Liz Lemon
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Miervaldis "Liz" Lemon is the main character of the American
television series 30 Rock
. She is portrayed by Tina Fey
, who is also the creator of the series and its showrunner.
and Pennsylvania
. Raised in the town of White Haven
, Liz is the daughter and second child to Dick Lemon and Margaret Lemon (née Freeman). Liz's parents are, outwardly, very optimistic and supportive of her, but privately, they actually dislike many of their daughter's attributes and life decisions, as revealed during the climax of "Ludachristmas
". Liz's elder brother, Mitch, was the victim of a skiing
accident on Sunday, December 8, 1985, when he was a high school
senior. Afterwards, he experienced anterograde amnesia
, remaining "stuck" in the day before the accident, thinking for the next 22 years that he was still 17 and that the year was still 1985. In the episode "The Moms
," her mother is said to have worked as a secretary at Sterling Cooper.
In the season 3
finale, "Kidney Now!
", it is revealed that Liz attended elementary school
with musician
and actress Sheryl Crow
, co-starring with her as one of a pair of kidney
s in a 5th grade musical (although in reality, Crow grew up in Kennett, Missouri
, and is eight years older than Liz). While Liz believes that the two were great friends, Crow only vaguely remembers her, and refers to Liz as a "loser".
Liz was inspired to become a writer
by Rosemary Howard, the first female head writer of Laugh-In. She mentioned that she used to teach improv
to senior citizen
s. In high school
, Liz believed that she was an unpopular "nerd
" that all of her classmates picked on, only to learn two decades later at her 20-year high school reunion that she was, in fact, the universally disliked class bully. At Bryn Mawr College
, she studied theater tech
, for which she still has an outstanding student loan
, and attended the University of Maryland
on a partial competitive jazz dance
scholarship
. She spent her junior year abroad in Frankfurt
, Germany
, and seems to speak fluent German
as, in her opinion, it is "the most beautiful language in the world". However, it becomes apparent in "Episode 210", that she is not fluent, as she mixes up the verbs "to sell" and "to buy" (verkaufen and kaufen), and has difficulty understanding the German TV executives. In "Larry King
", she sings "99 Luftballons
".
In the episodes "Believe in the Stars
" and "Cooter
", Liz states that she did not lose her virginity
until she was 25 (this would be in 1995 or 1996).
Liz met Jenna Maroney
in 1993, when Jenna was studying voice at Northwestern University
. By Liz's own words, Jenna was "slutting it up" to get car dealership
owners to put her in their commercials. The two shared an apartment in a Chicago
neighborhood called "Little Armenia
", and together they dreamed of "making it big". While in Chicago, Liz reportedly tried to be an actress, but the only job she was able to book was a phone sex line commercial. Liz and Jenna began The Girlie Show at Second City
. They worked for years to turn The Girlie Show into a television series, which NBC
picked up (though only to quell the outrage of women's groups over the misogynistic show Bitch Hunter), resulting in the pair moving to New York City
for it. Liz became the head writer for The Girlie Show, while Jenna became the show's main star.
In the episode "Floyd
", Liz states that she appeared in an episode of America's Most Wanted
, portraying a woman who gets strangled on the toilet.
In the pilot
, it is announced that Liz's former boss Gary has died and Jack Donaghy
takes his place. Jack immediately decides to retool the show to make it appeal to a larger demographic, starting by firing Liz's trusted producer Pete Hornberger and making her hire unpredictable actor Tracy Jordan
as the show's new star. Liz manages to convince Jack to re-hire Pete, but Jack is insistent on making the show center around Tracy and, much to her chagrin, he renames the show TGS with Tracy Jordan.
Since 2005, Liz has lived in an apartment at 168 Riverside Drive
(which is a real apartment complex in New York City); her apartment number is 3B.
Liz has also evidently won at least one Emmy Award.
third-wave feminist
, college
-educated, single-and-pretending-to-be-happy-about-it, over-scheduled, undersexed, you buy any magazine
that says 'healthy body image
' on the cover and every two years you take up knitting
for...a week." This is confirmed by Pete to be accurate, commenting that the "knitting" part, in particular, was uncanny.
Liz is generally portrayed as something of a "geek
". So, while she is an apparently skilled writer, she seems to have very few social skills
(in "Rosemary's Baby
", Jack describes her as "socially retarded"). For example, while she was trying to pick up men at a karaoke
bar, a man asked her if the seat next to her was taken, leading her to ask him why she should have to move her coat just so he could sit there.
Liz has a rather sardonic sense of humor. She has frequently been shown to be a stress eater, a trait she shares with Jack. Despite the fact that she often ingests high-amounts of junk food
on a daily basis, she seems to keep her weight under control, perhaps because she does not seem to have proper meals. According to Fey, the character is not bulimic
; "she just likes to eat." Liz does have some knowledge of cooking
, though she admits to only using her oven
to warm her jeans
in the morning. She is allergic
to both dog
s and cat
s, as well as "anything warm and adorable". However, she does believes her allergy to dogs is psychosomatic, as she mentions that a dog bit her during the time of her first period.
Like Fey, Liz is a big fan of the Star Wars
film franchise, often using events from the original trilogy to explain her feelings and actions in daily life. For example, in the episode "Jack the Writer
," she compares Jack to the Sith
lord
Darth Vader
, and contemplates that entering his office is like "stepping onto the Death Star
". In "The Source Awards", Liz mentions that for the four past Halloween
s in a row, she has dressed up as Princess Leia
. She has also dressed as the character during jury selection
in order to be disqualified from serving. Liz considers Attack of the Clones
to be the worst film of the series.
She is also a fan of the television series Heroes
, in which her favorite character is Hiro Nakamura
, Lost
, Little People, Big World
, Ugly Betty
,Top Chef
, Designing Women
and The Daily Show
. Her drinks of choice are Pinot Grigio or white wine with ice cubes and Sprite
. She is obsessed with men in green tights. As of "Cleveland", her ringtone is "Ride of the Valkyries
", which she and Jenna consider a reference to What's Opera, Doc?
. Her ringtone for "Future Husband
", is "Fuck the Pain Away
" by Peaches
.
In the episode "The Fabian Strategy", Liz reveals that the three things she likes in the world are Ina Garten
, "sweater weather", and when Muppets present at awards shows.
Liz appears to be a Philadelphia Phillies
fan. In "Reaganing
", it is mentioned that at nine-years old, she sported a Pete Rose
inspired haircut and had posters of Mike Schmidt
and Tug McGraw
in her bedroom. These three players were active with the Phillies during this period. It is also noted that she uses a 'Phillies Sport Wallet' in "It's Never Too Late For Now
".
By "Christmas Attack Zone
", Liz has learned the meanings of body language
through watching The Mentalist
(due to her losing the remote control
to her television
, thus being unable to change the CBS
channel it was on). Because of her newfound talent, she dubs herself "The MentaLiz".
In contrast with her friend and foil
Jenna, Liz seems to have little interest in stereotypical female interests, such as fashion
. In "Blind Date
", her "bi-curious
" shoes led Jack to erroneously believe she was gay, and set her up on a blind date with his friend Gretchen Thomas, the "brilliant plastics engineer/lesbian
". Except when she is pressured to dress more feminine
ly, Liz typically appears in casual, gender-neutral attire. In earlier episodes, she almost always wore plastic-rimmed glasses
, though she has started to wear them less frequently over the course of the series. Flashbacks reveal that she has worn glasses since she was around four of five years of age. However, according to Jenna in "[The Rural Juror]]", she does not actually need glasses. This is probably intended to parody the fact that plastic-rimmed glasses are considered to be Tina Fey's trademark in real life, despite the fact that she does not actually need glasses except to see far away.
Liz has a strong aversion to unfairness and rule-breaking as demonstrated in the opening scene of the pilot, where a man cheats to get a hot dog
from a hot dog stand by "creating" a new line, which several people from the "original" line promptly join. She responds by buying all the hot dogs and giving them to the "good people" who stayed in the original line. Later, when Liz considered quitting over Jack's changes to TGS, Pete told her that she had the best job in New York and that she should not "buy all the hot dogs". This also displays the tendency she seems to have of acting rashly in a fit of anger.
She also seems to have a weakness when it comes to maternal instincts. The day after Liz told Jenna that she wanted to have children, she found herself bombarded with offers from people who wanted to be sperm donors or surrogates for her. Liz was also asked by a makeup artist to hold her baby daughter while she was doing touch ups on Jenna, but, after leaving Jenna's dressing room, Liz blacked out and found herself standing in her apartment, still holding the baby in her arms, thanks to the baby's hypnotic effect on her. Liz compares the effect to highway hypnosis
.
While Liz is generally calm in nature, she is prone to violence when her food is stolen; she once knocked over a table when someone took her macaroni and cheese
, and also threatened to cut her co-workers' faces so badly that they would "all have chins" when she discovered someone had stolen her sandwich.
Some of Liz's social problems stem from past slapstick events that left her with long-suppressed traumas and phobias. For instance, in "Reaganing", Liz reveals to Jack that she once ended up falling while wearing roller skates and ending up with her underwear around her ankles while covered by a Tom Jones
poster (all while she was trying to find a bathroom to use in her house). When Jack learns she also freaked out when hearing a snippet of music in Las Vegas, she realizes that anything that reminds her of Tom Jones triggers her revulsion to sex. She was also unable to eat egg
s for a long time, and Kenneth's impromptu therapy helped her understand why: her aunt's husband left her, causing the aunt to feed a pre-teen Liz unappetizing egg-based dishes while making bizarre requests for company.
Liz also has a tendency to say "blerg", "nerds", "What the what?", and "son of a mother" as replacements for curse words, as well as the phrases "By the Hammer of Thor
!", "shut it down", "I want to go to there", "deal breaker", and "pwomp".
political opinions. For instance, she stated that she believes "gay
dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars
". Liz, however, has not been shown to own a car, hybrid or otherwise. She is frequently portrayed as endorsing Barack Obama
. However, despite her vocal support of Obama, she said that there was an "eighty percent chance" that she would end up secretly voting for John McCain
in the 2008 election
.
She is shown to be somewhat burdened with "white guilt
," which Tracy uses to manipulate her in the episode "Jack-Tor
". She later says that her affliction "is to be used only for good, like over-tipping and supporting Barack Obama". She is often very concerned about not being seen as racist
; for example, an African-American man (played by Wayne Brady
) she was dating played the "race card
" when she no longer wished to see him after realizing that they were not a good match.
When questioned what religion
she was, she replied that "I pretty much do whatever Oprah tells me to". She does mention that she previously tried to get her (former) boyfriend Floyd to try out a Unitarian
church with her, but he was not interested. In "The Break-Up
", Liz compiles a "Pros vs. Cons" list for Dennis, in which his Catholic
religion is listed as a negative. To date, Liz's religion has not been confirmed, but she does celebrate the Christmas
holiday
, possibly meaning she has some Christian
beliefs.
In Season 2
, Liz declared that she and Jack "are friends", and seems to be welcome in Jack's office at any time. The two joke often about their various personal and work-related problems, and increasingly offer each other advice. Jack has even surpassed Pete as Liz's most trusted confidant. This relationship culminated when Jack, after being told he was to be the next Chairman of General Electric
, named Liz as his Vice President
and successor. In essence, Liz and Jack have developed into each other's best sounding boards. For example, when Liz believed herself to be pregnant, her first reaction was to go to Jack's office (then occupied by the daughter of G.E.'s CEO) and, when ultimately she was unable to speak with him face to face, she left multiple messages on his phone. When Jack heavily embarrassed himself at a business retreat, Liz took the attention away from him by doing improvisation
and eventually, danced and took off her top. Jack was clearly moved and appreciative of her actions. She has done similar things multiple times, sacrificing her dignity for Jack's overall public appearance, as evidenced when she kissed Jack's business rival Devon Banks on security camera footage
so she could extort him. Jack responded to this by saying "Well played". Another example is in the episode "I Do Do
", when she stalled for him in front of a church, expanding her small reading to involve a guitar
song
and random readings from the bible
. Liz has a pregnancy scare in "Cooter", and leaves a series of messages on Jack's voicemail as she goes through a series of emotions. The pregnancy test turns out to be a false reading, and Jack flies from Washington, D.C to New York, showing up at her door to comfort her. When Liz struggled with intimacy issues, Jack talked her through them and helped her get to the root of the problem. When she wanted to give up on herself and break up with Carol Burnett, Jack didn't allow her to, telling her "You deserve a guy like Carol and he deserves you because, I'll only say this once a decade: you're great".
Despite their close friendship, Jack rarely addresses her as "Liz", generally preferring to call her by her surname. In the Season 5 episode "Mrs. Donaghy
", the minister at Jack and Avery Jessup's wedding
accidentally married Jack to Liz. Although they remain platonic, Liz and Jack are required to go to marriage counseling and realize the impact they have had on each others lives in the past 5 years. In honor of his friendship with Liz and everything she has done for him, Jack gave his first born daughter the middle name "Elizabeth".
Tina Fey has said that Liz' relationship with Jack is "somewhere between Mary Tyler Moore
and Lou Grant
, and Han Solo
and Princess Leia." Fey previously stated that there would not be a romantic relationship between the two, as it would be "too icky." More recently, however, she admitted there is sexual tension between Jack and Liz. There have been many episodes which hint at this, which has caused many fans to hope for an eventual Jack/Liz relationship. Jack passes Liz off as his girlfriend to make ex-wife Bianca jealous and Bianca tells Liz in one scene that "I can tell from the way he [Jack] looks at you that he's serious". Colleen Donaghy, Jack's mother, thinks that Liz is a perfect match for Jack. In "Do-Over", Jack and Liz attempt to win over temporary head of GE, Kathy Geiss by pretending to have a soap opera
-style real life relationship, escalating to the point where Geiss wants the two to kiss each other (her shouting "KISS!" marks the only time Kathy Geiss has spoken in the entire series); there is a pause, but Jack and Liz refuse.
. Liz stated in the pilot that she and Jenna worked for years to get The Girlie Show, having formerly been roommates in a Chicago neighborhood called "Little Armenia" around 1996. Given Jenna's insecure nature, Liz is generally forced to act as her rock. This has caused Liz some annoyance, especially after Jack increased Jenna's stress level and paranoia by hiring Tracy Jordan and changing the show's name from The Girlie Show to TGS With Tracy Jordan.
Liz has been seen complaining about Jenna's erratic tendencies behind her back, usually with Pete. Jenna once got mad at Liz when she overheard Liz describe her to Tracy as being "paranoid" and "neurotic." Jenna once slept with
Liz's brother Mitch and said he was disgusting in bed. Liz explains this by saying that Mitch has not been right since he was in some kind of skiing
accident, because of which he thinks it's still 1985 and he's still a teenager. Nonetheless, Jenna attempts to seduce Mitch once more in the episode "Ludachristmas."
Despite their frustrations and occasional rivalries, however, the show often reveals that the two women appreciate their friendship and do their best to be supportive of the other's careers. When the phrase "That's a deal breaker, ladies" is coined by Jenna thanks to Liz's writing, Jenna surrenders the spotlight with a surprisingly short sulking period. She later encourages Liz to write a book and take on a talk show gig based on the catch phrase (though the talk show is very short-lived).
He often challenges her authority, but always ends up losing out when he does. In "The Natural Order
", he cracks under the stress of doing the hard production work that Liz does every week, and in "Into the Crevasse
", when Liz allowed him to make a pornographic film about her life as penance for her "Dealbreakers" book messing up Tracy's relationship with his wife, Angie, he was so disgusted that he stopped watching it halfway through.
, as there seems to romantic tension between them during a brief encounter. It has become apparent that Lemon has very high standards in men, personified in her imaginary perfect husband, "Astronaut Mike Dexter". She appears to take a somewhat more realistic view her dream man after learning of her mother's premarital relationship with then-future astronaut Edwin "Buzz" ("Eddie" to her) Aldrin
and subsequently conversing with Aldrin.
Liz's longest relationship thus far has been with failed beeper salesman Dennis Duffy (Dean Winters
), her on-again-off-again boyfriend. Despite Dennis' many personal failings and general loutish behavior, Liz put up with him until she learned that he was an online sexual predator after seeing him on Dateline NBC
, where he was caught in one of their hidden camera investigations
. Even after this occurred, Liz nearly fell back into a relationship with Dennis when he became a celebrity for saving someone who fell on a subway track, and slept with him, leading to a brief pregnancy scare. Dennis later caused a rift between Liz and Jenna when Liz learned that Jenna slept with Dennis during Hurricane Katrina (Dennis says this was because they were both so upset "at what those people were doing to the Superdome").
Lemon had several comically disastrous dates and short relationships. In one episode, Liz and Jenna consider hooking up with two men from the building who they have nicknamed "The Head" and "The Hair" (because one is boring and balding, and the other is interesting and handsome, with a full head of great hair). Liz and Jenna both assume, automatically, that the good-looking one (The Hair) will go for Jenna, so Liz, a little resignedly, decides to ask The Head out on a date. On the way there, however, she is stunned to be approached by "The Hair" (whose real name, it turns out, is Gray). After a rocky start, things start to look optimistic for their romantic potential - until Liz and Gray discover that they are actually third cousins. In "The Source Awards," Liz has a dinner date with Steven Black, Tracy's attorney (played by Wayne Brady
). She quickly discovers that they have nothing in common and voices her doubts about furthering a relationship with him, but she backs down when he accuses her of being racist. Liz inadvertently gives herself an out, however; at the Source Awards she accidentally shoots Black in the buttocks. Liz briefly dated a 20-year-old named Jamie, but ended it when she discovered that his mother, Beth, was physically similar to her, and went on two dates with a dwarf
named Stuart mostly to save face after mistaking him for a small child.
Liz's most stable relationship thus far began when she received an anonymous Valentine
that turned out to have been sent to her by accident by a man named Floyd (Jason Sudeikis)
who intended to send the gift to his girlfriend, Liz Lemler ("The Other Liz"). Later, Jack told her to fire the bottom ten percent of her staff and Liz realized that Liz Lemler actually worked for her. What followed was chaos as Liz ended up firing not only Liz Lemler but also the entire accounting staff and Pete. In the end, Jack rehired Liz Lemler but had her transferred to Connecticut
. Although she did end up dating Floyd, they broke up when he moved to Cleveland and she decided to stay with her show in New York. It is later shown that she was not over Floyd at all. When he briefly returns to New York, she confronts him over their break-up, and they end up leaving their relationship closed but part on friendly terms. In season 4, Floyd returns to New York with his fiancee, and after a series of mishaps involving Jack Daniel's
-soaked Salmon, The Today Show
and Jack's ongoing relationships with two different women, Liz winds up in Floyd's wedding party.
In season three Liz briefly dated her neighbor Dr. Drew Baird (played by Jon Hamm). Liz was initially attracted to him after receiving some of his mail by mistake and realizing from his magazine subscriptions that they had many common interests. After a rocky first date, culminating in Lemon accidentally drugging Drew with a roofie, they were able to start a relationship. Liz ended the relationship when she realized that Drew was completely incompetent at basically everything he attempted, and people let him get away with it because he was incredibly handsome, a situation Jack described as "the bubble." Drew briefly returned in season 4 after losing both his hands in unrelated, insanely stupid accidents, and Liz decided once and for all that he was too dumb to ever date again.
At Kenneth's party, a drunk Liz made out with Grizz Griswold. Kenneth later mentioned that apparently afterward, she made Dot Com and Grizz cry. Liz's sexual history with Grizz has since been alluded to, and it is possibly this instance being referred to.
In the episode "Klaus and Greta", Liz sleeps with James Franco
and, presumably, Kimiko, Franco's Japanese body pillow lover. In the following episode, "Black Light Attack!", it is revealed that Liz has been secretly hooking up with the new TGS cast member, Danny. When Jack finds out, he's desperate for the relationship to end, since Danny is the first "man" friend Jack has made on the show, and is upset about Liz's interference with their friendship. Jack tells Danny he's secretly in love with Lemon, and Danny agrees to end the relationship. In the episode "Future Husband", Liz woke up from the anesthesiology after a root canal to discover she had a man listed in her cellphone contact list as "Future Husband". After discovering that they met while both under anesthesia, she is able to track him down at her dentists office. "Future Husband" is actually an uptight British insurance salesman (Michael Sheen
) named Wesley Snipes, who persistently resents the actor of the same name
. He initially appeals to Liz, who asks him out for coffee, but they get along poorly and seem to have little in common, and their second date (to see Hot Tub Time Machine
) goes even worse. Liz repeatedly runs into Wesley, which leads him to believe that the universe is telling them to settle for each other (as 'settling soul mates'), and he gleefully points out how terrible her romantic history has been as an argument in favor of settling for him. After being repeatedly told that her standards are too high, and looking back at her past failures (such as Dennis and Drew), Liz agrees to marry him—he is happy about this because he is about to be deported back to England, and also because he has lost his insurance job in unsalvageable fashion—but Liz ends the engagement and the relationship hours later after meeting Carol Burnett (played by Matt Damon
), an airline pilot who is a huge fan of TGS and shares many of Liz's personality quirks. The pair are still involved as of "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish". Liz takes advantage of Carol's extensive travel to avoid developing emotional intimacy or familiarity, while Carol has expressed a desire that they become more committed to each other and was not scared away when Liz confessed to being on an adoption waiting list. Their relationship ended in the episode "Double-Edged Sword" when their tempers boil over during an extended delay on board an airplane with power struggle that ends with Carol threatening with a gun while Liz uses an old man as a human shield.
The loss of Liz's luggage caused her to wear tennis whites and an insect net while serving as the emergency back-up best man at Jack's and Avery's wedding during unseen events occurring between "Christmas Attack Zone
" and "Mrs. Donaghy". Her attire and the officiant's lack of English proficiency led to Liz accidentally becoming Jack's wife, although their relationship remains platonic.
of Saturday Night Live
(SNL) from 1999 to 2006, the character is head writer for a sketch comedy show. For this reason, Liz Lemon is widely seen by critics as a fictionalized version of Fey herself
, which Fey herself has confirmed as being her intention. In a video interview conducted with Fey before the airing of the pilot, she stated that Liz is herself "five or six years ago when I first started at my job and had to figure out how to deal with big, strong personalities and get through the day, being sort-of scared of everyone... but acting like you're not scared of everyone."
Fey has reported incorporating some of her own quirks and history into the character, saying that she tries to "share as many of Liz's habits as possible so it feels truthful". Liz has been seen singing "Maybe" and Fey has noted that she also enjoys singing songs from Annie
. Both were once rejected by a man who later went to "clown college" which had a huge emotional impact on them.
The character also shares her given name
with Fey, whose full name is Elizabeth Stamatina Fey. However, Liz Lemon is only very rarely referred to as "Elizabeth" and the character's name is usually given as "Liz Lemon" in official contexts (example, the plaque on the door to her office). It is also worth noting that in Fey's original script for 30 Rock, Lemon's first name was "Lisa". The character's middle name, "Miervaldis," is a Latvian name, and Fey has said that, while Lemon's ethnic background is unknown, "Latvian seems to make sense." The character's last name, "Lemon," is apparently intended to imply an acerbic personality and possibly also to make her full name alliterative. Fey has stated that she wanted Liz to have a good last name since she knew the character would often be called by it.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series 30 Rock
30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
. She is portrayed by Tina Fey
Tina Fey
Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer, known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live , the NBC comedy series 30 Rock, and films such as Mean Girls and Baby Mama .Fey first broke into comedy as a featured player in the...
, who is also the creator of the series and its showrunner.
Personal history
Liz Lemon was born on October 14, 1970 on the border of MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Raised in the town of White Haven
White Haven, Pennsylvania
White Haven is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. White Haven was created in 1824 by industrialist Josiah White. It is located along the Lehigh River which connects White Haven to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,182 at the 2000 census...
, Liz is the daughter and second child to Dick Lemon and Margaret Lemon (née Freeman). Liz's parents are, outwardly, very optimistic and supportive of her, but privately, they actually dislike many of their daughter's attributes and life decisions, as revealed during the climax of "Ludachristmas
Ludachristmas
"Ludachristmas" is the ninth episode of the second season of the television series 30 Rock and was first broadcast on December 13, 2007 on the NBC network in the United States. The episode was written by Tami Sagher and directed by Don Scardino...
". Liz's elder brother, Mitch, was the victim of a skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
accident on Sunday, December 8, 1985, when he was a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
senior. Afterwards, he experienced anterograde amnesia
Anterograde amnesia
Anterograde amnesia is a loss of the ability to create new memories after the event that caused the amnesia, leading to a partial or complete inability to recall the recent past, while long-term memories from before the event remain intact. This is in contrast to retrograde amnesia, where memories...
, remaining "stuck" in the day before the accident, thinking for the next 22 years that he was still 17 and that the year was still 1985. In the episode "The Moms
The Moms
"The Moms" is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 78th overall episode of the series. It was written by co-producer Kay Cannon and co-show runner and executive producer Robert Carlock. The episode was directed by co-executive producer...
," her mother is said to have worked as a secretary at Sterling Cooper.
In the season 3
30 Rock (season 3)
The third season of 30 Rock, an American television comedy series, consists of 22 episodes and began airing on October 30, 2008 on the NBC network in the United States...
finale, "Kidney Now!
Kidney Now!
"Kidney Now!" is the twenty-second episode and season finale of the third season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 58th overall episode of the series. It was directed by series producer Don Scardino, and written by show producers Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock...
", it is revealed that Liz attended elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
with musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and actress Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, co-starring with her as one of a pair of kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
s in a 5th grade musical (although in reality, Crow grew up in Kennett, Missouri
Kennett, Missouri
Kennett is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, but a 2008 estimate indicates a 4.9% decrease in population to 10,707. Kennett is the county seat of Dunklin County...
, and is eight years older than Liz). While Liz believes that the two were great friends, Crow only vaguely remembers her, and refers to Liz as a "loser".
Liz was inspired to become a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
by Rosemary Howard, the first female head writer of Laugh-In. She mentioned that she used to teach improv
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
to senior citizen
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
s. In high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Liz believed that she was an unpopular "nerd
Nerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
" that all of her classmates picked on, only to learn two decades later at her 20-year high school reunion that she was, in fact, the universally disliked class bully. At Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
, she studied theater tech
Stagecraft
Stagecraft is a generic term referring to the technical aspects of theatrical, film, and video production. It includes, but is not limited to, constructing and rigging scenery, hanging and focusing of lighting, design and procurement of costumes, makeup, procurement of props, stage management, and...
, for which she still has an outstanding student loan
Student loan
A student loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition, books, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in education...
, and attended the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
on a partial competitive jazz dance
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. She spent her junior year abroad in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and seems to speak fluent German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as, in her opinion, it is "the most beautiful language in the world". However, it becomes apparent in "Episode 210", that she is not fluent, as she mixes up the verbs "to sell" and "to buy" (verkaufen and kaufen), and has difficulty understanding the German TV executives. In "Larry King
Larry King (30 Rock)
"Larry King" is the twelfth episode of the third season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 48th overall episode of the series. It was written by supervising producer Matt Hubbard and directed by Constantine Makris. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting...
", she sings "99 Luftballons
99 Luftballons
"99 Luftballons" is a protest song by the German pop-rock band Nena from their 1983 self-titled album. Originally sung in German, it was later re-recorded in English as "99 Red Balloons" for their album 99 Luftballons in 1984...
".
In the episodes "Believe in the Stars
Believe in the Stars
"Believe in the Stars" is the second episode of the third season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 38th overall episode of the series. It was written by executive producer Robert Carlock and directed by series producer Don Scardino. The episode originally aired on the...
" and "Cooter
Cooter (30 Rock)
"Cooter" is the fifteenth episode of the second season of 30 Rock and thirty-sixth episode of the series. It was written by series' creator Tina Fey and was directed by one of the season's producers, Don Scardino. The episode first aired on May 8, 2008 on the NBC network in the United States...
", Liz states that she did not lose her virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
until she was 25 (this would be in 1995 or 1996).
Liz met Jenna Maroney
Jenna Maroney
Jenna Maroney is a fictional character on the American television series 30 Rock, played by Jane Krakowski.-Fictional biography:Jenna was born Ystrepa Grokovitz on February 24, 1969 and grew up in Bakersfield...
in 1993, when Jenna was studying voice at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. By Liz's own words, Jenna was "slutting it up" to get car dealership
Car dealership
A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling...
owners to put her in their commercials. The two shared an apartment in a Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
neighborhood called "Little Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
", and together they dreamed of "making it big". While in Chicago, Liz reportedly tried to be an actress, but the only job she was able to book was a phone sex line commercial. Liz and Jenna began The Girlie Show at Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
. They worked for years to turn The Girlie Show into a television series, which NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
picked up (though only to quell the outrage of women's groups over the misogynistic show Bitch Hunter), resulting in the pair moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for it. Liz became the head writer for The Girlie Show, while Jenna became the show's main star.
In the episode "Floyd
Floyd (30 Rock)
"Floyd" is the sixteenth episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 74th overall episode of the series. It was written by series producer Paula Pell, and directed by Millicent Shelton. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting Company ...
", Liz states that she appeared in an episode of America's Most Wanted
America's Most Wanted
America's Most Wanted is an American television program produced by 20th Television, and was the longest-running program of any kind in the history of the Fox Television Network until it was announced on May 16, 2011 that the series was canceled after twenty-three years, with the final episode...
, portraying a woman who gets strangled on the toilet.
In the pilot
Pilot (30 Rock)
The pilot episode of the American situation comedy series 30 Rock premiered on October 10, 2006 on the CTV Television Network in Canada, and October 11, 2006 on NBC in the United States...
, it is announced that Liz's former boss Gary has died and Jack Donaghy
Jack Donaghy
John Francis "Jack" Donaghy is a fictional character on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. He is the Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming for General Electric and later Kabletown....
takes his place. Jack immediately decides to retool the show to make it appeal to a larger demographic, starting by firing Liz's trusted producer Pete Hornberger and making her hire unpredictable actor Tracy Jordan
Tracy Jordan
Ogbert Jordan, better known by his stage name, Tracy, is a fictional character on the American television series 30 Rock, based on and played by Tracy Morgan.-Brief overview:...
as the show's new star. Liz manages to convince Jack to re-hire Pete, but Jack is insistent on making the show center around Tracy and, much to her chagrin, he renames the show TGS with Tracy Jordan.
Since 2005, Liz has lived in an apartment at 168 Riverside Drive
Riverside Drive (Manhattan)
Riverside Drive is a scenic north-south thoroughfare in the Manhattan borough of New York City. The boulevard runs on the west side of Manhattan, generally parallel to the Hudson River from 72nd Street to near the George Washington Bridge at 181st Street...
(which is a real apartment complex in New York City); her apartment number is 3B.
Liz has also evidently won at least one Emmy Award.
Personality
After a mere glance at her in the pilot, Jack sums up Liz as a "New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
third-wave feminist
Third-wave feminism
Third-wave feminism is a term identified with several diverse strains of feminist activity and study whose exact boundaries in the historiography of feminism are a subject of debate, but often marked as beginning in the 1980s and continuing to the present...
, college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
-educated, single-and-pretending-to-be-happy-about-it, over-scheduled, undersexed, you buy any magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
that says 'healthy body image
Body image
Body image refers to a person's perception of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of their own body. The phrase body image was first coined by the Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Paul Schilder in his masterpiece The Image and Appearance of the Human Body...
' on the cover and every two years you take up knitting
Knitting
Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitted fabric consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can...
for...a week." This is confirmed by Pete to be accurate, commenting that the "knitting" part, in particular, was uncanny.
Liz is generally portrayed as something of a "geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
". So, while she is an apparently skilled writer, she seems to have very few social skills
Social skills
A social skill is any skill facilitating interaction and communication with others. Social rules and relations are created, communicated, and changed in verbal and nonverbal ways. The process of learning such skills is called socialization...
(in "Rosemary's Baby
Rosemary's Baby (30 Rock)
"Rosemary's Baby" is the fourth episode of the second season of 30 Rock, and the twenty-fifth episode overall. It was written by Jack Burditt and was directed by Michael Engler. The episode first aired on October 25, 2007 on the NBC network in the United States...
", Jack describes her as "socially retarded"). For example, while she was trying to pick up men at a karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
bar, a man asked her if the seat next to her was taken, leading her to ask him why she should have to move her coat just so he could sit there.
Liz has a rather sardonic sense of humor. She has frequently been shown to be a stress eater, a trait she shares with Jack. Despite the fact that she often ingests high-amounts of junk food
Junk food
Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value ; to products with nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all...
on a daily basis, she seems to keep her weight under control, perhaps because she does not seem to have proper meals. According to Fey, the character is not bulimic
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging or consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time, followed by an attempt to rid oneself of the food consumed, usually by purging and/or by laxative, diuretics or excessive exercise. Bulimia nervosa is...
; "she just likes to eat." Liz does have some knowledge of cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, though she admits to only using her oven
Oven
An oven is a thermally insulated chamber used for the heating, baking or drying of a substance. It is most commonly used for cooking. Kilns, and furnaces are special-purpose ovens...
to warm her jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
in the morning. She is allergic
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
to both dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s and cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s, as well as "anything warm and adorable". However, she does believes her allergy to dogs is psychosomatic, as she mentions that a dog bit her during the time of her first period.
Like Fey, Liz is a big fan of the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
film franchise, often using events from the original trilogy to explain her feelings and actions in daily life. For example, in the episode "Jack the Writer
Jack the Writer
"Jack the Writer" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American situation comedy 30 Rock, which aired on November 1, 2006 on the NBC network in the United States, and on November 1, 2007 in the United Kingdom. The episode was written by Robert Carlock and was directed by Gail Mancuso...
," she compares Jack to the Sith
Sith
-Sith:The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe. In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.-The Invention of the Sith:...
lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
, and contemplates that entering his office is like "stepping onto the Death Star
Death Star
The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
". In "The Source Awards", Liz mentions that for the four past Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
s in a row, she has dressed up as Princess Leia
Princess Leia Organa
Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe...
. She has also dressed as the character during jury selection
Jury selection
Jury selection are many methods used to choose the people who will serve on a trial jury. The jury pool is first selected from among the community using a reasonably random method. The prospective jurors are then questioned in court by the judge and/or attorneys...
in order to be disqualified from serving. Liz considers Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. It is the fifth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the second in terms of the series' internal chronology...
to be the worst film of the series.
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
, in which her favorite character is Hiro Nakamura
Hiro Nakamura
is a fictional character on the NBC fantasy drama Heroes who possesses the ability of space-time manipulation. This means that Hiro is able to alter the flow of time. Previously, his ability allowed him to teleport, stop time, or travel through time, but recent events in the series have prevented...
, Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
, Little People, Big World
Little People, Big World
Little People, Big World is a reality television series produced in the United States that aired on TLC. The series follows the six-member Roloff family farm near Portland, Oregon...
, Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
,Top Chef
Top Chef
Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
, Designing Women
Designing Women
Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered on the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by head writer...
and The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
. Her drinks of choice are Pinot Grigio or white wine with ice cubes and Sprite
Sprite (soft drink)
Sprite is a transparent, lemon-lime flavored , caffeine free soft drink, produced by the Coca-Cola Company. It was introduced in the United States in 1961. This was Coke's response to the popularity of 7 Up, which had begun as "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" in 1929...
. She is obsessed with men in green tights. As of "Cleveland", her ringtone is "Ride of the Valkyries
Ride of the Valkyries
The Ride of the Valkyries is the popular term for the beginning of Act III of Die Walküre, the second of the four operas by Richard Wagner that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen. The main theme of the Ride, the leitmotif labelled Walkürenritt, was first written down by the composer on 23 July 1851...
", which she and Jenna consider a reference to What's Opera, Doc?
What's Opera, Doc?
What's Opera, Doc? is a 1957 American animated cartoon short in the Merrie Melodies series, directed by Chuck Jones for Warner Bros. Cartoons. The Michael Maltese story features Elmer Fudd chasing Bugs Bunny through a parody of 19th century classical composer Richard Wagner's operas, particularly...
. Her ringtone for "Future Husband
Future Husband
"Future Husband" is the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock. It was directed by series producer Don Scardino, and written by Jon Haller and Tracey Wigfield. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting Company network in the United...
", is "Fuck the Pain Away
Fuck the Pain Away
"Fuck the Pain Away" is an electroclash song by Peaches. It is considered her breakthrough song, and because of its widespread licensing in films as well as numerous official and unofficial cover versions is held by many of her fans to be responsible for her increasing popularity...
" by Peaches
Peaches (musician)
Merrill Beth Nisker , better known by her stage name Peaches, is a Canadian electronic musician and performance artist who lives in Berlin, Germany. Her songs are noted for disregarding traditional gender norms and their use of sexually explicit lyrics...
.
In the episode "The Fabian Strategy", Liz reveals that the three things she likes in the world are Ina Garten
Ina Garten
Ina Rosenberg Garten is an American author, host of the Food Network program Barefoot Contessa, and former White House nuclear policy analyst...
, "sweater weather", and when Muppets present at awards shows.
Liz appears to be a Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
fan. In "Reaganing
Reaganing
"Reaganing" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 85th overall episode of the series. It was written by co-executive producer Matt Hubbard and directed by Todd Holland. It originally aired on the National Broadcasting Company network in...
", it is mentioned that at nine-years old, she sported a Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
inspired haircut and had posters of Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Michael Jack Schmidt is a Hall of Fame third baseman popularly considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of Major League Baseball. He played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....
and Tug McGraw
Tug McGraw
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
in her bedroom. These three players were active with the Phillies during this period. It is also noted that she uses a 'Phillies Sport Wallet' in "It's Never Too Late For Now
It's Never Too Late for Now
"It's Never Too Late For Now" is the fifteenth episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 95th overall episode of the series. It was directed by John Riggi, and written by Vali Chandrasekaran. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting...
".
By "Christmas Attack Zone
Christmas Attack Zone
"Christmas Attack Zone" is the tenth episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 90th overall episode of the series. It was written by show story editor Tracey Wigfield and directed by co-executive producer John Riggi. It originally aired on the National...
", Liz has learned the meanings of body language
Body language
Body language is a form of non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements. Humans send and interpret such signals almost entirely subconsciously....
through watching The Mentalist
The Mentalist
The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
(due to her losing the remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
to her television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, thus being unable to change the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
channel it was on). Because of her newfound talent, she dubs herself "The MentaLiz".
In contrast with her friend and foil
Foil (literature)
In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of another character....
Jenna, Liz seems to have little interest in stereotypical female interests, such as fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
. In "Blind Date
Blind Date (30 Rock)
"Blind Date" is the third episode of the first season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock. It was written by co-executive producer John Riggi and directed by Adam Bernstein. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting Company in the United States on October 25, 2006...
", her "bi-curious
Bi-curious
Bi-curious is a term used to refer to people of a heterosexual or homosexual identity who, while showing some curiosity for a relationship or sexual activity with a person of the sex they do not favor, distinguish themselves from the bisexual label. The term is sometimes used to describe a broad...
" shoes led Jack to erroneously believe she was gay, and set her up on a blind date with his friend Gretchen Thomas, the "brilliant plastics engineer/lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
". Except when she is pressured to dress more feminine
Feminine
Feminine, or femininity, normally refers to qualities positively associated with women.Feminine may also refer to:*Feminine , a grammatical gender*Feminine cadence, a final chord falling in a metrically weak position...
ly, Liz typically appears in casual, gender-neutral attire. In earlier episodes, she almost always wore plastic-rimmed glasses
Glasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses , spectacles or simply specs , are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or...
, though she has started to wear them less frequently over the course of the series. Flashbacks reveal that she has worn glasses since she was around four of five years of age. However, according to Jenna in "[The Rural Juror]]", she does not actually need glasses. This is probably intended to parody the fact that plastic-rimmed glasses are considered to be Tina Fey's trademark in real life, despite the fact that she does not actually need glasses except to see far away.
Liz has a strong aversion to unfairness and rule-breaking as demonstrated in the opening scene of the pilot, where a man cheats to get a hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
from a hot dog stand by "creating" a new line, which several people from the "original" line promptly join. She responds by buying all the hot dogs and giving them to the "good people" who stayed in the original line. Later, when Liz considered quitting over Jack's changes to TGS, Pete told her that she had the best job in New York and that she should not "buy all the hot dogs". This also displays the tendency she seems to have of acting rashly in a fit of anger.
She also seems to have a weakness when it comes to maternal instincts. The day after Liz told Jenna that she wanted to have children, she found herself bombarded with offers from people who wanted to be sperm donors or surrogates for her. Liz was also asked by a makeup artist to hold her baby daughter while she was doing touch ups on Jenna, but, after leaving Jenna's dressing room, Liz blacked out and found herself standing in her apartment, still holding the baby in her arms, thanks to the baby's hypnotic effect on her. Liz compares the effect to highway hypnosis
Highway hypnosis
Highway hypnosis, also popularly known as driving without attention mode or white line fever, is a mental state in which a person can drive a truck or automobile great distances, responding to external events in the expected manner with no recollection of having consciously done so...
.
While Liz is generally calm in nature, she is prone to violence when her food is stolen; she once knocked over a table when someone took her macaroni and cheese
Macaroni and cheese
Macaroni and cheese, also known as "mac and cheese", "macaroni cheese" in British English, or "macaroni pie" in Caribbean English, is a casserole consisting of cooked macaroni and cheese sauce...
, and also threatened to cut her co-workers' faces so badly that they would "all have chins" when she discovered someone had stolen her sandwich.
Some of Liz's social problems stem from past slapstick events that left her with long-suppressed traumas and phobias. For instance, in "Reaganing", Liz reveals to Jack that she once ended up falling while wearing roller skates and ending up with her underwear around her ankles while covered by a Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
poster (all while she was trying to find a bathroom to use in her house). When Jack learns she also freaked out when hearing a snippet of music in Las Vegas, she realizes that anything that reminds her of Tom Jones triggers her revulsion to sex. She was also unable to eat egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
s for a long time, and Kenneth's impromptu therapy helped her understand why: her aunt's husband left her, causing the aunt to feed a pre-teen Liz unappetizing egg-based dishes while making bizarre requests for company.
Liz also has a tendency to say "blerg", "nerds", "What the what?", and "son of a mother" as replacements for curse words, as well as the phrases "By the Hammer of Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
!", "shut it down", "I want to go to there", "deal breaker", and "pwomp".
Political and religious views
As demonstrated over the course of her appearances, Liz seems to have liberalLiberalism in the United States
Liberalism in the United States is a broad political philosophy centered on the unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion for all belief systems, and the separation of church and state, right to due process...
political opinions. For instance, she stated that she believes "gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
". Liz, however, has not been shown to own a car, hybrid or otherwise. She is frequently portrayed as endorsing Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. However, despite her vocal support of Obama, she said that there was an "eighty percent chance" that she would end up secretly voting for John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
in the 2008 election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
She is shown to be somewhat burdened with "white guilt
White guilt
White guilt refers to the concept of individual or collective guilt often said to be felt by some white people for the racist treatment of people of color by whites both historically and presently...
," which Tracy uses to manipulate her in the episode "Jack-Tor
Jack-Tor
"Jack-Tor" is the fifth episode of the first season of the American situation comedy 30 Rock, which aired on November 16, 2006 on the NBC network in the United States, and on November 8, 2007 in the United Kingdom. The episode was written by Robert Carlock and was directed by Don Scardino...
". She later says that her affliction "is to be used only for good, like over-tipping and supporting Barack Obama". She is often very concerned about not being seen as racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
; for example, an African-American man (played by Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady
Wayne Alphonso Brady is an actor, singer, comedian and television personality, known for his work as a regular on the American version of the improvisational comedy television series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and as the host of the daytime talk show The Wayne Brady Show...
) she was dating played the "race card
Race card
Playing the race card is an idiomatic phrase that refers to exploitation of either racist or anti-racist attitudes to gain a personal advantage, typically by falsely accusing others of racism against oneself.-Usage:...
" when she no longer wished to see him after realizing that they were not a good match.
When questioned what religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
she was, she replied that "I pretty much do whatever Oprah tells me to". She does mention that she previously tried to get her (former) boyfriend Floyd to try out a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
church with her, but he was not interested. In "The Break-Up
The Break-Up (30 Rock)
"The Break-Up" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock. It was written by co-executive producers Brett Baer and Dave Finkel, and directed by Scott Ellis. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting Company in the United States on...
", Liz compiles a "Pros vs. Cons" list for Dennis, in which his Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
religion is listed as a negative. To date, Liz's religion has not been confirmed, but she does celebrate the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
holiday
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
, possibly meaning she has some Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
beliefs.
Jack Donaghy
In the beginning of the series, Liz and Jack had an antagonistic relationship. As the series progressed, however, this original dislike disappeared, and they are now close friends, with Jack at one point going so far as to tell her, "Lemon, I honestly don't know what I'd do without you". In spite of this, they still occasionally tease each other.In Season 2
30 Rock (season 2)
The second season of 30 Rock, an American television comedy series, originally aired between October 4, 2007 and May 8, 2008 on NBC in the United States. 30 Rock takes place behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy series depicted as airing on NBC; the name refers to 30 Rockefeller...
, Liz declared that she and Jack "are friends", and seems to be welcome in Jack's office at any time. The two joke often about their various personal and work-related problems, and increasingly offer each other advice. Jack has even surpassed Pete as Liz's most trusted confidant. This relationship culminated when Jack, after being told he was to be the next Chairman of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, named Liz as his Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
and successor. In essence, Liz and Jack have developed into each other's best sounding boards. For example, when Liz believed herself to be pregnant, her first reaction was to go to Jack's office (then occupied by the daughter of G.E.'s CEO) and, when ultimately she was unable to speak with him face to face, she left multiple messages on his phone. When Jack heavily embarrassed himself at a business retreat, Liz took the attention away from him by doing improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
and eventually, danced and took off her top. Jack was clearly moved and appreciative of her actions. She has done similar things multiple times, sacrificing her dignity for Jack's overall public appearance, as evidenced when she kissed Jack's business rival Devon Banks on security camera footage
Footage
In filmmaking and video production, footage is the raw, unedited material as it had been originally filmed by movie camera or recorded by a video camera which usually must be edited to create a motion picture, video clip, television show or similar completed work...
so she could extort him. Jack responded to this by saying "Well played". Another example is in the episode "I Do Do
I Do Do
"I Do Do" is the twenty-second episode and season finale of the fourth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 80th overall episode of the series. It was directed by series producer Don Scardino, and written by series creator, executive producer and lead actress Tina Fey...
", when she stalled for him in front of a church, expanding her small reading to involve a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
and random readings from the bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Liz has a pregnancy scare in "Cooter", and leaves a series of messages on Jack's voicemail as she goes through a series of emotions. The pregnancy test turns out to be a false reading, and Jack flies from Washington, D.C to New York, showing up at her door to comfort her. When Liz struggled with intimacy issues, Jack talked her through them and helped her get to the root of the problem. When she wanted to give up on herself and break up with Carol Burnett, Jack didn't allow her to, telling her "You deserve a guy like Carol and he deserves you because, I'll only say this once a decade: you're great".
Despite their close friendship, Jack rarely addresses her as "Liz", generally preferring to call her by her surname. In the Season 5 episode "Mrs. Donaghy
Mrs. Donaghy
"Mrs. Donaghy" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 91st overall episode of the series. It was written by co-executive producer Jack Burditt and directed by Tricia Brock. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting...
", the minister at Jack and Avery Jessup's wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
accidentally married Jack to Liz. Although they remain platonic, Liz and Jack are required to go to marriage counseling and realize the impact they have had on each others lives in the past 5 years. In honor of his friendship with Liz and everything she has done for him, Jack gave his first born daughter the middle name "Elizabeth".
Tina Fey has said that Liz' relationship with Jack is "somewhere between Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore is an American actress, primarily known for her roles in television sitcoms. Moore is best known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show , in which she starred as Mary Richards, a 30-something single woman who worked as a local news producer in Minneapolis, and for her earlier role as...
and Lou Grant
Lou Grant
Lou Grant is a fictional character played by Edward Asner in two television series produced by MTM Enterprises for CBS. The first was Mary Tyler Moore , in which the character was the news director at the fictional television station WJM-TV...
, and Han Solo
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
and Princess Leia." Fey previously stated that there would not be a romantic relationship between the two, as it would be "too icky." More recently, however, she admitted there is sexual tension between Jack and Liz. There have been many episodes which hint at this, which has caused many fans to hope for an eventual Jack/Liz relationship. Jack passes Liz off as his girlfriend to make ex-wife Bianca jealous and Bianca tells Liz in one scene that "I can tell from the way he [Jack] looks at you that he's serious". Colleen Donaghy, Jack's mother, thinks that Liz is a perfect match for Jack. In "Do-Over", Jack and Liz attempt to win over temporary head of GE, Kathy Geiss by pretending to have a soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
-style real life relationship, escalating to the point where Geiss wants the two to kiss each other (her shouting "KISS!" marks the only time Kathy Geiss has spoken in the entire series); there is a pause, but Jack and Liz refuse.
Jenna Maroney
Liz and Jenna have known each other since 1993, when they met at an audition for a car dealership commercial in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Liz stated in the pilot that she and Jenna worked for years to get The Girlie Show, having formerly been roommates in a Chicago neighborhood called "Little Armenia" around 1996. Given Jenna's insecure nature, Liz is generally forced to act as her rock. This has caused Liz some annoyance, especially after Jack increased Jenna's stress level and paranoia by hiring Tracy Jordan and changing the show's name from The Girlie Show to TGS With Tracy Jordan.
Liz has been seen complaining about Jenna's erratic tendencies behind her back, usually with Pete. Jenna once got mad at Liz when she overheard Liz describe her to Tracy as being "paranoid" and "neurotic." Jenna once slept with
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
Liz's brother Mitch and said he was disgusting in bed. Liz explains this by saying that Mitch has not been right since he was in some kind of skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
accident, because of which he thinks it's still 1985 and he's still a teenager. Nonetheless, Jenna attempts to seduce Mitch once more in the episode "Ludachristmas."
Despite their frustrations and occasional rivalries, however, the show often reveals that the two women appreciate their friendship and do their best to be supportive of the other's careers. When the phrase "That's a deal breaker, ladies" is coined by Jenna thanks to Liz's writing, Jenna surrenders the spotlight with a surprisingly short sulking period. She later encourages Liz to write a book and take on a talk show gig based on the catch phrase (though the talk show is very short-lived).
Pete Hornberger
Liz and Pete have known each other since about 1996 and he's possibly the closest thing Liz has to a confidant besides Jack, especially since Jenna, her closest female friend, is far too anxious about her own life to function as such. Pete lived in Liz's apartment for an extended period while separated from his wife.Tracy Jordan
Liz has not really tried to pursue a relationship of any kind with Tracy, preferring to focus her energies on keeping his craziness in check. She is typically friendly towards him, though mainly to further this end. While Liz will refer to him as either "Tracy" or "Tray", Tracy will most often refer to Liz by her full name "Liz Lemon", "LL", or, less often, just "Lemon".He often challenges her authority, but always ends up losing out when he does. In "The Natural Order
The Natural Order
"The Natural Order" is the twentieth episode of the third season of the American television comedy show 30 Rock. It was written by series creator Tina Fey with co-executive producer John Riggi and directed by Scott Ellis. The episode originally aired on the National Broadcasting Company network in...
", he cracks under the stress of doing the hard production work that Liz does every week, and in "Into the Crevasse
Into the Crevasse
"Into the Crevasse" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 60th overall episode of the series. The episode was written by co-showrunner and executive producer Robert Carlock and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller. It originally aired on...
", when Liz allowed him to make a pornographic film about her life as penance for her "Dealbreakers" book messing up Tracy's relationship with his wife, Angie, he was so disgusted that he stopped watching it halfway through.
Love life
Many episodes of the show have dealt with Lemon's ongoing search for love. According to Pete, Liz has had some "really terrible boyfriends" in the ten years that he's known her. It is implied that she once dated Conan O'BrienConan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
, as there seems to romantic tension between them during a brief encounter. It has become apparent that Lemon has very high standards in men, personified in her imaginary perfect husband, "Astronaut Mike Dexter". She appears to take a somewhat more realistic view her dream man after learning of her mother's premarital relationship with then-future astronaut Edwin "Buzz" ("Eddie" to her) Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history...
and subsequently conversing with Aldrin.
Liz's longest relationship thus far has been with failed beeper salesman Dennis Duffy (Dean Winters
Dean Winters
Dean Winters is an American actor, who has portrayed Ryan O'Reily on HBO's Oz, Johnny Gavin on FX Network's Rescue Me, and Dennis Duffy on NBC's 30 Rock...
), her on-again-off-again boyfriend. Despite Dennis' many personal failings and general loutish behavior, Liz put up with him until she learned that he was an online sexual predator after seeing him on Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
, where he was caught in one of their hidden camera investigations
To Catch a Predator
To Catch a Predator is an American reality television series that features hidden camera investigations by the television newsmagazine program Dateline NBC. It is devoted to impersonating underage youth and detaining adults who contact them over the Internet for sexual liaisons...
. Even after this occurred, Liz nearly fell back into a relationship with Dennis when he became a celebrity for saving someone who fell on a subway track, and slept with him, leading to a brief pregnancy scare. Dennis later caused a rift between Liz and Jenna when Liz learned that Jenna slept with Dennis during Hurricane Katrina (Dennis says this was because they were both so upset "at what those people were doing to the Superdome").
Lemon had several comically disastrous dates and short relationships. In one episode, Liz and Jenna consider hooking up with two men from the building who they have nicknamed "The Head" and "The Hair" (because one is boring and balding, and the other is interesting and handsome, with a full head of great hair). Liz and Jenna both assume, automatically, that the good-looking one (The Hair) will go for Jenna, so Liz, a little resignedly, decides to ask The Head out on a date. On the way there, however, she is stunned to be approached by "The Hair" (whose real name, it turns out, is Gray). After a rocky start, things start to look optimistic for their romantic potential - until Liz and Gray discover that they are actually third cousins. In "The Source Awards," Liz has a dinner date with Steven Black, Tracy's attorney (played by Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady
Wayne Alphonso Brady is an actor, singer, comedian and television personality, known for his work as a regular on the American version of the improvisational comedy television series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and as the host of the daytime talk show The Wayne Brady Show...
). She quickly discovers that they have nothing in common and voices her doubts about furthering a relationship with him, but she backs down when he accuses her of being racist. Liz inadvertently gives herself an out, however; at the Source Awards she accidentally shoots Black in the buttocks. Liz briefly dated a 20-year-old named Jamie, but ended it when she discovered that his mother, Beth, was physically similar to her, and went on two dates with a dwarf
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
named Stuart mostly to save face after mistaking him for a small child.
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
that turned out to have been sent to her by accident by a man named Floyd (Jason Sudeikis)
Jason Sudeikis
Daniel Jason Sudeikis is an American actor and comedian currently starring as a cast member on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:Sudeikis was born Daniel Jason Sudeikis in Fairfax, Virginia, the son of Kathryn , a travel agent who was president of the American Society of Travel Agents, and Dan...
who intended to send the gift to his girlfriend, Liz Lemler ("The Other Liz"). Later, Jack told her to fire the bottom ten percent of her staff and Liz realized that Liz Lemler actually worked for her. What followed was chaos as Liz ended up firing not only Liz Lemler but also the entire accounting staff and Pete. In the end, Jack rehired Liz Lemler but had her transferred to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Although she did end up dating Floyd, they broke up when he moved to Cleveland and she decided to stay with her show in New York. It is later shown that she was not over Floyd at all. When he briefly returns to New York, she confronts him over their break-up, and they end up leaving their relationship closed but part on friendly terms. In season 4, Floyd returns to New York with his fiancee, and after a series of mishaps involving Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey that is among the world's best-selling liquors. It is known for its square bottles and black label. As of November, 2007, one blogger was claiming that it was the best-selling whiskey in the world. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee by...
-soaked Salmon, The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
and Jack's ongoing relationships with two different women, Liz winds up in Floyd's wedding party.
In season three Liz briefly dated her neighbor Dr. Drew Baird (played by Jon Hamm). Liz was initially attracted to him after receiving some of his mail by mistake and realizing from his magazine subscriptions that they had many common interests. After a rocky first date, culminating in Lemon accidentally drugging Drew with a roofie, they were able to start a relationship. Liz ended the relationship when she realized that Drew was completely incompetent at basically everything he attempted, and people let him get away with it because he was incredibly handsome, a situation Jack described as "the bubble." Drew briefly returned in season 4 after losing both his hands in unrelated, insanely stupid accidents, and Liz decided once and for all that he was too dumb to ever date again.
At Kenneth's party, a drunk Liz made out with Grizz Griswold. Kenneth later mentioned that apparently afterward, she made Dot Com and Grizz cry. Liz's sexual history with Grizz has since been alluded to, and it is possibly this instance being referred to.
In the episode "Klaus and Greta", Liz sleeps with James Franco
James Franco
James Edward Franco is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author, painter, performance artist and instructor at New York University. He left college in order to pursue acting and started off his career by making guest appearances on television series in the 1990s...
and, presumably, Kimiko, Franco's Japanese body pillow lover. In the following episode, "Black Light Attack!", it is revealed that Liz has been secretly hooking up with the new TGS cast member, Danny. When Jack finds out, he's desperate for the relationship to end, since Danny is the first "man" friend Jack has made on the show, and is upset about Liz's interference with their friendship. Jack tells Danny he's secretly in love with Lemon, and Danny agrees to end the relationship. In the episode "Future Husband", Liz woke up from the anesthesiology after a root canal to discover she had a man listed in her cellphone contact list as "Future Husband". After discovering that they met while both under anesthesia, she is able to track him down at her dentists office. "Future Husband" is actually an uptight British insurance salesman (Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen
Michael Christopher Sheen, OBE , is a Welsh stage and screen actor. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England and made his professional debut opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre in 1991...
) named Wesley Snipes, who persistently resents the actor of the same name
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...
. He initially appeals to Liz, who asks him out for coffee, but they get along poorly and seem to have little in common, and their second date (to see Hot Tub Time Machine
Hot Tub Time Machine
Hot Tub Time Machine is a 2010 American science fiction adult comedy film directed by Steve Pink. Four men, all of them bored with their adult lives, travel back to their 1980s teen-hood, courtesy of a time-shifting hot tub. It stars John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Kellee Stewart, Rob...
) goes even worse. Liz repeatedly runs into Wesley, which leads him to believe that the universe is telling them to settle for each other (as 'settling soul mates'), and he gleefully points out how terrible her romantic history has been as an argument in favor of settling for him. After being repeatedly told that her standards are too high, and looking back at her past failures (such as Dennis and Drew), Liz agrees to marry him—he is happy about this because he is about to be deported back to England, and also because he has lost his insurance job in unsalvageable fashion—but Liz ends the engagement and the relationship hours later after meeting Carol Burnett (played by Matt Damon
Matt Damon
Matthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
), an airline pilot who is a huge fan of TGS and shares many of Liz's personality quirks. The pair are still involved as of "Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish". Liz takes advantage of Carol's extensive travel to avoid developing emotional intimacy or familiarity, while Carol has expressed a desire that they become more committed to each other and was not scared away when Liz confessed to being on an adoption waiting list. Their relationship ended in the episode "Double-Edged Sword" when their tempers boil over during an extended delay on board an airplane with power struggle that ends with Carol threatening with a gun while Liz uses an old man as a human shield.
The loss of Liz's luggage caused her to wear tennis whites and an insect net while serving as the emergency back-up best man at Jack's and Avery's wedding during unseen events occurring between "Christmas Attack Zone
Christmas Attack Zone
"Christmas Attack Zone" is the tenth episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 90th overall episode of the series. It was written by show story editor Tracey Wigfield and directed by co-executive producer John Riggi. It originally aired on the National...
" and "Mrs. Donaghy". Her attire and the officiant's lack of English proficiency led to Liz accidentally becoming Jack's wife, although their relationship remains platonic.
Behind the Scenes
Like Fey, who was head writerHead writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
(SNL) from 1999 to 2006, the character is head writer for a sketch comedy show. For this reason, Liz Lemon is widely seen by critics as a fictionalized version of Fey herself
Author surrogate
As a literary technique, an author surrogate is a fictional character who expresses the ideas, questions, personality and morality of the author...
, which Fey herself has confirmed as being her intention. In a video interview conducted with Fey before the airing of the pilot, she stated that Liz is herself "five or six years ago when I first started at my job and had to figure out how to deal with big, strong personalities and get through the day, being sort-of scared of everyone... but acting like you're not scared of everyone."
Fey has reported incorporating some of her own quirks and history into the character, saying that she tries to "share as many of Liz's habits as possible so it feels truthful". Liz has been seen singing "Maybe" and Fey has noted that she also enjoys singing songs from Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
. Both were once rejected by a man who later went to "clown college" which had a huge emotional impact on them.
The character also shares her given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
with Fey, whose full name is Elizabeth Stamatina Fey. However, Liz Lemon is only very rarely referred to as "Elizabeth" and the character's name is usually given as "Liz Lemon" in official contexts (example, the plaque on the door to her office). It is also worth noting that in Fey's original script for 30 Rock, Lemon's first name was "Lisa". The character's middle name, "Miervaldis," is a Latvian name, and Fey has said that, while Lemon's ethnic background is unknown, "Latvian seems to make sense." The character's last name, "Lemon," is apparently intended to imply an acerbic personality and possibly also to make her full name alliterative. Fey has stated that she wanted Liz to have a good last name since she knew the character would often be called by it.