Sandwich Day

{{Infobox television episode | series = 30 Rock | caption = | season = 2 | episode = 14 | airdate = {{Start date|2008|05|01}} | production = 214 | writer = * Robert Carlock * Jack Burditt | director = Don Scardino | music = | photographer = Vanja Černjul | guests = * Brian Dennehy as Mickey J * Jason Sudeikis as Floyd DeBarber * Rip Torn as Don Geiss * John Lutz as J.D. Lutz * Maulik Pancholy as Jonathan | season_article = 30 Rock season 2 | episode_list = List of 30 Rock episodes | prev = Succession | next = Cooter }} "'''Sandwich Day'''" is the fourteenth episode of the second season of ''30 Rock'' and the thirty-fifth episode overall. It was written by one of the season's executive producers, Robert Carlock, and one of the season's co-executive producers, Jack Burditt. The episode was directed by one of the season's producers, Don Scardino.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite web |url=https://tv.yahoo.com/episode/168882/castcrew;_ylt=AjcJZlYp.JWNn6G4Mg6vkQqvo9EF |title=''30 Rock'' "Sandwich Day" |access-date=2008-07-31 |publisher=Yahoo}}</ref> The episode first aired on May 1, 2008 on the NBC network in the United States.<ref name="214release">{{cite press release|title=''30 Rock'' "Sandwich Day" 05-01-2008 9:31PM |publisher=NBC Universal Media Village |url=http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/nbc-20080501213100.html |access-date=2008-07-31 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Guest stars in this episode included Brian Dennehy, Marceline Hugot, Jason Sudeikis, and Rip Torn.<ref name="yahoo" /> The episode earned Tina Fey the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Unusually this episode begins on the 30 Rock title sequence - there is no cold open as is normally the case.

This episode begins on the annual ''TGS with Tracy Jordan'' (a fictional sketch comedy series) Sandwich Day. Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) receives a phone call from her ex-boyfriend, Floyd (Jason Sudeikis), asking for a place to stay; Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) and the ''TGS'' writers try to get a new sandwich for Liz; Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) reconsiders his future at General Electric.

==Plot== It is the annual Sandwich Day for the crew of ''TGS''. The Teamsters, led by Mickey J. (Brian Dennehy), bring in "secret" sandwiches from an unknown Italian delicatessen in Brooklyn. When the writers eat Liz's sandwich, Liz threatens that she will "cut [their] faces up so bad [...] [they'll] all have chins." As a result, the writers and Tracy, aided by Jenna, enter a drinking contest against the Teamsters in an attempt to get Liz a new sandwich.

Floyd, who broke up with Liz in the episode "Hiatus", calls Liz to ask if he can have a place to stay, as he has come to visit New York City on business. Liz tries to win Floyd back, only for him to lie to her about going home to Cleveland, Ohio. Floyd eventually travels home, and the pair agree to remain friends.

Meanwhile, after being ousted from his office on the 52nd floor by Devon Banks (Will Arnett), Jack is not taking well to his new job on the 12th floor. He later decides to move to Washington, D.C., to be the new "Homeland Security Director for Crisis and Weather Management."

==Production== This episode was primarily filmed on April 1, 2008.<ref name="filmingphotos">{{cite web |url=http://images.nbcmv.com/photos/thumb/30rock/NUP_130277_0053.JPG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203163617/http://images.nbcmv.com/photos/thumb/30rock/NUP_130277_0053.JPG |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |title=''30 Rock'' — "Sandwich Day" Episode 214 — Pictured: Scott Adsit as Pete Hornberger |access-date=2008-07-31 |last=Rivelli |first=Nicole |date=2008-04-09 |work=Set Photos |publisher=NBC Universal Media Village }} Save Picture as → Right click file → Properties → Summary → Advanced → Date Picture Taken</ref> This episode was the fourth episode written by Burditt and the seventh written by Carlock. The episode was the twelfth episode which was directed by Don Scardino.

==Reception== "Sandwich Day" brought in an average of 5.4 million viewers. The episode also achieved a 2.6/7 in the key 18- to 49-year-old demographic.<ref name="ratings_1">{{cite press release|title=NBC Results For The Week Of April 28–May 4 |publisher=NBC Universal Media Village |date=2008-05-06 |url=http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20080506000000-nbcresultsforthe.html |access-date=2008-07-31 |quote=From 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, ''30 Rock'' (2.6/7 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The 2.6 refers to 2.6% of all 18- to 49-year-olds in the U.S., and the 7 refers to 7% of all 18- to 49-year-olds watching television at the time of the broadcast in the U.S.

Robert Canning of IGN wrote that this episode "turned out to be an absolute winner". He concluded that "with its more relatable storylines and moments like the eerie-voiced guy at the hospital, Liz tipping tables for her mac and cheese, and watching an entire sandwich be eaten in real time in the airport security line, 'Sandwich Day' was a definite highlight in the post-writers' strike season."<ref name="ign">{{cite web |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/871/871177p1.html |title=''30 Rock'': "Sandwich Day" Review |access-date=2008-07-31 |last=Canning |first=Robert |date=2008-05-02 |website=IGN}}</ref> Erin Fox of ''TV Guide'' said that "the minor story of the episode was probably the funniest".<ref name="tvguide">{{cite magazine|url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/30-Rock-News/800038760 |title=Episode Recap: "Sandwich Day" |access-date=2008-07-31 |last=Fox |first=Erin |date=2008-05-02 |magazine=TV Guide |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011213829/http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/30-Rock/30-Rock-News/800038760 |archive-date=2008-10-11 }}</ref> Jeff Labrecque of ''Entertainment Weekly'' thought that this episode "was nothing more than...''eh''{{-"}}.<ref name="ew_1">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20197446,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122155145/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20197446,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |title=''30 Rock'': Wakeup Calls (Page 1) |access-date=2008-07-31 |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |date=2008-05-02 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> He called this episode a "weak link".<ref name="ew_2">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20197446_2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505045300/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20197446_2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 5, 2008 |title=''30 Rock'': Wakeup Calls (Page 2) |access-date=2008-07-31 |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |date=2008-05-02 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb episode|1001578}}

Category:2008 American television episodes Category:30 Rock season 2 episodes Category:Television episodes written by Jack Burditt