 While the pace and tone of "Live Show" were different from a standard episode of "30 Rock", the author considers this episode, "an experiment, as a weird hybrid of "30 Rock", an old sitcom, and "Saturday Night Live"" and ultimately a success.James Poniewozik of "Time" also wrote that the episode was uneven, but successful as a tribute to television.TV Squad's Bob Sassone was impressed by the episode, specifically Fey's performance and Louis-Dreyfus' imitation of Liz Lemon.