Avery Jessup becomes suspicious of the relationship her fiancé Jack Donaghy has with his employee and friend Liz Lemon, so she orders Jack to set boundaries in their friendship. This proves a problem for Liz when her father, Dick Lemon arrives in town on a break from his marriage. Meanwhile, actor Tracy Jordan is upset when he discovers that his pre-recorded NBC obituary shows him to have done nothing worthwhile in his life, whilst Jenna Maroney learns of the video obituaries, she decides to make a video of her own.
Seventy jokes in 22 minutes: 30 Rock's densest episode yet, fueled by absurdist chaos.
Directed by Don Scardino · Written by John Riggi
WAR
138.9
Wins Above Replacement
“Gentlemans Intermission” ranks #64 of 138 30 Rock episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 98.0 — Elite. The episode packs 86 scored jokes at 3.8 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.
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Top Jokes
Jack: Ambition is the willingness to kill the things you love and eat them in order to stay alive. Haven't you ever read my throw pillow?
Jack Character Comedy Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jack: Drive, intelligence, humility, chaos... or the acronym 'DIHC.' I'm looking for dihc, Avery. And I'm gonna take it wherever I can find it.
Jack Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dick Lemon: Fine. I don't need you. I'm meeting up with my old army buddy Gary. Tonight, we're doing a push-up, and tomorrow, we're going to a bar called 'Swingles.' Gary's wife just died a couple of days ago, and he hasn't returned the hospital bed, so I can sleep there!
Dick Lemon Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Kenneth: That way, he can see his own funeral, just like Tom Sawyer! Tom was a fellow from my town we accidentally buried alive. Funny story, after we dug him back up, he tried to kill all of us.
Kenneth Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jenna's self-made obituary narrator: A two-time cable ace award nominee, and three-time Tony Shaloub sex partner, Jenna Maroney is perhaps best remembered for being beautiful.
All Jokes — 86 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Jack: I had this made for the baby at Hermes. So she can ride the maid!
Jack Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jack · Avery: Lemon went to middle school with a Charlotte who used to rub herself against a tree during recess.
Jack: Drive, intelligence, humility, chaos... or the acronym 'DIHC.' I'm looking for dihc, Avery. And I'm gonna take it wherever I can find it.
Jack Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Avery: Maybe it's time for you to carry this baby. Maybe you and Liz can raise it. Crazy hormone swing. Why does everything smell like onions?
Avery Character Comedy Escalation Jack Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Jack · Liz: Jack walks away with just: 'Lemon. Boundaries.' and she simply says 'Got it.'
Jack Liz Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Kenneth: Tracy Jordan, the star of TGS and numerous films, has died. No, it can't be! I'm not done with him, Jacob! He stays on this side!
Kenneth Character Comedy Misdirection NBC News Anchor: Tracy's obituary includes his 'submarine D.U.I.'
Kenneth: That way, he can see his own funeral, just like Tom Sawyer! Tom was a fellow from my town we accidentally buried alive. Funny story, after we dug him back up, he tried to kill all of us.
Kenneth Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dick Lemon · Liz Lemon: Dad, you don't have to say your name every time. / Telephone etiquette is important. It lets people know your race even when they can't see you.
Liz Lemon: Not really, I was gonna take this class called 'cooking for one,' but the teacher killed himself.
Liz Lemon Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Liz Lemon: With you and mom here, the doormen will have to eat their words about me never having friends over.
Dick Lemon · Liz Lemon: She's not coming this time. I want to have a little fun by myself. Can't a guy have a little fun? / What is wrong with you? / What's wrong with you? / Your mother's home. This conversation never happened.
NBC News Anchor · Tracy: Tracy Jordan was voted 'worst representation of a black man' nine years in a row... his FCC fines... And giving the queen parvo.
Tracy: Who, Mark Cuban? That guy ran me over with a jet ski.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Jenna: Jenna hears Tracy might be dead and says 'Fine, I'll sing at his funeral.'
Jenna Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jenna: Typical liberal media. They do? Well, then I need to see mine. If they used any of the footage from my shoplifting arrest, that would be great because my arms looked fantastic.
Jenna Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Liz Lemon: It must be my 'sesuality,' because I am so very 'sesual.' You like that?
Jack: She's not used to that, and sometimes she... just falls over.
Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Liz Lemon: Blammo. Solved it.
Jenna: I played arts and literature in the film adaptation of Trivial Pursuit.
Jenna Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jenna: Kim Jong-il? I never heard of her.
Jenna Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Jonathan · Jack: Sir, I have dreamed of this moment... But my fear is that you don't have enough ambition.
Jack: My attorney is waiting in his office. He will present you with a contract to be my mentee if you bring him... my pinky.
Jack Absurdist Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jonathan: No, watch! I'll cut off my pinky and tell him it's yours.
Jonathan Character Comedy Escalation Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Callback Jack: Ambition is the willingness to kill the things you love and eat them in order to stay alive. Haven't you ever read my throw pillow?
Jack Character Comedy Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dick Lemon: A very hip Latino-sounding blur at Mervyn's said I looked good in it.
Liz Lemon: You show up here looking like you've been on spring break for 300 years.
Liz Lemon: Does mom know you're having problems? 'Cause she thinks you're at the doctor.
Liz Lemon: You think they won't notice you're 80 because you took your glasses off?
Liz Lemon: Your 'gentleman's intermission.' Go to a hotel. Or better yet, go home to mom.
Liz Lemon Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Dick Lemon: Fine. I don't need you. I'm meeting up with my old army buddy Gary. Tonight, we're doing a push-up, and tomorrow, we're going to a bar called 'Swingles.' Gary's wife just died a couple of days ago, and he hasn't returned the hospital bed, so I can sleep there!
Dick Lemon Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Dick Lemon · Liz Lemon: Now, where's the door? / I'm not telling! / Cold. / You need your glasses. Colder. / [Dick fumbling around the apartment]
Liz Lemon · Jack: I know I shouldn't be calling, but my dad is in town, taking a break from being married. It's a gentleman's intermission.
Jackie D: Why are you sitting in your sadness spotlight?
Jackie D Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Tracy: Sure, I Google myself all the time. Like when Angie's not in the mood, or I'm alone in the hotel.
Tracy Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Tracy · Jackie D · Liz Lemon: You do know that Googling yourself means looking yourself up on the Internet. / I did not know that. That explains why Liz Lemon was so cool the other day. Liz Lemon, you mind if I Google myself in your office? / Sure. / Can I use your computer? / How else are you gonna do it?
Jackie D · Tracy: You played him in Central Park last summer. / I don't know any of my lines!
Jackie D · Tracy: Yes, that's what I just said. Now, if I can help you... / No, no, no, Jackie D. I don't need your help. I'm Tracy Jordan. When I go to sleep, nothing happens in the world.
Jack: He failed the test of humility. I cannot be his mentor.
Jack Character Comedy Running Gag Callback Jonathan · Jack: I'd love for you to be my mentor, sir. But unfortunately, I already have one. / Stop calling me!
Liz Lemon: What would Jack tell me to do? First, he would probably explain that evolution makes men promiscuous, even when they're 80, like my pathetic dad.
Liz Lemon Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential Liz Lemon: Maybe his sons would respect him more as a man. Maybe they'd stop calling him a 'bald wang' in front of the babysitter.
Liz Lemon · Jack (imagined): Those old men that hit on you at clubs are so lame. / Lame? Or is it heroic?
Liz Lemon: With guys like that, I always just say, 'who's younger... me or your daughter?' That usually creeps them out enough that they leave. / Not me.
Liz Lemon Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Jack · Jenna: I never thought of you for the Donaghy mentoring experience, but you are an unceasing onslaught of dysfunction. / Dr. Drew called me 'unfixable.'
Jack: He owns the world's only giraffe basketball team, the New York Necks.
Jack Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jack · Jenna: Then I'm afraid you're on your own, Jenna. You have failed the test of intelligence. / Oh, really? Well, so are you!
Jack Jenna Character Comedy Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback Tracy: How's business things? I made several overseas phone calls today. I'm doing great. Like the song, I am taking on my business.
Tracy Character Comedy Absurdist Jack: Shoulders back, Lemon. You're not welcoming people to castle Frankenstein.
Jack Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Dick Lemon: I can't read any of this, Gary, can you? Give us this third thing.
Dick Lemon Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Callback Liz Lemon (as Dorothy Michaels) · Dick Lemon: My name is Ricky. Dorothy Michaels. And you don't look stupid in that shirt at all.
Dick Lemon · Gary: We work for the FBI. / Female Body Inspectors.
Dick Lemon · Liz Lemon (as Dorothy Michaels): Tell me, was your father a donkey herder? Because that ass is... / My father worked at Philadelphia power and light.
Dick Lemon: Come on, Gary. Let's go hit that bar with the cool rainbow flags.
Jenna's self-made obituary narrator: A two-time cable ace award nominee, and three-time Tony Shaloub sex partner, Jenna Maroney is perhaps best remembered for being beautiful.
Jenna's self-made obituary — mourners: Jenna, you ripped through our lives / Like the passin of the wind
Jenna: Jenna's obituary: 'Jenna Maroney, dead at... 32.' (she's clearly not 32)
Jenna Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Tracy · Assistant: Read back what we have so far. / 'Ideas to change Mr. Jordan's headline.' Then you said, 'read back what we have so far.'
TV Anchor · Tracy: Coming up in our next half hour, we're gonna meet a heroic cat who saved its owner's life by dialing 911. / What an amazing story. That cat's a hero. If I save it, I'm a double hero.
Tracy · Kenneth: I need your help. / I actually have an important church... / Denied!
Liz Lemon: You should know that he has very tiny hands, so let him hold a miniature golf scoring pencil to make them look normal, obviously.
Avery · Jack: My God. Are you trying to mentor me? / I am squared away, Donaghy. I get four hours of sleep a night, eat 1,200 calories a day, and my closet has been on the cover of organized living twice.
Jack · Avery: It's impossible. I would never say this to her face, but Lemon is above average. She's got just the right amount of dihc for me. / I hear it, and I don't care.
Jack Avery Character Comedy Running Gag Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Callback Millennial job candidate: Are you Jack? Sorry I'm late. B.T. Dubbs, I gotta leave for my ironic kickball league in about ten. I'm not interested in this position unless I'm gonna be constantly praised. And I won't cut my hair.
Tracy · Kenneth: It's go time, Ken. Are you ready? / I've got my hammer, I've got my mask. / You just stop me before I get to that cat. / I'll be right behind you.
Tracy Kenneth Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Absurdist ★ Rewatch TV Anchor: Critics have been praising the gritty drama, and the performance of its star Tracy Jordan. Not to editorialize, but if Jordan doesn't win the Oscar, that would be the stupidest thing since the following segue... speaking of cats...
TV Anchor Meta/Self-Referential Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Tracy: An Oscar. If I won an Oscar, everyone would have to respect me. My obituary will read 'Oscar winner' instead of 'children's soccer heckler'.
Tracy Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Tracy: I feel like I'm forgetting something. / I left Tracy Jr. in Atlantic City!
Tracy Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Tracy · Kenneth: Die, hero cat! I hate you! / [Tracy attacks the cat] / I said I'm gonna kill that cat! / Killing cats is wrong! / Unless it's to make a hat! / My skull!
Tracy Kenneth Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Jenna: Jenna Maroney just saved the hero cat! That makes me a double hero! Try to deny me my obit now, you jags!
Jenna Character Comedy Callback Irony/Sarcasm Callback Jenna: And tell people in lieu of flowers, they can pour jewels into my open coffin.
Jenna Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jenna Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Liz Lemon · Jack: Work husband-slash-uncle. / Coworker-slash-little brother.
Jack: I'm a mighty great white shark, Lemon, and you are a remora, clinging to me with your suction cup head. I give you a free ride, and in exchange, you... eat my parasites.
Jack Character Comedy Observational Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jack: I'm not gonna talk sense into anybody. Your father's being irrational. And irrational behavior doesn't respond to rationality. It responds to fear.
Jack Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jack (as Tricia's boyfriend): I'm Tricia's boyfriend, you scumbag. She told me what happened. I'm gonna find you, I'm gonna kick your ass so hard, you're gonna be throwing up my toenails.
Jack (as Tricia's boyfriend): How dare you hang up on me. I'm a corrupt cop! My brother's a corrupt fireman. He's gonna set you on fire, and I am not gonna investigate it.
Jack (as boyfriend) · Dick Lemon: I know men are meant to be promiscuous because of evolution, but you made a commitment to a woman you love. / I do. I do love her. / You're lucky. 'A,' because you have a family and 'B,' because I have not curb-stomped you in front of your grandchildren.
Dick Lemon · Jack (as boyfriend): Actually, I don't have grandchildren. / Tricia told me you have a daughter. What's wrong with her? / I gotta go. I'm taking Tricia to laser zeppelin. / You take care now. Go Necks!
Jack · Dick Lemon: I gotta go. I'm taking Tricia to laser zeppelin. / You take care now. Go necks!
Dick Lemon · Jack: Can I show you a weird thing on my leg? / That's gotta be removed.
Jack · Avery: [Name suggestions for baby: Claire, Joanne, 'I look forward to visiting her and her wife... on their farm.' Jacqueline? 'Like a little Jack, but with boobs?' 'Hi, I'm Daphne Donaghy, I saw a turtle!' Kylie — 'She can strip her way through community college.']
Jack Avery Character Comedy Escalation Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jack: 'Kylie. Great. She can strip her way through community college. Come on.'
Jack Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Jack: I don't know about Christina. 'Cause then everyone calls her Tina. And every Tina I've known is a real judgmental bitch.
Jack Character Comedy Observational Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch 