"30 Rock" Up All Night (2007)

Director:

Michael Engler

Writers:

Tina Fey (creator)
Tina Fey (written by)

TV Series:

"30 Rock" (2006)

Original Air Date:

8 February 2007 (Season 1, Episode 13)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Liz makes the staff work on Valentine's Day all night long. While Liz gets flowers and she doesn't know who send them to her...

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Boss | Sketch | Writer | New York

Cast

Tina Fey	...	Liz Lemon
Tracy Morgan	...	Tracy Jordan
Jane Krakowski	...	Jenna Maroney
Jack McBrayer	...	Kenneth Parcell
Scott Adsit	...	Pete Hornberger
Judah Friedlander	...	Frank Rossitano
Alec Baldwin	...	Jack Donaghy
Rachel Dratch	...	Vlem
Keith Powell	...	Toofer
Lonny Ross	...	Josh Girard
Katrina Bowden	...	Cerie
Maulik Pancholy	...	Jonathan
Joy Behar	...	Herself
Sherri Shepherd	...	Angie Jordan
Jason Sudeikis	...	Floyd

Runtime:

22 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Silvercup Studios - 4222 22nd Street, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Broadway Video

Trivia:

This episode was used for Emmy submission for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Tina Fey in 2007.

Quotes:

Jack: I want back all the jewelry I ever bought you.
Bianca Donaghy: Fine.
Jack: I want the art supplies I gave you on your fortieth birthday and any subsequent art projects you made with them.
Bianca Donaghy: Fine.
Jack: I want all of our love letters.
Bianca Donaghy: Fine.
Jack: I want all of your parents' love letters.
Bianca Donaghy: Fine.
Jack: I want full stake in the Arby's franchise we bought outside of Telluride.
Bianca Donaghy: Oh, dammit Johnny, you know I love my Big Beef and Cheddar!

Movie Connections:

References The Vagina Monologues (2002) (TV)

Happy Valentine's!

Tina fey received a well-deserved Emmy nomination for her performance in this episode, only for her to lose out to Ugly Betty's America Ferrera. Ironically enough, she references that show in the teaser, when Liz tries to get out of Jack'office without being seen by Bianca (she's there to finalize the divorce), fails and quips: "This would have worked on Ugly Betty." The remaining 18 minutes, as always, live up to the first two effortlessly.

The context of the episode is Valentine's Day, usually a time of happiness. For the writing staff of TGS, it's anything but, since they are forced to remain in the office all night in order to meet a deadline. This causes problems for almost everyone, especially Pete, who forgot that it's also his wife's birthday, and Tracy, who traditionally spends that particular night engaging in some role-play with the missus. As the evening goes on, Liz receives flowers from an unknown suitor, and the guys decide to have some fun by telling Kenneth he should try to hit it off with Cerie.

This episode is notable for several things. Among others, it introduces Mrs. Jordan, who will have an important role early in the second season, and features a priceless Rachel Dratch playing a hooker. And of course, there are golden lines galore. The entire divorce scene is a lesson in comedy writing, narrowly beaten by Jack's previous conversation with Liz: "One minute you're making sweet love on a Concorde, the next you've got lawyers fighting over the box your dog defecates in." "You taught your dog to poop in a box?" "Bianca did. But damn it, I want that box!".

Oh, and Up All Night has what could be Frank's best line ever: when he says he's got special plans for Valentine's, Liz asks who with. Answer? "No one!".