Why Alec Baldwin Is The Funniest Guy On TV - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-28-2007, 10:20 AM

October 28, 2007 -- Alec Baldwin's never had it so good - and neither have we.

As network boss Jack Donaghy on "30 Rock," he's hands-down the funniest guy on television. A paragon of comic timing and understatement, Baldwin's made Tina Fey's sitcom one show you want to watch the night it's on - not Tivo - so you can quote him the next day. Every episode is crammed with brilliant Baldwin moments, the kind that make Youtube so indispensable.

Take a recent episode when Fey's character, Liz Lemon, finds Donaghy sitting in his cavernous office, clasping a cookie jar with the word "MOM" on it.

When she suggests he may have mother issues, Baldwin waits one perfectly timed beat: "I don't think so," he says smoothly. "I've always viewed it as an upside-down 'Wow.'"

Or last season, when Liz got back together with her hapless pager-salesman boyfriend. Donaghy appeared in her office doorway, pager strapped to his belt. She wearily asked him to take it off. "Oh, I can't," he retorted breezily. "I'm expecting a call from 1983."

The banter between Fey and Baldwin brings out the best in both performers; Baldwin's reminiscent of Lou Grant to Mary Tyler Moore's Mary Richards, except sexier (an entirely unscientific survey of female viewers confirms that even on the older and paunchier side, Baldwin's never looked better.)

As the show's profile has risen, it's been highly entertaining to watch Baldwin steal the show from every guest star who crosses his path. This was never more obvious than in than this season's premiere, in which he trounced a slightly rusty Jerry Seinfeld.

Recurring guest Will Arnett is a particularly worthy match for Baldwin, as well as a link to "30 Rock"'s closest comedy relative, "Arrested Development." That show, with its blink-and-you'll-miss-'em visual gags and brilliant asides, wasn't a great fit for mainstream audiences, but was nevertheless widely hailed as a comedic gem. Baldwin's operating on that level in "30 Rock" - all by himself.

You can bet it's the chance to go toe-to-toe with Baldwin that's attracted a steady stream of actors to the "30 Rock" studio. So far, we've seen Paul Reubens, Carrie Fisher, Rip Torn, Elaine Stritch, Jackie Mason and Conan O'Brien, with whom Baldwin sparred in the first season, ending with O'Brien's defeatedly hissing, "You Black Irish bastard!").

Until recently, when he picked up a 2004 Best Supporting Actor nomination in for his work in "The Cooler," Baldwin was an often underrated actor who did his best work in secondary roles ("The Departed," Glengarry Glen Ross") or smaller, weirder movies ("Miami Blues," "Beetlejuice").

So let's all be thankful NBC didn't listen to the guy when, on an April appearance on "The View," following that unfortunate cell phone message incident with his daughter, Ireland, Baldwin announced that he wanted to be released from his contract.

The show wouldn't be what it is without him. To paraphrase one of Donaghy's nonsensical business phrases: "He squeezes the sweetest juice out of his co-workers' mind grapes."

30 ROCK

Thursday, 8:30 p.m., NBC

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10282007/tv/smart_alec.htm

OH Nuts! · 10-28-2007, 10:38 AM

Alec's great, no matter what he does. Now there's an entertainer!!

(And the Xmas skit he once did on SNL is JUST HILARIOUS. Truly taking double entendres to the nth degree)

EmoJoe · 11-17-2007, 12:40 PM

i think you could just watch the family therapy scene of "Rosemary's Baby" (the episode, not the movie, lol) and you'd get your answer!

10-28-2007, 10:20 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Why Alec Baldwin Is The Funniest Guy On TV October 28, 2007 -- Alec Baldwin's never had it so good - and neither have we. As network boss Jack Donaghy on "30 Rock," he's hands-down the funniest guy on television. A paragon of comic timing and understatement, Baldwin's made Tina Fey's sitcom one show you want to watch the night it's on - not Tivo - so you can quote him the next day. Every episode is crammed with brilliant Baldwin moments, the kind that make Youtube so indispensable. Take a recent episode when Fey's character, Liz Lemon, finds Donaghy sitting in his cavernous office, clasping a cookie jar with the word "MOM" on it. When she suggests he may have mother issues, Baldwin waits one perfectly timed beat: "I don't think so," he says smoothly. "I've always viewed it as an upside-down 'Wow.'" Or last season, when Liz got back together with her hapless pager-salesman boyfriend. Donaghy appeared in her office doorway, pager strapped to his belt. She wearily asked him to take it off. "Oh, I can't," he retorted breezily. "I'm expecting a call from 1983." The banter between Fey and Baldwin brings out the best in both performers; Baldwin's reminiscent of Lou Grant to Mary Tyler Moore's Mary Richards, except sexier (an entirely unscientific survey of female viewers confirms that even on the older and paunchier side, Baldwin's never looked better.) As the show's profile has risen, it's been highly entertaining to watch Baldwin steal the show from every guest star who crosses his path. This was never more obvious than in than this season's premiere, in which he trounced a slightly rusty Jerry Seinfeld. Recurring guest Will Arnett is a particularly worthy match for Baldwin, as well as a link to "30 Rock"'s closest comedy relative, "Arrested Development." That show, with its blink-and-you'll-miss-'em visual gags and brilliant asides, wasn't a great fit for mainstream audiences, but was nevertheless widely hailed as a comedic gem. Baldwin's operating on that level in "30 Rock" - all by himself. You can bet it's the chance to go toe-to-toe with Baldwin that's attracted a steady stream of actors to the "30 Rock" studio. So far, we've seen Paul Reubens, Carrie Fisher, Rip Torn, Elaine Stritch, Jackie Mason and Conan O'Brien, with whom Baldwin sparred in the first season, ending with O'Brien's defeatedly hissing, "You Black Irish bastard!"). Until recently, when he picked up a 2004 Best Supporting Actor nomination in for his work in "The Cooler," Baldwin was an often underrated actor who did his best work in secondary roles ("The Departed," Glengarry Glen Ross") or smaller, weirder movies ("Miami Blues," "Beetlejuice"). So let's all be thankful NBC didn't listen to the guy when, on an April appearance on "The View," following that unfortunate cell phone message incident with his daughter, Ireland, Baldwin announced that he wanted to be released from his contract. The show wouldn't be what it is without him. To paraphrase one of Donaghy's nonsensical business phrases: "He squeezes the sweetest juice out of his co-workers' mind grapes." 30 ROCK Thursday, 8:30 p.m., NBC http://www.nypost.com/seven/10282007/tv/smart_alec.htm
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

11-17-2007, 12:40 PM	#3
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	i think you could just watch the family therapy scene of "Rosemary's Baby" (the episode, not the movie, lol) and you'd get your answer!
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

10-28-2007, 10:38 AM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Alec's great, no matter what he does. Now there's an entertainer!! (And the Xmas skit he once did on SNL is JUST HILARIOUS. Truly taking double entendres to the nth degree)