Ep 15. Hard Ball

Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and the TGS team are in a bind when Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) announces that they will be doing a live episode of their show. Not only that, but their guests for the episode - Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) - are both unpredictable and prone to going off-script.

To make matters worse, Liz is tasked with coaching the writers for a charity softball game against their rivals at 30 Rock - and she's not particularly good at sports. Meanwhile, Jack tries to score points with his overbearing mentor, Don Geiss (Rip Torn), by showing off his idea for a new product: a black GE microwave oven.

As the live episode looms, tensions rise between the TGS crew. Liz struggles to juggle her coaching duties with writing the show, while Tracy and Jenna are distracted by their own personal issues. When a shocking incident occurs on the softball field, Liz is forced to step up and take charge.

Despite all the chaos and mishaps leading up to the live episode, TGS manages to pull it off - but not without a few unexpected surprises along the way. Liz, Tracy, and Jenna all learn valuable lessons about working together and sticking to the script, as Jack receives some surprising news about his career.

With its trademark blend of sharp wit and zany humor, "Hard Ball" is a standout episode of "30 Rock" that showcases the talents of its talented ensemble cast and delivers plenty of laughs and surprises along the way. Whether you're a fan of the show or new to its irreverent brand of comedy, this episode is sure to leave you entertained and wanting more.