Jack agrees to play a GE executive for a self-referential sketch, but struggles with stage fright. Meanwhile, Liz comes to believe that Tracy is illiterate, and he takes advantage of the situation. Frank and Toofer trick Jenna into fearing for her job.
This was the first 30 Rock episode to air as part of NBC's Thursday night lineup, which it would remain part of for the rest of its run.
Tropes present in this episode:
- As Himself: Ghostface Killah cameos as himself during Jenna's "Muffin Top" number. Later in the first season, he appears again in "The Source Awards."
- Author Filibuster: Parodied when Liz goes into a rant about the American educational system, but can't remember the details and admits, "I gotta read more." Like the Walk and Talk gag in the previous episode, this was understood at the time as a Take That! at Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
- Celebrity Paradox: Jack mentions that he's learning about comedy by watching Friends. Alec Baldwin appeared on two episodes of that show.
- Germans Love David Hasselhoff: In-universe. Jenna's song "Muffin Top" is a number one hit in Israel and also number four in Belgium.
- Has a Type:Jenna: I know Jack Donaghy. I know what he likes.
Liz: Now you just have to make yourself ten years younger and Asian. - Hilarious Outtakes: In-universe. Jonathan shows Liz and Pete the bloopers from the GE promo video so that they can see the problem with putting Jack on live TV.Jonathan: I'm only showing you this because I care about him so much.
- I Have Boobs, You Must Obey!: Attempted by Jenna in a flashback. Upon arriving at a restaurant, the maitre d' tells her it will be a 45 minute wait. She bends over, opens her top button... and it's still going to be a 45 minute wait.
- Never Learned to Read: Liz becomes convinced that Tracy is illiterate, and he plays along so that he has an excuse for doing less work. ("I can't read! I sign my name with an X! I once tried to make mashed potatoes with laundry detergent! I think I voted for Nader! NADER!") Turns out he's not only literate, but has a column in Ebony called "Musings."
- No Matter How Much I Beg: In the GE promo bloopers, Jack tells an off-screen director, "If I ask for the line again, don't tell me." Later, he says "line" repeatedly. When the director answers, he says, "I told you, don't give me the line when I ask for the line."
- Noodle Incident:Tracy: I just wanna be able to do what I wanna do. You know, I once shot a whole movie without ever getting out of my car.
Pete: Yeah, I paid to see that. That was supposed to be a Western. - Performance Anxiety: Jack gets stage fright over the TGS sketch he's set to appear in.
- Product Placement: Jack wants the writers to add "product integration" to the show. Leaning on the Fourth Wall ensues.Liz: No, come on, Jack, we're not doing that. We're not compromising the integrity of the show to sell—
Pete: Wow, this is diet Snapple?!
Liz: I know, it tastes just like regular Snapple, doesn't it?
Frank: You should try Plum-A-Granate. It's amazing.
Cerie: I only date guys who drink Snapple.
Jack: Look, we all love Snapple — Lord knows I do — but focus here. - Teeny Weenie: Liz and Pete try to get Tracy to admit he's literate by presenting him with a poster that announces he has, "the smallest penis in show business."
- White Guilt: "Tracy took advantage of my white guilt, which is to be used only for good, like over-tipping and supporting Barack Obama." (Note this episode aired nearly two years before Obama was elected president. At the time, he was regarded as a prospective candidate for the 2008 election.)
- White Man's Burden: Deconstructed. Tracy lets Liz think that she's a white savior helping an illiterate black man. In fact, he just wants an excuse to be lazy.
- Won't Take "Yes" for an Answer:Pete: I said you could do it.
Jenna: Why not?! Oh... I mean, thank you.
