
Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 2/10/2011
Jack and a very pregnant Avery take a romantic break in Canada. When Avery goes into labor, the power couple desperately scramble to not give birth to a Canadian. Meanwhile, Liz's getaway with Carol gets grounded, literally, when their plane collects dust on the tarmac. And Tracy is an EGOT winner, but with that comes overwhelming demands.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: Kay Cannon
8.2/10883 votes#15 - It's Never Too Late for Now
Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 2/17/2011
Jenna tries to help a lovelorn Liz rebound from a broken relationship. Elsewhere, sleep deprivation impacts new father Jack, who begins to lose his business savvy and negotiating prowess; and Pete and Frank form a rock band.
Director: John Riggi
Writer: Vali Chandrasekaran
8.2/10985 votes#16 - TGS Hates Women
Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 2/24/2011
Liz hires a new female writer after a blog declares "TGS" misogynistic. Meanwhile, Jack plots his takeover of Kabletown by zeroing in on his main competition--the CEO's granddaughter.
Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller
Writer: Ron Weiner
7.5/101,079 votes#17 - Queen of Jordan
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 3/17/2011
Angie's reality show visits "TGS", resulting in a red-faced situation for Jack, Jenna pining for attention, and Liz leading a scheme to lure Tracy back from Africa. Meanwhile, Frank reconnects with a lost love.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: N/A
7.8/10784 votes#18 - Plan B
Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 3/24/2011
"TGS" is forced into hiatus, spurring the show's staffers to seek backup jobs. Meanwhile, Jack tries to rescue a cable network by forging an unlikely alliance with his archenemy, Devin Banks.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10759 votes#19 - I Heart Connecticut
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 4/14/2011
As cancellation looms for "TGS", Liz snoops with Kenneth to find a missing Tracy. Meanwhile, Jack works his magic to ensure the financial success of Jenna's newest endeavor; and an emasculated Pete organizes a manly contest for the writers and crew.
Director: N/A
Writer: Vali Chandrasekaran
8.0/10840 votes#20 - 100 (1)
Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 4/21/2011
Chaos builds when bigwig Hank Hooper marks "TGS" for cancellation, yet Jack persuades him to let the staffers stage the show's 100th episode.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/10724 votes#21 - 100 (2)
Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 4/21/2011
With their show targeted for cancellation, the "TGS" crew desperately scramble to mount a top-notch production for their 100th episode. Meanwhile, Jack reconsiders a vital decision in his life, and Jenna mulls over motherhood.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, Jack Burditt
7.9/10812 votes#22 - Everything Sunny All the Time Always
Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 4/28/2011
Liz tries to turn her personal life from drab to fab by revamping her dream apartment. Meanwhile, Avery is held hostage, and Tracy discovers that Kenneth, Dot Com and Grizz have forged a solid bond while he was away.
Director: John Riggi
Writer: Matt Hubbard, Kay Cannon
7.6/10764 votes#23 - Respawn
Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 5/5/2011
The "TGS" crew anticipate their summer vacation. Liz lands in the Hamptons for some rest and relaxation, but she gets the summertime blues when Tracy moves in next door. Elsewhere, a lonely Jack latches onto Kenneth for company; and Jenna's new job impacts her relationship with Paul.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: Ron Weiner, Hannibal Buress
The Best Episodes of 30 Rock Season 5
Every episode of 30 Rock Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of 30 Rock Season 5!
Liz Lemon, the head writer for a late-night TV variety show in New York, tries to juggle all the egos around her while chasing her...
Genre:Comedy
Network:NBC
Season 5 Ratings Summary
"The Fabian Strategy" is the best rated episode of "30 Rock" season 5. It scored 7.9/10 based on 896 votes. Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller and written by Tina Fey, it aired on 9/23/2010. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "When It Rains, It Pours".