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
34.1
Wins Above Replacement
“Black Tie” ranks #132 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 77.0 — Great. The episode packs 55 scored jokes at 2.9 per minute, averaging 6.6 on craft and 6.6 on impact, with Liz landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
Get weekly comedy rankings
Join comedy fans getting new analyses, score drops, and the funniest moments each week. Free, no spam.
Top Jokes
Jack: Most people in his situation would be angry with their family for the centuries of inbreeding, but not Gerhardt. He's too busy trying to stave off infection.
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jack: When Gerhardt was born, the doctor told his mother and cousin he would either live for 15 minutes or for 100 years. Boy, he proved them all wrong.
Jack Dark/Subversive Misdirection ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Do you remember the movie "Footloose," where those evil kids won in the end?
Kenneth Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Gerhardt: Sadly, because my body does not produce joint fluid, I cannot.
Gerhardt Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Liz · Jenna: You showed the security guy your boobs, didn't you? Just one. It's not the White House.
Liz Jenna Setup/Punchline Escalation ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 55 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Josh: Yo' mama is so stupid, she thinks an iMac is a new hamburger at McDonald's
Josh Setup/Punchline Wordplay/Pun Unknown writer: When I drop a load in the washing machine, it doesn't follow me around for a week
Unknown writer: That's what your sister asked me last night. Booyah!
Jack: Prince Gerhardt is the last male descendant of the imperial house of Hapsburg. They ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire, The Defenestration of Prague
Jack Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Liz · Jack: Theatre tech. I see.
Liz Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Liz: No. They're just really chapped.
Liz Character Comedy Misdirection Unknown writer: That's what your mom said to me last night. Booyah.
Pete: [High-pitched voice] Elmo wants you to aim your pee-pee at the potty. No, not at Mommy. At the potty.
Pete Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Pete: Did Mommy have some wine before she called Elmo?
Pete Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch 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 Observational Tracy: Pete, Pete, Pete, Pete. Where's your spinal cord, son?
Tracy Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Tracy: That's why eight times a week I go to the strip club. It gives me energy, which I bring back to her.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jenna: You mean like a dog birthday party?
Jenna Character Comedy Misdirection Jenna: No, Liz. Cinderella is blond. You can be Snow White and party with the little people.
Jenna Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jenna: Ow! That really hurt my hand! Dag! Who does that?!
Jenna Physical/Slapstick Reaction Beat Jenna · Liz: This is definitely a date. No. Is it?
Jack: Lemon, I date socialites and models and actresses, Liz Hurley... in the '90s.
Jack Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Liz · Jenna: You showed the security guy your boobs, didn't you? Just one. It's not the White House.
Liz Jenna Setup/Punchline Escalation ★ Rewatch Jenna: Austria. Yeah. That's what I said.
Jenna Character Comedy Misdirection Announcer: Prince Gerhardt Messerschmitt Rammstein Von Hap!
Jenna: Who's Snow White now?
Jenna Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: Most people in his situation would be angry with their family for the centuries of inbreeding, but not Gerhardt. He's too busy trying to stave off infection.
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz: And surprisingly age-appropriate.
Liz Character Comedy Observational Liz: And unlike the rest of Jack's girlfriends, I have all my original parts.
Liz Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Jack: It was part of the Big Brother Little Sister program.
Jack Misdirection Cringe/Discomfort Bianca: She's much sharper than the last girl you had. What was her name? Beyoncé.
Bianca Character Comedy Escalation Liz: And unlike the rest of Jack's girlfriends, I have all my original parts.
Liz Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Royal aide: His highness is attempting to wink at you.
Jenna: I'm an actress, Liz. It would be my greatest role of all time.
Jenna Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Liz: You're not even listening, are you? Poop. Monkey butt.
Liz Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential Tracy: He saved my life when we was in Desert Storm. Our tank broke down. He killed 14 Germans so we could get the hell out of there.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jack · Liz: Sexually... she wanted it four or five times a day, always standing up. Standing up. What? How does that even work?
Jack Liz Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Gerhardt: Sadly, because my body does not produce joint fluid, I cannot.
Gerhardt Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Gerhardt: But I would enjoy watching you dance for me.
Gerhardt Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Jenna: Jazz! Tap! Jitterbug! Charleston! Interpretive! Twirl! Twirl again! Keep twirling!
Jenna Physical/Slapstick Escalation ★ Rewatch Gerhardt: Everyone thinks I'm 5'5", but I'm only 5'4".
Gerhardt Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Do you remember the movie "Footloose," where those evil kids won in the end?
Kenneth Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Gerhardt: Finally old enough to rent a car.
Vikki: I've never done it in a men's bathroom before. Well, in this building.
Vikki Dark/Subversive Escalation Tracy · Pete: Be a Samson! You're a better man than this. But she's so smooth.
Pete: My wife is not a Delilah, Tracy.
Pete Callback Character Comedy Callback Pete Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Tracy: Who's that tickling my feet? I'm gonna kick you in your face. I know that.
Tracy Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Bianca: A little late-in-life baby he can parade around Nantucket.
Bianca Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Bianca: And that makes me want to sit on a knife.
Bianca Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Liz · Bianca: [Both screaming]
Gerhardt · Jenna: I know we have just met, but I think I love you. Do you love me? Mm... hmm.
Jenna: I think you just lost an eyebrow.
Jenna Visual Gag Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Royal aide: Who let him drink champagne? He cannot metabolize the grapes!
Announcer: Meine Damen und Herren! The Hapsburg line... has ended.
Announcer: You can pick up your gift bags at the coat check.
Royal aide: The Hapsburg line... has ended. You can pick up your gift bags at the coat check.
Jack: When Gerhardt was born, the doctor told his mother and cousin he would either live for 15 minutes or for 100 years. Boy, he proved them all wrong.
Jack Dark/Subversive Misdirection ★ Rewatch Liz · Jack: I'm 12 years younger than you. A woman your age, then.
Liz Jack Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Jack · Liz: I had "lunch" with Martha Stewart and "dinner" with her daughter, Alexis. Gross.
Jack Liz Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch 