Ep 14. Double-Edged Sword

In 30 Rock season 5 episode 14, titled "Double-Edged Sword," Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is tasked with finding a new cast member for TGS, the fictitious sketch comedy show. Meanwhile, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) is given a new responsibility at the network that puts him in a difficult position.

Liz begins the episode auditioning potential new cast members for TGS, including a mime, a ventriloquist, and a stand-up comedian who only tells jokes about tax law. Meanwhile, Jack is promoted to the position of Chairman of Kabletown, the parent company of NBC. Jack quickly realizes that the job comes with a lot of difficult decisions, including one that could potentially jeopardize his relationship with Avery Jessup (Elizabeth Banks), his pregnant girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) is struggling with the fact that her career seems to be stalling, and she seeks advice from Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), who tells her that she needs to take more risks in order to be successful. Jenna takes this advice to heart and decides to take on a challenging role in a new independent movie, even though it goes against her usual typecasting.

As the episode progresses, Liz becomes increasingly frustrated with the audition process, as none of the candidates seem to be a good fit for TGS. She decides to take a break and visit Jack in his office, where she learns more about his new position. Jack confides in Liz that he is struggling to make the right decisions in his new role, and she advises him to trust his instincts and do what he thinks is best.

Meanwhile, Tracy is dealing with his own issues, as he is struggling to come up with a new catchphrase to replace his old one, "I'm a star, I'm on top." He enlists Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) to help him brainstorm ideas, but nothing seems to work. Eventually, Tracy realizes that he doesn't need a catchphrase at all, and he just needs to be himself in order to be successful.

In the end, Liz finally finds the perfect candidate for TGS, and Jack makes a difficult decision that ultimately proves to be the right one. Jenna also discovers that taking risks can pay off, as she receives critical acclaim for her role in the independent movie. The episode ends with Liz and Jack talking about their respective successes, and how sometimes taking risks can lead to the greatest rewards.

Overall, 30 Rock season 5 episode 14 is a humorous and insightful look at the challenges of making difficult decisions and taking risks in both personal and professional life. The characters are all well-developed and entertaining, and the writing is sharp and witty. Fans of the show will not be disappointed by this episode.