Smallscreen Features

Alan Alda interview, guest stars on Holiday '30 Rock '

By April MacIntyre Dec 8, 2010, 8:27 GMT

Jack (Alec Baldwin) has a strained mother-and-child reunion with both his dad and Colleen Donaghy (Elaine Stritch). The episode airs December 9 on NBC at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time as a mid-season finale before the season resumes on January 20, 2011, at 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time.

NBC's "30 Rock" will see Alan Alda guest starring this Thursday, December 9, the holiday episode and the last episode of the fall season. The series will be returning back on NBC on January 20 at 10 pm.

Alan Alda is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy award-winning actor, director, screenwriter, he had such a grand time being introduced as Jack Donaghy's dad on the set of "30 Rock" he's back for a Mulligan as Milton in the holiday-themed episode titled "Christmas Attack Zone."

Jack (Alec Baldwin) has a strained mother-and-child reunion with both his dad and Colleen Donaghy (Elaine Stritch).  The episode airs December 9 on NBC at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time as a mid-season finale before the season resumes on January 20, 2011, at 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time.

In a telephone conference call with Monsters and Critics and other reporters, Alda talked about his experience working on "30 Rock"

Premier Guide Miami: Well M*A*S*H was a phenomenal success. How do you compare that with being on 30 Rock?

Alan Alda:  When I first went on 30 Rock -- and this is now the third time I've been on the show -- I had the same feeling about the group there that I had when we were doing M*A*S*H.

It’s a very collaborative company. Everybody knows where they’re going and what they’re doing. And they all are supportive of one another. They all recognize one another’s personal personalities - one another’s - that’s - sorry that’s redundant.

But they all recognize one another’s unique personalities. And they work with them. They play with them. They work around them. They’re very tuned into one another. Just the same way we were. And it’s very nice to see that's. It’s a pleasure to see that.

Plus they’re working in a way similar to what we did only very - in a very different kind of comedy. But they’re - it’s similar to us in that they’re taking chances and we took chances. We did - we were officially a comedy but we worked in drama and satire and all kinds of different forms.
And on this program I think they’re expanding to another kind of comedy and that’s risky. But the people who love it I think recognize how interesting and funny in a new way it is and I'm one of those people who love it. I think it’s just great.

Premier Guide Miami: I understand that you had a near death experience that had a profound effect on your life. Can you tell us about it and how this experienced has guided your life today?

Alan Alda: Well almost exactly seven years ago -- it was October 19 seven years ago -- I was in Chile and I was doing my science show there about scientific American frontiers.
And it was the last interview of the tenth season. And it was the very last interview I would do until the following year. And I was on top of a mountain in Chile talking to astronomers.

I got this pain in my stomach and it turned out to be a blocked intestine. It was about a yard of my intestine that had to be taken out in the middle of the night in an emergency operation. And I did nearly die. It came within a couple of hours of checking out I think.
When the operation was over and I realized that I had survived it really did make a tremendous impression on me. I was glad to be alive in a way I never had been before.

And it stuck with me. It still sticks with me. And no matter how tough things get I think that’s not so bad. This isn't so bad because I was supposed to be dead by now. And, you know, I've had seven years of a wonderful life that was extra, that was a bonus.

So it’s really true. When I get a chance to do something new, something interesting, something that I had never done before like write a couple of books, like being on 30 Rock, and share that experience with people who were pushing the frontier a little bit it’s very exciting to me.

I realize it that it’s something that I wouldn't have had. I mean, and that includes, by comparison the things I just mentioned are trivial compared to seeing my grandchildren grow up and seeing my daughters mature and become, who they were destined to be from the time they were little girls. But I might not have seen that.

TheDeadbolt.com: Since you've already played Milton how do you connect or relate to him now as compared to your first guest spot?

Alan Alda: Well, you know, what’s nice is every time a character shows up -- we had this on M*A*S*H too and when I would write for the characters on M*A*S*H I would look for this -- what else can you find out about the person.

And sometimes very little things...he’s especially affectionate towards his son who is played by Alec Baldwin of course. And it irritates Alec, for this guy to be so affectionate toward him.

But when you see little turns and twists on that - other ways he can be irritating to him it’s fun to discover those things. So it’s a really a process of seeing a little deeper each time into the person.

Those things are bound to come out if you keep showing the person as long as they’re interested in doing more than just the one joke thing. And these writers are really excellent. So they are interested in that.

TheDeadbolt.com: Who you were before you started in the industry and all the great roles you've had since what have you learned about yourself that you may not have if you weren't an actor.

Alan Alda: That’s an interesting question. I think I have to give you the blue ribbon for asking a question that’s never been asked before - I don't remember it being asked.

Let’s see what have I learned that if I hadn't been an actor I wouldn't have learned. I think it’s very possible that I wouldn't have learned - well probably a number of things but one of the things I probably wouldn't have learned was to get in touch with my emotions the way I have to because it’s my professional obligation to.

And there are an awful lot of people who don't have to and don't get in touch with their emotions. And I guess those are the ones with children who grow up saying their father was cold and that kind of thing. So that’s one thing.

Another thing is I don't think I wouldn't have gotten up so early every morning because for some reason they start - when you’re in front of a camera they start the acting day at 8:00 in the morning. If I just stayed on the stage I could've gotten up at noon because, you know, you start a lot later.

But there’s also this thing of acting out on the sidewalk in the bitter cold. And the only other time I had to do that when I was a door man before I could get very far in acting. So it’s not that different. You have some of the same benefits you have as being a door man.

Digital Spy:  I was just wondering how is working with the rest of the cast on 30 Rock?

Alan Alda: They’re terrific. They, you know, very precise about their work. They come in ready to do it and they do it. They’re able to keep up with the fast pace that television has.

But in the midst of that - in the course of it they’re really fun. They like to laugh and they like to gossip. And it’s just fun to be with them. And so I really enjoy that.

They’re very bright people, very talented people. It’s always inspiring to work with a talented person. I think, you know, I've known Alec Baldwin’s work for a long time and I've always known how talented he was.

But Tina is relatively new on the scene. And it just amazes me how much ability she has in so many areas. She can satirize. She can impersonate. She writes like a dream. And she’s a wonderful actress.

And she’s really fun to be with. And it’s fun to talk to her. So she’s really an amazing character to me.

Globe and Mail:  Does the prospect of say directing say a show like - a comedy like 30 Rock and the pace at which it moves sort of give you a chill or would you ever want to tackle that?

Alan Alda: No I don't think so. It makes me very happy now when a director has to worry about where to put the camera and how to organize a shot and to get the day in before everybody has to go home. And it’s not me who has to worry about it. It’s just one of the extra pleasures in life not to have to worry about those things.

It’s interesting, so many people want to be directors. You know, there’s an old joke that somebody is meeting Mother Teresa and telling her how wonderful she is. And she says yeah but you know what I really want to do is direct.

I mean, it’s because everyone wants to. But I did that already. I did it on M*A*S*H. I did it in several movies that I wrote and directed. And for the experience itself I don't really need to do it any more.

I don't need that feeling of power. There is a feeling of - a wonderful feeling of power when you’re a director especially on a big movie, less so on a television show.

But you can say I'd really like that building painted yellow. And the next day it’s yellow. Or you say I'd like to have it moved over there. And it’s gone. You know, so that feels pretty good. But I don't think I need that and I'm okay without it. So no I'm very happy to just play, you know, on 30 Rock and in movies and that kind of thing.

Doing this 30 Rock was - we all had to work hard to fit it in because it just happened to come at a time when I was doing two other jobs - two movies at the same time - two features at the same time. They were overlapping. And 30 Rock fell in the middle of one of them. So everybody had to work out these schedules.

Monsters and Critics:  My question for you is you've stayed pretty East Coast centric in your career.  I don't know if you lived in Los Angeles and if not was that ever a detriment for getting roles or work for you in acting?

Alan Alda: No I always - for a long time we lived out there about half the year and then when we had grandchildren that got to be hard to do and we lived there less and less. But we always had a home in the East partly because our children were growing up here and we didn't want to make the move.

[my dog then barks in the background]

Is that your dog?

Monsters and Critics: Yes I'm sorry.

Alan Alda: (laughs) Did your dog have a question? It wasn't so much that we were Eastern centric. It was that we were more children centric...and we were watching out for where, we didn't want to pull them out of where they were living.
Well what was your dog’s question?

Monsters and Critics: Well, my dog wanted to know, on the very first introduction of your character on 30 Rock Steve Buscemi was also on that episode. And he wanted to know if you were watching Boardwalk Empire and following Steve’s latest effort?

Alan Alda: Yeah I'm very happy for him. I don't - I've only met Steve a couple of times and I never got a chance to work with him. But I always admire his work and I'm very glad that he’s got such a big success with the Boardwalk Empire series.

He’s really terrific. He’s one of those special actors that you immediately recognize him and yet he’s got a tremendous amount of variety in his work. So it’s very nice for him.

Starry Constellation Magazine: Well my dogs have been enjoying your company as well and they'd like to know how you first got involved with 30 Rock.

Alan Alda: They called me up and they asked me if I wanted to be Alec Baldwin’s father. And I was delighted. You know, it’s a funny feeling to work with people who you consider your colleagues and to realize that they actually are young enough to be your children.

Alec and Tina and pretty much everybody on the set could be, you know, is young enough to be a child of mine. And yet I'm - there’s no sense on my part that I'm any older than them.

I mean, I look at Alec and I think in some way well we’re sort of the same age. We have a wealth of experience that we share. And then I think wait a minute. I have daughters the same age. You know, so it’s kind of - it’s funny when I step back and reflect on it.

Starry Constellation Magazine: It’s amazing to see you play with Elaine Stritch. Have you enjoyed it as well?

Alan Alda: Oh yeah. You know, she’s remarkable. When we were shooting this episode that’s going to be on Thursday night she was coming in and shooting for a full day which is tiring for anybody.

And then she was going out at night and leaving the set and going to do a Broadway musical -- A Little Night Music -- which is - to do a musical takes a tremendous amount of energy because you have to act and sing at the same time.

And everything has to be precise. Because you can't forget the lyrics because the band keeps playing, you know, and you’re under a certain amount of pressure. And she was doing two full time jobs at the same time. And it takes - I was really - I admired her energy very much.

Starry Constellation Magazine: And do you have a favorite episode of M*A*S*H?

Alan Alda: No I don't. I get asked that a lot but I don't. I tried to figure it out once.  And I think there were about 15 or 20 shows at the top of my list but no single favorite. I liked the most the ones where we told the story in a different way - like the dreams episode or the black and white interview episode or where the camera was the eyes of the patient - the point of view - from the point of view of the patient.

And those shows that were very different stick out in my head because we took a risk and we shook up the format. And it always reminds me that the audience was generous with us and let us play around like that. But we had a feeling that they'd let us come back the following week even if they didn't go for the shift as much as we'd hoped they would.

But as it turned out I think that was one of the pleasure of watching the show was to see what we were going to try to do next.

Examiner.com: Well you talked a little bit about your time on the 30 Rock set. And I was wondering what it was like for you to formulate this character. Obviously the writers, you know, come up with so much material.But when you were there on set working with Alec and Elaine did you start to think of some other ideas to bring to the table?

Alan Alda: No. I do what they say. You know, what’s in the script is what I do. And they’re really - you know, that writing is very very carefully worked out. And there were a lot of people working on those scripts.

We did a table reading of this show that’s going to be on Thursday night. And we were at a - usually you’re at a table and there are, you know, six or seven writers there. I don't know who all these people were. There was a roomful of about 50 people and they were all involved in creating the show. So it was like an audience. It was like you did an off-Broadway play that morning.

And it was really exciting to do that because you got live reactions to the humor. And it sparked everybody into another level of energy - the actors. It was a very interesting experience. It was a table read of a kind I hadn't been to before because there were so many people involved. So I really enjoyed that.

But in answer to your question I get - what I find to do I find in the script. And, you know, I examine the script to try to see what veins are there to be explored.

But just because I write and I direct that doesn't mean I offer suggestions in those areas when I go to work with other people. They have their own inspiration and I try to serve that.

Examiner.com: Okay. Great. Well in terms of just working with Alec on some of these scenes you guys have incredible chemistry together. So is that something that kind of came together naturally? Or how did that start to develop?

Alan Alda: Yeah Alec and I know each other off camera a little bit and, you know, bump into each other time to time. And I think professionally and personally we both enjoy one another and one another’s company. And I think we respect one another as actors.

So it is fun to play opposite somebody when you have that going for you. There’s an extra charge. You know, it’s like those machines - in the old fashioned movies where that giant spark goes from one pole to another.

That’s what happens when you’re playing with another actor that you really enjoy both as an actor and as a person. And I think we both have that.

LenaLamoray.com:  So what can you tell us about the holiday 30 Rock episode and maybe fill us in on a couple of your favorite scenes?

Alan Alda: The show is in the - during the show Alec Baldwin’s character who really can't stand his mother very much wants to get even with her and invites me to the same holiday dinner. We’re both is mother and father but haven't really seen each other since he was conceived.

 And it’s sort of revenge on her to bring me back together. And he doesn't expect what happens after that. It’s really - she - they have a - they keep trying to one up each other with hurtful things.

And then before long they’re all - both his parents are screaming at him which in 30 Rock’s twisted way is a holiday event. It’s a happy Christmas for him - for his parents to be yelling at him because that’s the closest he’s ever been to them and that’s what he’s used to.

So it’s a really backwards holiday story where instead of the family getting together and having a nice turkey together, they get together and scream at one another.

LenaLamoray.com:  Now do you have a few favorite scenes?

Alan Alda: You know, they all were fun. I'm trying to think of one for you that sticks out in my head. No they all were fun. The - I loved the moment where I gave him a book I had written about Jimmy Carter which of course drives him crazy. No it wasn't about Jimmy Carter. It was about a multi-cultural family.

And I told him that I had brought it just for him. And I loved handing it to him because, you know, he gets into his character and he really resented getting this book.

St. Xavier University:  If you could go back in time and star in any TV show which one would it be and why?

Alan Alda: If I could go back in time and star in some TV show? You mean - it has to be in the past? I really don't know. It probably would've been really fun to be on the Honeymooners or Lucy because they were such groundbreaking shows. Maybe even the Honeymooners more than anything because that sounded like a really risky thing to do. I know, that’s funny I've said that several times today the word risky. So you'll have to excuse me.

But I remember reading that Jackie Gleason used to read the script at home. He wouldn't show up for rehearsal. And he'd come in and do the show live almost like an improvisation and usually say all of his lines. But sometimes he'd get lost and everybody would have to improvise with him.

The only part about that I don't like is not showing up for rehearsal because there’s a lot of - it’s not like respectful to the other actors I don't think. But I suppose he felt he did his best that way.

So I don't know if I would have liked to be on the Honeymooners come to think of it. I'm glad you brought that up because if I get an offer to be on the Honeymooners I'm going to turn it down.

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