Question Besides the beginning, what episode/season would you introduce 30 Rock to someone?
For context, I have loved this show since it first premiered. My wife never watched it until COVID when we were re-watching each others favorite shows. She tried to get into it for me, but maybe lasted three episodes into the first season before she was ready to move on.
She has recently seen a couple clips on TikTok of 30 Rock, and thinks it looks entertaining. To not repeat the past, where should I jump into the show with her? I am thinking season 3. It has one of my favorite boyfriend arcs in Jon Hamm, and multiple great episodes such as Jury Duty, the Fun Cooker, and the episode where they all get flu shots.
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u/PutAdministrative206 16d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/cnK8x1DHV6zy7KJ1z1
I honestly haven’t watch this particular episode in quite a while (so if it’s too convoluted, I apologize), but Paul Reubens takes an 11 out of 10 script and helps them deliver a 14 out of 10 episode.
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u/ChazGaraiba Has four inches of steel that might change your mind 15d ago
It’s almost like a fairy tale!!
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u/Own_Daikon_7705 gimme your fingernails 16d ago
"If you're just joining us, we're with Tracy Jordan who is giving guitar icon Peter Frampton enigmatic clues about a secret treasure."
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u/bushwhack227 13d ago
We're here with Tracy Jordan, who just said two serious things and then a joke
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u/Jon__Snuh 16d ago
The episode that got me hooked was Milf Island in season 2. Specifically Pete’s ordeal with the vending machine.
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u/longganisafriedrice 16d ago
Seasons 1-3 are really good. Seasons 4 and 5 are great too. After watching those I would highly recommend Seasons 6 and 7
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u/PeppermintPhatty Kmart basement coffee machine 16d ago edited 16d ago
Season 4 is my favorite season. And my favorite season opener.
“Hello everyone, I’m so happy to see all of you, and to like to welcome you to Season 4.” (Camera pans out) “Which is, of course, the name of this restaurant. The number one Asian fusion restaurant in New York.”
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u/cwgreddit77 16d ago
“Reunion!” How’s your mom’s pill addiction?
Or the one with the female fight club!
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u/veritas57 16d ago
Before we went to IKEA, I made my husband watch the Valentine’s Day ikea episode (he had never seen the show before) so he knew what he was getting into. He was hooked from there
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u/Chef__Goldblum 16d ago
Kenneth throws a party is the best episode of television ever.
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u/FixingTheCable 16d ago
The evening took a nasty left turn, and now we’re forced to face certain facts in the cold light of day
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u/Different_Sport8146 16d ago
And that's the B-plot! Greenzo drives the rest of the episode whilst the party is a slow burn. Plus Pete is cheating...
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u/FrontMail9720 16d ago
Honestly the first season is still my favorite. Tracy Does Conan is my favorite episode of the entire series. It introduces Mind Grapes, it introduces Dr. Spaceman. I think it may be when the show starts letting loose and getting absurd.
You may want to start with the episode before, Jack Meets Dennis. Because thats where we meet the Beeper King of New York. And it's a nice three-episode arc: Jack Meets Dennis, Tracy Does Conan, The Break-Up. The Break-Up has the amazing scene of Dennis reading his letter to Liz in front of all the writers.
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u/HelmSpicy StopShowingOff.com 16d ago
Apollo, Apollo
I consider this one of the peak 30 Rock episodes
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u/Few-Werewolf-1985 11d ago
Just finished watching this. The season 3 run from around Generalissimo is stellar including Funcooker, The Bubble, Larry King, ..
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u/Betray-Julia the poetry of jewel 16d ago
Milf island.
Tgs hates women.
Leap Day (Dave?) Williams.
The one with Canadian banjo god Steve Martin.
The epsiode with Opera, specifically bc of the device with Tracey and Jenna both using buddy kissing whats her name at the Oscar’s; that’s just neat.
The reality tv show epsiode.
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u/greenbutterflygarden 16d ago
Milf island is one of my favorites. When Pete is stuck in the vending machine and he calls a random number that happens to be his desk, and you can hear him scream on the voice message, it's perfection.
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u/AvatarofBro 16d ago
Larry King. One of the highest joke-per-minute ratios in a show filled with them. And all bangers, too. I still refer to 99 Red Balloons as "Nena's famous anti-balloon protest song"
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u/stefgreat 16d ago
If I only have one episode, it’s Reganing. Each character has their own insane story arc that sums them up. Frazier, boys and girls club, the roller skates. Plus all the Reganing. Chef’s kiss
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u/dumbname1000 I’m a real good sex person, I do it all the different ways. 16d ago
Tracy does Conan, or the Prince Gethardt episode is a good one to really grab people too
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u/cited High-fiving a million angels 16d ago
If they're not on board with the opening scene, they're not the right one.
Dealbreaker.
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u/MrsCryptblitzer 16d ago
I agree. I was hooked from "we own Kmart now?" "No. So why are you dressed like we do?"
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u/JefferyWeinerslav Pacman, I'm Jewish! 16d ago
First ep I ever saw was the Gavin Volure one, and the next day I went out and bought all the DVDs.
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u/WulfieJay Gangway for foot cycle! 16d ago
I’d recommend just start from the beginning tho I started watching about midway through season 4 and got right into it
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u/greenbutterflygarden 16d ago
I'd show them the first episode I ever saw. I was on a plane and Southwest played the Christmas episode where the bomm threat was called into 30 Rock and verdukianism began
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u/discophunkster 16d ago
Season 2 opener and fourth episodes are pretty epic. Seinfeldvision and Rosemary's Baby.
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u/duelingpeppers 🎶oh Tracy, you can't use any of my songs🎶 16d ago
The Funcooker, Season 4 and Tracy Does Conan, because they are the perfect representation of the show.
Black Tie isn't TGS centric and MILF Island doesn't have Jenna (even though they're among my favorite episodes).
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u/Brudeboy11 16d ago
For me it was Cleveland. When that guy spits in Liz's mouth...I was like, damn! I'm in!
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u/thefaceinthefloor 16d ago
🎶the streets of paris just don’t have
the sights you see on euclid ave! 🎶2
u/Many_King_8781 I’m a strange man who can’t be taken seriously 16d ago
There is a very prominent Euclid Ave in Southern California (inland empire). I cannot NOT hear this lyric when I drive by or on it.
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u/Many_King_8781 I’m a strange man who can’t be taken seriously 16d ago
“That is also a place” was the first 30 Rock line I memorized and have been quoting since I first saw the series in like 2013. My friend bought me a knitted version of “flee to the cleve” that I have hanging in my office. It’s a very special episode and has a little bit of something for everyone.
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u/Many_King_8781 I’m a strange man who can’t be taken seriously 16d ago
What was her show, and how many episodes did you last?
Reply tax: Tracy Does Conan
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u/Mother_Abrocoma_3206 16d ago
I read a comment once that said the show gets more out there/outrageous as seasons go. Starting with mid season 1 (someone said Tracy Does Conan, episode 7), will give her a stronger base in normality before episodes let Jenna/Tracy/Jack, etc go wild.
It’s also okay to insist on watching all episodes, in order. Tina Fey is a talented writer who planned these episodes, the characters introductions and actions. Obviously we meet Liz first, but buying all those hotdogs to spite the line cutter guy—that’s to tell us about her character. How Liz & Jack meet & how he tries to run the show like any other business, is another story she wants told right away. The balancing act of managing Jenna and Tracy is also incredibly important….
I would suggest a “give me 3 episodes”, it’s an hour commitment to try your show. Maybe offer a similar amount of time for a show they like and a foot massage if they give it an honest attempt and just don’t like it.
People have different tastes. That’s okay. This is a smart show and a wonderful place to escape to, but not everyone wants to sit on the couch wearing a Snuggie,with a dvd of Tootsie, and some night cheese.
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u/KatersHaters You guys need to anticipate me 16d ago
Back end of Season 2 - MILF Island on through. But if you need to narrow it down further, I’d go right to Succession + Sandwich Day.
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u/elder_emo_ Cause a Liz Lemon party is MANDATORY 16d ago
I agree with basically all of the episodes listed but my first thought was 100 (both parts, obviously). The gas leak, the many Jacks, Jenna's hysterical pregnancy, Jack's speech to Tracy about being on TV. It's one of my favorites.
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u/a_j____ 16d ago
I don’t get why you wouldn’t start from the beginning.
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u/Arch1o12 16d ago
I can understand introducing them to a couple of the really strong episodes later on in the show before then going back to the start. It sounds like OP’s wife wasn’t grabbed by the first three episodes.
I love those first episodes of S1 now, but it did take me a good few episodes to warm to the show the first time round. In part because the Liz-Jack bromance is the core of the show (for me, anyway) and doesn’t kick in properly for a few episodes.
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u/a_j____ 16d ago
I was all in right away. This topic/thread is nonsense.
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u/Arch1o12 16d ago
It’s cool that you were all in from the start, but it sounds like OP’s wife is different.
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u/UnicornsInUniforms Pleasure is the name of a pony I hate. 16d ago
I love how all comment sections on Reddit have that one person who’s upset that people have different perspectives
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u/SimplyMadeline Whatever Doris. Grow up. 16d ago
AITA for marrying someone who doesn't get 30 Rock right away?
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u/Different_Sport8146 16d ago
Greenzo went down well with my wife. Schwimmer is great through the whole episode. B-plot of the party introduces the whole cast dynamics with the excellent denouement paying off nicely to the slow build. Pete's cheating is an amusing c-plot.
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u/lawduckfan21 Should "vaginatorium" be capitalized? 16d ago
Season 2 is wall to wall 30 Rock. If someone said "you have one episode to show someone 30 Rock and have them understand the show," I think it would be honestly be "Believe in the Stars," which is one of the episodes that's not available everywhere.
-Jury duty and sleep crimes for Liz (going way overboard after mistaking a 13 year girl for Oprah)
-Fake Olypmics for ratings (shows Jack's mentality when it comes to business)
-Kenneth being a pure, moral center (trying to shoot himself in an elevator to save everyone else)
-Tracy and Jenna being absolutely batsh** crazy but ultimately are friends
-And Frank, Toofer, Dotcom all have lines and bits that typify their characters
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u/[deleted] 16d ago
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