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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 26m•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 1 - The Fabian Strategy
    7.9/10(961 votes)

    #1 - The Fabian Strategy

    S5:E1

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

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writer:Tina Fey

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  2. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 2 - When It Rains, It Pours
    8.2/10(971 votes)

    #2 - When It Rains, It Pours

    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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  3. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 3 - Let's Stay Together
    7.7/10(891 votes)

    #3 - Let's Stay Together

    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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  4. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 4 - Live Show
    8.6/10(1366 votes)

    #4 - Live Show

    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:Tina Fey, Robert Carlock

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  5. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 5 - Reaganing
    8.1/10(949 votes)

    #5 - Reaganing

    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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  6. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 6 - Gentleman's Intermission
    7.8/10(883 votes)

    #6 - Gentleman's Intermission

    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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  7. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 7 - Brooklyn Without Limits
    7.9/10(922 votes)

    #7 - Brooklyn Without Limits

    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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  8. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 8 - College
    7.8/10(879 votes)

    #8 - College

    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:Josh Siegal, Dylan Morgan

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  9. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 9 - Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish
    7.6/10(872 votes)

    #9 - Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish

    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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  10. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 10 - Christmas Attack Zone
    7.9/10(830 votes)

    #10 - Christmas Attack Zone

    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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  11. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 11 - Mrs. Donaghy
    8.2/10(923 votes)

    #11 - Mrs. Donaghy

    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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  12. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 12 - Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning
    8.3/10(994 votes)

    #12 - Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning

    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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  13. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 13 - ¡Qué Sorpresa!
    7.9/10(878 votes)

    #13 - ¡Qué Sorpresa!

    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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  14. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 14 - Double-Edged Sword
    8.3/10(986 votes)

    #14 - Double-Edged Sword

    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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  15. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 15 - It's Never Too Late for Now
    8.2/10(948 votes)

    #15 - It's Never Too Late for Now

    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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  16. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 16 - TGS Hates Women
    8.2/10(1064 votes)

    #16 - TGS Hates Women

    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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  17. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 17 - Queen of Jordan
    7.5/10(1159 votes)

    #17 - Queen of Jordan

    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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  18. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 18 - Plan B
    7.8/10(842 votes)

    #18 - Plan B

    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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  19. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 19 - I Heart Connecticut
    7.6/10(817 votes)

    #19 - I Heart Connecticut

    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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  20. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 20 - 100 (1)
    8.0/10(897 votes)

    #20 - 100 (1)

    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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  21. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 21 - 100 (2)
    8.4/10(783 votes)

    #21 - 100 (2)

    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, Tina Fey, Robert Carlock

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  22. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 22 - Everything Sunny All the Time Always
    7.8/10(872 votes)

    #22 - Everything Sunny All the Time Always

    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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  23. 30 Rock Season 5 Episode 23 - Respawn
    7.6/10(823 votes)

    #23 - Respawn

    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:Ron Weiner, Hannibal Buress

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"The Fabian Strategy" is the best rated episode of "30 Rock" season 5. It scored 7.9/10 based on 961 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".