Pilot (30 Rock episode)

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“Pilot”
30 Rock episode
Liz dressed up for lunch with Tracy.
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 1
Guest stars	Rachel Dratch (Greta Johansen) Keith Powell (Toofer) Lonny Ross (Josh) Maulik Pancholy (Jonathan) Katrina Bowden (Cerie) Tom Broecker (Lee) Teddy Coluca (Stage Manager) Gary Cowling (Tourist) Kevin Dorff (Guy Buying Hot Dogs) Anita Durst (Businesswoman) Emana Rochelle (Stripper) Tabbie Conrad (Chicken and Waffles employee) Ciaran Tyrell (Waiter) Alison White (Tourist)
Written by	Tina Fey
Directed by	Adam Bernstein
Production no.	101
Original airdate	October 11, 2006
Episode chronology
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Episode chronology

"Pilot" is the television pilot episode of the situation comedy series 30 Rock, which aired on October 11, 2006.

[edit] Synopsis

We are introduced to Liz Lemon, a head writer on a demanding, live TV program called the The Girlie Show, which is produced at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios in New York City.

As she deals with her staff over how to improve the show and the office morale, she finds herself dealing with a new boss named Jack Donaghy, who was promoted to VP of East Coast Television and Microwave Programming. Jack was promoted to the job by NBC Universal based solely on being the genius behind the creation of parent company GE's Trivection oven. He tells Liz that despite good ratings, he feels that there is room for improvement at The Girlie Show by insisting that a wild and unpredictable movie star join the cast.

At first, Liz balks at the idea of meeting the wild and unpredictable person, Tracy Jordan, but agrees to it anyway. However Liz's first meeting with Tracy at a fancy restaurant turns into a series of wacky adventures throughout the Big Apple, including a stop at a strip club.

Meanwhile, the star of The Girlie Show, Jenna Maroney, learns that one of her sketches involves cats, a sketch that Liz nixed but wound up in the show anyway. When Liz learns of this over the phone from producer Pete (who was fired), she returns with Tracy to the show, where she convinces Tracy to go on stage during the routine after Jenna is scratched by a feline that Jack picked prior to going on the air. The ruse pays off. Liz agrees to take Tracy on as a cast member and makes a few demands to Jack (including rehiring Pete), who agrees to it.

[edit] Trivia

This episode does not feature the opening title sequence used in later episodes.
GE's Trivection oven, which Jack claimed to have created, is a real-life product. It had a pair of promos during the program: As a product placement in a scene in which Jack showed Liz how he got his job, and during the commercial break.
Jenna mentioned that she guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a "lady rapist." Jane Krakowski has guest starred in the drama's 5th season episode "Bound", however she played a nurse with abandonment issues who murdered elderly women under her care.
The highway Tracy Jordan runs down in his underwear was I-405 in Los Angeles.
Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, and Rachel Dratch are the first three SNL stars to appear on the show.