Jack wonders if his career will get in the way of taking his relationship with Elisa to the next level. Tracy does an interview with Larry King and causes mayhem throughout New York City. Liz loses her cell phone in a cab and brings Kenneth with her out to Queens to retrieve it.
69 jokes in 24 minutes makes this 30 Rock's densest outing yet—escalation-driven chaos.
Directed by Constantine Makris · Written by Matt Hubbard
WAR
132
Wins Above Replacement
“Larry King” ranks #90 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 96.2 — Elite. The episode packs 86 scored jokes at 3.5 per minute, averaging 7.6 on craft and 7.5 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
Kenneth: Oh, was it 'The Day is Done My Sweet, For the Lambs Have Been Decapitated?'
Kenneth Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Larry King · Tracy: Tracy Jordan... a lot of people are calling you a 'fear monger,' and, I'm quoting here, 'an idiot.' What do you have to say for yourself? — Watch TGS Fridays at 10:30 on NBC! Word.
Liz: It's a boobies picture, Kenneth, and I only kept it because for once they were both pointing in the same direction.
Liz Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Elisa: No. You'll all just get poor like the rest of us. You'll eat cereal that comes in a bag, and you'll keep the free hand wipes from the casino. You might even have to spend some time with your children.
Elisa Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Tracy: Of course Pete, I hid my money in the safest place at 30 Rock. Without giving it away: the place I picked is very dry and warm. Its top is hard, but its bottom is soft. And although the location changes all the time, the money stays in the same place.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 86 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Jack: Look at this guy, used to be a man once.
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Jack · Liz: Lemon, you're a woman. Of course I am! That doctor was a quack, I don't even know why my parents listened to him.
Jack Liz Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz: Aww, ladies are such a bummer. Where is this going, how serious are we, why don't you listen to my story about my friend?
Liz Character Comedy Observational Liz · Jack: - You mean, like, marriage? - No, the one before that. - Moving in together? That's huge! - No, the thing you do before that. - think 'you in the mid-nineties.' - You haven't had sex?
Liz Jack Escalation Misdirection ★ Rewatch Jack · Liz: We have, of course, pleasured one another — No, stop, I believe.
Jack Liz Cringe/Discomfort Reaction Beat Jack: Obviously I care about her a lot, but she keeps confusing me with this ridiculous notion that 'sex' and 'love' are somehow connected.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Liz: Second, and more importantly, in 2009 I have done it two more times than you.
Liz Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Liz: Give it up what, what. Whoo, do not leave a brother hanging.
Liz Character Comedy Reaction Beat Tracy: You know it, I've cursed for three hours straight just to get it out of my system, you dumb bitch.
Tracy Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Tracy: 'NGS Fridays at c-thirty on TB-10.'
Tracy Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Callback Asseef: This phone was left in my cab by a woman wearing the shirt of a man.
Asseef Character Comedy Observational Liz · Asseef: I work with him, if you want I could bring a signed photo. / You bring 800 dollars, rich lady, or I throw the phone away.
Liz · Asseef: What? Oh, yeah, I'll definitely do that, on Opposite Day. / I'm new to this country, is that a real thing?
Liz Asseef Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Elisa: It's a caricature of me on a skateboard.
Elisa Visual Gag Character Comedy Jack · Elisa: We're Jack and Elisa — Jalisa. That's really lame, Jack. Yeah, that was just a joke.
Jack Elisa Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jonathan: You won't be coming in at all? But what about 'Jackonathon?'
Jonathan Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jack · Elisa: I think tonight is going to be a very special night. — If you know what I mean... — I think I do.
Jack Elisa Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Tracy · Larry King: But then he scores a basket, even though he's not a wolf anymore. We're here with Tracy Jordan, who just recounted, by the way, the entire plot of the movie Teen Wolf.
Tracy: Good. I'm glad I'm here. [Tracy, on Larry King, after being interrupted by breaking financial news]
Tracy Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Tracy: I grew up here, Larry, in the days before Starbuck.
Tracy Character Comedy Observational Tracy: People will get mean, the streets won't be safe, it will be graffiti everywhere, and the movies are only cost three dollars.
Tracy Character Comedy Escalation Larry King: Tracy Jordan, saying three serious things, and then a joke.
