Episode '30 Rock' Season 5, Episode 16 - 'TGS Hates Women' Recap

Jenna has "made the internet" on a feminist blog called "Joan of Snark" (the joke per second rate on this show is ridiculous sometimes), but the news isn't good: the article asks "why does TGS hate women?" After a couple of examples ("oh no, my period!"), Liz makes the realization that women should be better represented in the media. Cue another period joke.

Jack explains to Liz that she's genetically pre-disposed to hate women because she has to compete with them for men like him. And by "men like him", he means Hercules, the Highlander, and God. Liz wants to hire a young female comedian named Abby to come write on the show, which Jack agrees to because she has a "hot mouth". He kind of has a point.

Jack has a rival for succession to the company in the new CEO's 14-year-old granddaughter Kaylee, played by none other than the totally awesome Chloe Moretz, star of "Kick-Ass" and "Let Me In!" This should be good.

The writers (Frank, Twofer and Lutz anyway) are excited about having a new writer in Abby so that they can make a good impression. In order to do that, of course, they'll need new identities. Frank will be rich, Twofer will be a "bad boy," and Lutz will be British. This should be good.

Chloe time! Jack is trying to gauge whether or not Kaylee wants to go into TV, which it turns out she doesn't. She wants to go into marine biology (like, a lot), so Jack offers her all kinds of marine biology meetings. So far so good for Jack.

Abby shows up, and the guys are already trying out their new personalities (Frank is hatless!). Abby (played by Christin Millioti of "The Sopranos") shows up, and has the personality of...well, she kind of acts like a porn star pretending to be a school girl. Looks like Tina Fey et al are making a point about using femininity and the "little ol' me" act for attention. Millioti is absolutely stealing the show so far.

Jack and Kaylee take a look around the museum with Dr. "Bobert" Ballard, and Kaylee is tremendously excited. So is Jack...looks like someone is getting jealous! He's also singing a jaunty tune in a maritime fantasy! There's Alec Baldwin's Emmy moment for the episode.

Liz confronts Abby about her behavior, which doesn't go well: Abby counters that using her sexuality for attention just like Liz uses her glasses to look smart.  So here's the question: Tina Fey and her staff are clearly making a statement about a specific type of woman, but whom in particular are they talking about? Miley Cyrus? Lady Gaga? The fact that Abby is a comedy writer is suspicious. Could Tina actually be upset with female comedians who she feels act out for attention?

The secret is out, Abby is really putting on an act and used to be a normal-looking, normal-talking comedian. Liz plans to out her in front of the whole staff. But for now, back to Jack...

Oh snap! Chloe time! Kaylee was putting on an act too, and was luring Jack away from taking over the company by sending him into an identity crisis. It's ON. We should be seeing more of Moretz in the future, as she and Jack face off for the right to the CEO position. Now it's a toss-up between Moretz and Millioti for best guest star of the week.

Liz outs Abby and even goes so far as to post an exposé on "Joan of Snark"...and the big reveal is that Abby changed her identity to escape from her crazy ex-husband. Will we be continuing this examination of women's roles in media next week? A bit of a cliffhanger ending here, as Liz is declared "a Judas to all womankind".

Cue period joke.

Frank's Hats of the Week: "Code Breaker"