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'30 Rock': The 10 best episodes

The NBC series '30 Rock,' created by Tina Fey, airs its final installment tonight. Check out our picks for the 10 best of its episodes.

3. 'Queen of Jordan,' season 5, episode 17

Sherri Shepherd plays Angie Jordan on 30 Rock. Photo courtesy Lifetime Television

  • By Ben Frederick Contributor

This whole episode pokes fun at reality TV shows both overtly and covertly. It's filmed in the style of a fake reality TV show, "Queen of Jordan," which stars Tracy Jordan's wife Angie and others. As Angie's team wedges themselves into Liz Lemon's life, Liz tries frantically to get Tracy back from Africa, where he went to get in touch with his roots. Meanwhile, hardcore conservative businessman Jack can't catch a break as the cameras capture him tripping on a camera cord on the floor and making comments which, when taken out of context insinuate that he is a closeted homosexual. Any attempt to set the record straight results in him falling further and further into the caricature that the show has created.

This episode has excellent editing, making it feel like a reality show. It also has a solid emotional core as Liz's repeated attempts to get Angie to help her retrieve Tracy unearth an unexpected twist.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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