Ep 8. Secret Santa

It's Christmas time at 30 Rock and the TGS crew is gearing up for a Secret Santa gift exchange. Liz is excited to participate, but as usual, things don't go quite as planned. When she draws the name of Jack, she realizes she doesn't know anything about him and has no clue what to get him for a gift. Meanwhile, Jack is struggling with his own Christmas conundrum - he's been assigned by CEO Don Geiss to come up with a plan to sell GE products to the Christian market. While his colleague Devon (guest star Will Arnett) is throwing himself into the task with religious fervor, Jack is struggling to come up with a pitch that won't offend anyone.

In an effort to get to know Jack better and come up with the perfect gift for him, Liz enlists the help of his mother, Colleen (guest star Elaine Stritch). The two women have a contentious relationship, but Liz is determined to win her over and get some insight into Jack's interests and preferences. Meanwhile, Jenna is horrified when she draws Frank's name for Secret Santa and realizes she has to get him a meaningful gift without spending any money. She enlists the help of Tracy, who is more than happy to help her out - for a price.

As Liz tries to win over Colleen, Jack is struggling to come up with a pitch that will appeal to the Christian market. He enlists the help of Devon, who has a seemingly endless supply of terrible ideas - from a line of GE-branded crucifixes to a sitcom about the life of Jesus. Jack is frustrated by Devon's lack of sensitivity, but it's clear that he needs to come up with something soon if he wants to impress Don Geiss.

Meanwhile, Tracy is determined to help Jenna find the perfect gift for Frank. He comes up with a number of outrageous ideas, from a custom-made action figure to a song and dance number, but Jenna realizes that all she really needs to do is show Frank that she knows and appreciates him. With Tracy's help, she comes up with a heartfelt poem that touches Frank - and surprises even Jenna herself.

In the end, Liz is able to win over Colleen and come up with the perfect gift for Jack - a pair of cufflinks that belonged to his father. Jack is touched by the gesture and realizes that Liz is more perceptive and thoughtful than he ever gave her credit for. Meanwhile, Jack finally comes up with a pitch that satisfies Don Geiss - a GE-branded nativity scene that celebrates the true spirit of Christmas. It's a success, but Jack can't help feeling a little bit relieved that the whole thing is over.

As the TGS crew gathers for their Secret Santa gift exchange, they're all surprised and delighted by the thoughtful gifts they receive. Kenneth gets a jar of pig knuckles from Tracy, who is horrified when he realizes that he's inadvertently given away something valuable. Frank is touched by Jenna's poem, and Liz is overwhelmed by the generosity of her coworkers. It's a heartwarming ending to a chaotic Christmas season, and for once, everything seems to be going well at 30 Rock.