Liz befriends a pregnant teenager from a donut shop she visits in the hopes to adopt her baby. Kenneth plans a combined birthday party for Tracy and Jenna, but Jenna wants all of the attention and a party of her own. Jack agrees to go out and party with Frank to keep his mind off of his absent girlfriend and ends up bonding with him over their parental issues.
Tracy's exit arc generates 59 jokes in 42 minutes—a 2.82/min density powered by character absurdism.
Directed by John Riggi · Written by Ron Weiner, Donald Glover
WAR
57.2
Wins Above Replacement
“Goodbye, My Friend” ranks #102 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 82.4 — Elite. The episode packs 59 scored jokes at 2.8 per minute, averaging 7.1 on craft and 6.8 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
Frank's mother: For the mob! Frankie's father didn't abandon him. He's in hiding in Phoenix.
Jack: Get out of here! Can't you see we don't want you anymore?
Jack Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: There was once a great American named George Henderson. He met a woodland ape, or Sasquatch, who, despite its dangerous message of environmentalism, became his friend.
Jack Absurdist Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: Maybe that's why we're drawn to movies where the father figure pushes away the child/legendary North American forest ape.
Jack Absurdist Observational ★ Rewatch Jack: I also would have accepted, 'You can't prove that's the governor's semen.'
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy All Jokes — 59 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Unknown performer: Love, peace, and hair grease!
Writer: that bar where the waiters are dressed like ninjas
Liz: Donuts and then bed. What are you depressed about or celebrating?
Liz Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna: How could you cut 'Diaper Chicken'?
Liz · Writer: My ankle! Oh, 'Imaginary injury.' I would have said 'death of a voice coach.'
Liz Writer Meta/Self-Referential Escalation ★ Rewatch Liz: don't you have some gallery opening or a fundraiser to give bow ties to inner city youths?
Liz Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jack: I just need somewhere I can socialize where women aren't an issue.
Becca: I know how to check your voice mail. You are officially a 'D-bag', Tim. I hope you lose your indoor soccer game.
Becca Escalation Character Comedy Liz · Donut shop worker: Should you be working the night shift alone like this? It's fine. They gave me a gun.
Donut shop worker: You want a dozen donuts to stay?
Liz: Making a new friend. I don't like that you have crazy-eyes. Oh, shut up, mouth.
Liz Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Frank · Writers: What do your dads tell their friends you do? Surgeon. Optometrist. Died. I never really knew my dad, so... I just lie to myself. Space assassin.
Frank: Last time I saw my dad, he went out to get the candles for my fourth birthday lasagna... and never came back.
Frank Character Comedy Absurdist Frank · Jack: In Sicilian dialect, it means 'well poisoner.' In Gaelic, Donaghy means 'dung basket.'
Jack: His contract is up, and I don't want to feel sorry for him.
Jack Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Becca: Meanwhile, his MyFace page - horny.
Becca Observational Character Comedy Liz: When I was your age, you could just be like, 'Oh, he probably tried to call me, but my line was busy.' And then just... watch Falcon Crest and cry yourself to sleep.
Becca: They all just seemed really old and weird. Not one of them even knew who Ne-Yo is.
Becca: Finally! Thank you! Somebody cool, for once.
Jack: Goodbye, my friend. He had to be mean to save him. Harry belonged in the woods.
Jack Callback Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Jack: Maybe that's why we're drawn to movies where the father figure pushes away the child/legendary North American forest ape.
Jack Absurdist Observational ★ Rewatch Tracy: I don't have a birth certificate because I was born inside of Yankee Stadium.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Kenneth: And because of my drinking, they're often a surprise.
Kenneth Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Jack: This morning it hit me in the shower why the Hendersons named their guest 'Harry.'
Jack Absurdist Character Comedy Callback Jack: We both have recurring dreams about being overpowered by a female bodybuilder.
Jack Absurdist Cringe/Discomfort Jack: Make your father hate any new children he might have.
Jack · Frank: fake vomit on it. Right. Fake.
Jack: Oh, God. Please don't be a daughter I didn't know about.
Jack Character Comedy Absurdist Becca: So, do you want me to start Youth Consulting now? Because kids would not be into that.
Becca Meta/Self-Referential Jenna: My heart goes out to all the inner city kids. Especially those too fat to dance their way out.
Jenna Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz: Look at Biz Markie or The Doors.
Liz Observational Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Lutz: And when my caveman brain saw those babies... with their little Hornberger foreheads... it clicked.
Lutz Character Comedy Visual Gag Becca: My pregnant teen message board says the baby gets all its food from the mother. So, you have to give it stuff it likes.
Becca Character Comedy Absurdist Becca: I'm going to post a reply to Juno 32 and tell her she's a giant ass wipe.
Becca: You already dress like a mom.
Becca Observational Character Comedy Jenna: What a schmo, entering first. Now, I'm the headliner, and he's just the warm-up act. I'm Mr. Don Rickles and he's just me.
Jenna Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Liz: Did you know that if you sing 'Happy Birthday' on a TV show, you have to pay for it?
Liz Meta/Self-Referential Observational ★ Rewatch Jenna: No one ask me about my back brace.
Jenna Running Gag Character Comedy Callback Jack: I also would have accepted, 'You can't prove that's the governor's semen.'
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Tracy: And who knows when February 24th will come again?
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Frank's Mother: Someday, you'll have an ad on the subway in English and Spanish.
Frank's mother: For the mob! Frankie's father didn't abandon him. He's in hiding in Phoenix.
Frank's mother: You want me to paint you a picture? Because I did. It's part of a therapy through painting thing.
Jenna: Don't even ask about the wheelchair.
Jenna Escalation Running Gag Callback Jack: There was once a great American named George Henderson. He met a woodland ape, or Sasquatch, who, despite its dangerous message of environmentalism, became his friend.
Jack Absurdist Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Callback Liz: Is that Harry and the Hendersons? You've seen it? This is my life, Jack.
Liz Meta/Self-Referential Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Tracy: I wished for you to get better. I was going to wish for breakfast in bed with RoboCop while that elephant paints us.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Callback Jenna: But who would I celebrate with if y'all were in a car accident?
Jenna Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Liz: Ugh! Fine, Lithgow! I'll do the right thing. God! I guess someone's been watching The World According to Garp.
Liz Meta/Self-Referential Observational ★ Rewatch Liz: Do you know how many people want what just got dropped in your lap? 'Oh, now is not a good time. I want to go to Burning Man.' Shut up, Tim!
Liz Observational Character Comedy Liz: And get married and have disposable cameras at the wedding because it's fun and people like it.
Liz Character Comedy Observational Jack: Get out of here! Can't you see we don't want you anymore? Go to the writers' room! There is no scholarship!
Jack Callback Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: Get out of here! Can't you see we don't want you anymore?
Jack Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jack Callback Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Callback Tim: My God. Look at your boobs.
Tim Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Liz · Jack: I guess, in a way... we both... lost children today. Yeah, but mine was real, Jack. Yours was Frank.
Liz Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Frank: Can someone please tell me how to get out of this building? It's like a maze! I keep walking past the same... Sbarro's!
Frank Physical/Slapstick Absurdist Frank: It's like a maze! I keep walking past the same... Sbarro's!
Frank Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Frank: I'm a celebrity! Please!
Frank Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy 