Radio Times

Episode 1/21 Pilot

Liz and producer Pete have a rather disconcerting meeting with new network vice-president Jack Donaghy, who seems determined to change the entire format of the show. He's also keen to bring in controversial actor Tracy Jordan as the star. Liz eventually agrees to meet Tracy, who proceeds to drag her to a soul food restaurant, followed by a strip club. Then Liz hears that Donaghy has fired Pete, and prepares to quit the show herself.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 11 October 2007)

When this show recently won an Emmy award for outstanding comedy series, its creator and star Tina Fey quipped that she wanted to thank the show's "dozens and dozens" of viewers: like so many promising US series, it was a critical hit, but a commercial damp squib.

It might suffer the same fate here. It's set in the backstage world of television, but just because you've heard the backstage-on-a-TV-show premise a lot lately doesn't mean you should give this a miss. It feels unformed, as pilots often do, but there's the spark of something special.

Word is that the series evolves and improves as it goes on: get in on the ground floor.

Episode 2/21 The Aftermath

Liz worries that the changes Jack has made to the show are threatening the unity of the team, with Tracy stealing all the limelight (the show has, after all, been renamed TGS with Tracy Jordan). When Tracy invites cast and crew to a party aboard his yacht, it seems he may have found just the way to bring everyone together. But it soon becomes clear his hospitality is not quite what it seems.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 18 October 2007)

Rumour has it this scrappy but enjoyable US sitcom relaxes and improves as the first series goes on. It'll need to: without Alec Baldwin's delicious comic turn as an oppressive boss, it might struggle. But with Baldwin, even so-so episodes like this are well worth a look.

Episode 3/21 Blind Date

When Liz begins to take her frustrations out on the staff, Jack decides she's in need of some companionship. He insists on setting her up on a date, but when Liz arrives at the restaurant she's nonplussed to discover that Jack's eligible friend is a woman. Back at the studio, Jack invites himself to the staff poker night - and proceeds to win every hand.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 25 October 2007)

After a couple of weeks of finding its feet, this US sitcom has found them and set off dancing the cha-cha-cha. We get less farce and more business around TV boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) and his overbearing management style. The chemistry clicks and the laughs keep coming.

Episode 4/21 Jack the Writer

Jack decides to sit in on the writers' meetings, but his feeble ideas don't exactly play well. Kenneth finds himself dealing with some difficult demands from Tracy, including getting nachos from Yankee Stadium and finding a very rare and exotic fish. Meanwhile, Liz's assistant is distracting the male staff from their work with her skimpy outfits.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 1 November 2007)

There's no business like showbusiness, which could pretty much be the motto for this wonderful show. It's early days but 30 Rock is rapidly turning into sitcom heaven.

Episode 5/21 Jack-Tor

The writers are unimpressed when Jack insists they plug General Electric products in their sketches, and Liz decides that Jack can be the one to do it. Learning that Jack's to appear on the programme, his assistant shows Liz video of Jack's last, disastrous TV appearance. Meanwhile, Frank and Toofer convince Jenna that someone's about to get fired. And Liz suspects that Tracy may not be able to read.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 8 November 2007)

I never found Jane Krakowski funny in Ally McBeal. For my money, she's just too stagey. Which is why she's the fly in the ointment of 30 Rock.

Last week, when her character (brittle actress Jenna) wasn't featured, was the funniest episode yet; this week Jenna's back and her storyline limps along like a three-legged cat.

Episode 6/21 Jack Meets Dennis

Jack insists that Liz starts living it up and acting like "a winner", and gives her the number of an appropriately expensive restaurant. Liz decides to take newly reconciled boyfriend Dennis, but when they bump into Jack she finds herself embarrassed by Dennis's immature comments. Meanwhile, the weekly show is under threat after Jenna overdoes it on cosmetic treatments, Tracy gets a face tattoo and Josh is beaten up by Elizabeth Taylor.

Episode 7/21 Tracy Does Conan

Dennis leaves stubble in the sink, chews with his mouth open - and assumes they're having kids together. Liz has had enough, but does she have the energy to break up with him? Jack decides Tracy will take Jenna's place as a guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. It's a chance for Tracy to redeem himself after his last disastrous appearance on the show. Unfortunately, the new medication his doctor has given him is causing all kinds of side effects…

RT Choice (David Butcher, 22 November 2007)

Tina Fey, who created this treat of a sitcom and stars as sketch-show head Liz Lemon, was nominated for an Emmy award for her writing on tonight's episode, and you can see why. It's humming with wonderful jokes, from the disastrous title of Jenna's new film (The Rural Juror - try saying it with an American accent) to a quip from Jack Donaghy about wearing a tux that had me chuckling for days.

As with all the best comedies, the plotlines collide and splinter. The result: 20 minutes of beautifully woven madness.

Episode 8/21 The Break-Up

Liz has finally broken up with Dennis, and Jenna decides it's cause for celebration. But their girls' night out is cut short when Jenna realises just how bad Liz is at talking to men. Toofer and Tracy have a falling out and find themselves attending "sensitivity training". Dennis turns up at the studio and makes a public declaration of love for Liz. Should she consider getting back with him - again?

RT Choice (David Butcher, 29 November 2007)

Thursday nights are a comedy purple patch right now. Never Mind the Buzzcocks, a resurgent Lead Balloon, and The Graham Norton Show fly the flag on BBC2 while US treats 30 Rock and Californication are busy breaking taboos on Five. For my money, 30 Rock is the pick of the bunch - reliably hilarious, thrillingly good fun and full of warm, weird, lovable characters.

Tonight, the scriptwriting is again on fire. There are so many jokes packed into 30 minutes you may need the pause button to catch your breath.

Episode 9/21 The Baby Show

Liz has motherhood on her mind and makes the mistake of talking to Jenna about it. Jenna stresses that Liz's biological clock is indeed ticking, and also manages to start a rumour that Liz is looking for a sperm donor. Meanwhile, Jack is having trouble with his overprotective mother, and Josh uses his impressionist skills to get himself out of trouble with Jack and Tracy.

Episode 10/21 The Rural Juror

Jenna's new movie, The Rural Juror, is about to go on release and she's loving the attention. But after seeing it - and hating it - Liz has her work cut out hiding her true feelings about the film from her friend. Tracy's in need of a quick buck. After taking advice from Jack, he comes up with The Tracy Jordan Meat Machine, and is soon filming an infomercial for the dubious culinary device.

Episode 11/21 The Head and the Hair

As part of a GE initiative, Jack swaps places with Kenneth for a day - and after hearing his idea for a game show, helps him pitch it to the network bosses. Meanwhile, Liz and Jenna are enjoying flirting with two guys from MSNBC. Liz is surprised when the handsome one asks her out but she's thrown into turmoil by another encounter with her ex, Greg.

Episode 12/21 Black Tie

Jack takes a reluctant Liz to the social event of the century - the Prince of Austria's birthday - where a surprise encounter with his estranged wife Bianca prompts him to introduce Liz as his girlfriend. Jenna gains entry to the party by more dubious means and is soon fascinating the disturbingly inbred Prince. Back at the office, Tracy invites strippers over to help Pete with his marital problems.

Episode 13/21 Up All Night

It's Valentine's Day and after a night spent celebrating the finalisation of his divorce, a drunken Jack and his new lady friend interrupt Tracy and his wife's romantic evening. Liz gets a rather more pleasant surprise when she receives a bouquet of flowers from an unknown admirer. Meanwhile, Jenna confronts Frank about his treatment of her, and Kenneth makes a misguided move on Cerie.

Episode 14/21 The 'C' Word

Liz finds herself the recipient of some choice insults after giving her writers a hard time for failing to focus on their sketches. Meanwhile, Jack takes Tracy to a fundraiser to impress his boss. Tracy goes down a storm until he begins to question why he's the only black person there. But at another charity event, it seems he may have spotted an opportunity to advance his career.

Episode 15/21 Hardball

Maxim magazine votes Jenna the fourth-sexiest woman in comedy but she's quoted in the article as saying she hates US troops, and Jack insists she apologises on air. Meanwhile, Jack's looking forward to renegotiating Josh's contract but reckons without Josh's hotshot agent, who's obtained some inside information from Liz. And Kenneth becomes an unlikely member of Tracy's entourage.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 24 January 2008)

This gem of a sitcom has yet to find much of an audience here - no wonder, the way Five has faffed about with its transmission. From this week it will broadcast in double bills - good news, at least for those fans who find half an hour of joy isn't quite enough.

In this first episode, the precision-tooled one-liners come thick and fast and the sight gags are a treat too.

Episode 16/21 The Source Awards

Liz agrees to go on a date with Tracy's new business manager Stephen. It quickly becomes clear that they have nothing in common, but when Liz tries to put an end to the date, she's accused of being a racist. Meanwhile, Jack strikes a deal for a reluctant Tracy to present the Source music awards in return for notorious record producer Ridiculous helping to hawk Jack's unpalatable champagne.

Episode 17/21 The Fighting Irish

Jack gives Liz the unenviable task of choosing which ten per cent of her staff to fire, but she's soon experiencing a positive side to the situation. When Jack's estranged brother Eddie (Nathan Lane) arrives to break the news that their father has passed away, Jack decides it's time to reunite all of his siblings. Meanwhile, Tracy's lawyer advises him to start attending church in order to improve his image.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 31 January 2008)

Five has taken to showing 30 Rock in double helpings, but I'm not sure it's enough. I think five or six at a time would be about right, or perhaps an entire series stripped through the small hours of a single night. It's possible that at that level of overdosing the travails of TV producer Liz Lemon would become tiresome, but it'd be worth the risk.

Episode 18/21 Fireworks

Convinced that hotshot NBC executive Devon Banks is after his job, Jack plans to use his adversary's crush on Kenneth to uncover his plans. A paternity test proves Tracy is not a father, but also reveals his intriguing heritage. Liz follows Floyd into a church and finds him pouring his heart out at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Floyd assumes Liz is there for the same reason - and AA rules say members of the same group can't date.

Episode 19/21 Corporate Crush

Liz's new relationship with Floyd leaves Jack feeling neglected and he begins spending time with the couple. After he takes them out to dinner and then joins them at a Knicks game, Liz begins to feel like Floyd is dating Jack rather than her. She needn't worry, though - Jack has a love interest of his own. Tracy, meanwhile, is determined to make a movie about his ancestor Thomas Jefferson.

Episode 20/21 Cleveland

Liz and Jenna make a failed attempt to bond with Jack's new fiancée Phoebe. Later, Liz spots Phoebe having an intimate dinner with another man. Tracy is still seeking backing for his movie, but is convinced The Black Crusaders, a powerful group of media moguls, are out to ruin his career. When Floyd doesn't get his promotion, he decides to move back to Cleveland. Will Liz agree to leave New York and join him?

Episode 21/21 Hiatus

To avoid The Black Crusaders, Tracy goes into hiding at Kenneth's cousin Jesse's place - but Jesse has no intention of letting him leave. Jack's mother invites Jack, Phoebe and Liz out for dinner, but things get awkward when she makes it clear she prefers Liz to Phoebe. The night really takes a turn for the worse when Jack suffers a heart attack, and at the hospital, Jack's mother and Phoebe discover Jack's heart monitor doubles as a lie detector…