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 ALEC BALDWIN
Fresh off his Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) has signed to co-host Turner Classic Movies' (TCM) signature movie showcase, THE ESSENTIALS. Beginning in March 2009, Baldwin, who possesses a deep love and understanding of classic films, will join TCM host Robert Osborne in introducing "must see" movies each week, with an eye toward helping viewers better understand why these films are important and the impact they had on audiences and the culture at large. Baldwin has previously appeared on TCM as part of the network's Guest Programmer series. Earlier this year, he hosted the TCM special Role Model: Gene Wilder, in which he sat down with the comic actor for an intimate conversation about Wilder's life and career. TCM's THE ESSENTIALS showcase airs each Saturday at 8 p.m.
"Of all the contemporary stars who have appeared on TCM over the years, Alec Baldwin is one of the most knowledgeable and passionate about classic film," said Tom Brown, vice president of original programming for TCM. "After his Guest Programmer stint and the wonderful special with Gene Wilder, we knew we wanted to find new opportunities to work with him again. We are truly thrilled that he has enthusiastically accepted our invitation to co-host THE ESSENTIALS."
Baldwin is one of Hollywood's most charismatic and prolific actors. He is currently starring with Tina Fey in the hit comedy series 30 Rock, which has earned him an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Television Critics Association Award.
On the big screen, Baldwin garnered raves for his performance in Martin Scorsese's The Departed and a 2004 Academy Award® nomination for his performance in The Cooler. Other film credits include Beetlejuice, The Good Shepherd, The Hunt for Red October, Miami Blues, Prelude to a Kiss, Malice, The Shadow, Glengarry Glen Ross, Heaven's Prisoners, Ghosts of Mississippi, The Edge, Pearl Harbor and The Cat in the Hat. He will next star in Lymelife, opposite Jill Hennessy, Timothy Hutton, Cynthia Nixon and Rory Culkin.
Among his many stage credits, Baldwin won acclaim and a Tony nomination for his work opposite Jessica Lange in A Streetcar Named Desire, which also garnered him an Emmy nomination for the television adaptation. His other Broadway credits include Entertaining Mr. Sloane, The Twentieth Century and Serious Money. He won an Obie Award for his work in the off-Broadway production of Prelude to a Kiss and a Theatre World Award for his turn in Loo.
Baldwin's production company, El Dorado Pictures, co-produced TNT's Emmy-nominated miniseries Nuremberg and the feature film State and Main. He has also just released a book, A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey through Fatherhood and Divorce.
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ROBERT OSBORNE
TCM will mark THE ESSENTIALS' ninth year in 2009. Past hosts have included filmmakers Rob Reiner, Peter Bogdanovich and Sydney Pollack. Robert Osborne took over hosting duties in 2005, paired with film critic and author Molly Haskell. He was joined by actress and bestselling author Carrie Fisher in 2007 and actress Rose McGowan in 2008. As prime time host and anchor of the Turner Classic Movies cable television network, Robert Osborne brings viewers out of their living rooms and into the world of classic Hollywood, providing insider information, facts and trivia on TCM movie presentations.
Osborne is also the new co-host for TCM's on-going franchise, The Essentials, and a columnist-critic for The Hollywood Reporter, the daily show business trade paper. He is known as the official biographer of Oscar®, thanks to a series of books he's written on the subject of Hollywood's annual Academy Awards. His latest book, the updated 80 Years Of the Oscar, was written at the special request of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and has been called "the most comprehensive and definitive book ever done on the subject."
Osborne was born in Colfax, Washington (population: 2700) and graduated from the University of Washington's School of Journalism, appearing in local plays in his non-study hours. He soon went to Hollywood as an actor under contract to Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. But Lucy encouraged him to pursue writing, which he considers among the best advice he's ever been given. She remained a friend and mentor to him until her death.
Osborne joined the staff of The Hollywood Reporter in 1977 and six years later began writing the paper's influential "Rambling Reporter" column, which covers all aspects of the movie and television business. He also attends the Cannes Film Festival to review films for the paper and is The Hollywood Reporter's chief Broadway critic, covering New York plays and first nights.
Osborne began as the on-air entertainment reporter for the nightly news on Los Angeles, KTTV in 1982. In 1987, he was signed by CBS to make daily appearances on the CBS Morning Program. From 1986-1993, he was also a regular host of The Movie Channel cable network.
From 1981-83, he served as president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA). He is a frequent guest on Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America and other network shows; won a Golden Mike for excellence (for a TV special he wrote, produced and hosted titled Lana Turner Today); has twice been a CableAce nominee for his "Osborne Report" segments for The Movie Channel; and was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Host Moderator. Osborne is also the winner of the 1984 Press Award from the Publicists Guild of America.
In addition to his hosting duties for TCM, Osborne has also done several specials for the network, including hour-long interviews, including the last on-camera interview done by Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, June Allyson, Ann Miller, Mickey Rooney, Charlton Heston, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Tony Curtis.
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