Jack Donaghy - Personality

Personality

Jack is portrayed as a slick, yet scrupulous network executive with an affinity for overtly backhanded compliments, which are usually directed towards TGS head writer Liz Lemon (whom he refers to by her last name more often than not). Although his first priority is to run a successful business, Jack often shows a human side, as when he doesn't fire Kenneth Parcell after beating him at poker when Kenneth bet his job, or when he rushes to take Lemon home after oral surgery despite being with Jessup. He has made it clear that he respects Liz's abilities and considers her a friend, albeit by calling for her advice at odd times. In "Jack the Writer", he tried to develop a friendly relationship with the writers, particularly Liz, and made it clear that his feelings were hurt when Liz told him to stay out of the writers' room (although he apparently couldn't let go of his pride to say this directly).

Jack idolizes Ronald Reagan the politician who served as coroporate spokesman for General Electric and host of the General Electric Theater before being elected to office.

However, he still has distinct personality flaws. For example, in "The Aftermath," he changed the name of The Girlie Show without consulting Liz and then refused to tell Jenna that Liz had nothing to do with it because he thought Liz needed to learn how to handle her employees. After he discovered that a product he helped create for Tracy Jordan was dangerous in "The Rural Juror," he decided to sell it overseas to get around U.S. safety regulations. At the very least, however, he said he admired Tracy's integrity for choosing to back out of the enterprise.

Nevertheless, Jack remains close enough to his NBC coworkers to be attend their social functions. In asking Avery to be his plus one at the wedding of TGS receptionist Cerie, Jack notes "You do not want to miss this wedding, it's going to be New York royalty: the Astors, the Rockefellers, the Sbarros," to which a delighted Avery replies "I know Jack. You think I don't want to know what Pizzerina Sbarro is going to be wearing?"

Jack is a conservative Republican (initially supporting Mitt Romney). However, contrary to some conservative stereotypes he apparently has no issue with homosexuality (setting Liz Lemon up on a date with his lesbian friend) He is a firm believer in capitalism, stating in "The Baby Show" that "business gets me off", in "Hard Ball" that negotiation is his favorite thing in the world since it is, in his words, "the essence of capitalism." In "St. Valentine's Day", he refers to capitalism as his religion. Jack's business background clashed with the show's staff when he insisted on having the show use product placement (or "product integration" as he calls it) in the episode "Jack-tor." Citing Six Sigma, Jack has also tried to involve himself with the staff. Much to Liz' annoyance, he has even tried to "help" her with issues in her personal life, as seen in "Blind Date" and "Jack Meets Dennis," his reasoning that the quality of her life will reflect the quality of her work. In "The Source Awards," he started his own winery "Donaghy Estates" after purchasing a vineyard on the north fork of Long Island. Despite the wine being reviewed in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter as tasting like "the urine of Satan after a hefty portion of asparagus," he attempted to market it to the hip-hop community as a replacement for Cristal champagne.

Jack dyes his hair and has it cut every two days (he declares that "your hair is your head-suit"), and is shown to be very formal. So far, he has almost always appeared on the show in suits and in "Tracy Does Conan" it is revealed that he considers tuxedos appropriate evening wear regardless of whether there is any kind of occasion ("It's after six. What am I, a farmer?"). In contrast, Liz and the other writers wear casual clothing most of the time and appear generally laid-back. A line by Liz in the episode "Jack-tor" suggests that he finds Asian women in their twenties especially attractive, though he seems to be open to dating women of other races. He is Irish Catholic, naming his fists after St. Patrick and St. Michael (though in "St. Valentines Day", it is stated he "has no faith, only capitalism"). Jack collected cookie jars and displayed them at conventions using the alias "Victor Nightingale", but gave his collection to Kenneth when a PI told him that it could hurt his chances at getting Geiss's job.

In "Corporate Crush," Liz mentions that Jack "goes to Sbarro when he's angry, the New York Stock Exchange when he's horny, and Christie's when he's depressed." He states in an NBC Business News interview that the individuals first on his speed dial are Warren Buffett on his BlackBerry and Jimmy Buffett on his iPhone. Jack is a talented painter, is still a talented flautist, and can also do a backflip, which he states is "90% confidence." Jack has also expressed an interest in science and admits that as a child he wanted to be a marine biologist until his father discouraged him.

Though several characters on the show are portrayed as high-functioning alcoholics, Jack appears to be the only one who is chemically dependent on alcohol. This is evidenced by the fact that he experiences physical withdraw symptoms when he attempts to stop drinking in "Live Show." Jack also appears to be an opportunistic substance abuser, given that, in various episodes, he drinks Kenneth's cough syrup in lieu of alcohol, sniffs paint to alleviate his alcohol withdraw symptoms, and takes mysterious purple pills offered to him by Dr. Spaceman.