The Moms
Guest stars in "The Moms" include Buzz Aldrin, John Anderson, Elizabeth Banks, Kyoko Bruguera, Will Ferrell, Anita Gillette, Jan Hooks, Cheyenne Jackson, Patti LuPone, Novella Nelson, and Elaine Stritch.
According to the Nielsen Media Research, the episode was watched by 5.420 million households during its original broadcast, and received a 2.6 rating/7 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic.
For her performance in this episode, Elaine Stritch received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in the category for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
Colleen is appalled that Jack is dating two women at the same time, and demands that he end it and make a choice between Nancy and Avery.
[7] Actresses Anita Gillette, Jan Hooks, Patti LuPone, and Elaine Stritch[8] reprised their roles as Margaret Lemon, Verna Maroney, Sylvia Rossitano, and Colleen Donaghy, respectively, the mothers of the characters Liz Lemon, Jenna Maroney, Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander), and Jack Donaghy, respectively.
[9] In an interview with TV Guide in discussion of his guest spot, Aldrin said "That was wonderful, carrying on a conversation with very professional actors I greatly admired.
[10] The show made reference of Jack's love triangle storyline with CNBC host Avery Jessup and his high school sweetheart Nancy Donovan, played by actresses Elizabeth Banks and Julianne Moore, respectively.
[5] Actor John Anderson made his third appearance on the show and was credited as Astronaut Mike Dexter,[16] an individual whom Liz considers to be her imaginary perfect husband.
[18] Ferrell has appeared in the main cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL),[19] a weekly sketch comedy series which airs on NBC in the United States.
[22] Later, Liz gets angry at her mother's admission of not marrying Buzz Aldrin and tells her that actress Laura Linney "could've played you in the HBO original movie Moon Wives.
"[29] Entertainment Weekly contributor Emily Exton gave the episode a positive review, writing that it was fun to see "the resemblances between all the moms and their kids" and enjoyed Will Ferrell's cameo here.
[17] At the beginning of his review, Adam Mersel of TV Guide said that this episode was not funny and was "amused, a bit confused, and left wanting more."
Sepinwall commented that Tracy and Jenna's stories with their mothers were "nice grounded moments for the show's two broadest main characters, and the sort of thing 30 Rock needs to do with them a few times a season.
[32] The Houston Press' Daniel Carlson wrote that "The Moms" was "fun but lighter than air, content to string together a mild plot with a series of good jokes and callbacks.
"[9] Nick Catucci for New York magazine was positive about the episode, and reported that Tracy and Novella Nelson had the best chemistry of the night.
[33] Time contributor James Poniewozik noted that "The Moms" had a lot of potential, explaining that the return of the television character's mothers "[had] the ability to bring out the insecure children in their respective grown kids.
[34] Sean Gandert of Paste said that Jack's relationship troubles in choosing between Nancy and Avery "feels like it's been dragging on forever."
