All 5 ’30 Rock’ Christmas Episodes, In Order

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Even though 30 Rock stopped airing a decade ago, it’s found a new audience on streaming services. Like other popular NBC comedies such as The Office and Parks and Recreation, it was on Netflix for years and is now mainly available on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform. The show has done incredibly well on streaming, and Peacock even created a special reunion episode in 2020. With seven seasons and 139 episodes, the original series perfectly captures the feel of the late 2000s and early 2010s, boasting a memorable cast and fantastic guest stars. Its clever writing and brilliant premise, combined with a perfectly chosen cast, have cemented its place as one of the greatest workplace comedies ever made.

As a huge 30 Rock fan, I always loved when the show did a Christmas episode! It was so funny watching Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy struggle through the holidays – relatable, especially if you come from a slightly chaotic family like mine. They skipped Christmas episodes in the first and sixth seasons for some reason, which was a bummer, but thankfully, most seasons gave us a festive treat. I’m excited to revisit every 30 Rock Christmas episode, starting from the very beginning!

5
“Ludachristmas”

Season 2, Episode 9


The Christmas episode from Season 2, titled “Ludachristmas,” is special because it’s the only one featuring Liz’s family – her parents, Margaret and Dick, and her brother, Mitch. While Liz’s parents seem like a normal, loving couple, Jack’s mother, Colleen, stirs up hidden family issues during the episode. We also learn that Liz’s brother, Mitch, suffered a serious head injury in a skiing accident at age 17, leaving him stuck reliving the day before the accident repeatedly. He still believes Ronald Reagan is president, which leads Jack to jokingly express his envy.

Kenneth gives Christmas gifts to the writers, but they immediately throw them away. Furious, he locks them in their office and makes them watch a video from a charity trip to Guatemala, hoping to make them appreciate what they have. Feeling incredibly guilty, they attempt to destroy the huge Christmas tree in the plaza. Eventually, Colleen discovers some painful family history, which leads to a big fight amongst the Lemon family. Jack enjoys watching the chaos unfold, and Jenna beautifully sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Elaine Stritch’s performance in “Ludachristmas” was a standout moment, even earning her an Emmy nomination. The episode also drew inspiration from real life with a storyline about Tracy Jordan wearing an alcohol monitoring bracelet – a requirement Tracy Morgan himself had to follow due to personal struggles with alcoholism in the mid-2000s, adding a layer of authenticity to the character’s situation. Overall, the episode delivers the heartwarming feeling you’d expect from a Christmas story, though it’s far from a perfect, idyllic one.

4
“Christmas Special”

Season 3, Episode 6


The Season 3 “Christmas Special” isn’t just a fantastic holiday episode—it’s one of the best episodes of 30 Rock overall, and a big reason why the show became so popular in the 2000s. The episode starts with Liz introducing a charity where local children write letters to Santa, and donors fulfill their wishes. Still feeling hurt from a family argument in Season 2, Liz tries to make up for it by buying gifts for every child.

Jack reveals that Colleen consistently spoiled Christmas by bringing a new, odd man home and openly flirting with him throughout the night. This year, Jack travels to Florida to visit his mother, hoping to prevent her from coming to New York for the holidays. However, he accidentally hits her with his car, breaking her hip. He delays calling for an ambulance for eight minutes, possibly wishing she wouldn’t survive. But his plan fails when Colleen flies to New York so Jack will care for her. Feeling trapped at home, Jack pressures the show’s writers and producers to create a last-minute Christmas special, allowing him to stay at work all day. The episode unfolds with a series of funny mishaps, ultimately leading to a satisfying conclusion where conflicts are resolved and everyone’s true feelings are revealed.

When this episode first aired, reviews were mixed, but over time, opinions have become more positive. Elaine Stritch’s performance even earned her an Emmy nomination! The episode perfectly captures the cozy feeling of Christmas, especially with its heartwarming rendition of “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.” It succeeds both as a typical episode of 30 Rock and as a genuinely enjoyable holiday special, hitting all the right notes.

3
“Secret Santa”

Season 4, Episode 8


NBC

The fourth season’s holiday episode, “Secret Santa,” includes a memorable appearance by Julianne Moore. She plays Nancy Donovan, Jack’s former high school girlfriend, who reconnects with him after he joins social media. Meanwhile, Jack and Liz agree to exchange gifts with each other for the first time, which upsets Lemon.

Kenneth is busy trying to manage a very complicated Secret Santa. To get out of participating, the writers create a made-up religion called Verdukianism. At the same time, there’s tension brewing between Jenna and the new cast member, Danny. Pete, the show’s director, is annoyed that Jenna never chips in for the yearly gift to the cleaning staff, so he proposes Danny sing the Christmas song with Jenna, knowing it will upset her. Eventually, Tracy reveals that Verdukianism isn’t real to Kenneth.

30 Rock is known for its rapid-fire jokes, and this holiday episode is no exception, featuring some particularly clever moments. One storyline involves Pete trying to prank Jenna, but his plan is unexpectedly derailed when Jenna shares a vulnerable moment with Danny, revealing that singing Christmas carols helped her cope with a difficult childhood. Danny then cleverly sabotages his own performance during a duet with Jenna, intentionally singing badly so she’ll shine. This scene, alongside a wonderfully complicated take on the office’s Secret Santa gift exchange, makes for a hilarious and memorable holiday episode.

2
“Christmas Attack Zone”

Season 5, Episode 10


NBC

Okay, so Season 5 really delivers with its holiday episode. We get fantastic guest appearances from Jack Donaghy’s parents, played by the incredible Elaine Stritch and Alan Alda. The big storyline revolves around Jack finding out a huge family secret – his real father isn’t who he thought it was, it’s Milton Greene, a pretty laid-back professor! Jack, being Jack, decides to spring this on his mother during Christmas dinner – talk about awkward! But it’s not just about Jack’s family drama. We also see Tracy Jordan trying to prove he’s more than just a goofball and can actually be a serious actor. And poor Jenna is dealing with a fresh breakup, adding another layer of chaos to the whole thing. It’s a really strong episode with a lot going on, and everyone shines.

The 30 Rock episode “Christmas Attack Zone” is generally well-made, but it was removed from Peacock due to a problematic joke. After the death of George Floyd in 2020, several shows—including 30 Rock, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Community—removed episodes that contained potentially offensive racial content. In this particular episode, Jenna Maroney uses blackface as part of a New Year’s Eve costume, impersonating football player Lynn Swann. Despite this issue, the episode still has some funny moments, such as a back-and-forth between Jack and Milton where Jack questions Milton’s usefulness with the line: “In what kind of emergency would you be necessary? If someone wanted to know if the ’60s were awesome or not?”

1
“My Whole Life Is Thunder”

Season 7, Episode 8


NBC

The series wraps up with a fantastic Christmas special! Liz has secretly married Criss, which makes Jenna incredibly jealous. To make things worse, Liz also receives an award from a women’s media group. Meanwhile, Colleen arrives and seems determined to make Jack miserable, but she’s acting strangely – she’s unwell and surprisingly gentle. Jack tries to avoid her, but she always manages to find him at the most inconvenient moments. The episode also features a guest appearance by Will Forte, who plays Jenna and Colleen’s boyfriend, Paul.

Jack and Colleen share a sweet carriage ride, and in a rare moment of openness, Colleen tells Jack she simply wants him to be happy before unexpectedly passing away from a heart attack. At the funeral, Jack gives a moving eulogy, considered by many to be the greatest ever, complete with a surprise appearance by Kermit the Frog and a flute performance of “Danny Boy.” In a shocking twist, a statue at the church comes to life, revealing itself to be Paul in disguise. Jenna and Paul then get married at the funeral, with Paul adopting Jenna’s full name as his own.

As the last holiday special and the end of the series for some beloved characters, this episode is full of emotional moments. We say goodbye to Colleen Donaghy, and Elaine Stritch, who doesn’t appear in the show again after this, and we see Jenna and Paul get married – events that significantly shape the rest of season 7. The episode’s award ceremony included surprise appearances by Gayle King and Wendy Williams. Plus, it’s packed with hilarious lines, like Jenna’s quip: “First you get married, now you’re winning an award? These are my things. Next, you’ll tell me Mickey Rourke catapulted you into the Hollywood Sign.”

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2025-11-30 04:20