 " The Break @-@ Up " was written by that season 's co @-@ executive producers Brett Baer and Dave Finkel , and directed by Scott Ellis . This episode was the first writing credit for both Baer and Finkel , and the first one Ellis directed for 30 Rock . Baer and Finkel would later collaborate on the episode " Fireworks " , that aired in the show 's first season on April 5 , 2007 . " The Break @-@ Up " originally aired on NBC on December 14 , 2006 as the eighth episode of the series . 