Larry King Meta/Self-Referential Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: Like a lion, ready to take its mate.
Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Liz: Ach, I lost my phone and this jagweed cabby has it.
Liz Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Asseef · Liz: I found that special picture that you took with your phone. — What picture? Oh my god! — Yes. That one.
Liz: Drew took it as a joke, I'm making a face like— Why am I telling you this?
Liz Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Liz: Top and bottom — may I speak with Asseef?
Liz Character Comedy Reaction Beat Asseef: 2,000 cash or I email the picture to everyone in your address book.
Asseef Escalation Character Comedy Tracy: I was supposed to be in that movie Rush Hour but two weeks into shooting I was replaced by Jackie Chan.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Liz · Multiple Staff Members: Will one of your guys go with me? — No ma'am. — Good luck. — I would, but I don't want to.
Kenneth · Liz: We pages are accustomed to danger. — Thank you Kenneth, can you leave now, this place is in Queens. — Oh, Miss Lemon, I can't leave Manhattan on page business. NBC's interns doesn't cover it. I'll have to do this as a friend.
Kenneth · Liz: Say it. Say I'm your friend. / Fine. You're my friend, Kenneth. Let's go.
Kenneth Liz Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Tracy: ...calm down, and start preparing their bodies for the Thunderdome. That is the new law.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Kenneth Physical/Slapstick Reaction Beat Kenneth: Aww, I just got tagged.
Kenneth Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Kenneth: Oh, was it 'The Day is Done My Sweet, For the Lambs Have Been Decapitated?'
Kenneth Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Liz: It was a German song, she was German.
Liz Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Liz: Liz's nana lullaby story — she visited, recorded the lullaby, grandmother died a few hours later, it was her birthday.
Liz Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Jack: I watched an American Masters last night about Baryshnikov. I picked up a couple of ideas.
Jack Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Jack: No, no, no, I'll get it. You'll need your rest, we're going again in 15.
Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jack: I don't care what's going on out there. I'm staying here. There are some things more important than a stock quote crawling across a screen. I'm in love with this magnificent woman, and there is no amount of money this company could lose that would cause me to— yes, that's the amount, I'll get dressed right now.
Jack Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Bill Hewitt · Tracy: The worst thing you could do at a time like this is to pull out your investments, don't panic, because I think that— Devil's avocado here, Larry, I think people should freak the geek out.
Tracy: It's what I've always done. I hide cash everywhere. At home, at church, even at work. In fact, I've hidden so much money that if some of it was gone I'd probably wouldn't even notice.
Tracy Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Larry King · Tracy: Now why would you say that? — I don't know.
Kenneth: They took my wallet.
Kenneth Physical/Slapstick Deadpan/Understatement Callback Kenneth · Liz: Was this your nana Lemon? — Yeah, she's the one we're doing this for. — She's dead, come on.
Kenneth Liz Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Callback Kenneth · Liz: Wait, why is she wearing these glasses? This is from New Year's, but you said she died on your birthday, and that's in November. — No, that's not a New Year's thing, that's the year she wanted to live to, and she didn't make it.
Kenneth Liz Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Callback Kenneth: Sing that lullaby again!
Kenneth Character Comedy Reaction Beat Callback Kenneth: I knew it! That's '99 Red Balloons,' Nena's famous anti-balloon protest song.
Kenneth Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Callback Liz: You want the truth Kenneth, you want the truth? I can't handle the truth!
Liz Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy Kenneth: Adult? You mean like you're driving a car or wearing a suit?
Kenneth Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Liz: It's a boobies picture, Kenneth, and I only kept it because for once they were both pointing in the same direction.
Liz Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Well I guess then I'm here as a page in violation of NBC's interns policy. I should probably head back to Manhattan.
Kenneth Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Callback Liz · Kenneth: Good. / I don't need you! / Co-worker!
Liz Kenneth Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Tracy: At the stroke of midnight, your Lexus is gonna turn back into a high-powered rats, fighting over a human finger.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Jack · Larry King: I just wanna preach caution, Larry, if there was anything to worry about I would be at my office. Instead of at home, right now, with my beautiful girlfriend. — She's Latin. — Expand on that.
