MSNBC is continuing its branding as the anti-Fox: a network that offers to liberals (who have shunned the word and now call themselves progressives) what Fox News offers to conservatives (who repeat the word “conservative” as if that instantly means its good and wise, and whose efforts to discredit the word “liberal” apparently worked). Baldwin clearly has pizazz, an opinion and most assuredly stage presence. The Hollywood Reporter:
Alec Baldwin has finalized a deal to host a weekly nighttime talk show on MSNBC. The program — Up Late With Alec Baldwin — will bow in October and have Baldwin taking on current events and culture.
The announcement came Thursday from MSNBC president Phil Griffin.
“I’ve been talking with Alec for a while and can’t wait to bring his personality and eclectic interests to MSNBC,” said Griffin in a statement. “He’s got such passion for ideas and what’s going on in the world — he’s going to be a great addition to our lineup.”
Baldwin has been honing his interviewing skills on his WNYW podcast Here’s the Thing, where he’s questioned everyone from Chris Rock and Lena Dunham to New York Times editor Jill Abramson and PETA’s Dan Mathews. He’s made no secret of his desire to host a TV talk show. He told THR in an interview earlier this year that a lifelong dream was to be a 60 Minutes correspondent.
The former 30 Rock star (who the camera clearly loves) makes no bones about his viewpoints:
“Ultra conservativism to me is so illogical,” he said. “Everywhere you go conservatives want to cut, cut, cut money for powerless people. That’s a kind of political logic that I don’t follow and I don’t even try to follow.”
Expect for him to liven things up and to get progressives to watch. The question is: can he go beyond the choir? Most likely: yes. Some 30 Rock fans will likely tune in to check him out. Getting them to return will be his task. His competition during that timeslot will reportedly be liberal comedian Bill Maher.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.