30 Rock: A One-Time Special
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 16, 2020
Metascore
49

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 4 out of 13
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Inkoo Kang
    Jul 17, 2020
    30
    The One-Time Special feels like 30 Rock's "Man Cave," like something the show once would've mocked. Without the sharp jabs at NBC, the show's essence has been hollowed out.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Patrick Ryan
    Jul 17, 2020
    30
    The special felt like a forced, largely jokeless game of "Name That Celebrity." ... If only the rest of the "30 Rock" special was half as inspired as Krakowski's wonderfully weird performance. Instead, it all felt just as hopelessly out of touch as Dennis Duffy's beepers.
  3. Vanity Fair
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Jul 17, 2020
    20
    The special was bad. The reunion portions were not great—Fey’s bumbling Liz Lemon has diminishing returns as the savvy professionalism of the woman behind the character becomes ever more apparent, and if the other performers were spirited, especially an indomitable Krakowski, there’s only so much TV magic you can make out of Zoom calls. The interstitial ads for NBCUniversal content were worse. The attempt to marry the two into a coherent narrative was excruciating.
  5. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Jul 17, 2020
    20
    “30 Rock’s” sardonic skills in the meta department couldn’t overcome the corporate stink of it all.

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Most Shared TV Season of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
3.0

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 4 out of 7
  1. mickrussom
    Jan 1, 2021
    0
    absolutely horrible. an hour long pile of garbage which is a lame advert for the peacrap streaming service which censors the past. garbage and shame.
  2. notor12
    Jul 18, 2020
    7
    It definitely felt wrong to see the 30 Rock cast shilling for NBC instead of ruthlessly mocking it. But this wasn't as bad as the criticalIt definitely felt wrong to see the 30 Rock cast shilling for NBC instead of ruthlessly mocking it. But this wasn't as bad as the critical review score suggests.....

    Like a lot of the shows that have been made during the pandemic it really suffers from the Zoom format. It had some legitimately funny interactions and dialogue. But it also didn't feel totally necessary.    … Full Review »
  3. birdman3
    Jul 18, 2020
    7
    If this had been an actual 30 Rock episode, this one would've pretty middle-of-the-pack. As much as the episode does a lot of schilling forIf this had been an actual 30 Rock episode, this one would've pretty middle-of-the-pack. As much as the episode does a lot of schilling for NBC shows, it also has some genuine 30 Rock heart to it. The celebrity cameos are done in just the right style you would expect from this show, and Jenna is actually something of a scene-stealer. Overall, I'm glad they made it, and it makes me hope that once the pandemic is over, we can get a real reunion episode put together.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »