Grandmentor

Last updated
"Grandmentor"
30 Rock episode
Episode no.Season 6
Episode 13
Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller
Written by Sam Means
Featured music Jeff Richmond
Production code613
Original air dateMarch 22, 2012 (2012-03-22)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"St. Patrick's Day"
Next 
"Kidnapped by Danger"
30 Rock season 6
List of episodes

"Grandmentor" is the thirteenth episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock , and the 116th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, and written by Sam Means. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 22, 2012.

Contents

In the episode, Jack (Alec Baldwin) decides to create a TV-movie about Avery to keep her in the media spotlight. Liz (Tina Fey) agrees to write the script and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) campaigns to star in it. Meanwhile, Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) objects to new page Hazel's (Kristen Schaal) permissiveness with Tracy (Tracy Morgan), which prompts Hazel to choose Liz as a mentor.

Plot

Jack (Alec Baldwin) goes on The Today Show to keep his wife's plight in the public eye. When his appearance is bumped for breaking news, Jenna (Jane Krakowski) suggests filming a TV movie about the kidnapping to gain more attention for Avery's predicament. Jack agrees and begins to cast it, angering Jenna. He recruits Liz (Tina Fey) to write the script. Jack finally agrees that Jenna captures Avery's "essence" when she ruthlessly pursues the role with no regard for Jack's feelings.

Meanwhile, Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) is appalled that new page Hazel (Kristen Schaal) allows Tracy to do many things that damage his health and behavior, but Hazel refuses him access to the actor. Hazel seeks out Liz's advice and asks to be her mentee. Liz sees the problem through a feminist lens and tells Hazel to stand up to Kenneth. She also tells Hazel to dump her boyfriend, advice that Hazel ignores. Jack coaches Liz on mentoring, telling her that one has to let the mentee fail occasionally. Kenneth quits his job so that he can win the contest for a non-speaking role on TGS, a contest for which Liz had procrastinated over picking a winner. Liz selects Kenneth as a safe pick, but he uses the opportunity to confess his devotion to Tracy and gives him the medicine he needs. The show is ruined, but Hazel shows up to admit that Liz's advice was right. Thereafter, she, Liz, and Jack (as the "Grandmentor") share a group hug.

Reception

This episode attracted 3.31 million viewers. [1]

Andy Greenwald of Grantland thought the episode was "a riotous Roman orgy of hilarity" that eventually became exhausting: "A nonstop barrage of jokes, even amazing jokes, can eventually feel like being sat on by Hazel two years ago." [2]

David Sims of The Onion A.V. Club grew weary of the Hazel storyline, thinking that she might have made the show more relatable, but has become as insane as all the other characters. He speculated that Kenneth would eventually end up as a page again. "I’d be more disappointed if the show had been doing good work with Kenneth as a junior executive, but really, the excuses to shoehorn him into plots were getting more and more tiresome, so it’s probably best to just have him back as a page." He gave this episode and "Kidnapped by Danger" a combined grade of B−. [3]

Related Research Articles

The pilot episode of the American television sitcom 30 Rock premiered on October 10, 2006, on the CTV Television Network in Canada, and October 11, 2006, on NBC in the United States. The episode was directed by Adam Bernstein and written by Tina Fey, the series' creator, executive producer, and lead actress.

"The Aftermath" is the second episode of the first season of the American situation comedy 30 Rock, which first aired on October 17, 2006 on CTV in Canada. It aired on October 18, 2006 on the NBC network in the United States, its country of origin, and October 18, 2007 in the United Kingdom. The episode was written by Tina Fey and was directed by Adam Bernstein. Guest stars in this episode include Katrina Bowden, Tom Broecker, Teddy Coluca, Rachel Dratch, Adrienne Frost, Maulik Pancholy, Keith Powell, and Lonny Ross.

"The Ones" is the nineteenth episode of the third season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock. It was written by co-executive producer Jack Burditt, and directed by Beth McCarthy. The episode aired in the United States on April 23, 2009, on NBC. Guest stars in this episode include Josh Casaubon, Salma Hayek, and Brian Williams.

"Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 89th overall episode of the series. It was written by co-producer Kay Cannon and directed by Ken Whittingham. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on December 2, 2010.

