While watching an interview with Avery and fellow captive Scott Scotsman, Jack realizes they communicate with each other using a code of finger taps, and that during their captivity they have been conducting an affair through coded taps. When confronted, Avery admits to her feelings for Scott. Both insist on moving forward with renewing their vows in spite of both this revelation and tension surrounding Jack kissing Avery's mother. Liz officiates at the ceremony, which proceeds smoothly in spite of several aggrieved attendees. When no one speaks out against the marriage, Jack and Avery simultaneously question the crowd, admitting that they only got married because of their baby. They agree to divorce on the spot. Jack finishes the episode admitting to Liz that his love life is a mess. Criss takes out his hot dog truck to raise the money to renovate the nursery, since he believes Liz will bail on him if he can't provide for them. It doesn't go well, but Liz sees his van on the news as the getaway vehicle for a bank robbery. Liz assumes he is guilty and offers to go to jail for him. Finding out that he had sold the van that morning to raise the money, they recommit to have a child together. Hazel needs a place to stay for financial reasons. Kenneth ends up giving her a place to stay, but then Jenna tells him that Hazel sabotaged his re-application to the page program. When he confronts Hazel, she says she has developed feelings for him and they kiss. Tracy discovers that his general buffoonery has left him an embarrassment to African Americans and a comfort to racists. Grizz and Dotcom set up a meeting with Dr. Cornel West to inspire him to do better. Tracy visits a civil rights museum, and there is inspired to emulate Tyler Perry by creating his own studio, solely employing African Americans in creative positions.
Reception
"What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?" was watched by 2.84 million viewers and earned a 1.4 rating/4 share in the 18–49 demographic. This means that it was seen by 1.4 percent of all 18- to 49-year-olds, and 4 percent of all 18- to 49-year-olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. This made it the lowest-rated episode in 30 Rock's history. and a decrease from the previous episode "The Return of Avery Jessup"
