Jack demands changes to make TGS both more relatable to average Americans and more cost-conscious and sends Liz and Pete to search for fresh blood. Kenneth organizes a strike by the pages.
Season 4 launch sustains 88.6 with 3.08 jokes-per-minute across absurdist escalations.
Directed by Don Scardino · Written by Tina Fey
WAR
146
Wins Above Replacement
“Season 4” ranks #53 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 98.6 — Elite. The episode packs 89 scored jokes at 4.0 per minute, averaging 7.7 on craft and 7.5 on impact, with Jack 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
Pages on Strike: What do we want? To get you sandwiches! When do we want it? Whenever will be convenient for you!
Tracy: ♪ You take a hot dog / Stuff it with some jack cheese / Fold it in a pizza / You've got Cheesy Blasters ♪ And then, all the kids say, 'Thanks, Meat Cat!' And then, Meat Cat flies away on his, um... skateboard.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jenna: ♪ So put down your meth and slip on your whites / 'Cause here in real America, it's tennis night ♪
Jenna Irony/Sarcasm Dark/Subversive Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback Liz · Jenna (flashback) · Intern (flashback): Remember when Jenna thought that blonde intern wanted to be an actress? I'm studying acting and singing. And someday, I'm going to be just like you. They never did find her earlobe.
Tracy · Jack: Well, before I made it as a stand-up, I was a bucket drummer in the subway. That's not a real job. Oh, yeah? Then how come I got sued for sexual harassment at it?
Tracy Jack Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 89 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Jack: Hello, everyone. I'm so happy to see all of you and to welcome you to Season Four. Which is, of course, the name of this restaurant, the number one Asian fusion restaurant in New York.
Jack Meta/Self-Referential Misdirection ★ Rewatch Jack: Where we will be eating the number-one-selling food in the rest of America.
Jack Irony/Sarcasm Observational Tracy: ♪ You take a hot dog / Stuff it with some jack cheese / Fold it in a pizza / You've got Cheesy Blasters ♪ And then, all the kids say, 'Thanks, Meat Cat!' And then, Meat Cat flies away on his, um... skateboard.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz: I can't eat this, I'm a foodie.
Liz Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Tracy · Jack: Well, before I made it as a stand-up, I was a bucket drummer in the subway. That's not a real job. Oh, yeah? Then how come I got sued for sexual harassment at it?
Tracy Jack Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Tracy: You know how on St. Bart's, people be eating their lobsters like this? [mimes eating lobster with upper-class affect]
Tracy Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Irony/Sarcasm Tracy: Don't look at me in the eyes!
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Tracy: I better talk to Rabbi Shmuley about this.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Jack · Liz: The best way for a lady to get heat in this industry is to either record a country album or have a lesbian relationship. Uh, we'll start with 'going country'.
Jack Liz Irony/Sarcasm Observational Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jack: To T.G.S. We'll trick those race-car-loving wideloads into watching your lefty, homoerotic propaganda hour yet.
Jack Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Liz · Jack: Well, you just don't like anybody, do you? Well...
Liz Jack Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Unknown Staff Member: He's burning money again.
Liz · Jack: What about Josh? Right, Josh, I forgot about that guy. You think that's a good sign?
Liz Jack Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jack: Our new mammogram machine is called the 'Git-Er-Done 2000'.
Jack Irony/Sarcasm Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz · Jenna (flashback) · Intern (flashback): Remember when Jenna thought that blonde intern wanted to be an actress? I'm studying acting and singing. And someday, I'm going to be just like you. They never did find her earlobe.
Liz · Pete · Kenneth: No one can know about this. Know about what? Pete's stealing money. Liz's uterus fell out. Oh, I think I already knew that. Hm.
Jack: Thanks to Comrade Obama's recession, we've had to cut overtime for pages.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Kenneth: Oh, it's not the money, sir. It's just that I always work more than 16 hours, so I would be signing my name to a lie. The Parcell name is synonymous with honesty.
Kenneth Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Kenneth: As the Hill People say, 'Parcell gaw say del go up de saw say.'
Kenneth Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jack · Payroll Guy: I had to downsize the Payroll Department to one guy and an envelope stuffing machine. Today's my birthday.
Kenneth: 'Dah don say da bay ton daw.'
Kenneth Character Comedy Absurdist Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Kenneth · Jack: Kenneth pops out from behind a corner and yells 'Boo!' at Jack, then thanks him.
Liz: Luckily, everybody here is dumb, and you and I are good at lying.
Liz Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jenna · Liz · Pete: What are you two lovebirds whispering about? Nothing. Uterus nothing.
Tracy: I blame you and Dotcom. You two have built a protective shell around me like a hermit crab or a mermaid boobie.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Tracy · Rolly · Dotcom: So Rolly, where are you from? Brooklyn. Right on, my brother. My dear friend, Moby, opened up a tea house in Park Slope. Does he know you?
Tracy · Rolly: You ever lose your remote control? Yeah. And then your wife starts getting all mad because the roof won't close and the bed that's in the shape of your face is getting rained on?
Tracy Rolly Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Escalation ★ Rewatch Tracy: I like you, Rolly. Can I feel the rough skin on your hands?
Tracy Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Absurdist Tracy: You've sheltered me too much. I'm going out on the street, and I don't want nobody to follow me. Nobody! Um... which one is the elevator I'm not afraid of?
Tracy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Oopsies, I think the machine gave me someone else's paycheck. John Francis Donaghy. Hey, he's got a girl's middle name too.
Kenneth Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Kenneth: But he said sacrifice. And no overtime. So many zeros.
Kenneth Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jenna · Pete · Liz: I thought you were leaving 10 minutes ago of me. Oh, well, we're going two separate places. So it's not weird. No, nothing is ever weird now.
Liz: I can't. I'm picking up my 'new tritionist' and his elderly son.
Liz Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Pete: Pete, are you driving uptown? Love you too! Bye!
Pete Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Reaction Beat Jack: I'll give you a New York minute. That's seven seconds.
Jack Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Kenneth: Well, sir, we pages and I feel that me and they are not being treated fairly as regards paychecking. I'm nervous.
Kenneth Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Kenneth · Jack: 'Bonus' means 'extra'. I know that from game shows. You lied to me. I didn't lie, Kenneth. I massaged the truth.
Kenneth Jack Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Jack: I like you, Kenneth. But you do not want to mess with me right now. I am in the middle of a raging period! Of economic turmoil.
Jack Setup/Punchline Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Pages on Strike: What do we want? To get you sandwiches! When do we want it? Whenever will be convenient for you!
Jack · Jenna: Do you know the song 'Are You Ready For Some Football?' Do I? That's what my phone plays whenever Ray Lewis calls me.
Liz · Jack: What sports does N.B.C. have these days? Oh, off-season tennis.
Liz Jack Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Observational Jack: Whatever religious undergarment Kenneth wears is in a twist because I took my bonus this year.
Jack Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Liz · Jack: Aren't you trying to be Johnny America right now? I am Johnny America. And this strike ends now.
Liz Jack Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Tracy: Hello, is anyone there? I'm in a sort of tunnel and I see a man with a blue uniform. I think he's a friend. Uh... Oh, never mind. There's a door, I'm out. Oh, it's sunny!
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Physical/Slapstick ★ Rewatch Tracy: Hello, fellow human being. Would you like to ask me what time it is? Are you a large child or a small adult? You look regular. Can I guess your name? Is it Pedro? Is it Craigford? Is it Swimming? Are you a pre-op transcentaur?
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Tracy: Are you a large child or a small adult? You look regular.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Tracy: Excuse me. Do you have change for a $10,000 bill?
Tracy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Tracy: I would like some chicken nuggets, a beer, and some of my wife's rice, to stay.
Tracy Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Tracy: Excuse me, sir. Do you want to hold hands with a black millionaire? Does anyone want to be my friend?
Tracy Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch Tracy Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Liz: It's like I tell my assistant. Your weight is a reflection on me.
Liz Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Dark/Subversive Len · Jack: Let me ask you a question, Mr. Donaghy. How do you kill a snake? You cut off the head. Of course! Thank you. Now I won't be afraid to go into my garage.
Len Jack Misdirection Setup/Punchline Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Len · Jack: I go undercover, infiltrate the union. Take this Parcell guy down from the inside. Very well. And you have undercover experience? They used to call me the Chameleon. Because of my slender frame and my big, wet eyes.
Len Jack Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Liz: Has anybody seen my wallet? It's an L.L. Bean child's wallet from the 1970s. There's no money in it, but I was one hole-punch away from a free Tasti D-Lite. Damn it to hell! I hate my life!
Liz Character Comedy Escalation Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Pete: Yes, she will give it back to you when he goes home and gets it from her wife.
Pete Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Liz · Pete: Yes, yes, we are doing it. [beat] No! So there you go, case closed. Pete and I are intercoursing each other.
Liz Pete Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Paula: If this is what Pete needs, I would be willing to welcome you into our lovemaking.
Paula Cringe/Discomfort Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Paula: Pete, I know that I haven't been very sexual since my mother died.
Paula Cringe/Discomfort Dark/Subversive Josh · Liz: Do you not see me? Oh, dang it. I keep forgetting about you.
Josh Liz Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback Josh: You know what? I've had it with this place. I don't need this show, because I could get a job tomorrow in the Air Force! [attempts to storm out dramatically but struggles]
Josh Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Irony/Sarcasm Liz · Pete · Others: Oh, somebody help him out, for God's sake. You've got to use your lower back. That's incorrect! Lift with your legs!
Kenneth: Attention, everyone. Strike update. I am happy to report that Local 415 has joined our cause! They are a blanket union that includes mall Santas, horse whisperers, and bucket drummers.
Kenneth Absurdist Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Len (undercover): Hey, dudes. I'm organizing a viral protest on 'Tweeter' and 'Youtubes'. Anyone wants to get in on that, just write down your social security numbers.
Kenneth · Brandon: I'm sorry, Brandon. What show are you assigned to again? Donahue.
Tracy: Meet my new friends, 'Nobody', and his wife, 'Susan Walters-Hyphen-Nobody'.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Unknown Page: Once I'm vested, I'm out of here.
Tracy: These... these are my people! Bucket drummers, if you are striking, so am I. Two, four, six, eight, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jenna: I came in here to shoot these tennis promos, and they had blue gels on the lights. You know that makes my teeth look see through.
Jenna Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jenna: Jack is hiring a new cast member. If it is a blonde woman, I will kill myself!
Jenna Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Tracy · Others: Jenna Maroney is great! No new cast member! New what?
Tracy Others Character Comedy Running Gag Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Len · Jack: I can't, the man is incorruptible. He was impervious to the charms of the 'Nympho Coed'. Charlene LaRue.
Len Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jack: Guide me. Tell me what to do, Nixon.
Jack Character Comedy Absurdist Visual Gag ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Would you like something to eat? I have some leftover turtle meat from dinner. Or as you would call it, 'bonus' turtle meat.
Kenneth Callback Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Jack · Kenneth: Where's the bar? Well, there's a bar in the shower that the previous tenant installed to keep from slipping. He still died in there, though.
Jack Kenneth Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Jack · Kenneth: We're not so different, you and I. Those glasses are for display only.
Jack: And yet, when people look at you, they see who they want to be. When they look at me, they see who they are.
Jack Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Kenneth: Sir, you sound like the mall Santas when they come back from lunch.
Kenneth Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: Jack: 'You have the moral high ground, I can't change that. But I can destroy you.' He threatens to shut down the page program forever.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Liz · Pete: Josh refuses to un-quit. Jenna and Tracy are on strike. We have no actors. Now we could rerun episode 214. No, no. That's the one where Tracy tore up that picture of the Pope. In his defense, it was Pope Innocent the Fourth. Because he increased taxation in the Papal States.
Liz Pete Character Comedy Absurdist Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Liz · Pete: You know, this whole thing is your fault. Wait, it's not my fault? Blame Jack or Kenneth or Tracy. Or Meat Cat. Because I've had the Cheesy Blasters for three days.
Liz Pete Callback Character Comedy Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback Liz: Why, so they can all go back to making my life a living hell? I hope they stay on strike forever!
Liz Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Kenneth: Well, sir, now that I know you're a liar, I was wondering if you were lying about canceling the page program. And then, I thought, if there were no pages, you'd have to pay somebody real money to do our jobs. And give them health insurance. And if you don't even have money to pay our overtime, then you certainly can't afford all that.
Kenneth Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Jack: I am a big, 'ol liar.
Jack Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: Jack signs the paper: 'I am a big, ol' liar.'
Jack Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Kenneth · Pages: The strike is over! What did we get? A piece of paper that I can't really tell you about!
Kenneth Pages Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Page · Kenneth: Was this strike just over a personal thing between you and Mr. Donaghy? Massage it, Kenneth. No, it wasn't!
Page Kenneth Callback Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Jenna: ♪ So put down your meth and slip on your whites / 'Cause here in real America, it's tennis night ♪
Jenna Irony/Sarcasm Dark/Subversive Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback Announcer · Liz: Slawomir Mleczko versus Kryzsztof Mlynarkiewicz. In the Barnett Cup Semifinal. In the what?
Announcer Liz Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback Jenna: ♪ Got my lawn chair in my trunk, not an ocean in sight / So kiss my ass, New York, 'cause it's tennis night ♪
Jenna Irony/Sarcasm Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback