{{about|the ''30 Rock'' episode|the military tactic|Fabian strategy}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox television episode | series = 30 Rock | image = | caption = | season = 5 | episode = 1 | airdate = {{Start date|2010|09|23}} | production = 501 | writer = Tina Fey | director = Beth McCarthy-Miller | music = | guests = *Mario Brassard as James *Matt Damon as Carol *Jan Owen as Grace *Paula Pell as Paula Hornberger *Jeffrey Schara as the new NBC page | season_article = 30 Rock season 5 | episode_list = List of 30 Rock episodes | prev = I Do Do | next = When It Rains, It Pours }} "'''The Fabian Strategy'''" is the first episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series ''30 Rock'', and the 81st overall episode of the series. It was directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, and written by series creator, executive producer and lead actress Tina Fey. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on September 23, 2010. Guest stars in this episode include Mario Brassard, Matt Damon, Jan Owen, Paula Pell, and Jeffrey Schara.
In the episode, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) interferes in Liz Lemon's (Fey) relationship with Carol (Damon) as he is determined to help Liz have a relationship that lasts for once. At the same time, Jack struggles to compromise with his girlfriend Avery Jessup (Elizabeth Banks) as she redecorates his apartment. Meanwhile, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) has trouble coming to terms with Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) getting fired as an NBC page and Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) becomes a producer of the fictional sketch comedy show ''The Girlie Show with Tracy Jordan'' (''TGS''). This episode also continued a story arc involving Carol as a love interest for Liz, which began in the previous episode, the season finale of the show's fourth season "I Do Do".
Before the airing, NBC moved the program to a new timeslot at 8:30 p.m., moving it from its 9:30 p.m. slot. This episode of ''30 Rock'' received generally positive reviews from television critics. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was watched by 5.85 million households during its original broadcast, and received a 2.6 rating/8 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic.
==Plot== Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), the head writer of the sketch show ''TGS with Tracy Jordan'', goes back to work following the summer break and prepares for the show's fifth season. At the 30 Rock building, where she works, Liz and ''TGS'' producer Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) meet their boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) to discuss cutting the show's expenses. During the meeting, Pete reveals that star Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) now has a producer credit because of changes in her contract that were not set to start until the fifth season of ''TGS'' (nobody thought that the show would last that long). Jenna takes this role seriously and takes on the job of firing people. Eventually, on reviewing the budget, she realizes that her producer credit is costly—and unnecessary—and asks Pete to fire her.
Later, Jack asks Liz about her relationship with her boyfriend Carol (Matt Damon), an airline pilot. She tells him that during the summer break the two met twice a month in a hotel. Jack does not believe that the relationship is serious since Carol never stays at Liz's apartment. He decides to force Carol to stay with Liz and reserves all the rooms of the hotel that Liz and Carol stay in when he is in New York. During his stay with Liz, Carol bursts into tears and asks her where their relationship is heading as he believes that she is resisting him, which she denies. The next day, Carol decides to leave New York early, but tells Liz that they need to work on their relationship. The two go their separate ways and agree to meet again on October 14.<ref name="kandell" /><ref name="blake" />
During the summer break, Jack's girlfriend CNBC host Avery Jessup (Elizabeth Banks) moved in with him. Avery decides to redecorate Jack's apartment. He is not keen on the idea, but not wanting to say no or give into Avery's demands, decides to employ the Fabian strategy—named after Fabius Maximus, a Roman general who employed a strategy of avoiding battles, instead wearing the enemy down by attrition. Jack is successful in avoiding redecorating the apartment; he agrees to knock down a wall instead. At the end of the episode, however, he realizes that Avery has emulated the military genius of Hannibal, outmaneuvering his Fabian strategy, and he ecstatically realizes they are a perfect match, far beyond the level of mere soul-mates.
Elsewhere, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) is missing Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer), a former NBC page who was fired in the previous episode, "I Do Do". When Tracy returns to work for the new season of ''TGS'', he begins to hallucinate Kenneth everywhere he goes, mistaking the new page (Jeffrey Schara) and Liz for him. Later, Tracy roams the city and sees Kenneth, who is now working as a page at CBS. Tracy believes Kenneth is a hallucination. Later, the two run into each other again and Kenneth tries to talk to Tracy, but Tracy refuses to acknowledge him as he believes his mind is playing tricks on him. To prove he is real, Kenneth throws himself in front of a car, thus making Tracy believe him. He pleads with Kenneth to come back to NBC, but Kenneth says he is happy working at CBS. At the end of the credits, Kenneth admits to himself that he lied to Tracy and that he misses everyone at ''TGS''. Kenneth then starts hallucinating Tracy.
==Production== "The Fabian Strategy" was written by series creator, executive producer and lead actress Tina Fey, and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, a long-time television director who worked with 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 20, 2010|date=September 19, 2006|work=Variety}}</ref> This was Fey's twenty-second writing credit,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0275486/filmoseries#tt0496424|title=Tina Fey — Filmography by TV series|access-date=September 8, 2010|website=Internet Movie Database}}</ref> and McCarthy-Miller's thirteenth helmed episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565063/filmoseries#tt0496424|title=Beth McCarthy-Miller — Filmography by TV series|access-date=September 8, 2010|website=Internet Movie Database}}</ref> "The Fabian Strategy" originally aired on NBC in the United States on September 23, 2010, as the season premiere episode of the show's fifth season and the 81st overall episode of the series.<ref name="recap">{{cite web|author=Lady Lola|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/30-rock/show/the-fabian-strategy/episode/249226/recap;_ylt=AupK_06yO4boGfuJhjNk1kWvo9EF|title=30 Rock — The Fabian Strategy — Recap|access-date=September 23, 2010|publisher=Yahoo! TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Hal|last=Boedeker|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/09/tv-tonight-justin-bieber-on-csi-matt-damon-on-30-rock-betty-white-on-community-trauma-counselor-on-greys-anatomy.html|title=TV tonight: Justin Bieber on 'CSI'; Matt Damon on '30 Rock'; Betty White on 'Community'; trauma counselor on 'Grey's Anatomy'|access-date=September 29, 2010|date=September 23, 2010|work=Orlando Sentinel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216074825/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/09/tv-tonight-justin-bieber-on-csi-matt-damon-on-30-rock-betty-white-on-community-trauma-counselor-on-greys-anatomy.html|archive-date=February 16, 2011}}</ref> This episode of ''30 Rock'' was filmed on August 30, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcumv.com/images/thumbnails/2010/9/NUP_141620/NUP_141620_0152.jpg|title="30 Rock" – "The Fabian Strategy" Episode 501 – Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, Matt Damon as Carol – Photo by: Ali Goldstein/NBC|date=August 30, 2010|access-date=September 9, 2010|work=Set Photos|publisher=NBC Universal Media Village|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407110902/https://www.nbcumv.com/images/thumbnails/2010/9/NUP_141620/NUP_141620_0152.jpg|archive-date=April 7, 2012}} Save Picture as → Right click file → Properties → Summary → Advanced → Date Picture Taken</ref>
{{multiple image | align = right | image1 = Matt Damon tux Venice 2009.JPG | width1 = 140 | alt1 = Matt Damon, a caucasian male in his late-30s with dark hair, looks into the camera. He wears a black suit and white shirt with a black bow-tie. | caption1 = | image2 = Tina Fey by Gage Skidmore.jpg | width2 = 160 | alt2 = Tina Fey, a caucasian brown hair woman in her early 40s, wears a light purple paint splatter print dress. She wears dark-framed glasses, holds a microphone in her left hand, raises her right hand, and is in front of a light blue background. | caption2 = | footer = Matt Damon (left) made his second guest appearance as Carol, a love interest for Tina Fey's (right) character, Liz Lemon. }} In March 2010, it was announced that actor Matt Damon would guest star on ''30 Rock''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.parade.com/celebrity/hollywood-wire/2010/03/31/matt-damon-guest-star-30-rock.html|title=Matt Damon to Guest Star on '30 Rock'|access-date=September 29, 2010|date=March 31, 2010|work=Parade}}</ref> He made his debut in the fourth season finale episode "I Do Do" as Carol, an airline pilot and love interest for Fey's character, Liz Lemon, and reprised the role in "The Fabian Strategy".<ref name="fabian">{{cite magazine|first=Annie|last=Barrett|url=http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/30-rock-season-5-premiere-recap/|title='30 Rock' recap: Fight For Your Right to Elk Tongue|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 23, 2010|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|page=1}}</ref> In December 2009, prior to the confirmation of his first guest appearance, ''Entertainment Weekly'' informed Damon that he was at the top of Fey's guest star wish list for the show. A fan of the series,<ref name="porter">{{cite news|first=Rick|last=Porter|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/03/30-rock-is-booking-matt-damon.html|title='30 Rock' is booking Matt Damon|access-date=September 8, 2010|date=March 31, 2010|publisher=Zap2it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930101253/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/03/30-rock-is-booking-matt-damon.html|archive-date=September 30, 2012}}</ref> Damon replied "I would do [''30 Rock''] in a heartbeat if they asked me to come on. She should call my people—or even better ''me''. Or I could call her. Let's make this happen."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/03/30/30-rock-matt-damon/|title='30 Rock' exclusive: Tina Fey snags Matt Damon|access-date=September 8, 2010|date=March 30, 2010|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=September 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929132019/http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/03/30/30-rock-matt-damon/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A day after the airing of "I Do Do" he was asked if he would reprise his role as Carol in the upcoming season and responded "If they'll have me, I would love to pop in and see the gang again. I had a great time doing it."<ref>{{cite news|first=K.C.|last=Baker|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20387116,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523080407/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20387116,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2010|title=Matt Damon Preps for 'Little Tornado' of Next Baby|access-date=September 8, 2010|date=May 21, 2010|work=People}}</ref> In August 2010, Fey confirmed Damon's return saying that he would play her boyfriend once the new season began.<ref>{{cite news|first=Natalie|last=Abrams|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/TV-Emmy-Scoops-1022394.aspx|title=9 Scoops from Your Favorite Stars on the Emmys Red Carpet|access-date=September 21, 2010|date=August 29, 2010|work=TV Guide}}</ref>
Jane Krakowski, who plays Jenna Maroney, revealed to ''Entertainment Weekly''{{'}}s Michael Ausiello her character's plot in which Jenna becomes a television producer as part of her contract as ''TGS'' begins its fifth season. "[Jenna] has all these wacky things built into her contract [that kick in at this point], because nobody thought we'd still be on the air. So I get to be a producer."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/09/01/ask-ausiello-spoilers-house-greys-bones/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213231639/http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/09/01/ask-ausiello-spoilers-house-greys-bones/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2010|title=Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'House,' 'Grey's,' 'Bones,' 'Chuck,' 'Gossip Girl,' and more!|access-date=September 21, 2010|date=September 1, 2010|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> Series producer Paula Pell reprised her role as Paula Hornberger, the wife of Scott Adsit's character Pete Hornberger.<ref name="recap" /> The episode references the ongoing storyline of Liz's desire to become a mother when she tells Carol that she is on a waiting list to adopt a child.<ref name="james">{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Poniewozik|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2010/09/24/30-rock-watch-your-sadness-scavenger-list/|title=30 Rock Watch: Your Sadness Scavenger List|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|magazine=Time}}</ref> This story first began in the show's first season,<ref>{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Canning|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/753/753270p1.html|title=30 Rock: "The Baby Show" Review|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=January 5, 2007|website=IGN}}</ref> and continued in the third season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bob|last=Sassone|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2008/10/30_rock_do_over_fancy_boys_and.html|title=30 Rock, "Do