Tracy · Jack · Larry King: Hang on. I know Jack Donaghy, and that is an impostor. — Hang up! Hang up on him Larry! — I'm going to, but not because you told me.
Elisa · Jack: Because I'm sick of listening to you. 'Oh, I love you, Elisa.' This was all just another Jack Donaghy lie. Like when you said you could dunk a basketball? — I can, on a regulation hoop.
Elisa: No. You'll all just get poor like the rest of us. You'll eat cereal that comes in a bag, and you'll keep the free hand wipes from the casino. You might even have to spend some time with your children.
Elisa Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Jack: Who is this woman, why isn't someone shutting her up?
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jack: Who is this woman, why isn't someone shutting her up? — Now why don't you just go back to my apartment and I will meet you there, eventually.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Larry King: Well, that was kind of neato, she just, whoop, flipped your words around on you. Sorry.
Frank · Other Staff: There's something under here! — It's nothing but a bunch of tarantula food. — What? I didn't even know Tracy had a tarantula.
Pete · Tracy: Hey Larry, first time caller, I adore the show— / Hey, I'd recognize that voice anywhere Larry, that's my friend Peter Frampton on the phone.
Tracy: Of course Pete, I hid my money in the safest place at 30 Rock. Without giving it away: the place I picked is very dry and warm. Its top is hard, but its bottom is soft. And although the location changes all the time, the money stays in the same place.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Larry King: If you're just joining us, we're with Tracy Jordan who is giving guitar icon Peter Frampton enigmatic clues about a secret treasure. Stay with us.
Larry King Deadpan/Understatement Meta/Self-Referential Jonathan: Oh yes, I keep a VCR so I can watch your old football tapes.
Jack · Jonathan: Jonathan, what is that camcorder for? — Nothing. I don't know.
Geiss (on tape): Capitalism is ending, either because of the Soviets or of something ridiculous, like a woman president.
Jack: God, he looks so young.
Jack Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Geiss (on tape): Avoid... the noid.
Geiss (on tape) · Jack: How the hell am I gonna turn this damn thing off? / What's that gizmo?
Elisa: I was about to do the whole run-to-the-airport thing like Ross did on Friends and Liz Lemon did in real life.
Elisa Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Elisa: The taxis want 500 bucks to go to JFK and the buses are worse. Everything's gone cocoa for cuckoo pops!
Elisa Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Jack · Elisa: Let's get married. — Jack! — I love you, Elisa, and I don't wanna be with anyone else. — Okay. But I want a ring so big that it gives me back problems.
Jack Elisa Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Asseef: Every number in this address book is a work number. Work number, work number, work number. You have no friends.
Asseef Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Liz: Yes. I. Am. [Liz, in response to 'You have no friends']
Liz Character Comedy Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Liz Character Comedy Reaction Beat ★ Rewatch Asseef · Liz: I'm gonna watch TV until you come up with my money. Maybe you get it through sex trade. You're a pretty young thing. — You're disgusting. — I'm not talking to you.
Frank: This isn't about the money, this is about my own issues with Liz.
Frank Character Comedy Absurdist Tracy · Pete: I already told you, it's dry and warm, its top is hard but its bottom is soft, and although the location changes, it's always in the same place. There's nothing like that in 30 Rock, nothing. — I never said it was a 'thing.' It's me. I am the safest place in 30 Rock.
Tracy Pete Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Kenneth: I would thank you to give the lady its cell phone back.
Kenneth Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Liz · Kenneth: Because I'm having an asbestos removal party in my apartment on Sunday. — Yeah, I'm in.
Larry King · Tracy: Tracy Jordan... a lot of people are calling you a 'fear monger,' and, I'm quoting here, 'an idiot.' What do you have to say for yourself? — Watch TGS Fridays at 10:30 on NBC! Word.
Jonathan · Elisa (on video): She came by earlier, she asked me to give you this, she said to just press 'play.' — Hi Jack, I'm on my way to Puerto Rico. I'm sorry. Yesterday was crazy, lots of emotion. I think maybe you asked me what you asked me out of panic. So I'm gonna go see my family and give us both a chance to think about everything.
Elisa (on video) · Jack · Jonathan: Adios mi amor. / Aww, how do you turn this damn thing off? / No! That's personal.
