Having missed their chance to do a Christmas episode in season 6 but falling in a leap year, 30 Rock saw an opportunity. It's impressive how with this episode, they managed to craft an entire world where Leap Day (Feb. 29) is a real holiday with its own meaning: "Every four years, we get one magical extra day where you get to do things you wouldn't ordinarily do."
Not just Christmas, they incorporate elements from multiple holidays:
Christmas: Caroling, a Scrooge parody, and a Santa Claus-like figure, Leap Day William (with a Miracle on 34th Street twist - he might be real!)
St. Patrick's Day: Get physically punished for wearing the wrong colours
Halloween: Candy for children is the main draw
Groundhog Day: In a casting coup, Andie MacDowell guest stars alongside Jim Carrey in Leap Day Williams, the seasonal staple movie with all-day marathons like Groundhog Day.
As always with 30 Rock, Leap Day is packed with jokes, some of which go by so fast that it pays to pay attention; Jenna's definition of turtles, Kenneth's "I never know why", Jenna's "click click" stiletto hint, and experiments with liberalism. Tracy's insanity shines through in new and wonderful ways: We didn't know he thought Dot Com was his imaginary friend. And his train of thought to soup kitchens, away from soup kitchens and back is delightful.
Cheers to Tina Fey for a bold performance in places, including pulling up her underwear (blue with yellow school buses), singing lyrics from the Max Rebo Band and dancing for the Sound of Music. But, nothing on Leap Day counts!