Alec Baldwin Wants Out of "30 Rock"

Actor Alec Baldwin has asked NBC to release him from his contract on the sitcom "30 Rock". He revealed this on April 25 at a taped interview for ABC talk show, "The View." Many assume that his decision was a reaction to the surrounding media circus resulting from a "leaked" private voice mail message from Baldwin to his daughter Ireland. In the actor's angry and harsh message, he berated his daughter and called her names because she had left her cell phone off for his calls. It has been assumed that this is one more episode from the actor's years-long bitter custody battle with ex-wife actress Kim Basinger since their 2002 divorce.

While the actor blames his ex-wife for the leak, Ms. Basinger denies it. The controversial voice mail message was revealed at the celebrity gossip web site, TMZ.com.

NBC currently has no plans to let Baldwin out of his "30 Rock" contract. A network spokesperson said, "Alec Baldwin remains an important part of '30 Rock.' We look forward to have him continue his role on the show."

During his taped interview on "The View", the actor gave an on-air apology to his daughter. He also gave as a reason for quitting the show that he didn't want the sitcom and the hundreds of people working for it to "be hurt by the situation."

He further said that he wanted to take "three years to five years" away from his acting career.

Additional fallout: on Monday, April 23, Baldwin split from his longtime agents Matt DelPiano and Michael Rosenfeld at CAA. His publicist said that the reason for the split was "strictly for personal reasons."

CAA also represents Kim Basinger.

A Los Angeles judge has ordered Baldwin to stay away from his daughter until a scheduled May 4 court hearing regarding disputed visitation issues.

"30 Rock" was recently renewed for a second season because of critic raves and despite mediocre ratings.

SOURCES:

"Alec Baldwin wants off '30 Rock'", Kevin D. Thompson, Palm Beach Post, URL: (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/thompson/entries/2007/04/alec_baldwin_wa.html)

"Baldwin: I want off '30 Rock'", Donna Freydkin, USA Today, URL: (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/thompson/entries/2007/04/alec_baldwin_wa.html)

"Baldwin apologizes, looks to leave '30 Rock'". Robert Welkos, Los Angeles Times, URL: (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-wk-baldwinwebapr25,0,7591106.story?track=mostviewed-homepage)

"Baldwin hangs up on longtime agent", Natalie Finn, E! News, URL: (http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=5be80809-34c9-49dd-a541-37fc82320c57&entry=index)