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
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Critic Reviews

  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: LaToya Ferguson
    Jul 17, 2020
    100
    “30 Rock: A One-Time Special” absolutely excels at what it is and does. It is a perfect commercial for NBC Universal, a perfect commercial for television, and a perfect commercial for people who believe they are too cool to watch commercials but not too cool to watch television reunion specials. ... A blatant hour-long commercial for television is technically the natural progression for the story 30 Rock told, which allows the special to somehow reach an even higher level of meta inception than it already had.
  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Jul 17, 2020
    75
    The special didn’t allow for that same kind of self-mockery, and it created an odd fissure between the presenters and their presentation; between “30 Rock” and the upfront itself. The “30 Rock” reunion gets the job done. ... With all our favorite faces plus a bunch of celebrity cameos (thank goodness all that Mandy Moore hype actually led somewhere), made for an enjoyable reminder of just how great “30 Rock” was when it was firing on all cylinders.
  3. Decider
    Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Jul 17, 2020
    70
    Yes, it’s an infomercial and yes, the NBCU ads during the “commercial breaks” are pure puffery. But there are more than enough funny moments to keep you watching. Just keep your finger poised over that one-minute skip button; you’ll need it.
  5. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Kathryn VanArendonk
    Jul 17, 2020
    70
    Its title is an ad for NBC. Kenneth’s page uniform is an ad for NBC. About 30 percent of Jack Donaghy’s lines in any given episode could be reasonably construed as ads for NBC. About 70 percent of Kenneth’s lines also count. At its best, though, 30 Rock always seemed to be enthusiastically participating in corporate synergy with one hand, and doing its best to dismantle it with the other.

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 »
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