Jack nervously coaxes Liz into joining him at a corporate retreat. Meanwhile, Jenna employs method acting techniques in preparing for her role as Janis Joplin, with Frank's help. And Kenneth wants to prove to Tracy that diet impacts diabetes.
Corporate retreat chaos yields 84 points through relentless character comedy and escalation.
Directed by Steve Buscemi · Written by Tami Sagher
WAR
79.9
Wins Above Replacement
“Retreat To Move Forward” ranks #80 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 84.2 — Elite. The episode packs 74 scored jokes at 3.5 per minute, averaging 7.3 on craft and 6.8 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
Dr. Spaceman: But then, you'd have to register as a motor vehicle.
Jack: I give you a simple managerial suggestion in a professional context and I get back the second half of a Judy Blume novel.
Jack Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Jack: Just don't say your name, Jack. Please don't say your name. You are Jack - titan, maverick, lover.
Jack Irony/Sarcasm Escalation ★ Rewatch Tracy: There's no link between diabetes and diet. That's a white myth, like Larry Bird or Colorado.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Lutz Character Comedy ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 74 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Jack Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz: The audience suggestion is... Sling Blade and Oprah on a date.
Liz Absurdist Callback ★ Rewatch Jenna: I sure do like them French-fried 'pataters.'
Jenna Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Jenna: No, you don't, Oprah.
Jenna Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz: Jenna is not a great improviser.
Liz Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Liz: You've got camp jitters.
Liz Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Liz: your little business camp friends
Liz Character Comedy Escalation Callback Liz: don't make me be your camp friend
Liz Character Comedy Callback Callback Jack: First of all, never bad-mouth synergy.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Liz: Where you are allowed to eat in the sauna because at some places, they get mad.
Liz Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Frank: Is it a movie where you swap brains with your granddaughter?
Frank Absurdist Character Comedy Jenna: Janet Jopler or Janie Jimplin
Jenna Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna Callback Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Writers: Oh, your hands are weird. I don't think you went to high school. I'm not busy Friday. I just said I was.
Frank: You should do your Janis research on Wikipedia. It's online, so anyone can update it.
Frank Setup/Punchline Misdirection ★ Rewatch Jenna: Did you know that Janis Joplin speed-walked everywhere and was afraid of toilets?
Jenna Absurdist Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Frank: I have heard that, yes.
Frank Deadpan/Understatement Callback Callback Dr. Spaceman: Dee-ay-butt-ees?
Tracy: Could I replace it with a wheel like Rosie from 'The Jetsons'?
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Dr. Spaceman: But then, you'd have to register as a motor vehicle.
Jack: Because it's winning time, you magnificent son of a bitch!
Jack Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Jack: Just do it. Is it in you? I'm loving it!
Jack Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Liz: Stop sweating, you idiot. What is wrong with you, you stupid bitch?
Liz Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Liz Observational Character Comedy Jack: teamwork, insight, brutality... male enhancement... 'handshake-ful-ness' and play hard.
Jack Absurdist Escalation ★ Rewatch Jack: Men? If I'd known your wives were alone I would have stayed in New York.
Jack Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Jack: Well, obviously, the Finular analysis will concur with any synergized mindshare classifications. Bladorian frankles.
Jack Absurdist Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Tracy: It's a practice wheel for when I lose my foot to diabetes.
Tracy Callback Absurdist Callback Tracy: There's no link between diabetes and diet. That's a white myth, like Larry Bird or Colorado.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Lutz: My dad had diabetes and he ate whatever he wanted until he died on the day I was born.
Lutz Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Toofer: most African Americans don't understand that diabetes is caused by sleeping on your back.
Toofer Absurdist Character Comedy Tracy: Next, you'll be telling me that leasing a sports car is a bad investment.
Tracy Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna: I'm going to need some cherry juice, buttermilk and tequila to make my signature Janis Joplin cocktail The Frankschlong.
Jenna Callback Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Callback Six Sigma: It's 'LUNCH.' Lego Utilization for Negating Crisis Hierarchies.
Jack: No, Lemon, 'CLASS.' It's an acronym for Consuming Lunch And Simple Socializing.
Jack Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback Liz: Now, that just seems intentionally confusing.
Liz Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Tracy Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Kenneth: Oh, you want to hear a tale of the Hill Witch?
Kenneth Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Kenneth: My Mee-maw saw her once taking away a boy who wouldn't eat his vegetables.
Kenneth Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Kenneth: One look turns you to stone and then she gorges on your living brain.
Tracy Reaction Beat Observational ★ Rewatch Kenneth: And my page desk will be turned sideways.
Kenneth Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna: I'm gonna do it. I'm going to eat this cat.
Jenna Callback Absurdist Callback Frank: That's from 'ALF.' 'ALF' ate cats.
Jenna: The Academy loves dead singers and the handicapped and Janis was both!
Jenna Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Frank: No, she wasn't. Her legs bent the right way.
Frank Deadpan/Understatement Observational Jenna: What? I speed-walked home on these!
Jenna Callback Physical/Slapstick Callback Frank: I've got a thing for damaged goods.
Frank Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Liz Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Liz Character Comedy Escalation Six Sigma: the familiarity, nickname-ification
Liz: Sorry, I dropped it when I was pretending it was my penis. Robot penis.
Liz Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna: I'm the one who had to take the 'Silkwood' shower this morning.
Jenna Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Jenna: Last night was stupid. Stupid, Frank!
Jenna Character Comedy Escalation Frank: You... the one who cool should be!
Frank Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Liz: Aw, you have a sitting area? You jag!
Liz Character Comedy Observational Jack: You can't say 'uh-doy-ee' to me in mixed company.
Jack Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Liz: I can go back to the lake with the fat kids and make bracelets.
Liz Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Liz: 'Oh, sorry, Liz. My parents' basement only has room for five sleeping bags'
Liz Character Comedy Escalation Jack: I give you a simple managerial suggestion in a professional context and I get back the second half of a Judy Blume novel.
Jack Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Tracy: I have so much energy my hand keeps dancing!
Tracy Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Jenna: This is a victory for hot women everywhere.
Jenna Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Joan: What happens in Croton-on-Hudson stays in Croton-on-Hudson.
Joan Callback Observational Liz · Prashant: We should start calling ourselves 'The Three Musketeers.' Not.
Jenna: Now, Dog the Bounty Hunter is the second-grossest guy I've been with.
Jenna Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Lutz Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Look at me! I'm a monster! The Hill Witch! Cover your brain!
Kenneth Callback Physical/Slapstick Callback Six Sigma: When a big one falls, four little ones move up.
Six Sigma Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jack: Just don't say your name, Jack. Please don't say your name. You are Jack - titan, maverick, lover.
Jack Irony/Sarcasm Escalation ★ Rewatch Liz: I just fooled y'all with my Jack Donaghy impression where I say crazy things that he would never say.
Liz Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Liz: I believe I heard 'Sling Blade.' Mmm, I love them French-fried 'pataters.'
Liz Callback Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: they completely forgot about me when the bra lady went crazy
Jack Character Comedy Callback Callback Liz Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback 