Is Alec Baldwin His Own Worst Enemy?

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Obviously I love Alec Baldwin -- who doesn't? (Don't answer that, Kim Basinger.) Whether he is gifting us with episodes of 30 Rock, reasonable, self-penned HuffPo editorials, or youthful matinee idol pictures found via Google Image Search, Baldwin is a delight and national treasure. However, just about every time he consents to a print interview and spins candidly out of control, I want to sit him down and say, "Alec. I think you're getting in your own way here."

His new interview with Playboy (meant to promote his role in the upcoming Cameron Diaz weepie My Sister's Keeper) is no different.

Let's start with him discussing the realization that brought him back from the brink of suicide following his infamous leaked voicemail to daughter Ireland:

"[I was] very serious [about committing suicide] ... I spoke to a lot of professionals, who helped me ... If I committed suicide, they [Kim Basinger's side] would have considered that a victory. Destroying me was their avowed goal."

Well, there's also the fact that you have a child and would have left her fatherless, but hey, if spite is what it takes to talk you out of suicide, then I guess go for it...?

"[Studios] psychologically abuse talent by going, 'Hey, if the movie bombs, it's bad for you.' They've psyched you into thinking you've got to run around the country for four weeks, telling the same anecdotes over and over until you want to drop dead. You miss your child's volleyball game because if the movie doesn't do well, it reflects on you."

Yes, but...you're doing it right now. You're doing the promotion. To Playboy.

"I'm done [with acting] in 2012. In March 2012 I'll wake up and say, 'What am I going to do now? Am I done?' I think I will be done. I may finish a play or something, but I'm retiring at the [30 Rock] wrap party."

Yet again, Baldwin is stating his much-repeated desire to retire from acting, which he's often indicated he would do now, were it not for his ironclad 30 Rock contract. And, oh, the movies he makes on his hiatus. Apparently, My Sister's Keeper simply was too good to pass up.

"I'll put it this way. The desire is there [to run for office]; that's one component. The other component is opportunity."

I'm feeling like the "desire to publicly commit suicide" thing might get in the way of this?

"I have this silly fantasy. I get married again, I have a kid...My kid's like eight, comes home and says, 'Dad, Jimmy's mom says you were a famous actor on TV and in the movies. Is that true?' And I go, "Yes, Johnny, Dad was famous.' I whip out my scrapbooks and my DVDs and say, 'Believe it or not, that's your dad.' And my kid's like, 'You used to be on TV and everything? And now you stay home and just clean the house all day while Mom works?' 'That's right, son.'"

But you just said you want to run for office, which would presumably cut down on your househusbandry. Oh, Alec.

· Alec Baldwin [Playboy]



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