Ep 5. Greenzo

In 30 Rock's season 2 episode 5 titled "Greenzo," the focus is on the environment and how it affects big businesses.

The episode starts with Liz Lemon, head writer for the fictional sketch comedy show "TGS with Tracy Jordan," getting quizzed by her boss Jack Donaghy about her environmental habits. This leads Jack to create a new character called Greenzo, a green-tinted mascot for NBC's new environmental initiative.

The actor hired to portray Greenzo is none other than David Schwimmer, who plays himself in this episode. He is excited about the role, but as filming begins, he becomes more and more committed to the causes of environmentalism.

Meanwhile, Tracy Jordan's latest film is bombing at the box office, and he is on the verge of a meltdown. As he becomes more erratic, Liz tries to calm him down, while dealing with the stress of the new environmental initiative at work.

Throughout the episode, Greenzo becomes more extreme in his beliefs, spouting off eco-friendly slogans and preaching the virtues of composting and recycling. His actions cause chaos on the set of "TGS," and even Jack is forced to reprimand him.

As the episode progresses, we see that the lines between satire and reality are blurred. The entire cast and crew of "TGS" become more and more invested in the environmental movement and start to believe in Greenzo's message.

Things come to a head when Greenzo ends up on "The Today Show" and proceeds to go off on a rant about the state of the planet, completely overshadowing a segment about puppies up for adoption. Jack is furious and jumps into action to save the reputation of NBC.

In the end, Jack realizes the hypocrisy of the environmental movement and the way it has been co-opted by big business. He confronts Greenzo and tells him that he is nothing more than a marketing gimmick, causing Greenzo to have a breakdown.

As the episode comes to a close, we see the fallout of Greenzo's actions and the effect it has had on the characters of "TGS." Liz and Tracy come to a new understanding about each other, and the show's crew learns an important lesson about taking things too far.

"Greenzo" is a quintessential episode of "30 Rock," packed with sharp writing, zany characters, and a message that resonates even a decade after its original airing. It's a great watch for anyone who loves a good blend of comedy and social commentary, and it encapsulates the best of what made this show so beloved.