Ep 11. Mrs. Donaghy

In the 11th episode of the fifth season of 30 Rock, entitled "Mrs. Donaghy," Jack Donaghy's mother, Colleen, comes to visit him in New York. Colleen, played by Elaine Stritch, is a firecracker of a character who immediately clashes with her son's girlfriend, Avery Jessup. She is determined to break them up and get Jack back together with his ex-wife, Bianca.

Meanwhile, Liz Lemon is dealing with her own relationship struggles as she tries to figure out where she stands with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Carol the pilot. She seeks advice from her co-workers, including a hilarious exchange with Tracy Jordan where he compares Liz to a "cable-knit sweater" and suggests that she needs to be more like a "leather jacket."

As Colleen continues to meddle in Jack's personal life, he becomes increasingly frustrated with her interference. He seeks advice from his therapist, Dr. Spaceman, who hilariously suggests that Jack try to kill his mother with kindness. But when Colleen takes things too far, Jack finally has enough and tells her off, leading to a dramatic confrontation between mother and son.

Throughout the episode, there are also several hilarious subplots involving the other characters. Tracy Jordan gets his own talk show, aptly titled "The Tracy Jordan Show," which quickly turns into a bizarre spectacle featuring goats and a literal human hamster wheel. Jenna Maroney tries to prove that she can be taken seriously as an actress by auditioning for a dramatic role, but ends up hilariously overacting and making a fool of herself. And Kenneth the page has a sweet and funny storyline where he tries to find the perfect Christmas gift for Tracy.

As always, the writing in this episode is top-notch, with plenty of sharp jokes and absurd situations that keep the laughs coming. But what really makes "Mrs. Donaghy" stand out is the performances from the cast. Elaine Stritch is a force of nature as Colleen, and Alec Baldwin holds his own in their dramatic scenes together. Meanwhile, Tina Fey and Steve Buscemi (who directed the episode) have great chemistry as Liz and Carol, and Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski continue to be hilarious scene-stealers as Tracy and Jenna.

Overall, "Mrs. Donaghy" is a standout episode in a show that is already full of standout episodes. It's a perfect example of 30 Rock's unique brand of fast-paced, absurdist humor and its ability to balance comedy and heart.