Saturday Night Live - Best of Alec Baldwin
There's a reason Lorne Michaels keeps asking Alec Baldwin back to hostSaturday Night Live: He's really good at it. Baldwin may have made his name in hard-hitting dramas likeGlengarry Glen RossandThe Cooler, butSNLhas long allowed him to flaunt his skills in stage acting and mimicry. In other words, he never gets flustered or seems at all concerned about making a complete ass of himself--the essence of good sketch comedy. As with such versatile performers as Christopher Walken and John Goodman (who appears in the boozy Bill Brasky skit), these qualities have made him one of the show's most popular hosts. Granted, some may fault the man for a few too many sketches built around the double entendre, like pastry chef Pete Schwetty and his tasty balls, but there's no doubt the guy can sell even the silliest of lines with the straightest of faces. As for his impressions, Baldwin's Tony Bennett--by way of John Travolta--doesn't just capture the legendary crooner's voice and mannerisms, but his unstoppable optimism, as well ("I love things that are great!" ). His squinty-eyed, stiff-necked Robert De Niro is another treat. (His fidgety Charles Nelson Reilly doesn't hit the same heights.) Aside from more than a decade's worth of Not Ready for Prime Time Players, including Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell,The Best of Alec Baldwinincludes two deleted dress rehearsal sketches and dishy, occasionally profane commentary from Baldwin and producer Marci Klein.--Kathleen C. Fennessy