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{{Infobox television episode | series = 30 Rock | caption = | season = 4 | episode = 2 | airdate = {{Start date|2009|10|22}} | production = 402 | writer = Robert Carlock | director = Beth McCarthy-Miller | photographer = | guests = *Will Arnett as Devon Banks *Caitlin Fowler as Porn Jenna Maroney *Shawn Gianella as Porn Jack Donaghy *Jon Glaser as Mike *Savanna Samson as Porn Liz Lemon | season_article = 30 Rock season 4 | episode_list = List of 30 Rock episodes | prev = Season 4 | next = Stone Mountain }} "'''Into the Crevasse'''" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy series ''30 Rock'', and the 60th overall episode of the series. The episode was written by co-showrunner and executive producer Robert Carlock and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 22, 2009. Guest stars in "Into the Crevasse" include Will Arnett, Caitlin Fowler, Shawn Gianella, Jon Glaser, and Savanna Samson.
The episode largely revolves around repercussions from a sketch "Dealbreakers" that Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) had written for the fictional sketch comedy show ''The Girlie Show with Tracy Jordan'' (''TGS''). Meanwhile, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) travels to Washington D.C. for a hearing on microwaves and Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) volunteers at an animal shelter.
"Into the Crevasse" received generally positive reception from television critics. According to the Nielsen ratings system, it was watched by 6.684 million households during its original broadcast, and received a 3.2 rating/8 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic. For his performance in this episode, Will Arnett received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in the category for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
==Plot==
===Background=== Liz had written a comedy sketch titled "Dealbreakers" in the episode "Mamma Mia." In "Dealbreakers" Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) doled out comic catchphrases as relationship advice to other women such as "If he wears an Atlanta Falcons jersey to your sister's wedding? That's a Deal Breaker, ladies!"<ref name="mammamia">{{cite episode |title=Mamma Mia |series=30 Rock |series-link=30 Rock |credits=Writer(s): Ron Weiner; Director: Don Scardino |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=May 7, 2009 |season=3 |number=21}}</ref> Liz tried to gain attention for writing the sketch, including being in a photoshoot for ''Time Out'' magazine with Jenna and ultimately on the cover alone<ref name="mammamia"/> and a talk show appearance in the episode "Kidney Now!" where she dispensed more "Dealbreaker"-style romantic advice. Liz continued to give similar advice to women she knew, such as the wives of Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit), but both men grow angry with her for their spouses' subsequent anger with them both. At the end of "Kidney Now!" Liz tells Jack she has signed a book deal on the sketch.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lady Lola |url=https://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/kidney-now/episode/207230/recap |title=30 Rock — Kidney Now! |access-date=July 30, 2010 |publisher=Yahoo! TV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227174908/http://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/kidney-now/episode/207230/recap |archive-date=February 27, 2011 }}</ref>
==="Into the Crevasse"=== This episode opens with Liz seeing her books and a cardboard cutout of herself in a bookstore window. She shows Mike (Jon Glaser), a nametag-wearing employee that she is the author but he grows angry with her, showing a quote from her book "If your man is over thirty and still wears a nametag to work, that's a dealbreaker," and he tears apart her cutout. Several other men in Liz's life including Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander), J.D. Lutz (John Lutz), Pete, Tracy, and the janitor yell at her for providing advice which they believed damaged their relationships. Tracy's wife Angie (Sherri Shepherd) kicked him out of their home and he moves in with Liz as punishment for damaging his marriage. Once there he reads Liz's ''Dealbreakers'' book in detail and discovers that much of the book was written directly about him (calling his various oddities "deal breakers"). Also Jenna, angry with Liz over the search for a new cast member which started in the previous episode, travels to Iceland to film a low-budget werewolf movie.
Meanwhile, Jack, who serves as Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming for General Electric (GE), travels to Washington, D.C., to participate in a task force on microwaves as the industry is struggling, but he says he refuses to take any bailout money. He believes the meeting will be quite simple and quick, but once there he is confronted by Devon Banks (Will Arnett) who has begun working with the federal government. Devon reveals that he has spent the last year since being fired from GE in "Do-Over" working to get back at Jack by making connections in the Barack Obama administration through a friendship with the president's daughters, Sasha and Malia. Devon leaks Jack's controversial testimony from the hearing, believing that public pressure will force Jack to resign in three days. Jack spends that time asking the ''TGS with Tracy Jordan'' staff writers—Frank, Lutz, and James "Toofer" Spurlock (Keith Powell)—to come up with an idea "as good as the light bulb" to improve the microwave. Basing their ideas off the American auto industry, they try to incorporate suggestions such as making the microwave bigger or making them break down more often so they require replacement, but Jack eventually abandons the project as a failure when the result is simply a car.
Kenneth takes some time off from his page duties to volunteer at an animal shelter. He claims his time on a pig farm will allow him to not emotionally connect with the dogs being held there, but he quickly names all of the dogs and adopts the many dogs scheduled to be euthanized that day. Kenneth asks for someone at ''TGS'' to adopt the dogs and Tracy quickly brings them all to Liz's apartment to continue annoying her. Liz and Tracy go to Jack to finally resolve their conflict. Jack decides that, because Liz ruined Tracy's life with her book, Tracy should be given the right to ruin her life, and he orders Liz to sign over her life rights to Tracy. Jack tells Liz a story about an accident he had ice climbing, falling into a crevasse. He broke his leg and was unable to climb upwards to escape, but by going deeper down into the crevasse he found a path out. Jack draws a parallel to his situation with Devon and realizes a solution - he accepts government bailout money (which he had previously refused), effectively making Devon Jack's boss. Liz also applies this story to her situation with Tracy and stops resisting him, instead suggesting that Tracy make a pornographic film based on her life. Tracy agrees and moves out of Liz's apartment. In addition, Jenna and Liz resolve their issues when they see two adult stars acting out a scene of Jenna (Caitlin Fowler) and Liz (Savanna Samson) apologizing to one another. Tracy shuts down production when filming gets too distasteful for him.
==Production== thumb|upright|Savanna Samson guest starred as the porn version of Liz Lemon in this episode.
"Into the Crevasse" was written by co-showrunner and executive producer Robert Carlock and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller,<ref name="cac">{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/into-the-crevasse/episode/220512/castcrew;_ylt=AhEM8H7TzMiYBp044wkdr5uxo9EF|title=30 Rock — Into The Crevasse — Cast and Crew|access-date=July 29, 2010|publisher=Yahoo! TV}}</ref> a long-time television director who worked with ''30 Rock'' creator Tina Fey on the sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Josef|last=Adalian|url=https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/snl-slimming-down-1117950383/|title='SNL' slimming down|access-date=October 24, 2010|date=September 19, 2006|work=Variety}}</ref> "Into the Crevasse" originally aired in the United States on October 22, 2009, on NBC as the second episode of the show's fourth season and the 60th overall episode of the series.<ref name="cac" />
Comedic actor Will Arnett made his fifth appearance as Devon Banks on ''30 Rock'', after appearing on "Fireworks", "Jack Gets in the Game", "Succession", and "Do-Over". Jon Glaser, a comedy actor, guest starred as Mike, a nametag-wearing employee who grows angry with Liz Lemon after showing her a quote from her book.<ref name="blake" /> Caitlin Fowler and Shawn Gianella appeared in "Into the Crevasse" as porn versions of Jenna Maroney and Jack Donaghy, respectively, while adult film actress Savanna Samson played the porn version of Liz, as part of Tracy Jordan owning Liz's life rights.<ref name="itc" /> At the end of the episode, Gianella and Samson recreate an earlier scene in which Jack gives Liz her retainer, though, upon receiving the retainer, Samson asks Gianella "How will I ever thank you?" prompting Tracy to stop production.<ref name="itc" /> This whole scene is a reference to a pornographic parody of 30 Rock released earlier the same year. Despite rumors to the contrary, the actors playing 'porn versions' of 30 Rock characters were not the same performers featured on the original parody.
Carlock was asked in a 2009 interview if the ''TGS'' writers were going to be seen more in the upcoming season, to which he replied, "One of the great things about this show and the blessing and the curse is that we have so many characters and so many different interactions between characters that work so well. [...] And so, yeah, absolutely because we love those guys".<ref>{{cite news|first=Curt |last=Wagner |url=http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/show-patrol/2009/10/jack-mcbrayer-kenny-the-page-30-rock.html |title=Jack McBrayer or Kenny the Page? 'Same thing,' says '30 Rock' star |access-date=July 29, 2010 |date=October 9, 2009 |work=Chicago Now |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524113156/http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/show-patrol/2009/10/jack-mcbrayer-kenny-the-page-30-rock.html |archive-date=May 24, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In "Into the Crevasse", Frank, Toofer, and Lutz help Jack come up with ideas on how to improve microwaves.<ref name="itc" />
Part of this episode featured Jenna shooting a movie in Iceland as a retaliation to Liz, whom Jenna believes is behind the idea of adding a new cast member on ''TGS'', a show Jenna stars in and Liz is the head writer for, though it was Jack's idea to cast a new actor.<ref name="itc" /> In "Season 4", the season premiere episode, Jack explains that the show's staff have become too elitist and need to change to survive in tough economic times, and informs Liz to begin searching for a new cast member to help lessen this elitist image.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/season-4/episode/219845/recap |title=30 Rock — Season 4 |access-date=July 30, 2010 |publisher=Yahoo! TV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615103626/http://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/season-4/episode/219845/recap |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }}</ref> Jenna is not happy with this decision as she believes that her position on the show will be lessened with the arrival of a new actor. The search for a new cast member would continue throughout the season.
==Cultural references== [[File:Pontiac Aztek IMG 20180408 125514.jpg|thumb|right|In redesigning a microwave Jack, Frank, and Toofer accidentally create a car that resembles the Pontiac Aztek.]] The episode makes several references to the 2008–2010 automotive industry crisis and the 2008 financial crisis. When Liz asks why Jack is taking a bus to Washington he replies "ever since these buffoons from Detroit took private planes the rest of us have to put on a show," a reference to controversial travel methods by several CEOs en route to a November 19 congressional hearing.<ref name="abcjets">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStreet/story?id=6285739&page=1&page=1 |title=Big Three CEOs flew private jets to plead for public funds |access-date=October 29, 2009 |last=Ross |first=Brian |author2=Rhee, Joseph |date=November 2008 |publisher=American Broadcasting Company}}</ref> The dilemma over bailout money also bears resemblance to federal bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler. In describing how he plans to destroy Jack's image, Devon says "by the time I'm done you're going to make AIG look like the Lehman Brothers of microwaves," a reference to two notable corporations affected by the 2008 financial crisis. Devon also says that in his search for an organization more powerful than GE he selected the American government because, "''American Idol''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s not on until January."
In their attempt to design a new microwave Jack, Frank, and Toofer change features on the microwave such as adding four doors and putting wheels on it until Jack stops the project saying they had "invented the Pontiac Aztek."<ref name="crevign">{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/103/1038256p1.html |title=Into the Crevasse Review |access-date=October 29, 2009 |last=Canning |first=Robert |date=October 22, 2009 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> While living in Liz's apartment Tracy orders several adult films on pay-per-view including ''The Curious Case of Benjamin Butt'' and ''I'm-A-Do-Us'', puns on the films ''The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'' (2008) and ''Amadeus'' (1984).<ref name="itc">{{cite web|author=Lady Lola|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/into-the-crevasse/episode/220512/recap|title=30 Rock — Into The Crevasse|access-date=July 29, 2010|publisher=Yahoo! TV|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064957/http://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/into-the-crevasse/episode/220512/recap|archive-date=June 15, 2011}}</ref> The story Jack tells Liz about the time he fell down into a crevasse and had to climb down into the darkness is inspired by the 1988 book ''Touching the Void''.<ref name="sepinwall" /> In a discussion with Jenna about werewolves, Liz mentions "Thriller", a music video by recording artist Michael Jackson.<ref name="blake">{{cite news|first=Meredith|last=Blake|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/10/30-rock-the-odd-couple.html|title='30 Rock': The Odd Couple|access-date=July 29, 2010|date=October 23, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
==Reception== [[File:Will Arnett by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|right|Will Arnett received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in this episode.]]
According to the Nielsen ratings system, "Into the Crevasse" was watched by 6.684 million households in its original American broadcast. It was a slight increase from the season premiere episode, "Season 4",<ref>{{cite news|last=Gorman |first=Bill |title=TV Ratings Thursday: ''Community'', ''FlashForward'', ''Leno'' Down; ''Survivor'', ''Grey's'' Up |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=October 23, 2010 |access-date=July 29, 2010 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/23/tv-ratings-thursday-abc-wins-community-flashforward-leno-down-survivor-greys-up/31278 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010064453/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/10/23/tv-ratings-thursday-abc-wins-community-flashforward-leno-down-survivor-greys-up/31278/ |archive-date=October 10, 2012 }}</ref> which was seen by 6.312 million American viewers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gorman |first=Bill |title=TV Ratings Thursday: ''30 Rock'' Premieres Down Sharply, ''Vampire Diaries'' Hits Highs |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=July 29, 2010 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/16/tv-ratings-thursday-30-rock-premieres-down-sharply-vampire-diaries-hits-highs/30547 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007104732/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/10/16/tv-ratings-thursday-30-rock-premieres-down-sharply-vampire-diaries-hits-highs/30547/ |archive-date=October 7, 2012 }}</ref> The show claimed a 3.2 rating/8 share in the 18–49 demographic,<ref name="402ratings">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/tv/news/abc-tops-ratings-with-grey-s-private-1118010320/|title=ABC tops ratings with 'Grey's,' 'Private'|work=Variety|last=Levine|first=Stuart|date=October 23, 2009|access-date=October 28, 2009}}</ref> meaning that it was seen by 3.2 percent of all 18- to 49-year-olds, and 8 percent of all 18- to 49-year-olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. Will Arnett received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards for his performance in this episode,<ref>{{cite news|first=Rick|last=Porter|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/07/emmy-nominations-the-complete-list.html|title=Emmy nominations: The complete list|access-date=July 29, 2010|date=July 8, 2010|publisher=Zap2it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710053332/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/07/emmy-nominations-the-complete-list.html|archive-date=July 10, 2010}}</ref> but lost it to actor Neil Patrick Harris for his guest appearance on ''Glee''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2010/08/betty_white_neil_patrick_harri.html|title=Betty White, Neil Patrick Harris snag an Emmy|access-date=August 23, 2010|date=August 23, 2010|work=The Star-Ledger}}</ref>
Robert Canning of IGN reviewed the episode, simply saying he "loved this episode," giving it a perfect 10 out of 10 score. Canning enjoyed Jack and Devon's back-and-forth, and wrote that Jenna and Tracy "tormenting" Liz in their separate ways were "equally gratifying."<ref name="crevign"/> Meredith Blake, a contributor from the ''Los Angeles Times'' opined, "To all those haters who say ''30 Rock'' is losing its touch, I say 'poppycock!' ['Into the Crevasse'] was proof that the show is as zippy as ever." She noted that Jack's plot "didn't make a whole lot of sense", nonetheless "anything that means more Will Arnett on ''30 Rock'' is fine by me."<ref name="blake" /> Bob Sassone of AOL's TV Squad reported it was great to see Jack and NBC "still being affected by the economy, government bailouts, and Washington hearings". Sassone much preferred "Into the Crevasse" than "Season 4".<ref>{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Sassone|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/23/review-30-rock-into-the-crevasse/|title=Review: 30 Rock — Into The Crevasse|access-date=July 29, 2010|date=October 23, 2009|publisher=TV Squad}}</ref> ''New York'' magazine contributor Mark Graham said this episode of ''30 Rock'' saw the series "once again hitting a familiar, meta-flavored stride, as Tina Fey and her writing staff tried a 'ripped from the headlines' approach and took on recent real-life story lines like the ''30 Rock'' porno".