Alec Baldwin: Tina Fey "Nailed" Palin And Ledger Was A Brando

Actor and author Alec Baldwin complimented "30 Rock" costar Tina Fey's impression of Sarah Palin at a Time magazine Q&A Tuesday in New York. Videotaped for an upcoming issue of the magazine's 10 questions and done to promote "30 Rock" (back late next month) and his book A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce (out next week), Baldwin answered user submitted questions in a room at the Time offices Tuesday morning.

The first question asked what he thought of Tina Fey's impression of Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live":

Obviously people jumped on that the moment Palin emerged... she was nervous to get it right. People were sending her ideas, these are her former colleagues at the show, and I was with her at work and they were submitting these suggestions to her and I think she was very nervous to get the right one, and also one that's not too malicious or what have you, you know, to really get the right tone. I watched and I couldn't believe it. I thought that they nailed it!

He added, in an imitation of Fey as Palin from SNL, "I can see Russia from my house!"

He went on of Fey:

You know, she really is an incredible actress. She came into the show for the news segment of SNL, and writing, obviously. And the more she goes out there on the ice the better she can do. I really think she's funny.

Later, Baldwin took a moment from discussing art's importance to compliment Heath Ledger:

Watch a movie like "Brokeback Mountain," which is an incredible movie. You know, Heath Ledger dying was this huge tragedy because he gave one of the greatest screen performances of a male performer in 50 years, literally. Like with Brando. I would never say that, but he was that great in that movie. Forget Batman and all this other crap. "Brokeback Mountain" was just unbelievable.

During the rest of the hour, Baldwin talked politics and divorce, did dead-on impressions of Tony Bennett and "30 Rock" costar Tracy Morgan (whom he named when asked who cracks him up), shared what it's like backstage at SNL and told self-deprecating stories of his Hollywood career, like the failure of "Prelude to a Kiss."

The video should be on Time's website Wednesday and some answers will be in Friday's issue of the magazine.

Comments

[Phil123]

Is this clown still here? I thought he was leaving the US when Bush won.

[bleek]

Alec, you are so dead spot-on about Tina as Sarah. I would just have to say that anyone who would consider this parody to be 'sexist' (Carly Fiorina, et al), would have to be generously considered to be thoughtless little pigs.

[collprof]

Carly is history and it was her mouth that made it so. The sexist remarks from the McCain folk are backfiring faster than Plain can change her script. Tina Fey characters so embedded in the minds of SNL fans that anything she does is comedy. Not only was her characterization of Palin so Aces but she looks remarkably like her...

This skit will be looked at in history as the turning point of a successful Obama campaign. The magic generated by Palin since the RNC will now be thought of as 15 minutes of a bad spell. What an unremarkable candidate for the 2nd most powerful position in America.

[UrbanAddictiondotcom]

I agree completely with Alec Baldwin about Heath Ledger. Heath was A M A Z I N G in that role. Everytime I watch that movie I'm even more impressed with that performance. It was so subtle..... so honest. That is like Brando.

[Tulka2]

The profile The New Yorker did of Baldwin in the issue before last was facinating. He is someone who is underated and underused. "Dying is easy, comedy is hard".

[Truthdude]

Hey he was good in Batman too don't diminish the film just because its Batman.

OT: Tina Fay was amazing and to be honest I'd much rather see her as VP then Palin.

The more I think about it the more I realise that Bidden was a great choice. Not to swindle a couple votes but to actually be a great VP.

[Snoop2]

And if you SNL was funny,check this out ............!!!

DO NOT MISS THIS......­..........­........!!­!!!

All you Palin McCain supporters - you better read this. Seems Sarah had a little help in running for governor of Alaska....
Here is the link to the story and a bit of it..!
http://timesonline.typepad.com/uselections/2008/09/palin-linked-el.html

Palin linked electoral success to prayer of Kenyan witchhunter The pastor whose prayer Sarah Palin says helped her to become governor of Alaska founded his ministry with a witchhunt against a Kenyan woman who he accused of causing car accidents through demonic spells. At a speech at the Wasilla Assembly of God on June 8 this year, Mrs Palin described how Thomas Muthee had laid his hands on her when he visited the church as a guest preacher in late 2005, prior to her successful gubernatorial bid. In video footage of the speech, she is seen saying: I was mayor and Pastor Muthee was here and he was praying over me.

[1sparrow]

this may not be the correct forum but, i cant keep the idea out of my head the rhianna shows up a guest at the emmys to sing her hit "umbrella". except not singing the words umbrella -substitutes wasilla- eh?eh? we could have friends forever- we could have servants to clean our windows - in the alaskan town wasilla - illa - illa -illa eh-eh- alaskan town wasilla - illa- illa -eh-eh (sounds canadian eh?)

[valleygent]

Ledger was talented but a Brando...not hardly. By the by his performance in Batman is utterly overrated, and if he wins an award it is just about famous actors placing laurels at their own graves.

[RockySoldier]

not, his performance as the Joker is not overrated. you don't have to disagree with the mainstream to appear indie, valleygent. it's ok to enjoy something everyone else enjoys once in a while. you don't have to be esoteric on everything.

[ethancorso]

Well said.

[valleygent]

The only thing esoteric is a clue about why you would give a rats butt about someone's opinion of a performance from an actor. He is dead, get over it. I hated the whole movie... not just his performance...but his performance was utterly medicore at best, Cesar Romero did a better job for crying out loud. I think the whole Batman series are a waste of film. Pompous celebs catering to even more cluelessly obsessed fans, join the ranks Rockywhatever.

[valleygent]

The only matter that is esoteric here is why on Earth you give a hoot as to what someone thinks of an actor's performance. HIs performance was mediocre in my book, Cesear Romero did a better job for cryin out loud. As was the entire film quite mediocre, and the entire series of Batman films as far as that goes. Celeb obsession is mental indolence at its most obvious level, get over it.

[MoeSart]

The Ledger Batman/Oscar thing is more about the media creating a story than it is about anything else. Hey, the dead actor gets an Oscar.

It's also because he was in the gay cowboy movie and he did not get a Oscar for that. So they try to get him one for this since it's his last chance.

The Batman movie is real good. Ledger was good. Some people need to get a grip, though.

[elcojonu]

Hey Alex, Ledger was no Brando and you're no Al Pacino.
The Nerve !

[roxn]

He said some pretty nasty things to his own daughter _ I don't respect this guy!

Funny how Palin performance [TV interview] all looked like acting to him - that's what we thought!

It's clueless Bush all over again with Palin ~ just more attractive to the males ~

[asfarasimconcerned]

Unless you are a father who has had your child brainwashed and taken away you will never know what he went through. I have seen this firsthand and it is a horrible situation. No one never knows who is telling the truth. What he said was horrible, however; it was worse that the mother released it to the media. Which do you think was really more harmful to that child?

[JenniferEccles]

May I suggest that you learn about Parental Alienation Syndrome before judging Baldwin?

And watch the 60 Minutes interview where Morley Safer says that its unbelievable that the tape was released publicly. Alec replied, and I am paraphrasing, "now you know what I am dealing with". It was the mother's idea to release the tape, in spite of the humiliation it would cause her daughter. It was more important to the mother to hurt her ex-husband than it was to spare her daughter's feelings.

Baldwin knows he was wrong to lose his temper.

[getoffthecross]

Kudos to most all of it, but how can the star of The Shadow say, "Forget Batman and all this other crap"? Ledger's Joker elevates beyond the comic book foundation of the film and makes one of the most unique characters ever translated to film.

Other than that, he's spot on. She did nail it. Palin's approval numbers have dived 10 points since Saturday. Coincedence? Thy name is Lorne Michaels.

[vazzy13]

The only thing missing from Tina's performance was the vacant 'rapturous' stare. Tina's eyes were alert and intelligent, not so much Palin!


OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[democracydiva]

Tina Fey for president! She is sooooo brilliant. Her Palin was a treasure. I love '30 Rock'. Thanks Tina and Alec, keep up the good work.

[superba]

Alec Baldwin is a national treasure. I love his blogs, his commentary on matters political and cultural, his extraordinary skill as an actor, and I am very much looking forward to his book. As someone who has been through a horrible divorce, I urge those who are slagging Mr. Baldwin's parenting skills to think twice before slinging mud at someone who appears to have hardcore family issues.

If you can find the episode of Actor's Studio featuring Alec Baldwin, watch it! Usually I can't stand that show, but it's an absolute gem--it's why I first became a fan of Alec Baldwin's.

[lioness39]

On both points, Alec, whom I consider a wonderful character actor, is correct. Tina Fey did do a spot on with the annoying Palin and Keith Ledger definitely reminds me of a young Brando. Too bad he is gone.

[Okieborn]

Tina Fey did "SISTER PALIN better than SISTER PALIN !!! LOL !!!
Hillary impersonater not that good.