<i>30 Rock</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of 30 Rock, an American television comedy series on the NBC network in the United States, began airing on January 12, 2012. 30 Rock was renewed for a sixth season by NBC on November 15, 2010. The season began airing mid-season to accommodate Tina Fey's pregnancy. On November 14, 2011, NBC announced that 30 Rock would return at the new time of 8:00 pm.

"Gentleman's Intermission" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 86th overall episode of the series. It was written by co-executive producer John Riggi and directed by series producer Don Scardino. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 4, 2010. Elizabeth Banks and Buck Henry guest star in this episode, and there are cameo appearances by Ann Curry, Lester Holt, and Meredith Vieira.

"100" is a double episode of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, comprising the 20th and 21st episodes of the fifth season, and the 100th and 101st episodes overall of the series. It was written by Jack Burditt and the show's executive producers Robert Carlock and Tina Fey, who is also the series' creator, head writer, and star. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 21, 2011. Commemorating the 100th episode of the series, this episode was one hour long and included a multitude of guest stars including Michael Keaton, Tom Hanks, Rachel Dratch, Will Forte, Brian Williams, among others.

"Respawn" is the twenty-third episode and season finale of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 103rd overall episode of the series. It was directed by Don Scardino, and written by Hannibal Buress and Ron Weiner. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 5, 2011. Guest stars in this episode include Victor Garber, Chris Parnell, Will Forte, Adriane Lenox, and Ina Garten.

"Hey, Baby, What's Wrong" is the sixth and seventh episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 109th and 110th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Michael Engler and written by Kay Cannon. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 9, 2012. Guest stars in this episode include James Marsden, Mary Steenburgen, and Kristen Schaal.

"Today You Are a Man" is the fifth episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 108th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Jeff Richmond, and written by co-executive producer Ron Weiner. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 2, 2012. Guest stars in this episode include Kristen Schaal, Nicholas Dayton, Josh Fadem, and Suze Orman.

"Standards and Practices" is the eleventh episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 114th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, and written by Vali Chandrasekaran. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 8, 2012.

"Alexis Goodlooking and the Case of the Missing Whisky" is the tenth episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 113th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Michael Slovis, and written by John Riggi. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 1, 2012.

"St. Patrick's Day" is the twelfth episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 115th overall episode of the series. It was directed by John Riggi, and written by Colleen McGuinness. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 15, 2012.

"Kidnapped by Danger" is the fourteenth episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 116th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Claire Cowperthwaite, and written by series creator and star Tina Fey. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 22, 2012, immediately after the previous episode, "Grandmentor".

"Murphy Brown Lied to Us" is the eighteenth episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 121st overall episode of the series. It was directed by John Riggi, and written by Robert Carlock and Vali Chandrasekaran. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 19, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live from Studio 6H</span> 19th episode of the 6th season of 30 Rock

"Live from Studio 6H" is the nineteenth episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 122nd episode overall. It features a return to live broadcasting from the season five episode "Live Show", both of which were directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, and co-written by series creator Tina Fey. The episode originally aired live on the NBC television network in the United States on April 26, 2012, with separate tapings for the East Coast and West Coast audiences. "Live from Studio 6H" featured guest appearances by comedian Amy Poehler, musician Paul McCartney, and several actors associated with 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.

"The Return of Avery Jessup" is the twenty-first episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 124th overall episode of the series. It was directed by John Riggi, and written by Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 10, 2012.

"What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?" is the twenty-second and final episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 125th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Michael Engler, and written by Matt Hubbard. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 17, 2012.

"The Beginning of the End" is the first episode of the seventh season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 126th overall episode of the series. It was directed by Don Scardino, and written by Jack Burditt. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 4, 2012.

"Aunt Phatso vs. Jack Donaghy" is the sixth episode of the seventh season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 131st overall episode of the series. It was directed by Don Scardino and written by Luke Del Tredici. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 15, 2012.

References

  1. Seidman, Robert (March 23, 2012). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Touch,' '30 Rock,' 'Up All Night' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  2. "NBC Comedy Recap: Community Returns to Its Casual-Viewer-Alienating Wheelhouse".
  3. "The Onion A.V. Club". The A.V. Club . 23 March 2012.