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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!

Binge this in 8h 6m•Peaking at 8.6/10

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 own dream.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    30 Rock Season 5 Episode 4 - Live Show
    8.6/10(1438 votes)

    S5:E4

    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
    Writers:Robert Carlock, Tina Fey

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  2. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 21 - 100 (2)
    8.4/10(819 votes)

    S5:E21

    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
    Writers:Jack Burditt, Robert Carlock, Tina Fey

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  3. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 12 - Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning
    8.3/10(1031 votes)

    S5:E12

    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

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  4. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 14 - Double-Edged Sword
    8.3/10(1020 votes)

    S5:E14

    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

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  5. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 2 - When It Rains, It Pours
    8.2/10(1012 votes)

    S5:E2

    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

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  6. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 11 - Mrs. Donaghy
    8.2/10(957 votes)

    S5:E11

    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

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  7. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 15 - It's Never Too Late for Now
    8.2/10(991 votes)

    S5:E15

    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

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  8. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 16 - TGS Hates Women
    8.2/10(1107 votes)

    S5:E16

    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

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  9. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 5 - Reaganing
    8.0/10(990 votes)

    S5:E5

    Jack's determined to save Liz's relationship with Carol and Tracy shoots a commercial.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writer:Matt Hubbard

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  10. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 20 - 100 (1)
    8.0/10(930 votes)

    S5:E20

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 1 - The Fabian Strategy
    7.9/10(1001 votes)

    S5:E1

    Jack begins to meddle in Liz's new relationship with Carol.

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writer:Tina Fey

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  12. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 7 - Brooklyn Without Limits
    7.9/10(958 votes)

    S5:E7

    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

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  13. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 10 - Christmas Attack Zone
    7.9/10(842 votes)

    S5:E10

    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

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  14. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 13 - ¡Qué Sorpresa!
    7.9/10(907 votes)

    S5:E13

    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

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  15. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 6 - Gentleman's Intermission
    7.8/10(919 votes)

    S5:E6

    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

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  16. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 8 - College
    7.8/10(916 votes)

    S5:E8

    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
    Writers:Dylan Morgan, Josh Siegal

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  17. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 22 - Everything Sunny All the Time Always
    7.8/10(904 votes)

    S5:E22

    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
    Writers:Kay Cannon, Matt Hubbard

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  18. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 3 - Let's Stay Together
    7.7/10(927 votes)

    S5:E3

    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

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  19. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 18 - Plan B
    7.7/10(872 votes)

    S5:E18

    "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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 9 - Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish
    7.6/10(905 votes)

    S5:E9

    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

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  21. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 23 - Respawn
    7.6/10(850 votes)

    S5:E23

    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
    Writers:Hannibal Buress, Ron Weiner

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  22. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 17 - Queen of Jordan
    7.5/10(1214 votes)

    S5:E17

    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:Unknown

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  23. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 19 - I Heart Connecticut
    7.5/10(846 votes)

    S5:E19

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Vali Chandrasekaran

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Live Show" is the best rated episode of "30 Rock" season 5. It scored 8.6/10 based on 1438 votes. Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller and written by Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, it aired on 10/14/2010. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "100 (2)".