The tables have turned inside 30 Rock: Liz is actually happy in her new relationship with Floyd while Jack finds his job may be in jeopardy after his televised fireworks fiasco prompts top GE man Don Geiss to warn he's got his eye on Jack's performance. Tracy vies for Geiss' attention, hoping to turn his feature film idea for Jefferson into a reality.
Observational comedy sustains 77.8 score despite thin standout moments across 62 jokes.
Directed by Don Scardino · Written by John Riggi
WAR
119.4
Wins Above Replacement
“Corporate Crush” ranks #121 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 93.0 — Elite. The episode packs 85 scored jokes at 3.9 per minute, averaging 7.5 on craft and 7.3 on impact, with Jack landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Voiceover: Source Award nominee Tracy Jordan... / NAACP Image Award presenter Tracy Jordan... / and Academy Award watcher Tracy Jordan is... Jefferson.
Voiceover Character Comedy Escalation Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jonathan: Jack goes to Sbarro when he's angry, the New York Stock Exchange when he's horny, and Christie's auction house when he's depressed.
Jonathan Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Jack: 20 years from now, Floyd will be me, I'm gonna be Don Geiss, and Don Geiss will be dead.
Jack Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Tracy · Jenna/Writer: Pray, who be this Tracy Jordan thou speakest of? / President Jefferson, we got a problem. / Speakest.
Jack: It's true... the Bianca Blows is somewhere at the bottom of the Peconic Bay.
Jack Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 85 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Frank: Your face... it's like you're happy or something.
Frank Observational Deadpan/Understatement Frank: 'Cause of that dude you're donking.
Frank Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Frank · Liz: Frank attempts to point out something on Liz's face — 'Right here? Other side. Here? Up a little. In that area? You got it.' — and the interaction has no payoff because the audience never learns what it was.
Writer · Pete: Oh, that movie was a complete waste of time. / I thought it was moving... my bowels.
Unknown Writer: Reverse, Reverse, Skip, Skip, Draw Four!
Frank: Frank offers to come over and videotape Liz and Floyd 'doing it or whatever' and says 'I can make room in my schedule.'
Frank Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Don Geiss: I got a welt on my ass the size of a Red Delicious apple.
Don Geiss: 'If you try, you win.' / 'And he was a hell of a garbageman.'
Don Geiss Setup/Punchline Misdirection ★ Rewatch Don Geiss: But I'm taking the Microwave Division away from you.
Don Geiss: Well, look at Bob. His wife looks just like Walter Matthau, but she's always there for him.
Don Geiss · Jack: What's that film where he turned into a dog? / 'Fat Bitch,' sir. / That's it. I love it. / Boy, that's a great film.
Jack: Jack looks at himself in the mirror/reflective surface and says 'I'm sorry I let you down.'
Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Tracy · Don Geiss: I call it 'Jefferson.' / A movie version of 'The Jeffersons'? / I love it. / No, Thomas Jefferson.
Tracy: I just recently found out that he went to town on one of my ancestors, so we're related.
Tracy Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Tracy · Don Geiss: You want to play Thomas Jefferson? / And Sally Hemings and King George. I'm gonna play all the parts.
Tracy: Did you know he had a lisp? / What's up, stupid jerks? I'm Thomas Jefferson.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Tracy: So we gonna need about $35 million to do this thing right. I'm gonna get us one of those big clocks, and I'm gonna hang it in there.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Liz · Lutz: Aw, Lutz, that's okay. I'm just glad you're here. / Aw, you got a face like a baby's bottom. / Poop!
Writer: I hate when you're in a good mood. It makes me feel unsafe, like when my mom used to make daiquiris and sing Tanya Tucker songs.
Writer Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Liz: That sounds awesome. [in response to mom making daiquiris and singing Tanya Tucker]
Liz Reaction Beat Irony/Sarcasm Jonathan: Jack goes to Sbarro when he's angry, the New York Stock Exchange when he's horny, and Christie's auction house when he's depressed.
Jonathan Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Jack · Liz: You've been avoiding me, Lemon. / How do you do that without turning around?
