Quips are Killing Me

That Robert Elisberg keeps putting out funnier and funnier stuff. His "quips" are killing me. Actually, it was my ex-wife and I who were the actors he referred to in his Neil Simon quip. Elisberg quipped that my ex made some unfortunate comment about the writing on The Marrying Man. He's right. She did. P.S., the script was dreadful. But I am sure, as you may have deduced from Mr. Elisberg's quipping, famous writers get a pass from such criticism, however poorly the words are chosen, but famous actors do not.

Mr. Elisberg has a problem, and perhaps a serious one. He commends SAG out of one side of his mouth but can't refrain from all of his masterful quipping about actors out of the other. Yes, actors nominated for Golden Globes won't cross the picket line, as they have refused to appear on talk shows as well. But Mr. Elisberg's comments about getting between an actor and a camera are a bad idea and he should be aware of that, even at his level.

Anyone who has ever seen a SAG contract with a major network or studio that covers the services of its lead actors knows that there are copious and mandatory clauses covering promotional duties. Most lead actors I know would hardly ever bother with appearances on most talk shows, let alone morning shows, except in order to fulfill contractual obligations to promote their projects. Junkets with all of those other entertainment media? I think they would pass on those, too. But their employers force them, literally, to get out there and sell. Otherwise, who would Jay Leno have seated next to him? Mr. Elisberg?

The Globes appear to be dead. The Oscars are next. And there is a monumental difference between those two. One is a pleasant evening hosted by a fraternity of international journalists who choose to recognize the work of those they admire. The other is an evening of history. To accept an Oscar is to take one's place among the greatest actors of all time. If the WGA strike continues and there is no waiver for the Oscar broadcast, I hope Mr. Elisberg has plenty of fresh quips handy. He and his colleagues are gonna need them.

Read more about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.

Comments

[DrBuzz]

Dear Mr. Baldwin,
First, since this is the first and probably the last time I am likely to write anything to your attention, let me say that I have thoroughly enjoyed your acting through the decades (ouch, can that be?), and your work just seems to get better over time. There is no Jack Ryan after you (I enjoyed Harrison Ford, but that was Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan). Your performance was Sean Connery's James Bond -- there will be good, even very good successors, but there was one performance that was Jack Ryan. That said, in the years since, you seem to be getting more comfortable in your skin, and the self-deprecating sense of humor and fun emanates. Schweddy Balls " simply classic. Keep up the great work, your fans admire and adore your work. Enough coddling -- just thought you should know.
Now, as an aside and in the interest of full disclosure, let me say that I have known Mr. Robert Elisberg for about 30 years now, and I wish you could know him as I do. I am supremely confident that you would change your viewpoint of him... it may take 25 years to do so, but trust me, it'll come.
Back to you. Your posts on the Huffington Post have shown humor, incite, and depth of consideration that one would not experience of most people (let alone an actor!). That said, I have regarded the exchanges between yourself and Bob with an unsettled discomfort, not unlike that which John Irving referred to as The Under Toad in "The World According to Garp." This does not end well for any party -- as entertaining as it may be just to read the level of discourse, the only people likely to relish the next installment of your feud are the principals of the AMPTP. How I wish, when everything is settled -- and it will be settled eventually -- that you and Bob reveal to the world that this has all been a set-up to distract the moguls. Highly unlikely. [more]

[Rachel36]

Alec,

Sorry you didn't win the Globe again. For what it's worth, I still think you are one of the funniest talents on TV, Film and stage. I was on the floor when you did your Fred Sanford, Tracey Morgan, Jimmie Walker, Tom Robinson impersonations.

Much success in the future!

Hurray for Tina Fey! She's a gem.

[vebritt]

Hey Alec!
Different subject but I just wanted to tell ya" that I had an absolute blast at your Golden Globes party! Man that was the funnest 30 minutes I"ve spent all year. Oh, and I just loved your hilarious Elisberg impersonations-I think I pooped my pants at least once during those anecdotes!! Which reminds me, the vittles were great too. I had the tuna salad with some chipped bologna with extra relish. I know I"m a rebel ;) Although I probably shouldn"t have chugged that liter box " o " red wine in just those 30 minutes. The cabbie charged me $75 bucks for the ride and to role me up to my apartment even though it was only 4 blocks from your UWS digs! So just let me know when the next shindig is and I"ll be there! But next time don"t tell me it"s a costume party if it isn"t. My Dolce would have been a lot cuter than that yellow feathered chicken thing! I"ll never live that down!
Luv ya" lots!
Victoria

[pilarlllorona]

keep em coming mr. baldwin, i never tire of seeing a new daily post in my inbox. your very inspiring to a fellow writer, wish some of my other huffington faves were as prolific as thee.

[Eric8869]

Yes there is an "unfairness" to the Writer/actor relationship. Most audiences act as if the actors make up their lines as they go (To paraphrase a great script SUNSET BOULEVARD). The actors get all of the acclaim and the writers are forgotten. (with some exceptions of course)

However the actors also get blamed when they are in something inferior. A few bad projects and their careers are history.

Look how many jokes people are making at the expense of Cuba Gooding Jr. Winning an oscar then appearing in about 20 bad films. Well he didn't write those films..right?

You can't have it both ways. There is no movie, tv, play without the writer...period. However if the movie, tv, or play doesn't succeed the actor takes the hit.

[Taratrue]

Alec,

Love you.

Always have.

I hope you are not under Obama's spell though. If you are I hope I never find out.

You are a great Democrat and Actor. Keep up the fight.

[Cranberries]

Dear Mr. Baldwin,

Instead of focusing on whether Elisberg gave enough love to actors, how about making a suggestion about what would be fair for the WGA (and subsequently SAG and the directors) to get from the AMPTP? I don't think you are saying that all of these groups should forego payment for online and other uses of their work. So what -- other than resolution of differences -- do you want to see coming out of this dispute?

Cranberries

[squooshy]

Dear Mr. Baldwin,
I see where you're coming from. But on the other hand I think that his thanks to actors plays more sincere than many writers since he acknowledges that there exists an often contentious relationship between actors and writers. Many writers are lauding the actors as heroes when 3 months ago they held many of those same actors in contempt while they were working together on projects. That is much more hypocritical and rings hollow. The fawning is almost offensive at times. But maybe he did hit a little below the belt.

Obviously he was trying to bait you. And it was a bad script. And it is very true that actors often get the rap for bad writing because they are what the public see and put a face to, not the script.

But recently you took a potshot at a poster who didn't even know she had somehow insulted you. And she apologized for it. I think everybody needs to try to stay above the fray since emotions are running high and it is just to easy to react harshly to every affrontery, perceived or real. All it does is muddy the waters.

[ProfessorDuh]

Let the Globes and the Oscars die. They should be industry awards events, not silly public parades. And I gave up on the Academy Awards anyway after "Brokeback Mountain" lost, and the "best song" was some crap about the sad difficulties of pimping.
You, Mr. Baldwin, have had at least two successful careers, as leading man and as character actor, while working for the public good as you see it and taking plenty of heat for it. So please bear in mind that many of your critics aren't good enough to kiss your ass, and that goes double for Blowhard BIll O'Reilly.

[unionworker2]

is the WGA confusing themselves with novelists? i thought this was about TV and Films compensation?

[FadeIn]

Alex, did you really read the whole article or were you so inflamed that someone would dare make a joke about an actor's vanity that you blew a gasket? Your protests remind me of the lyrics, in Carly's song, "Your so vain. I bet you think this song is about you, don't you?"

You're a great actor. I've always been a fan. Unfortunately, I think you're tripping over your ego here. What's that? Oh sorry, I guess you couldn't see. I was accidentally standing between you and your mirror.

You're a powerful guy. You could do a lot of good during this mud slinging strike. But you stepped into the middle of it. Don't act so shocked and surprised that you've been sprayed by the splatter. But don't worry. You still look good and you're a very smart guy. Which is why I can't understand how you missed all the praise that was heaped upon SAG and its individual members by Elisberg.

He's right. You guys deserve a lot of credit for supporting the strike lines. But let's get real here. Neither writers nor actors deal all that much in reality. All of us need to expect a certain amount of "quips" tossed our way. You should be used to their powerlessness by now. After all...

...they're only words.

[slkwriter]

Alec brought himself into this fight by going after Verrone.

Mira McB, it looks like you waste A LOT of your time on these boards. You don't take him at his points, you simply fling insults.

And by the way, this quote of yours?

"it's hard to have a battle of wit with an unarmed opponent."

Original. You're a writer? I'll bet it doesn't take a strike for you to have a lot of time on your hands.

[QueenCeleste]

I remember how you and Kim were viciously criticized during the making of that film. And you are right; it was a dreadful, unfunny script, and you both deserve great credit for making it entertaining (I also thought Kim's singing was overlooked). That always bothered me, as if actors could not have and give opinions on writing.

[JoshuaF]

Alec,

Come on, man, I read Elisberg's column, and it's actually a really supportive article about actors and their support for the WGA strike. Who cares if he made a sarcastic remark about getting between an actor and a camera? It's funny. Because it's true. And don't kid yourself by saying that most actors wouldn't go on talk shows if they weren't forced to. That's just pure drivel. Maybe that applies to you because of your own personal preference, but it's a mutually beneficial relationship which I firmly believe most other actors appreciate. It's not a bad thing to go on a talk show or do a series of interviews at a press junket. It allows movie goers and TV viewers to get more invested in the people they pay money to go see and spend hours of their lives watching on TV. In turn, it gives actors great exposure and keeps them alive in the minds of an all too fickle public.

Award shows are the same thing. All of them. Oscars included. Yes, there is the prestige and history, but you cannot selectively recognize that without also acknowledging the 3 hour pre-Oscar red carpet coverage. That little spectacle serves as the biggest free publicity appearance in the world. And so what? It's not a crime. It's comes with the territory.

I'd not go digging for fights where there ain't none during this time when there's plenty of real things to get upset about.

[provgrays]

The WGA strike is weaning many off of television all together. When it finally is over, there will be a smaller pie for everyone and the same antiquated business model as before.