Open Letter to Alec Baldwin

Dear Alec,

Hello! I am very happy to hear that you are going to co-host the Academy Awards with Steve Martin. It'll certainly be a great night of entertainment. However, to be honest, I think that you have the upper-hand in that partnership-- you natural fluency with 'this business we call "show"' will surely outshine Mr. Martin's dare-I-say stale comedic style lately. I think the suave, clever, seasoned, debonair Master of Ceremonies is a good choice.

I also wanted to bring a few more things to your attention. First, your performance in Outside Providence was an ace. Walking that fine line between good father and basic asshole, with that dead-on Pawtucket accent...you added a great element to a fairly decent film. Two others of your minor roles still resonate-- as Julia Roberts' American boyfriend in Notting Hill, the forgettable cocky striver-- and as Ben Stiller's boss in Along Came Polly-- you and Philip Seymour Hoffman provided comedic bookends, bits of comedic relief when Stiller and Aniston couldn't deliver on their own.

One of your earlier roles was as Mick Dugan, unfaithful but caring boyfriend of Melanie Griffith's Tess McGill. Tess was a wonferful film heroine for that time, and her character really engaged the audience's sympathy and support. We really wanted what was best for Tess, and we were very disappointed that your character started "poppin' Doreen DiMucci" behind Tess' back. But, Mr. Baldwin, your skillful portrayal of this guy who had done something wrong, but still cared about the things that mattered to him-- you made him into a bit of hero, too.

You are about release a new Nancy Myers film with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, John Krasinski-- it probably would've been faster to just throw the names of every actor involved in NBC comedies into a hat, and draw randomly-- and I'm sure it will be a wonderul, warm, funny movie. I can't wait to see you play a Nancy Myers man-- flawed, kind, and wild about love.

But what really makes me an Alec Baldwin fan, at least at this point, is your work as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock. It is pitch-fucking-perfect. Whether or not it's the case, you play it as though this is role you'd been waiting for forever; as though you were born to play the role. I hope that's the case; I hope you enjoying playing Jack as much as your fans enjoy your performances. I like that you have theatrical chops-- you can sing, you can dance a little, you have many voices, and that you're fearless. I also like how you bring a little touch of warmth to an otherwise cold character.

Mr. Baldwin, we need more of you in film and television. We need more of the real thing. And for the record, the ass-ache you endured with the recorded phone message for your daughter: it's none of our business. Young teenaged girls can be total bitches. And your ex-wife made a very declasse move by releasing that tape. Don't think for a second that it clouds my opinion of you. Please keep being this awesome. Please keep referencing the masters that came before you. Please keep taking risks, and taking roles and acting the SHIT of out them. And please tell Jason Sudeikis that he is talented and I probably wouldn't kick him out of bed.

With warmest regards,
Dana K. Monforton