Jack Liz Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jack: To be perfectly honest, the first couple of people I did that to were not you, but... here we are.
Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Phoebe · Jack: Those were such lovely pieces. The ruby-and-diamond cluster ring was particularly exquisite. / Yeah, that was her engagement ring.
Jack: I took the money from the sale of those pieces, and I bought a sailboat. And I named it after my ex-wife, and I sank it.
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jack: It's true... the Bianca Blows is somewhere at the bottom of the Peconic Bay.
Jack Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Jack: I wish I were a horse... strong, free... my chestnut haunches glistening in the sun.
Jack Character Comedy Absurdist Jack: I'm not a creative type like you with your work sneakers and your left-handedness.
Jack Character Comedy Observational Liz · Jack: His name is Floyd. / That's unfortunate.
Liz Jack Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Jack: I'd like to meet the man that made Liz Lemon shirk her responsibilities. Let's say Priscille, 9:00... be sure to wear a tie.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Kenneth · Tracy: Well, remember when Fat Bitch called all her dog friends together, and they used their high-pitched howling to mess... / You're right, K. I should make my own 'Jefferson' preview.
Unknown Writer: I'm never gonna finish this bikini before Nana's birthday.
Tracy: Liz Lemon, you are my Alexander Hamilton.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Liz · Floyd: Jack wrote a book? / 'Jack Attack: The Art of Aggression in Business.'
Liz · Floyd: Oh, no. / He got here before us. / You're not supposed to let that happen. / That's chapter two in the book.
Liz Floyd Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jack · Floyd Jr.: The only other 'Floyd' I ever knew was this Korean barber who used to cut my hair down in the 50th Street subway station. / That's my dad. I'm Floyd Jr. / I'm just kidding.
Floyd: And 'Attack of the Clones,' which was seriously the worst of the 'Star Wars.'
Floyd Observational Misdirection Floyd: In my mind, the Foo Fighters' song 'Best of You' is about your managerial skills.
Floyd Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jack: Lemon, I want to kiss your boyfriend on the mouth.
Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Floyd: Chapter 12. [said immediately after Jack says he wants to kiss Floyd on the mouth]
Floyd Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Jack · Floyd · Pete: What are you drinking? / Club soda. / Oh, that's a shame. Pete.
Tracy: Hey, Liz Lemon. Could you go away for a while? I got to get rid of Freddie's erection.
Tracy Character Comedy Misdirection Tracy: Freddie is playing the part of Thomas Jefferson's horse, Caractacus.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Phoebe: I don't shake hands. I have avian bone syndrome. / Hollow bones.
Phoebe Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Liz: They look just like the one crapping in my office.
Liz Character Comedy Reaction Beat Callback Liz: Don't give him a nickname before I do.
Liz Character Comedy Reaction Beat Tracy · Kenneth: Pray, who be this Tracy Jordan thou speakest of? / Uh, President Jefferson, we got a problem.
Tracy · Jenna/Writer: Pray, who be this Tracy Jordan thou speakest of? / President Jefferson, we got a problem. / Speakest.
Tracy · Kenneth: That horse ate your wig. / Well, stand guard by his rump and await it in his droppings. / Or we could probably just go get a new wig. / Aha, I like you, young man. You shall run my university.
Liz · Floyd · Jack: Yeah, yeah. No, it's very nice. / Jack bought me this painting. / Wow. / Um... is that lion eating the horse? / Or perhaps it's eating universal healthcare.
Liz Floyd Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Floyd: It's kind of like you two are dating. [Liz reacts]
Floyd Reaction Beat Character Comedy Liz: Um, I think that Coulter was right. [said by Liz immediately after Floyd says 'it's like you two are dating']
Liz Reaction Beat Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Liz: Oh, he took his kids to that Russian cat circus.
Liz Absurdist Character Comedy Writers: The extended writers' room dancing/rap video scene — writers in an empty office doing old school hip-hop moves, mentioning a humidifier, a used Kleenex, Kid 'n Play, Davy Jones.
Writers Physical/Slapstick Absurdist Visual Gag Liz: 'Cause this VapoRub isn't gonna get under my nose by itself.
