Ep 2. The Aftermath

The Aftermath is the second episode of the comedy television show 30 Rock, which aired during its first season. The episode takes place immediately after the pilot, with the show's main character Liz Lemon (played by Tina Fey) continuing to navigate her new job as the head writer of a sketch comedy show called "The Girlie Show".

The episode starts off with Liz's boss, Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) informing her that they have decided to bring in a new cast member to improve the show's sagging ratings. Liz is initially skeptical, but Jack tells her that the network wants a new "young and hot" cast member to appeal to younger viewers.

Meanwhile, Liz is also dealing with the fallout from her disastrous blind date with a man named Dennis (played by Dean Winters) in the previous episode. Dennis is clingy, strange, and won't stop calling Liz, leading her to regret giving him her number. She tries to avoid him, but he keeps showing up at her office.

The rest of the episode follows Liz as she tries to deal with these two problems. She holds auditions for the new cast member, but all of the candidates are terrible. At the same time, Dennis keeps pestering her, even showing up at her apartment uninvited.

Throughout the episode, Liz's frustration with her job and personal life builds. She lashes out at her coworkers and snaps at Jack when he tries to give her advice. However, she ultimately comes up with a solution to both of her problems.

At the end of the episode, Liz decides to hire a woman named Tracy Jordan (played by Tracy Morgan) as the new cast member. Tracy is not exactly the "young and hot" person that Jack was looking for - in fact, he's a middle-aged former movie star who is known for his erratic behavior. However, Liz recognizes that he has potential and decides to take a chance on him.

Meanwhile, Liz also decides to confront Dennis and tell him that she's not interested in seeing him again. She does so in a way that is honest but not overly harsh, and Dennis finally gets the message.

The episode ends with Liz feeling relieved that her problems are resolved, but also nervous about the future. She knows that Tracy could be a huge success or a total disaster, and she's worried about what could happen if things don't go well.

Overall, The Aftermath is a funny and relatable episode that showcases the show's sharp writing and strong comedic performances. It sets the stage for the rest of the first season, introducing some of the key characters and conflicts that will play out over the next 20 episodes.