 According to the Nielsen ratings system , " The Break @-@ Up " was watched by 5 @.@ 9 million households in its original American broadcast . It earned a 2 @.@ 8 rating / 8 share in the 18 – 49 demographic . This means that it was seen by 5 @.@ 9 percent of all 18- to 49 @-@ year @-@ olds , and 8 percent of all 18- to 49 @-@ year @-@ olds watching television at the time of the broadcast . This was a decrease from the previous episode , " Tracy Does Conan " , which was watched by 6 @.@ 84 million American viewers . Scott Ellis , director of the episode , received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Directing For a Comedy Series at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards . Since airing , the episode received good reviews from television critics . 
