Liz wonders if she's actually on a date with Jack as she accompanies him to a birthday celebration for a foreign prince. While at the ball, Liz sees a different side to Jack as he unexpectedly runs in to his ex-wife. Back at 30 Rock, Tracy tempts Pete with a booze- and babe-filled party in the office, while Kenneth tries to keep Pete on the straight and narrow.
Fifty-five jokes in 19 minutes—rapid-fire character comedy sustains a solid B+ episode.
Directed by Gail Mancuso, Don Scardino · Written by John Riggi, Kay Cannon, Tina Fey
WAR
54
Wins Above Replacement
“Black Tie” ranks #135 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 87.9 — Elite. The episode packs 43 scored jokes at 2.2 per minute, averaging 7.2 on craft and 7.3 on impact, with Liz landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Gerhardt's aide: Meine Damen und Herren! The Hapsburg line... has ended. / You can pick up your gift bags at the coat check.
Jack: I had 'lunch' with Martha Stewart and 'dinner' with her daughter, Alexis.
Jack Dark/Subversive Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Jenna · Liz: Oh, Liz, if you dress well and enter with confidence, you can get in anywhere. / You showed the security guy your boobs, didn't you? / Just one. It's not the White House.
Gerhardt's aide: Who let him drink champagne? He cannot metabolize the grapes!
Gerhardt: But I would enjoy watching you dance for me.
Gerhardt Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement All Jokes — 43 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Josh: Yo' mama is so stupid, she thinks an iMac is a new hamburger at McDonald's.
Josh Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Liz: What's the difference between yo' mama and a washing machine? When I drop a load in the washing machine, it doesn't follow me around for a week.
Liz Setup/Punchline Dark/Subversive Jack · Liz: Lemon, could I speak with you alone for a moment? / That's what your sister asked me last night. Booyah!
Jack Liz Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Callback Liz · Jack: Jack asks what Liz knows about the Hapsburg empire and she says she studied 'Theatre tech'
Liz Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Liz · Jack: Would I have to wear high-heel shoes? / Yes. / This will be good for you.
Liz Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jack · Liz: You're even wearing lipstick. / No. They're just really chapped.
Jack Liz Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Liz · Jenna: That's what your mom said to me last night. Booyah. / You got slammed, girl. That was surprising.
Liz Jenna Callback Character Comedy Callback Pete: Pete doing an Elmo voice on the phone: 'Elmo wants you to aim your pee-pee at the potty. No, not at Mommy. At the potty.'
Pete Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Pete: How is that Elmo's fault? / Did Mommy have some wine before she called Elmo?
Pete Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Callback Tracy: Pete, there are two types of women in this world — one who gives you strength and one who takes strength from you, like Delilah took strength from Samson in that movie.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Tracy · unnamed woman: I actually haven't met your wife yet. Hi. / That ain't my wife. Go get me a fizzy water.
Tracy · unnamed person: Samson! / Great shoving, Mr. Jordan.
Jenna · Liz: What's that for? / I'm going to a birthday party for some prince tonight. / You mean like a dog birthday party?
Liz · Jack: Jack presents Liz with the dress — Liz goes to shake his hand, hurts herself on the box, reacts with 'Ow! That really hurt my hand! Dag! Who does that?!'
Liz Jack Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna · Liz: Jenna insists 'This is definitely a date.' Liz says 'No.' Jenna: 'Is it?'
Jack · Liz: At the party, Liz asks if it's a date; Jack laughs dismissively: 'Lemon, I date socialites and models and actresses, Liz Hurley... in the '90s.'
Jack Liz Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jenna · Liz: Oh, Liz, if you dress well and enter with confidence, you can get in anywhere. / You showed the security guy your boobs, didn't you? / Just one. It's not the White House.
Jenna · Liz: When I'm the queen of Australia, I'll have him executed. / Austria. / Yeah. That's what I said.
Liz · Gerhardt: Prince Gerhardt enters — visibly severely inbred, with physical deformities suggesting centuries of Hapsburg inbreeding. 'Wow. Who's Snow White now?'
Gerhardt: Cut to Gerhardt at 7:45: '7:45, and I'm still awake. [Laughing]'
Gerhardt Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Bianca · Jack: And how did you two meet? / It was part of the Big Brother Little Sister program.
Gerhardt's aide · Gerhardt: His highness has noticed you. / His highness is attempting to wink at you. / [Beat — Gerhardt's wink is clearly not working as intended]
Jenna: Who knows how long this show will last. And I have no other skills whatsoever.
Jenna Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna · Liz: Liz says she doesn't think Gerhardt can 'take care' of Jenna; Jenna: 'And I can get past someone's looks.' Liz: 'Since when?' Jenna: 'I'm an actress, Liz. It would be my greatest role of all time.'
Pete · Tracy: Pete suddenly acting dominant with the strip club woman — 'Mind your business, son!' / He's embracing his power. / [Growls]
Pete Tracy Character Comedy Reaction Beat Callback Jack · Liz: So now I keep it simple. Nothing but endless, meaningless one-night stands with a carousel of super-hot women I couldn't care less about. / That's heartbreaking.
Jack Liz Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Gerhardt: But I would enjoy watching you dance for me.
Gerhardt Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Gerhardt: Jazz! / Tap! / Jitterbug! / Charleston! / Interpretive! / Twirl! / Twirl again! / Keep twirling!
Gerhardt Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Pete · Tracy's companion: Everyone thinks I'm 5'5", but I'm only 5'4". / Wow! That is an amazing story!
Kenneth: Kenneth showing up to warn Pete: 'Do you remember the movie Footloose, where those evil kids won in the end? / You're going to make a mistake tonight. You gonna make a mistake tonight!'
Kenneth Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Lick her face. Think of God.
Kenneth Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Vikki · Pete: I know. I just wanted to talk to you. / Oh, no. You don't need to do that. [Banging on door] / I've never done it in a men's bathroom before. / Well, in this building.
Bianca · Liz: Bianca corners Liz: 'Are you going to marry Jack?' Liz: 'Uh, I don't know. We've talked about it.' [Pause] 'I can tell from the way he looks at you that he's serious. He's going to get you pregnant right away. I'm sure. A little late-in-life baby he can parade around Nantucket.'
Bianca: He's going to get you pregnant right away. I'm sure. A little late-in-life baby he can parade around Nantucket.
Bianca Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Bianca: I hate seeing Johnny happy!
Bianca Character Comedy Escalation Callback Gerhardt · Jenna: Jenna, I know we have just met, but I think I love you. / Do you love me? / Mm... hmm.
Gerhardt: Knowing that I have the love of a beautiful woman has set me free!
Gerhardt Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Gerhardt's aide: Who let him drink champagne? He cannot metabolize the grapes!
unknown: Someone call Dr. Spaceman!
unknown Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Liz · Jack: Liz: 'I think she pulled out a chunk of my hair.' Jack: 'Really? Where?' Liz shows him. Jack whistles.
Liz Jack Reaction Beat Visual Gag ★ Rewatch Gerhardt's aide: Meine Damen und Herren! The Hapsburg line... has ended. / You can pick up your gift bags at the coat check.
Jack: Oh, just to know that she's filled with bile over me warms my heart.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jack: I had 'lunch' with Martha Stewart and 'dinner' with her daughter, Alexis.
Jack Dark/Subversive Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch 