page_title: The Natural Order
section_title: Production
hierarchical_section_title: The Natural Order / Production
caption_attribution_description: English: Elaine Stritch at the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday (Sept. 12) night
context_page_description: "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 the United States on April 30, 2009. Guest stars in "The Natural Order" include actors Elaine Stritch and Steve Buscemi.
  The plot of the episode centers around a conflict between Tracy Jordan and Liz Lemon over favorable treatment. Meanwhile, Jenna Maroney adopts a gibbon and treats it like her child. Finally, Jack Donaghy's mother Colleen visits him on the 35th anniversary of the day that Jack's father left the family.
  "The Natural Order" received mixed reception from television critics. According to the Nielsen ratings system, it was watched by 6 million households during its original broadcast, and received a 2.7 rating/7 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic.
context_section_description: "The Natural Order" was written by series' creator, executive producer and lead actress Tina Fey, and co-executive producer John Riggi. The director of this episode was Scott Ellis. This was Fey and Riggi's second script collaboration, having co-written season one episode "The Head and the Hair" that aired on January 18, 2007. "The Natural Order" originally aired on April 30, 2009, on NBC in the United States as the twentieth episode of the show's third season.
  This episode was actress Elaine Stritch's fifth appearance on 30 Rock as Collen Donaghy, the mother of Jack Donaghy, played by Alec Baldwin. Actor Steve Buscemi reprised his role as private investigator Lenny Wosniak. Buscemi first appeared in the October 18, 2007, episode "The Collection", and went on to direct the third season episode "Retreat to Move Forward", broadcast on January 22, 2009.
caption: "The Natural Order" was Elaine Strich's fifth appearance as Colleen Donaghy, Jack's mother.
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