100 (30 Rock)

"100" is a double-episode of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, covering 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 the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) network 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.

In the episode, Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) faces news of cancellation for TGS from Hank Hooper after the departure of Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) brought in terrible ratings. Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) promises Hank the return of Tracy and asks for one more chance for TGS to prove itself with its 100th episode. Meanwhile, a gas leak in the building leads to hallucinations among the characters, such as Jack's imaginings of alternate versions of himself visitng him. In another plot, Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) considers becoming a mother after a joke Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) made five years ago.

"100" received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was watched by a total of 4.60 million viewers - with 4.80 million watching the first half-hour and 4.44 million watching the last half hour.

Plot

Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) calls Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) up to his office and informs her that Hank Hooper (Ken Howard), CEO of the fictional NBC parent Kabletown, wants to meet them. It turns out that Hooper was already in the room, sitting in Jack's chair, and he goes on to tell Liz that without Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), he has decided to cancel TGS. Jack tells Hank that Tracy is back and that he should give TGS one more episode, their hundredth, and then reconsider. Hank approves of this decision and leaves. Jack asks Liz if Tracy really is back and Liz confirms this and says that she has prepared to help Tracy ruin his goodwill so that no one will take him seriously anymore. Jack then goes on to say that he is tired of covering for Liz before she leaves.

Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) is reminiscing with Danny Baker (Cheyenne Jackson) about their time on the show for the past five years, completely forgetting former cast member Josh Girard and not realizing that Danny had just come in the previous year (in "Audition Day"). The idea of her becoming a mother comes up, which she initially dismisses. However, when Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) suggests she would make a great mother, she reconsiders, and begins plotting to have a baby to augment her career.

It is Tom the janitor's (Michael Keaton) last day at work when he discovers a gas leak that is seeping into the ventilation system of the sixth floor which causes strange behavior among the personnel. Liz hallucinates seeing the Blue Man (Rachel Dratch) and talks to it about how her life was better off before. Meanwhile, Tom and TGS producer Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) tell Jack that the TGS personnel will be evacuated. The entire floor is evacuated, and the crew is forced to temporarily work on their episode outside, delaying production of the episode.

While repairing the gas leak, Tom inadvertently breaks the ventilation system of the 52nd floor causing Jack to hallucinate that he is visited by several versions of himself, first by an alternate reality version of himself - who fired Liz, and claims that she was holding him back, and made his way to the top of the GE management structure. Jack heads out of the building, where he approaches Liz and severs their relationship. Liz is then approached by her ex-boyfriend Dennis (Dean Winters), whom she had called while under the influence of the gas in an attempt to rekindle their relationship an hour earlier. Liz rejects Dennis, who realizes that she will accept him if she is affected by the gas leak, and undoes the repairs to the ventilation system.

Meanwhile, Tracy is attempting to sabotage the respect he has earned, but his attempts fail, as not only do the hosts of the talk shows he appears on interpret his crude behavior as artistic expression, but he also manages to save a man from drowning, and his attempts to cover up the rescue make him appear selfless and heroic. He discusses the problem with Jenna, and the two realize his only choice to ruin his public image is to commit a murder. Tracy convinces Kenneth to let him shoot Kenneth on the roof of the building.

With the gas spreading in the ventilation, Jack is then visited by a past version of himself (from the 80's), who encourages him to take the advice of their alternate-reality self (who is also present). When they arrive at the elevator Jack meets a third version of himself, from the future, who claims that he needs Liz to distract him from his blind ambition as much as Liz needs him, and he will be much happier in the future if he doesn't fire her. He warns Jack that Liz is about to sign a lease with Dennis, which will lead to them getting married and living in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jack finds Liz on the TGS set and prevents her from signing the lease. Tom reports the sabotaged gas line and Dennis is caught and escorted from the set. Liz then tells Jack that she saw Kenneth and Tracy heading for the roof with a gun. Jenna joins them, and the group runs into Hank Hooper on the way, who pitches Jenna a daytime talk show. When she ditches her plans for motherhood in favor of the offer, her hysterical pregnancy suddenly vanishes. They reach the roof just in time to prevent Tracy from shooting Kenneth. Jack advises Tracy that the best way to lose respect as an actor is to return to television, giving a speech alluding to events from Baldwin's own career. Jack takes the gun from Tracy before they leave. On the way out, they run into Tom, who tells them the elevators are out. As they head down the stairs, a gunshot is heard, and Tom realizes he has been shot, dying before he can finish his last day of work.

Jack, Liz, Tracy, Jenna, and Kenneth make it back to the TGS set, where Liz discovers that the entire show was written under the influence of the gas and is essentially worthless. Liz again breaks the gas line, and with Hooper and the entire studio audience affected by the gas, the show is a hit, and Hooper renews it for "a billion more episodes". Liz and Jack apologize to each other and toast to imaginary champagne. Tom Hanks, at seeing Tracy back on TV while watching the episode at home, calls George Clooney (who does not appear in the episode) on a red phone and tells George to have Tracy removed from the "official A-list".