Over": Fancy boys and baby dolls|access-date=September 29, 2010|date=October 30, 2008|work=The Star-Ledger}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Jeremy|last=Medina|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/01/30-rock-review-senior-macho-solo-episode-307-and-f.html|title=''30 Rock'' Review: "Senor Macho Solo" (Episode 307) and "Flu Shot" (Episode 308)|access-date=September 29, 2010|date=January 16, 2010|work=Paste}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Rick|last=Porter|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2009/03/30-rock-meets-the-hendersons.html|title='30 Rock' meets the Hendersons|access-date=September 29, 2010|date=March 5, 2009|publisher=Zap2it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517023803/http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2009/03/30-rock-meets-the-hendersons.html|archive-date=May 17, 2010}}</ref>
Two months after the airing of the fourth season finale episode, co-showrunner and executive producer Robert Carlock was asked if Jack McBrayer's character Kenneth Parcell would return in the upcoming season after he was fired as an NBC page in "I Do Do".<ref>{{cite news|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/i-do-do,41393/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523154923/http://www.avclub.com/articles/i-do-do,41393/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2010|title=I Do Do|access-date=October 22, 2010|date=May 20, 2010|work=The A.V. Club}}</ref> Carlock said "We haven't cracked [how] he is getting [his job] back, but of course he will get back somehow. We wanted a fun thing to shuffle the deck a little bit and send him off into the world. Of course, he will miss it and he will be missed. Events will bring him back."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/07/14/ask-ausiello-spoilers-office-bones-supernatural/|title=Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'The Office,' 'Bones,' 'Supernatural,' Glee,' 'Chuck,' and more!|access-date=September 21, 2010|date=July 14, 2010|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=January 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119202413/http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/07/14/ask-ausiello-spoilers-office-bones-supernatural/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In "The Fabian Strategy", Kenneth is now working at CBS as a page for the ''Late Show with David Letterman''.<ref name="sassone" /> The scene in which Kenneth throws himself in front of a car to prove to Tracy Jordan that he is real and not Tracy's imagination was filmed on August 27, 2010, in front of the Ed Sullivan Theater.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?igi=448968&s=jack%20mcbrayer&sfld=C&vwmd=e|title=On Location For "30 Rock" – August 27, 2010|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=August 27, 2010|publisher=Wireimage}}</ref>
==Cultural references== alt=A white statue of a man in front of a green hedge. The statue was sculpted in the fashion of the Roman army, wearing the helmet and livery of the army. The statue has one arm raised up to its chin and the other behind it, resting on another piece of the sculpture.|thumb|upright|Jack employs the Fabian strategy named after Roman general Fabius Maximus (''pictured''), who delayed direct battle with Hannibal to take advantage of the Carthaginian's supply weaknesses<ref name="rabin" /> At the start of the episode, Liz says while sleeping, "No, Tom Jones, no!" before waking up.<ref name="cornell" /> This is a reference to a future plot in the episode "Reaganing" in which Liz is having intimacy issues because of a traumatic incident from her childhood that involved a poster of singer Tom Jones.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/reaganing,46563/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025111449/http://www.avclub.com/articles/reaganing%2C46563/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 25, 2010|title=Reaganing|access-date=March 28, 2011|date=October 21, 2010|work=The A.V. Club}}</ref> Throughout the episode, Jack refers to the Fabian strategy, a strategy named after Roman general Fabius Maximus, which avoids direct battle in favor of attrition warfare. Jack uses the strategy as he does not want to say no to Avery or give in to her demands.<ref name="fabian" /><ref name="cornell" /> In addition, Jack hails Fabius Maximus as his role model.<ref name="rabin" /> When Carol surprises Liz at the ''TGS'' writers' room, staff writer J.D. Lutz (John Lutz) asks Carol if he is on Facebook.<ref name="recap" /> Later, Liz tells Jack not to interfere in her relationship with Carol, as she believes she has the perfect relationship with him. She reveals that she is modeling her life on that of chef Ina Garten of the Food Network show ''Barefoot Contessa''.<ref name="fabian" /> Jack responds by saying that Liz will never be like Garten, including the "barefoot" part, referring to the fact that Liz has never let anyone see her feet,<ref name="recap" /> which is a real life trait of Fey's.<ref>{{cite news|first=Maureen |last=Dowd |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2009/01/tina_fey200901?currentPage=2 |title=What Tina Fey Wants |access-date=September 29, 2010 |date=January 2009 |work=Vanity Fair |page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528112310/http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2009/01/tina_fey200901?currentPage=2 |archive-date=May 28, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Donna|last=Freydkin|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-10-23-tina-fey-profile_N.htm|title=Tina Fey is between a 'Rock' and a funny place at 'SNL'|access-date=September 29, 2010|date=October 23, 2008|work=USA Today}}</ref>
Liz and Carol discover that one of the things they have in common is that they both love to watch The Muppets presenting award shows.<ref name="kandell">{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Kandell|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/09/30_rock_premiere_recap_grownup.html?imw=Y&f=most-viewed-24h10|title=''30 Rock'' Premiere Recap: Grown-up Love|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|work=New York}}</ref> Later, Liz reveals that she has a Life Alert Emergency Response necklace; this necklace helps the elderly contact emergency services in case of an accident.<ref name="exactly">{{cite magazine|first=Annie|last=Barrett|url=http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/30-rock-season-5-premiere-recap/2/|title='30 Rock' recap: Fight For Your Right to Elk Tongue|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 23, 2010|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|page=2}}</ref> Carol wonders why Geico—an auto insurance company—has multiple mascots, a reference to Geico's advertising campaigns.<ref name="james" /> Jack plans to seduce the gay interior designer that Avery hired and hopes to get the designer to agree with him to leave the apartment the way it is, explaining to Liz "Do you know what a prize I am in the gay community? There's a term for it. I'm a bear. And I'm a daddy. I'm a daddy bear."<ref name="blake" /> Before parting ways, Liz says to Carol "See you October 14", a reference to the live episode of ''30 Rock'' entitled "Live Show" that aired on October 14, 2010.<ref name="kandell" /><ref name="blake" />
''30 Rock'' and ''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip''—both of which debuted on 2006–07 NBC lineup—revolved around the off-camera happenings on a sketch comedy series. Evidence of the overlapping subject matter between the shows, as well as the conflict between them, arose when Aaron Sorkin, the creator of ''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'', asked Lorne Michaels to allow him to observe ''Saturday Night Live'' for a week, a request Michaels, the creator of ''Saturday Night Live'' and executive producer of ''30 Rock'', denied.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tad|last=Friend|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/04/24/060424ta_talk_friend|title=Who's on First Dept: Shows about Shows|access-date=September 30, 2010|date=April 24, 2006|magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref> Despite this, Sorkin sent Fey flowers after NBC announced it would pick up both programs, and wished her luck with ''30 Rock''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Melanie|last=McFarland|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/tv/archives/105252.asp|title=Tina Fey's Weekend Update: Aaron Sorkin calls her out!|access-date=September 30, 2010|date=July 22, 2006|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Fey succeeded where Sorkin did not when ''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'' was canceled after one season and ''30 Rock'' was renewed for a second. Though ''30 Rock''{{'}}s first season ratings proved lackluster and were lower than those of ''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'',<ref>{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Sassone|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/04/05/heres-why-30-rock-was-renewed-and-studio-60-wont-be/|title=Here's why 30 Rock was renewed and Studio 60 won't be|access-date=October 22, 2010|date=April 5, 2007|publisher=TV Squad}}</ref> the latter was more expensive to produce.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Starr|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_katBvIJQ7sn00CQ5mi9l4K;jsessionid=BD9DF841282CA90A92DBA045A179354A|title=''Studio'' Sinks, Not ''30 Rock''|access-date=September 30, 2010|date=May 1, 2007|work=New York Post|archive-date=October 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020151549/http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_katBvIJQ7sn00CQ5mi9l4K;jsessionid=BD9DF841282CA90A92DBA045A179354A|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Friedman|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/lights-go-out-on-studio-60|title=Lights Go Out on ''Studio 60''|access-date=September 30, 2010|date=May 11, 2007|publisher=Fox News}}</ref> In the ending sequence of "The Fabian Strategy", Kenneth watches the credits for ''TGS'', which include Ricky Tahoe and Ronnie Oswald as writers, the two former head writers on ''Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kyle|last=Buchanan|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/09/30_rock_rape_joke.html|title=''30 Rock'' Makes 8:30 p.m. Time Slot Safe for 'Sleep Rape' Jokes|access-date=September 30, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|work=New York}}</ref>
==Reception== Before the airing of this episode, NBC unveiled its 2010–11 primetime schedule in May 2010 with the network moving the program from the 9:30 p.m. time to the 8:30 p.m. timeslot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/05/16/nbc-unveils-2010-2011-primetime-schedule/20100516nbc01/|title=NBC Unveils 2010–11 Primetime Schedule Accented By Five New Comedies, Seven New Dramas And New Alternative Program|access-date=September 23, 2010|date=May 16, 2010|website=The Futon Critic|format=Press release}}</ref> According to the Nielsen Media Research, this episode of ''30 Rock'' was watched by 5.85 million households in its original American broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Seidman|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/09/24/tv-ratings-thursday-the-big-bang-theory-scores-at-8pm-greys-anatomy-tops-night-with-young-adults-my-generation-premiere-stalls/64978|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117060107/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/09/24/tv-ratings-thursday-the-big-bang-theory-scores-at-8pm-greys-anatomy-tops-night-with-young-adults-my-generation-premiere-stalls/64978|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 17, 2010|title=TV Ratings Thursday: ''The Big Bang Theory'' Scores at 8pm; ''Grey's Anatomy'' Tops Night With Young Adults; ''My Generation'' Premiere Stalls|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|publisher=TV by the Numbers}}</ref> It earned a 2.6 rating/8 share in the 18–49 demographic.<ref name="variety report">{{cite news|first=Rick|last=Kissell|url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/big-bang-theory-dynamite-on-new-night-1118024612/|title='Big Bang Theory' dynamite on new night|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|work=Variety}}</ref> This means that it was seen by 2.6 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. A contributor from ''Variety'' reported that ''Community'', an NBC show that airs at 8:00 p.m., and ''30 Rock'' "held up nicely" in their respective timeslots and that the two programs "were up over last year's opening Thursday hour for NBC in premiere week."<ref name="variety report" />
''The A.V. Club''{{'}}s Nathan Rabin reported that past season premieres of ''30 Rock'' had a solid track record as being the worst episodes of the season, nonetheless Rabin found "The Fabian Strategy" hilarious and breaking that barrier. He wrote that Matt Damon has been great on the show as Carol; however, his only complaint was Carol's character flaw as being too sensitive. Rabin, who has complained "extensively" about Jenna's character in the past, said the character was in "fine form" in her role as a ''TGS'' producer. Rabin gave the episode an A− grade rating.<ref name="rabin">{{cite news|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|url=https://www.avclub.com/30-rock-the-fabian-strategy-1798166006|title=The Fabian Strategy|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 23, 2010|work=The A.V. Club}}</ref> Bob Sassone of TV Squad deemed this episode a "solid season-opener" that featured "lots of great lines and plot development".<ref name="sassone">{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Sassone|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/24/30-rock-season-5-episode-1-season-premiere-recap/|title='30 Rock' Season 5, Episode 1 (Season Premiere) Recap|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|publisher=TV Squad}}</ref> Meredith Blake, a contributor from the ''Los Angeles Times'', was thrilled that the Jack and Avery relationship "not only lasted the summer, but is thriving", and wrote that she was looking forward to the pregnancy storyline involving Avery. Blake noted that Damon's character was "darn-near perfect, by which I mean 'a male version of Liz.'"<ref name="blake">{{cite news|first=Meredith|last=Blake|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/09/30-rock-recap-season-5-here-we-go.html|title='30 Rock' recap: Season 5, here we go!|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 23, 2010|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Television columnist Alan Sepinwall for HitFix said that "The Fabian Strategy" did not "live up to the good old days" of past episodes, nonetheless reported that he "laughed enough" and was pleased with the direction the show took Liz and Carol's relationship. Sepinwall did not like Tracy and Kenneth's story, calling it a complete miss, but was appreciative of the other storylines, choosing Pete and Jenna's as his favorite.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Sepinwall|url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/30-rock-the-fabian-strategy-el-duderino-stuff|title='30 Rock' – 'The Fabian Strategy': El duderino stuff|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|work=HitFix|archive-date=September 4, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904163336/http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/30-rock-the-fabian-strategy-el-duderino-stuff|url-status=dead}}</ref> Alessandra Stanley from ''The New York Times'' was positive about Damon's role on the show, noting that he has been a "hoot".<ref>{{cite news|first=Alessandra|last=Stanley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/25/arts/television/25watch.html|title=TV Guests Overstaying Their Welcome|access-date=September 28, 2010|date=September 25, 2010|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Scott Eidler of ''The Cornell Daily Sun'' commented that the episode was a "nice start to the [fifth] season" of ''30 Rock'' as it was "perhaps more plot-driven than packed with the emotional and uproariously funny episodes that concluded last season." Eidler commented that "The Fabian Strategy" never did "[reach] the utter hilariousness of last season, but I hope that wasn't the climax ... and it can eventually return to its previous heights of hilarity".<ref name="cornell">{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Eidler|url=http://www.cornellsun.com/node/43618|title=30 Rock Premiere Recap: The Fabian Strategy|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|work=The Cornell Daily Sun|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019233848/http://cornellsun.com/node/43618|archive-date=October 19, 2010}}</ref> ''TV Guide''{{'}}s Bruce Fretts was complimentary towards Damon's role as Tina Fey's love interest, writing that Damon "showed a refreshingly silly side in keeping with ''30 Rock''{{'}}s anything-goes spirit."<ref>{{cite news|first=Bruce|last=Fretts|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Cheers-Jeers-30-1023596.aspx|title=Cheers & Jeers: ''30 Rock'''s Matt Damon — a Bourne Comedian?|access-date=September 24, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|work=TV Guide}}</ref> Matt Wilstein of ''The Huffington Post'' called the premiere "a very solid first episode", enjoying Damon's part on the show and the Kenneth story of him still being fired by NBC.<ref>{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Wilstein|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-wilstein/top-5-funniest-fall-tv-ed_b_739631.html|title=Top 5 Funniest: Fall TV Edition (Videos)|access-date=September 29, 2010|date=September 28, 2010|work=The Huffington Post}}</ref>
''Time'' contributor James Poniewozik reported that the Pete/Jenna and Tracy/Kenneth plots were a "hit-and-miss", however noted it was good to see the show giving the Jack and Liz characters "ongoing direction, not just in their personal lives".<ref name="james" /> ''The Atlantic''{{'}}s Caitlan Smith was skeptical about Liz and Carol's relationship lasting, saying that Damon "who commands more than $20 million per movie, won't stick around for long, leaving Liz Lemon Carol-less and in for another round of the entertaining self-loathing that we've all been coming back for four seasons."<ref>{{cite news|first=Caitlan|last=Smith|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2010/09/30-rock-how-long-until-tina-fey-and-matt-damon-break-up/63464/|title='30 Rock': How Long Until Tina Fey and Matt Damon Break Up?|access-date=September 27, 2010|date=September 24, 2010|work=The Atlantic}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb episode|1635806|The Fabian Strategy}}
{{30 Rock episodes}}
{{Good article}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fabian Strategy (30 Rock), The}} Category:30 Rock season 5 episodes Category:2010 American television episodes Category:Television episodes written by Tina Fey Category:Television episodes directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller