Despite the shorter episode order caused by the WGA strike, the second season of 30 Rock lived up to everything that had been promised the year before. The season finale, which got Tina Fey an Emmy for Outstanding Writing, proves that no strike in the world can prevent these guys from coming up with a strong conclusion and leaves the door open for several interesting developments in Season 3.
Starting where Sandwich Day ended, the episode focuses for the most part on Liz's positive pregnancy test and the terrible revelation that there's only one man who can be the father: Dennis. Things don't go that well for Kenneth either, since he's applying for the position of page at the Beijing Olympics and discovers his rival gave him the wrong deadline date on purpose (he's supposed to turn in his application on that very day). Jack, on the other hand, has taken a job at Homeland Security in Washington and starts mentoring the young and inexperienced Cooter Burger (Matthew Broderick) who won't acknowledge his office's leaking ceiling or other problems. The only person who seems to be reasonably cheerful is Tracy, who has finished his pornographic video game.
The writing is as sharp as ever, what with all the funny names (Cooter Burger: splendid), witty exchanges and overall insane situations. Acting-wise, Fey is at her best when confronting Dean Winters (still ace), with Baldwin managing the same thing with Broderick (man, can he be funny when he really wants to). There is no time to breathe as great gag follows great gag, at a rate that would even make a prime episode of The Simpsons pale in comparison. From start to wonderfully silly conclusion (a terrific "three months later" scene), it's so. Damn. Hilarious.
Strike or no strike, Cooter remains a spot-on finale for an outstanding season of very good comedy. If one really has to complain about something, there would be one minor detail: is there any chance Rachel Dratch will come back in the third series?