<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Graham|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/10/30_rock_takes_a_shot_at_ben_si.html|title=''30 Rock'' Takes a Gentle Poke at Ben Silverman's Post-NBC Plans|access-date=July 29, 2010|date=October 23, 2009|work=New York}}</ref> "The return of Will Arnett, the existence of a Porn Liz, and one deal breaker after another: 'Into the Crevasse' had some killer lines, even if it didn't come together in one big narrative", remarked Margaret Lyons of ''Entertainment Weekly''.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Margaret|last=Lyons|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/10/23/30-rock-recap/|title='30 Rock' best lines: Climb into the darkness|access-date=July 30, 2010|date=October 23, 2009|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> In his recap, ''TV Guide''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Michael Anthony said that the Jack and Devon characters "really [knew] how to put a playful spin" on the bail out and government money story.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Anthony |url=https://www.tvguide.com/episode-recaps/30-rock/30-rock-episode-1011197.aspx |title=''30 Rock'' Episode Recap: "Into the Crevasse" |access-date=July 29, 2010 |date=October 23, 2009 |work=TV Guide |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213032226/http://www.tvguide.com/Episode-Recaps/30-rock/30-Rock-Episode-1011197.aspx |archive-date=February 13, 2010 }}</ref>
Kevin Aeh of ''Time Out Chicago'' said the episode "had some great lines" but overall it "was a little all over the place and, as a whole, not super hilarious."<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin |last=Aeh |title=30 Rock recap: Season 4, "Into the Crevasse" |url=http://www3.timeoutny.com/chicago/blog/out-and-about/2009/10/30-rock-recap-season-4-%E2%80%9Cinto-the-crevasse%E2%80%9D/ |work=Time Out Chicago |date=October 23, 2009 |access-date=October 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091026150021/http://www3.timeoutny.com/chicago/blog/out-and-about/2009/10/30-rock-recap-season-4-%E2%80%9Cinto-the-crevasse%E2%80%9D/ |archive-date=October 26, 2009 }}</ref> Sean Gandert of ''Paste'' magazine also reviewed "Into the Crevasse," saying it "makes for an adequate, though not spectacular, episode" and that he was disappointed because he felt ''30 Rock'' was beginning to "coast" as a series.<ref name="paste">{{cite news |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/10/30-rock-review-into-the-crevasse.html |title=30 Rock review. "Into the Crevasse" |access-date=October 29, 2009 |last=Gandert |first=Sean |date=October 28, 2009 |work=Paste}}</ref> Television columnist Alan Sepinwall from ''The Star-Ledger'' was not impressed with Jenna's trip to Iceland, commenting that the show needs to find something new to do with the character or have her quit ''TGS''. Sepinwall wrote that the writing staff have done "better iterations" of Tracy being mad at Liz story angles.<ref name="sepinwall">{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Sepinwall|url=https://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2009/10/30-rock-into-crevasse-werewolf-bat.html|title=30 Rock, "Into the Crevasse": Werewolf bat mitzvah?|access-date=July 29, 2010|date=October 22, 2009|work=The Star-Ledger}}</ref> ''The A.V. Club''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Nathan Rabin disliked "Into the Crevasse", noting that it fell short for its "tired storylines, an over-reliance on familiar faces to prop up weak gags and characters that are rapidly devolving into glib caricatures of themselves."<ref>{{cite news|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|url=https://www.avclub.com/30-rock-into-the-crevasse-1798207370|title=Into The Crevasse|access-date=July 29, 2010|date=October 22, 2009|work=The A.V. Club}}</ref>
==References== ;General *{{cite episode |title=Into the Crevasse |series=30 Rock |series-link=30 Rock |credits=Writer(s): Robert Carlock; Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller |network=NBC Universal |station=NBC |airdate=October 22, 2009 |season=4 |number=2}} ;Specific {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{wikiquote|30_Rock#Into the Crevasse_.5B4.02.5D|Into the Crevasse}} * {{IMDb episode|1505446|Into the Crevasse}}
{{30 Rock episodes}}
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Category:30 Rock season 4 episodes Category:2009 American television episodes Category:Television episodes directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller