The BEST episodes of 30 Rock season 1

Every episode of 30 Rock season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of 30 Rock season 1!

Liz Lemon, the head writer of a live variety program's life is turned upside down when brash new network executive Jack Donaghy interferes with her show, bringing the wildly unpredictable Tracy Jordan into the cast. Now its up to Liz to manage the mayhem and still try to have a life.

Last Updated: 12/4/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
Hard Ball
star
7.96
1806 votes

#1 - Hard Ball

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/22/2007

It's negotiation time, and Jack plans to teach Liz a thing or two about how to handle Josh's new contract. Jenna makes several big publicity mistakes and Kenneth becomes a member of Tracy's entourage.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tracy Does Conan
star
7.89
1966 votes

#2 - Tracy Does Conan

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/7/2006

It's a star showdown when a dazed and confused Tracy bumps Jenna from her scheduled appearance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" which sends both actors into a tailspin. Meanwhile, Liz realizes she needs to break up with Dennis.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tina Fey
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Black Tie
star
7.84
1903 votes

#3 - Black Tie

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/1/2007

Liz, Jack, and Jenna rub elbows with the upper crust at a foreign prince's birthday party where they meet Jack's soon-to-be ex-wife.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Head and the Hair
star
7.81
1827 votes

#4 - The Head and the Hair

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/2007

There are some new power players around when Jack and Kenneth the page switch roles for the day and Liz finds herself clicking with a gorgeous hunk.

Directors: Gail Mancuso
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hiatus
star
7.74
1757 votes

#5 - Hiatus

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/26/2007

Tracy, on the run from the Black Crusaders, goes into hiding with Kenneth's cousin Jessie. Meanwhile, the pressure is on Liz to make the show work after Jack's mother arrives and Jack ends up in the hospital.

Directors: Don Scardino
Writer: Tina Fey
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Baby Show
star
7.69
1971 votes

#6 - The Baby Show

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/4/2007

There are mommy issues on the set when Jenna tells everyone that Liz wants to get pregnant, and Jack gives her some very personal parental advice. Meanwhile, Tracy wants Josh to be fired, because he doesn't like Josh's impression of him.

Directors: Michael Engler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fireworks
star
7.65
1826 votes

#7 - Fireworks

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/5/2007

Sparks are flying when Jack uses Kenneth the page to thwart an aggressive west coast NBC exec and Liz follows her crush to an AA meeting. Dr. Spaceman tells Tracy that he is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson which leads to chaos.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Rural Juror
star
7.64
1872 votes

#8 - The Rural Juror

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/11/2007

Jenna can't wait for her new movie to open, but Liz won't tell her what she really thinks of her performance. Meanwhile, Jack helps Tracy create and market a new cooking machine.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Source Awards
star
7.62
1735 votes

#9 - The Source Awards

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/1/2007

It's lights, camera, aggravation when Liz finds herself locked in a relationship with Tracy's determined new manager and Jack forces Tracy to host The Source Awards while he promotes a new line of wine.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The C Word
star
7.60
1973 votes

#10 - The C Word

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/15/2007

Being the boss isn't all it's cracked up to be when Liz overhears the writers discussing her management style, as they call her an offensive word. Meanwhile, Jack tries to impress CEO Don Geiss at a charity golf tournament by bringing Tracy along.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tina Fey
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Break-Up
star
7.60
1953 votes

#11 - The Break-Up

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/14/2006

At the urging of everyone, Liz finally breaks up with Dennis, but the path back to "single and loving it" proves to be filled with unforeseen obstacles. Meanwhile, Jack is having relationship problems, and Tracy and Toofer clash over negative African American stereotypes.

Directors: Scott Ellis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fighting Irish
star
7.60
1830 votes

#12 - The Fighting Irish

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/8/2007

Family matters move front and center when Jack is reunited with his down-and-out brother and Liz has a tough time making staff cutbacks. Meanwhile, Tracy is on the search for a church and asks everyone for advice.

Directors: Dennie Gordon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Up All Night
star
7.55
1971 votes

#13 - Up All Night

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/2007

Valentine's Day is much more than candy and flowers when Jack celebrates the finalization of his divorce and the writers are forced to pull an all-nighter. Liz receives flowers from a secret admirer.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Tina Fey
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Jack the Writer
star
7.51
2283 votes

#14 - Jack the Writer

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/1/2006

Lines are drawn when Jack decides to sit in on the writers' room and Kenneth the page tries to deal with Tracy's difficult demands.

Directors: Gail Mancuso
Watch Now:Apple TV
Corporate Crush
star
7.48
1696 votes

#15 - Corporate Crush

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/12/2007

Love is in the air, but Liz is concerned when Jack takes an overwhelming interest in her new boyfriend Floyd. Meanwhile, Don Geiss takes the microwave department away from Jack after a disastrous "fireworks" display, but Jack becomes distracted when he meets Phoebe, a British woman who works at an art gallery.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:Apple TV
Jack Meets Dennis
star
7.44
2127 votes

#16 - Jack Meets Dennis

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/30/2006

Liz reconnects with her ex-boyfriend Dennis, the last remaining pager salesman in New York. Meanwhile, Jenna and Tracy try to "enhance" their appearances for career reasons.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Blind Date
star
7.40
2412 votes

#17 - Blind Date

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/25/2006

Cupid has a new rival when Jack insists on setting Liz up on a blind date with his out of town friend, Thomas. Meanwhile the writing staff have a poker night with Tracy and Jack which turns very competitive.

Directors: Adam Berstein
Watch Now:Apple TV
Cleveland
star
7.39
1847 votes

#18 - Cleveland

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/19/2007

There are certainly no sparks when Jack asks Liz to take his fiancee, Phoebe, out for a ladies' lunch. But Liz finds a lot more to like when her boyfriend takes her to the great city of Cleveland. Meanwhile, Tracy thinks the "Black Crusaders" are out to get him.

Directors: Paul Feig
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Aftermath
star
7.37
2651 votes

#19 - The Aftermath

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/18/2006

Jack continues to tweak "The Girlie Show" so that eccentric Tracy Jordan can be the star. Meanwhile, Liz makes it worse when she tries to smooth things over and Tracy throws a yacht party.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tina Fey
Watch Now:Apple TV
Jack-Tor
star
7.36
2257 votes

#20 - Jack-Tor

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/16/2006

Jack is determined to act in a sketch on the show. Liz suspects Tracy may be illiterate and Frank and Toofer are busy tricking Jenna into thinking she is on the verge of being fired.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:Apple TV
Pilot
star
7.32
3433 votes

#21 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/2006

Comedy writer Liz Lemon is called upstairs to meet the new network exec, Jack Donaghy, who instructs her to hire movie star Tracy Jordan to draw a young male audience to "The Girlie Show."

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tina Fey
Watch Now:Apple TV