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

[funkalicious]

Baldwin can chalk one up on his ledger as a blow hard.

I concur Tina Fey is terrifically brilliant...

He should be in full dispossession of his political ambition.

An actor can draw upon his failures, quiet desperation, broken spirit and murky dreams.

We don't need another Law And Order fake presidential candidate blow hard wannabe.

Plus have you seen this guy he is a pig in a dancing bear suit .

[scrushmaster]

Our government just spent 300 billion dollars bailing out corporations that have no coverage under the constitution and you just fit the bill. We have been betrayed and we all will literally pay for it. California has just increased your states taxes by 10% for the next fiscal quarter. Let me put that into monetary perspective for you. If you make 30k a year you are now paying about $45.00 more A MONTH. We are in dire straights because of the hipocracy of our bureauracy. Save yourself from being looted and paying irresponsible peoples mortgages and for fiscal blunders by the state of California.

Californians please write your local congressmen and tell them they are a piece of you know what.

Everyone else please see the below videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8&NR=1

He actually told us what was gonna happen in the mortgage industry in 2003 and petitioned to stop it.

If you vote, you should always vote for who you want to be president, not who is popular with the media, not who will win, but who YOU BELIEVE IN! write it in, start blogs, call into the radio, fight for your country for real change regardless if its unpopular at the time!

[moneyrunt]

Rumor has it the gala event and noble gestures were followed by a teenage hooker rendevous and capped off with either an abusive moment with his children or shunning them altogether.

[totalliberal]

Feel better now, loser?

[steeler5]

Loser? Feel better now, hypocrite?

[UC4006]

don't be mad totalliberal......were you not invited to the dinner?

[scrushmaster]

Our government just spent 300 billion dollars bailing out corporations that have no coverage under the constitution and you just fit the bill. We have been betrayed and we all will literally pay for it. California has just increased your states taxes by 10% for the next fiscal quarter. Let me put that into monetary perspective for you. If you make 30k a year you are now paying about $45.00 more A MONTH. We are in dire straights because of the hipocracy of our bureauracy. Save yourself from being looted and paying irresponsible peoples mortgages and for fiscal blunders by the state of California.

Californians please write your local congressmen and tell them they are a piece of you know what.

Everyone else please see the below videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8&NR=1

He actually told us what was gonna happen in the mortgage industry in 2003 and petitioned to stop it.

If you vote, you should always vote for who you want to be president, not who is popular with the media, not who will win, but who YOU BELIEVE IN! write it in, start blogs, call into the radio, fight for your country for real change regardless if its unpopular at the time!

[UC4006]

So how many of you liberal leftist were invited to the fund raising event for Obama....you were not elite enough to attend the event......was it $28,500 per plate? And you say he is for the middle class! Money could have been used for the Ike victims.

[provgrays]

Tina Fey was pitch perfect.

The impression had the ring of truth while not being mean spirited. Amy Poeler's Hillary was great, though her impression of Clinton was less convincing only because Tina's Palin was so dead on.

Palin vamping and posing as Hillary wags her finger was the perfect juxtaposition and it illuminated the larger culture war that is at the heart of the whole thing.

This was a classic sketch and it will be remembered.

[robeson]

Too bad nobody at SNL nailed GW like Chaplin nailed the fascists.

[ceti]

Well Alec was hilarious in that famous one minute scene in the Departed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r46JtPDtqAk

[ralph10]

Alec is not allowed to have an opinion. Don't you know he is an actor.

[checkoayala]

Who cares what any Baldwin have to say, Tina was good though

[QueenVictoria]

English Major Speaks: When You say any-One: -singular, you should use the conjuctive verb has not have,. Irrelevance arrogance, Try and stop the arrogance. You will be a winner if you try this.

[Bitsko]

"Baldwin took a moment from discussing art's importance."

I must have missed the discussion of Paul Cezanne. One actor talking about another isn't talking about the importance of art. I must have missed the sarcasm.

[historyman2008]

You do realize that acting is an art form, right?

[UC4006]

Obama had a good teacher...........

[FoundingMothers]

Glad Alec said what he did about Heath Ledger. Brokeback Mountain is a masterpiece. Ledger's performance was stunning, going from a naive teen-ager to conflicted middle-aged man. I could hardly believe it was the same actor at the end of the film. Who could watch that film and not feel his loneliness and reticence.

Something else that he did was to pick up on Ang Lee's desire to use the landscape as part of the narrative. His horseback ride on the cliff, the morning after, was perfection in film.
Yes, I agree that Heath Ledger gave one of the best film performances ever and it is too bad we will not be able to see him live out his potential.

[Triangle1]

I'm desperate for some new 30 Rock episodes. The cookie jar episode on Hulu.com is worth watching a couple times. Baldwin is probably one of the funniest guys on TV right now. That role is a comedic masterpiece. And Tina Fey as Liz Lemon is the perfect foil. Thank you Republicans for not being afraid to bring a woman on board! http://mespace.wordpress.com

[CatPower]

Ya, and Alec Bladwin is like Humphrey Bogart.

[bodo]

Her facial expressions were absolutely superb. She is a tremendous actress. Even though she is far more beautiful in real life than Palin, she managed to convey the real Palin without having to result to cruel caricature. All politics aside, Palin must have been really quite flattered.

[jvstuck]

Tina Fey is simply the smartest, hottest woman on television. Period!

[schatsie]

I say can't we put Porky Palin in the 'Cone of Silence' and replace her with Tina Fey....

[Pennsylvanianne]

I also think Fey nailed the voice and Alaska accent. But I am not sure Palin, though she was said to have laughed, was flattered because Palin added she had once gone as Tina Fey to a Halloween party. I mean, Halloween is associated with witches.

[BarryChamplain]

It was reported here that on her campaign plane, Palin was watching the show, and she was overheard commenting with great disdain, "I went out on Halloween as Tina Fey!"

(Alaska humor, I guess...)

[pkafin]

I can't really "forget Batman" because Heath Ledger was truly awesome in it.

Not to take anything away from his performance in Brokeback Mountain, which was also astounding. It's just that the Joker is a part that could so easily be done poorly. IMHO Jack didn't do it as well as he could/should have. Heath, on the other hand, was just jaw dropping in his take of a such a well worn character.

I agree his loss is tragic to this generation of actors. Ultimately, and so sadly, he's more of a James Dean that a Marlon Brando.

[molsongrrrl]

I agree with you because really with both roles you see such a wide range. Where his character in Brokeback can barely express himself ... is so closed off ... The Joker is quite the opposite - very verbal and all action. When I think about both roles, it's surprising they were played by the same actor. He was astonishingly good in both.

[FCBarca]

Really enjoy Alec Baldwin...Who knew he was this funny really?

[LibRS]

alec still live here? i thought he moved after the libs lost the last election.

pity.

[boycottrightwingthings]

And where are YOU going to go when Obama wins? I hope it's further than Canada....
Obama Biden 08'

[CatPower]

he loved you so much he couldn't leave.

[milo h minderbinder]

The guy is a riot. Most people thought of him as a drama guy early on, but there's no question he's hilarious with his deadpan delivery. The one episode of 30 Rock where he does impressions of a bunch of members of Tracey's family is a hoot.

"Do you like Phil Collins?"

"I have two ears and a heart, don't I?"

[RepugsOut08]

His appearances on SNL guarantee a great show. I can't remember how many SNLs he's done over the years, but the comedy level goes up 10 fold when he hosts.
Pete Schweaty and his "Schweaty Balls," a Christmas confectionary offering on a pseudo PBS radio station, was just one of many hilarious moments, and he does do a Killer Tony Bennett.