Liz Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Liz · Floyd · Jack: Floyd's phone texting exchange with Jack: Jack texts 'Good night' / 'And sleep tight' / 'And don't let the bed...' / 'All right, enough. Give me that.'
Liz Floyd Jack Character Comedy Running Gag Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Floyd: Jack, I have taken a sleeping pill because I have a big lawyer meeting... / That's what we call them. / ...in the morning. Floyd.
Floyd Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jack · Liz: 'Lemon, is that you?' / 'I always sign it Floydster.'
Jack Liz Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Liz · Floyd: Oh, it's Jack. / Don't answer it. [lights off, get down]
Liz Floyd Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Liz: The call is coming from inside the house. / All right, turn off the lights and get down.
Liz Misdirection Character Comedy Floyd · Liz: Jack arrives at the window / 'Oh, my God.' / 'Can he see us?' / 'The call is coming from inside the house.' / 'All right, turn off the lights and get down.'
Floyd Liz Misdirection Physical/Slapstick ★ Rewatch Jonathan: He tried to drop them off at your house last night, but someone pretended not to be home.
Jonathan Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Callback Jonathan: And you, of course. [said as an afterthought]
Jonathan Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Tracy: ...inventor... / I shall call it 'Susan.'
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Tracy: ...Jungle Fever-Haver. / I am with child. What? / Will you free me and make me your wife? / Um, I'm gonna have to get back to you on that.
Tracy Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback Voiceover: Source Award nominee Tracy Jordan... / NAACP Image Award presenter Tracy Jordan... / and Academy Award watcher Tracy Jordan is... Jefferson.
Voiceover Character Comedy Escalation Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Tracy: This is for you, Don Geiss. [Tracy, in costume, breaking the fourth wall to dedicate the trailer]
Tracy Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential Don Geiss: Well, Tracy... that was terrible. The answer is 'no.'
Don Geiss Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Jack: The champagne cork/cabin pressure story: 'I don't give a damn about the masks. I'm on all fours trying to shove the corks back in the bottles.'
Jack Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Jack (quoting Don Geiss): And Don Geiss says, 'Now, there's an executive who knows how to keep his costs down.'
Jack: No. Lemon, you're the third wheel. / Men seek out the company of other men they admire and want to be like. Floyd is me 20 years ago. I'm Don Geiss 30 years ago.
Jack Character Comedy Observational Jack: 20 years from now, Floyd will be me, I'm gonna be Don Geiss, and Don Geiss will be dead.
Jack Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jack: Not that I blame you, because I could take him away from you if I wanted to.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jack · Liz: How about some kind of time-share arrangement? You can have him Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. / I don't want Friday. We have a show.
Jack Liz Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jack: All right. How about some kind of a time-share arrangement? You can have him Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Jack Character Comedy Absurdist Liz: Look at your life, Jack. It's like this skybox. It's fancy and it's empty and it smells like crab cakes.
Liz Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Tracy: Then he offered me $7 million to reprise my role as Cocoa the Dog.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Callback Tracy: ß I'm gonna get an iPhone ß / ß Everybody's gonna be jealous ß
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Meta/Self-Referential Tracy · Kenneth: No, I turned him down. / It's like a roller-coaster ride of emotion in here.
Tracy: Your first order of business... Get that dead horse out of my car.
Tracy Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: I'm having terrible Lemon problems. I'm eating all the time. I mean, who eats 16 flautas after midnight?
Jack Character Comedy Observational Phoebe · Jack: Listen, if you're still interested, there is another piece I'd like to show you... that you might enjoy. / I'll need to take you back to the private office. / This piece is very delicate. / Very few people have handled it. / Oh, God, I hope we're talking about the same thing.
Jack · Phoebe: Will you marry me? / No. / The ruby-diamond cluster. / I bought it back from the anonymous Arab.
Jack Phoebe Misdirection Dark/Subversive Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: The ruby-diamond cluster. I bought it back from the anonymous Arab.
Jack Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Phoebe · Jack: How romantic. / Ow. // I'm sorry. / It's okay. // Ow. // Careful, my bones.
Phoebe Jack Callback Physical/Slapstick Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback