Sandwich Day

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"Sandwich Day"

"Sandwich Day" is the fourteenth episode of the second season of 30 Rock and the thirty-fifth episode overall. It was written by one of the season's executive producers, Robert Carlock, and one of the season's co-executive producers, Jack Burditt. The episode was directed by one of the season's producers, Don Scardino.[1] The episode first aired on May 1, 2008 on the NBC network in the United States.[2] Guest stars in this episode included Bill Cwikowski, Brian Dennehy, Marceline Hugot, Johnnie May, Jason Sudeikis, Miriam Tolan and Rip Torn.[1] The episode earned Tina Fey an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

This episode begins on the annual TGS with Tracy Jordan (a fictional sketch comedy series) Sandwich Day. Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) receives a phone call from her ex-boyfriend, Floyd (Jason Sudeikis), asking for a place to stay; Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) and the TGS writers try to get a new sandwich for Liz; Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) reconsiders his future at General Electric.

Plot

File:Liz, Red Dress (Sandwich Day).png
Liz flirts with Floyd, with the help of Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) and a wind machine.

It is the annual Sandwich Day for the crew of TGS. The Teamsters, lead by Mickey J. (Brian Dennehy), bring in "secret" sandwiches from an unknown delicatessen. When the writers eat Liz's sandwich, Liz threatens that she will "cut [their] faces up so bad [...] [they'll] all have chins". As a result, the writers and Tracy, aided by Jenna, enter a drinking contest against the teamsters in an attempt to get Liz a new sandwich.

Floyd, who broke up with Liz in the episode "Hiatus", calls Liz to ask if he could have a place to stay, as he has come to visit New York on business. Liz tries to win Floyd back, only for him to lie to her about going home to Cleveland, Ohio. Floyd eventually travels home and the pair agree to remain friends.

Meanwhile, after being ousted from his office on the 52nd floor by Devon Banks (Will Arnett), Jack is not taking well to his new job on the 12th floor. He later decides to move the Washington D.C. to be the new "Homeland Security Director for Crisis and Weather Management".

Production

This episode was primarily filmed on April 1, 2008.[3] This episode was the fourth episode written by Jack Burditt and the seventh written by Robert Carlock. The episode was the twelfth episode which was directed by Don Scardino.

Jason Sudeikis, who played Floyd in this episode, has appeared in the main cast of Saturday Night Live,[4] a weekly sketch comedy series which airs on NBC in the United States.[5] Tina Fey was the head writer on Saturday Night Live from 1999 until 2006.[6] Various other cast members of Saturday Night Live have appeared on 30 Rock, including Rachel Dratch,[7] Fred Armisen,[8] Kristen Wiig,[8] Will Forte,[9] Chris Parnell[10] and Molly Shannon Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan have both been part of the main cast of Saturday Night Live.[6][11] Alec Baldwin has also hosted Saturday Night Live thirteen times, the second highest number of episodes of any host of the series.[12] This was actress Johnnie May's second appearance in 30 Rock. She previously appeared in the episode "Tracy Does Conan" as a nurse who takes Liz's blood for donation.[13] In this episode she plays a screener who would not allow Liz past airport security because she had her Sandwich Day sandwich with her, and it weighed "more than 3 ounces."

Reception

"Sandwich Day" brought in an average of 5.4 million viewers. The episode also achieved a 2.6/7 in the key 18–49 year old demographic.[14] The 2.6 refers to 2.6% of all 18–49 years olds in the U.S., and the 7 refers to 7% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast in the U.S.

Robert Canning of IGN wrote that this episode "turned out to be an absolute winner". He concluded that "with its more relatable storylines and moments like the eerie-voiced guy at the hospital, Liz tipping tables for her mac and cheese, and watching an entire sandwich be eaten in real time in the airport security line, 'Sandwich Day' was a definite highlight in the post-writers' strike season."[15] Erin Fox of TV Guide said that "the minor story of the episode was probably the funniest".[16] Jeff Labrecque of Entertainment Weekly thought that this episode "was nothing more than...eh".[17] He called this episode a "weak link".[18]

Several bloggers have noted that the imagery, the locations and certainly the score of this episode brings to mind the film Punch-Drunk Love starring Adam Sandler. This makes sense, given the Saturday Night Live connections to that film. SNL writer Robert Smigel appears in that film, and the film is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who is in a relationship with SNL alum Maya Rudolph.

References

  1. ^ a b "30 Rock "Sandwich Day"". Yahoo. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "30 Rock "Sandwich Day" 05-01-2008 9:31PM" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite press release}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Rivelli, Nicole (2008-04-09). "30 Rock — "Sandwich Day" Episode 214 — Pictured: Scott Adsit as Pete Hornberger". Set Photos. NBC Universal Media Village. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Save Picture as → Right click file → Properties → Summary → Advanced → Date Picture Taken
  4. ^ Matheson, Whitney (2007-04-19). "A chat with ... 30 Rock and SNL star Jason Sudeikis". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Saturday Night Live Saturdays on NBC (11:30 p.m.–1 a.m. ET)". NBC Universal Media Village. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Tina Fey Biography". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (2006-08-14). "Inside Move: Dratch latched to multiple Rock roles". Variety. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b Canning, Robert (2007-11-16). "30 Rock: "Somebody to Love" Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Webb Mitovich, Matt (2007-02-02). "February 1, 2007: "It Feels Good to Laugh"". TV Guide. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Barrett, Annie (2006-12-07). "What SNL alums besides Chris Parnell should guest on 30 Rock?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ Fickett, Travis (2006-10-17). "IGN Interview: 30 Rock's Tracy Morgan". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Alec Baldwin/Christina Aguilera". Saturday Night Live. Season 32. Episode 5. 2006-11-11. NBC Universal. NBC. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |episodelink= and |seriesno= (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "30 Rock — "Tracy Does Conan" — Synopsis, Credits, Companies". Variety. Retrieved 2008-07-26. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "NBC Results For The Week Of April 28–May 4" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2008-07-31. From 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, 30 Rock (2.6/7 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) {{cite press release}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Canning, Robert (2008-05-02). "30 Rock: "Sandwich Day" Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Fox, Erin (2008-05-02). "Episode Recap: "Sandwich Day"". TV Guide. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Labrecque, Jeff (2008-05-02). "30 Rock: Wakeup Calls (Page 1)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Labrecque, Jeff (2008-05-02). "30 Rock: Wakeup Calls (Page 2)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-07-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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