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Jenna discovers her mother is coming to see her and melts down. Jenna tells Liz she doesn’t want anything to do with Verna, who has been the world’s worst mother up to now. Liz encourages Jenna to talk to her mother, but Jenna needs real advice so she goes to Jack, whose own mother is overbearing. Jack shows her a motivational slideshow he created when dealing with his manipulative mother. Jack tells Jenna she must not get angry and stay in control of the situation. Jack’s method is simple: say no, talk low and let her go. Jenna feels secure with Jack’s advise and awaits the visit from Verna.

After Frank has to temporarily move in with Liz, Liz confronts Frank about his smoking habit and Frank complains about Liz’s need to exist on daily diet of donuts and Cornholes. Liz sees their rooming together as a sign, and encourages Frank to quit cold turkey along with her so they both end their gross habits.

Jenna meets her mother at a coffee shop, talking to herself and reminding herself about Jack’s rules. Verna for once appears not to have a self-centered agenda, pays Jenna back money she owed her and tells her she loves her. Jenna gives in and welcomes her mother back into her life with open arms. When Jenna shares with Jack that her mother has changed, he worries Verna will break Jenna’s heart again; he tells Jenna people just don’t change. Jack continues to be skeptical of Verna’s motives.

Verna throws a surprise birthday party for Jenna featuring a large birthday cake with Jenna’s face on it. Everyone from TGS is there to surprise Jenna, who is touched by her mother’s thoughtfulness. Jack tells Liz he thinks the party is leading up to a giant favor Verna will ask of Jenna. Liz thinks Jack is too cynical, just because his mother is awful doesn’t mean Jenna’s mother can’t change. Verna tells the party goers she apologizes for being a bad mother and asks only that Jenna sing a duet with her of an inappropriate Captain and Tennille love song. Jenna jumps at the chance while Jack is unimpressed with Verna’s change of heart.

The next morning Jack finds Verna in his office. Verna has come back into Jenna’s life in order to sell Jack an idea for a mother daughter reality series showing how awful her and Jenna’s relationship is. Jack pitches an idea of a loving mother and daughter reality show and Verna rejects it. Jack goes to Jenna’s dressing room to tell her that Verna is scamming Jenna but Jenna is so happy Jack decides to let her live out her fantasy.

Liz meets with the writers and tells them she has proof Frank is cheating when it comes to giving up smoking. Frank denies smoking at Liz’s apartment. Liz reveals she left a pack of cigarettes out then set up a camera to catch Frank in the act of cheating. Pete sets up the video and the writers watch. Liz sees herself sleepwalking, wearing night time Spanx while eating tons of junk food and is crushed. Frank suggests turning off the video, but suddenly Frank appears, fooling around with the TGS cleaning lady in Liz’s apartment. The last part of the video shows Liz eating cigarettes out of the box Liz left to tempt Frank, grossing everyone out.

Jack sets up another meeting with Verna. This time Jack suggests Verna behave as a model mother as long as Jack pays her for each visit, and agrees to throw in a tarp for her traveling washer and dryer. Liz, unaware of Jack and Verna’s arrangement, tells Jack he was wrong about Verna changing for the better. Jack smiles knowingly.